College
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Keywords
Health Disparity, Free Clinic, Equity, Race, Barriers to care
IRB or IACUC Protocol Number
PRO-2020-108
Date of Presentation
5-1-2025 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Medical schools around the country have established free clinics to better serve the underserved patient populations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate demographic characteristics in the patient population at our free clinic, Rowan-Virtua Community Health Clinic (RVCHC), compared to the general population of Camden County. We found a disproportionately higher percentage of black patients at our clinic when compared to the county overall. Addressing these disparities would require targeted outreach to specific patient populations and improved transit access. Future studies should aim to identify RVCHC health outcomes through the management of chronic disease and understanding emergency room utilization.
Disciplines
Community Health and Preventive Medicine | Demography, Population, and Ecology | Health and Medical Administration | Health Policy | Health Services Research | Inequality and Stratification | Medicine and Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Primary Care | Race and Ethnicity
Included in
Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Health and Medical Administration Commons, Health Policy Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Primary Care Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons
Disparities in Demographics of Patients Presenting to a Student-Run Free Clinic in South Jersey
Medical schools around the country have established free clinics to better serve the underserved patient populations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate demographic characteristics in the patient population at our free clinic, Rowan-Virtua Community Health Clinic (RVCHC), compared to the general population of Camden County. We found a disproportionately higher percentage of black patients at our clinic when compared to the county overall. Addressing these disparities would require targeted outreach to specific patient populations and improved transit access. Future studies should aim to identify RVCHC health outcomes through the management of chronic disease and understanding emergency room utilization.