Jordan Tucker

Abstract:

San Juan County, Utah, home to Monticello and a significant Navajo Nation presence, faces severe healthcare access challenges. The lack of conventional postal addresses and geographical remoteness create barriers to effective communication, resulting in missed appointments and low Medicaid/Medicare enrollment. Innovative approaches like Plus Codes, a digital addressing system, could bridge this gap, particularly for Navajo Nation residents. This preliminary study evaluated the effectiveness of Plus Codes in improving communication between healthcare providers and patients in remote areas, focusing on reducing missed appointments, increasing Medicaid/Medicare enrollment, and enhancing healthcare access. The intervention involved distributing informational brochures and operating an outreach booth at the Blue Mountain Medicaid Fair. Training sessions on using Plus Codes were conducted for patients and healthcare providers. Initial feedback from participants indicated increased awareness and enthusiasm for using Plus Codes. Quantitative results from follow-up surveys and appointment data are pending. The introduction of Plus Codes shows promise in addressing critical healthcare access issues in remote regions of San Juan County. This intervention could reduce disparities in healthcare delivery for rural and Indigenous communities by bridging communication gaps. Future steps include expanding Plus Code training, integrating this approach into community health programs, and conducting longitudinal studies to assess long-term outcomes. Acknowledgment:

The author gratefully acknowledges Stacie Gardner, Lucy Hansen, MD, and the entire RUUTE Community Engagement Experience (CEE) team for their invaluable support and guidance throughout this project.