title: Tulsa health care challenge: a compilation of issues and possible solutions.
abstract: The delivery of adequate health care to "all of the people" has become an increasing challenge in the United States. The problem of timely access to affordable health care is even more serious in Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma-Tulsa Health Science Center, the OU College of Medicine-Tulsa, and Community HealthNET, Inc. have taken leadership roles in convening two Oklahoma Health Care Challenge summit meetings this past year. Tulsa community leaders are now addressing the seriousness of the local problem and, more importantly, are coming up with ways to alleviate it. The focus of the summits has centered on providing indigent care, which will provide relief to the Tulsa hospitals and physicians from the growing burden of charity care costs. The most beneficial results of these meetings have been a clearer definition of the problem specific to Tulsa, the recognition that the solution will require coalitions of multidisciplinary groups, and the realization that cooperation, as well as collaboration, is the key to success.
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma-Tulsa College of Public Health, Health Administration and Policy, USA. Natalie-Egrlich@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Natalie J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Barbara L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Lasley
authors.forename: Chitralekha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kathuria
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Tonja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weaver
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005381:Financing, Organized; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009825:Oklahoma; D017664:Uncompensated Care / Q000191:economics