Rowan Digital Works - Rowan-Virtua Research Day: Disparities in Demographics of Patients Presenting to a Student-Run Free Clinic in South Jersey
 

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

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May 1st, 12:00 AM

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.

 

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