TY - JOUR
T1 - Analysis of the demographic characteristics and medical conditions of the uninsured utilizing a free clinic
AU - Notaro, Stephen J.
AU - Khan, Marium
AU - Bryan, Nina
AU - Kim, Christina
AU - Osunero, Theresa
AU - Senseng, Mary Grace
AU - Eiten, Megan
AU - Desai, Kinnary
AU - Nasaruddin, Mohammed
PY - 2012/4
Y1 - 2012/4
N2 - The number of medically uninsured people in the United States rose from 46 million in 2008 to an astonishing 50.7 million in 2009. This population is unable to seek medical care due, in part, to the decrease in employment-based health insurance and the increase in the cost of health care. Free health clinics exist to ensure access to health care by providing a safety net for underserved populations, ultimately decreasing health disparities among people of different socioeconomic statuses. The purpose of this study was to determine the demographic characteristics of the uninsured people who utilized a free health clinic and the purpose for their visits. Investigators gathered information from over 2,000 hand-written medical records to determine whether the demographic characteristics and health conditions of the uninsured differed from the general population. While there was no predominate medical condition in this population, special attention is needed to the prevention of smoking and obesity among the uninsured. This uninsured population had a significantly higher rate of smoking (P<0.01) and obesity (P<0.05) than the general population. In addition to treatment for medical conditions, 1 in 4 patients came for a physical exam. This study adds to the literature by describing characteristics of a free clinic population and their medical conditions. This research can contribute to the improvement of a health care delivery system that is challenged in providing access to medical care by lowincome and uninsured populations.
AB - The number of medically uninsured people in the United States rose from 46 million in 2008 to an astonishing 50.7 million in 2009. This population is unable to seek medical care due, in part, to the decrease in employment-based health insurance and the increase in the cost of health care. Free health clinics exist to ensure access to health care by providing a safety net for underserved populations, ultimately decreasing health disparities among people of different socioeconomic statuses. The purpose of this study was to determine the demographic characteristics of the uninsured people who utilized a free health clinic and the purpose for their visits. Investigators gathered information from over 2,000 hand-written medical records to determine whether the demographic characteristics and health conditions of the uninsured differed from the general population. While there was no predominate medical condition in this population, special attention is needed to the prevention of smoking and obesity among the uninsured. This uninsured population had a significantly higher rate of smoking (P<0.01) and obesity (P<0.05) than the general population. In addition to treatment for medical conditions, 1 in 4 patients came for a physical exam. This study adds to the literature by describing characteristics of a free clinic population and their medical conditions. This research can contribute to the improvement of a health care delivery system that is challenged in providing access to medical care by lowincome and uninsured populations.
KW - Free clinics
KW - Health care safety net
KW - Primary care
KW - Uninsured
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84862331587&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84862331587&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10900-011-9470-7
DO - 10.1007/s10900-011-9470-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 21993773
AN - SCOPUS:84862331587
SN - 0094-5145
VL - 37
SP - 501
EP - 506
JO - Journal of Community Health
JF - Journal of Community Health
IS - 2
ER -