Reaching for Excellence
Community Vision and Voices for Western New York Health Care
Western New York Health Care Priorities
PRIORITY
#5
Increase Access to Care
Western New Yorkers want broader access to care for all populations, especially the underserved - health care is a basic human right.
"Health care is a basic human right."
Increase Access to Care emerged as the fifth highest priority for the region, receiving mention in 65% of conversations.
What Western New Yorkers Want:
Western New Yorkers want broader access to care for all populations, especially the underserved - health care is a basic human right. The community appreciates the trade-offs and cost associated with expanded care. Nonetheless, access to health care is about affordable, comprehensive health care, including the availability of providers and specialists and the ability to choose the care that is best for them. Western New Yorkers frequently discussed expanding access to care for historically underserved populations such as the elderly, those with mental health needs, the poor, children and residents of urban and rural areas. Also top-of-mind for regional residents are the logistical supports needed to improve care accessibility, such as transportation, home-based care and incentives to attract providers to underserved areas.
Western New Yorkers addressed the following specific elements of Increase Access to Care, listed in order of frequency of mention in community conversations.
- Broaden and deepen access to care for all populations
- Increase access to care for historically underserved populations and communities
Notably, this priority was equally important for all communities, cutting across race, ethnicity, age, income level and geography, suggesting perhaps an emerging national consensus around expanded and even universal health care coverage.
"Health care is a basic human right."
"Health care should be a standard service, not a business you have to opt into."
"We must be careful not to exclude marginalized communities or groups."
"We need to care for those who are unable to help themselves."
