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407 ABOLÃŽT THE INSmUTE... The Institute on Health Care for the Poor and Underserved was established to help address the ironic paradox that in a country that devotes more money per capita to health care than any nation on earth, over 30 million people still lack adequate health protection. Despite a vast commitment of resources, the cost of care is soaring, health care in medically underserved rural and urbancommunities is limited, and the quality of care is not always reliable. These problems weigh heaviest on the poor, the elderly, those who face a catastrophic illness, and the millions who are uninsured or underinsured. We at Meharry Medical College believe deeply in health care for all. As the largest single private institution for the education of black health professionals in the United States, Meharry trains physicians and dentists who practice largely in medically underserved inner-city and rural areas. The College's successful efforts to train minority health practitioners and biomedical researchers , and its pioneering innovations in health care delivery to the poor, are among the numerous contributions that prompt the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to cite Meharry as "a national resource." In 1988, to further focus attention on the health of and health care for underserved populations, Meharry formed the non-profit Institute on Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. The Institute aims to solve problems by bringing together health professionals, disseminating critical information, and serving as a focal point for research news. Because the issues that surround health care are complex, the scope of the Institute is broad, encompassing such diverse concerns as the cost of health care; federal, state, and local laws; service delivery and access thereto; bureaucratic regulations and procedures; and individual and group behaviors. The principal activities of the Institute are four-fold: operating a national clearinghouse; convening annual conferences and meetings; publishing a quarterly journal, and establishing and supporting local demonstration projects. National clearinghouse The Institute operates a national clearinghouse of information related to the study of health care for the poor and underserved. Health professionals, journalists, students, and others interested in obtaining bibliographic, statistical , technical, or similar information, or referrals to researchers or government agencies, are welcome to contact the Institute via a toll-free telephone line: 1-800669 -1269. The Institute also of fers literature searches for a nominal fee. Selected books, journals, and reprints are available at the Institute for public use. 408 Conferences and meetings On the first Monday in October, the Institute convenes a national conference bringing together diverse elements of the health care community to discuss solutions to problems of common concern. The keynote presentation is delivered during Meharry's annual convocation ceremonies. The Institute also convenes meetings on a local and state level to discuss regional matters. Quarterly journal The Institu te publishes the Journal ofHealth Care for the Poor and Underserved, a peer-reviewed quarterly containing original papers, reviews, brief communications , and opinion written by and for health professionals and policy specialists . The Journal is the only scholarly publication in the United States exclusively devoted to the health of and health care for the poor and underserved. Proceedings of each of the Institute's annual conferences are published in the Summer issue of the Journal during the following year. Demonstration projects The Institute organizes and supports demonstration projects designed to seek local solutions to problems associated with health care to the underserved, including inadequate access, inferior quality, and prohibitive cost. The Institute on Health Care for the Poor and Underserved relies on the generosity of public and private funders who share its mission. Contributions to the Institute are tax-deductible. ...

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