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Improving underserved children's access to health care: practitioners' views
1Department of Social Work, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27604, USA. nrames@social.chass.ncsu.edu
Summary
Pediatric health care providers identified key barriers to accessing care for medically underserved children. Their insights offer actionable strategies to improve health care access for these vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health Services
- Health Care Access Research
- Community Health
Background:
- Medically underserved children face significant challenges in accessing necessary health care services.
- Understanding provider perspectives is crucial for identifying systemic barriers.
- Previous research focused on broader access issues; this study specifically targets provider-identified obstacles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate children's health care providers' views on barriers to health care access for medically underserved children.
- To identify actionable strategies suggested by providers to improve access.
- To inform policy and practice aimed at reducing health disparities in pediatric care.
Main Methods:
- Conducted three focus groups with diverse children's health care providers in a southeastern US county.
- Employed qualitative research methods to gather in-depth practitioner insights.
- Data collection was part of a larger study on provider communication and children's access to care.
Main Results:
- Identified several key barriers, including financial constraints, transportation difficulties, and lack of insurance.
- Highlighted issues related to provider capacity, appointment availability, and cultural competency.
- Providers suggested practical solutions such as extended clinic hours, mobile health units, and enhanced care coordination.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare providers offer valuable insights into improving access for underserved children.
- Targeted interventions addressing identified barriers can significantly enhance pediatric health care access.
- Collaboration between providers, policymakers, and communities is essential to overcome access challenges.
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