User:DiazFern8/Free-Clinics

Patient demographics[ edit]

In a survey Of the 41 million uninsured people in the United States, the 355 officially registered free clinics in the country are only able to provide services to about 650,000 of them. On average, free clinics have annual budgets of $458,028 and have 5,989 annual patient visits.

In another survey of three free clinics, 82% of patients reported that they began using a free clinics because they have are uninsured, and 59% were referred by friends/family. A similar study found that 65% were unemployed with students making up 17%. There also seems to be little correlation between education or employment status and insurance coverage in free clinic patients. Free clinic patients are mainly low-income, uninsured, female, immigrants, or minorities. About 75% of free clinic patients are between the ages of 18 and 64 years old. According to another study, 70% of all patients 20 years and older make less than US $10,000 a year.

In a 1992-1997 survey of the Charlottesville Free Clinic, the patient body consists largely of a low income working class that reflects the demographics of the Charlottesville area. Most of the patients reported that without the free clinic, they would either seek the emergency room or do nothing at all if they got sick. There has been a shift over the years from patients seeking urgent care to patients seeking treatment for chronic illnesses. Combined, these factors suggest that free clinics will require additional resources in order to meet the rising demands of their patient population

In a study of the Miami Rescue Mission Clinic in Florida, the most common conditions were mental health, circulatory system, and musculoskeletal system disorder. The most common of the mental health disorders were depressive disorders and anxiety disorders. Throughout multiple studies about patient demographics in metropolitan settings, there was a higher than national average prevalence of mental health disorder, obesity, diabetes, and smoking in free clinic patients.

Subsection citations

1)Arvisais-Anhalt S, MacDougall M, Rosenthal M, Congelosi P, Farrell

DF, Rosenbaum P. A cross-sectional study evaluating the use of free

clinics in syracuse, ny: patient demographics and barriers to accessing

healthcare in traditional settings. J Community Health. (2018) 43:1075–

84. doi: 10.1007/s10900-018-0524-y

2)Cadzow RB, Servoss TJ, Fox CH. The health status of patients of a studentrun

free medical clinic in inner-city buffalo, NY. J Am Board FamMed. (2007)

20:572–80. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.2007.06.070036

3) Zhang, Michael et al. “Demographics and Clinical Profiles of Patients Visiting a Free Clinic in Miami, Florida.” Frontiers in public health vol. 7 212. 2 Aug. 2019, doi:10.3389/fpubh.2019.00212

Effectiveness[ edit]
There are several proposed advantages to free clinics. They tend to be located in communities where there is a great need for health care. Free clinics are more flexible in structure than established medical institutions. They are also much less expensive - hence the title "free clinic." Due to their small size, their organization tends to be more egalitarian and less hierarchical, which allows for more direct exchange of information across the clinic. Unlike regular practices, they also attempt to do more than just provide healthcare. Some were created as political acts meant to advocate for socialized medicine and society.

However, they do come with their own set of problems. Many free clinics lack funding and do not have enough volunteers. This can contribute to a short availability of free clinics' operation hours, and can harm free clinics' ability to provide long-term, sustainable service. For instance, they are a solution aimed towards serving tens of millions of uninsured Americans, but they function solely on the spirit of altruism. Volunteers must be willing to be available during strange hours of the day and provide professional-level care all without the possibility of financial reimbursement. Additionally, the ability of free clinics to provide long term, sustainable service and maintain continuity of care for patients is questionable, considering the instability of funding and providers. One proposition towards overcoming these challenges involves the creation of a national foundation that officially assists and connects free clinics, allowing them to evolve as necessary.

''In a national level survey of patients and providers at free clinics, 97% of patients were satisfied with their care, and a further 77% preferred it over their prior care. 86% of patients relied on the clinic for primary care, and 80% of patients relied on them for pharmacy services. When asked what they would do if the free clinic did not exist, 47% would look for another free clinic, 24% would not seek care, 21% would not seek care due to costs, and 23% would use the emergency room. We can analyze that the free clinic care not only satisfies the patient, but fulfilled their healthcare needs.''

Subsection Sources

1)Gertz AM, Frank S, Blixen CE. A survey of patients and providers at free clinics across the United States. J Community Health. (2011) 36:83– 93. doi: 10.1007/s10900-010-9286-x