Addressing Breast Cancer Screening Disparities Among Uninsured and Insured Patients: A Student-Run Free Clinic...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Preventative Medicine
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Uninsured women have significantly lower mammography rates compared to insured individuals.
• Limited access to healthcare and high costs contribute to delayed diagnoses and poorer outcomes for uninsured women.
• Student-run free clinics can serve as crucial access points for preventative care, establishing a medical home for underserved populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine breast cancer screening (mammography) rates at a student-run free clinic.
• To compare these screening rates to national averages for both insured and uninsured women.
• To evaluate the role of student-run clinics in improving access to preventative cancer care.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of female patients aged 40-75 at BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic from January 2012 to March 2018.
• Data collected included demographics, mammogram dates, and screening results.
• Analysis focused on identifying the percentage of eligible patients who were up-to-date with recommended mammography screening.

Main Results:

• Of 157 women aged 45 and older, 75.5% were up-to-date with mammography screening, exceeding national rates (21% insured, 53% uninsured).
• 84.5% of patients who received screening mammograms utilized the clinic's specific program.
• The study included 194 women aged 40 and older.

Conclusions:

• Student-run free clinics play a critical role in enhancing mammography screening access for uninsured women.
• The BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic's program demonstrates a successful model for increasing preventative cancer care among vulnerable populations.
• Findings suggest that similar programs can be implemented in other student-run free clinics to address healthcare disparities.