MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

ACU embraces the diversity in the health disciplines

ACU’s members include health care professionals from 18 disciplines, health care organizations, hospitals, non-profit agencies, and academic programs.

ACU provides a network through which those interested in the health of underserved populations can link with one another, find tools and resources to enhance their work, join forces in advocating to reduce health disparities, and support the work of the front-line clinicians.

To achieve its mission, ACU has embraced the following objectives:

Enhancing support for clinicians.  For example:

• Establishment of a national workgroup on access to pharmaceuticals for low-income families
• Opportunities to share realities of frontline clinicians’ experiences in the health care system
• Advocating for the “Transdisciplinary Team Approach” to health care for underserved communities

"ACU clearly represents what we do and what we believe” MD - Texas

“My career has been serving to increase access to quality care for underserved populations, and there are no organization dedicated to this purpose for clinicians specifically. Most organizations are for clinics, administrators, etc, and have clinicians involved as a secondary aspect. This organization can support clinicians in their career in caring for the underserved or in providing some care for underserved populations as part of a private practice.” – MD, FAAFP - Alaska

Providing access to information relevant to clinical practice.  For example:

• Development of a clinical tool card series and a CEU program on Early Childhood Caries Prevention

“ I joined ACU because of the relevance and quality of the information shared” MPH - Florida

“I joined with the hopes of gaining clinical, political, and supportive information concerning the care of underserved patients, as well as for networking with those doing the same.” – MD - Virginia

Providing opportunities for clinicians to interact with other professionals.  For example:

• Annual nomination of a member to the DHHS Primary Health Care Policy Fellowship Program.
• Nomination of members to national advisory committees
• Establishment of Oral Health and Pharmaceutical Listserve

“ My membership in ACU gives me a forum in which I can represent the needs and preferences of clients and patients whose perspectives might not otherwise show up on the national horizon.” FNP, CNM - California

“I believe in the mission and want to associate with like-minded clinicians.” MD - Maryland

Promoting research to increase understanding of underserved practice.  For example:

• New partnership with the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
• Completion of focus groups in Appalachian community clinics regarding clinicians’ knowledge of and participation in NCI cancer clinical trials
• Assessment of community-based clinicians’ ability to implement pediatric asthma clinical guidelines

“Up-to-date knowledge and information regarding quality health care for the underserved populations that is accessible, affordable, and appropriate – this is why I joined ACU. Personally, I have found many advantages of being a member of ACU , and would recommend membership to any clinician involved in providing health care to an underserved population.” – RN, BSN - Mississippi

Increasing opportunities for training relevant to providing health care to underserved populations.  For example:

• Regional and National training on Early Childhood Caries Prevention (ECCP) Project and a new Pediatric Asthma Education Initiative to begin in 2004 – family practice and pediatric residents trained to screen for early childhood caries.
• National and regional panel representation on topics such as access to pharmaceuticals, retention of health professionals, and challenges and barriers to prevention services
• Development of new pediatric oral health competencies for family practice and pediatric residents in the metro DC area