About the Institute...

471 ABOUT THE INSTHUTE... 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 urban communities 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. 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. ...