The purpose of this study is to examine differences and disparities in the access to, and utilization of health care services for uninsured, low income minorities and undocumented immigrants in Fort Worth, Texas. Like many urban communities, Fort Worth faces a growing number of immigrants with chronic health problems and no access to care. In an effort to rethink the delivery of primary health care to these individuals, existing emergency department data will be retrospectively analyzed to determine ethnic disparities in access and health outcomes. A community-wide consortium will be established to implement a one-year primary medical clinic in an "at risk" hispanic neighborhood. Subjects receiving medical care in the church-based clinic will be low-income hispanics and undocumented immigrants with no usual source of health care. Data will be collected and compared to concurrent hospital emergency room data regarding access to care and health care outcomes. Subject characteristics of age, gender, ethnicity, legal status, diagnosis, disposition, employment status will be analyzed in a prospective cohort study.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1) Identify four barriers to primary health care for undocumented immigrants. 2) Assess processes/resources currently in place in their communities to provide needed care for low-income hispanics and undocumented immigrants with no other usual source of health care. 3) Develop a community consortium team to implement innovative primary care to undocumented immigrants in a non-denominational church-based clinic. 4) Evaluate local emergency department records in "safety-net" hospitals to compare health outcomes for low income hispanics and undocumented immigrants
Keywords: Access Immigration, Access to Health Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Harris Methodist Hospital of Fort Worth, Texas
Osteopathic Medical Center of Texas
University of North Texas School of Public Health
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.