The purpose of this study was to gather information about the needs of the underserved patients of the Oxford community. This study aimed to learn about the health needs of the permanent residents of Oxford, and the extent to which the Oxford Free Clinic and other healthcare providers currently meet those needs. The findings will provide information about community-wide health needs, gaps in accessing affordable care, and any barriers that patients face in seeking equitable healthcare. The community members were invited to participate in the Google survey through community newsletters, the Talawanda school newsletters, flyers, and social media.
From the preliminary data, two trends seem to be emerging. 1) The satisfaction with healthcare services in Oxford seems to be higher among residents who have lived in Oxford longer. This could suggest that people have been accustomed to what’s available to them or that over time, people find the care that meets their needs. 2) The second set of patterns suggest that people may be particularly concerned about health care availability in Oxford for mental or chronic health care needs. These data indicate a potential for improving services targeting chronic conditions. The findings of this project will be shared with the community to help inform their decision in improving the quality of life.
As an aspiring MD/MPH candidate, I am intrigued by the prevalent gaps in accessing healthcare services at the community level. The first step to ensuring healthcare equity is knowing the difference between the healthcare services that are provided and those that are needed. This project shed light on the disparities prevalent in the community where I have spent 4 years. Working on this project has solidified my interest to advance healthcare policies at a macro-level as a public health official and at a micro-level as a physician.
Authors: Raghavee Neupane, Shannon Ryan, Somya Pandey
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Cameron Hay-Rollins, Department of Anthropology
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