Cherokee County

Low Income Primary Care Access

Summary of Information:

Low Income Population: 18,952 (at or below 200% FPL, 1998)

Regular full time equivalency: 24

Full time equivalents serving the low-income population: 8.3

Ratio of low-income population to low-income FTE: 2,283:1

Considered a shortage of providers: County is low-income HPSA,

but proposed for withdrawal (12/00).

Physicians accepting new patients: 95%

Physicians accepting new patients who have Medicaid coverage: 95%

Physicians who can provide interpretation for non-English speaking patients: Question not asked

*Surveys completed 2/00

Community Input: Trinity Mother Francis recently opened a critical access hospital in Cherokee County which makes a total of two hospitals in Jacksonville. Rusk is home to one of the largest state hospitals of mental health/mental retardation. Rusk lost its hospital, which was affiliated with East Texas Medical Center, approximately five years ago. Most of the low-income people flow to Smith County for health care services.

Prepared by Community Health Provider Resources, Texas Department of Health, as part of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation East Texas Rural Access Program; Spring 2001