Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114217

Joseph Kiesler, MD, Department of Family Medicine, University of Cincinnati, The Christ Hospital, 2123 Auburn Ave, Suite 340, Cincinnati, OH 45219, 513.721.2221, kieslehj@fammed.uc.edu

Race track workers who live and work on the backside of a thoroughbred horse track are at risk for poor health outcomes due to their living conditions, type and seasonality of work, and lack of access to health care. To assess and provide for the health needs of the workers who work and live on the backside of River Down's Race Track in Cincinnati, Ohio, the University of Cincinnati's Department of Family Medicine Residency Training Program established a weekly, two hour free clinic in May 2004. The clinic, located in the Chaplain's trailer on the racetrack's backside, was staffed by attending and resident physicians, medical students and interpreters. During the clinic's fifteen sessions, there were 87 visits by 48 unique patients, of whom 59% were male and 40% were Hispanic. The average number of visits per patient was 2.07 +/- 1.15 and the average monthly income of the workers was $972 +/- 661. Sixty percent of the patients lived on the backside in “dorms”, concrete rooms lacking running water, while 27% percent rented housing off-site. The single most prevalent medical problem was depression (15%), followed by orthopedic complaints (back pain (12%), pain in joints (12%), and injuries (10%)), hypertension (12%), dermatitis (10%), alcoholism (8%), anxiety (6%), dizziness (6%) and GERD/Gastritis (6%). Partnerships were developed with the Healthcare for the Homeless program, community health centers and University Hospital clinics for medical testing and referrals. Future plans include ergonomic and work safety evaluations for the workers through the Department of Occupational Medicine.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, the learner will be able to

• Identify five health barriers unique to horse race track workers
• Describe potential community partnerships for establishing a free clinic for horse race track workers
• Assess how the health problems of race track workers compares to other migrant workers

Keywords: Migrant Workers, Occupational Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.