Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Khristen Holmes
University of Central Florida, USA
Keynote: Access and availability of care in a Central Florida community: A Pilot Study
Biography:
Khristen Holmes is a third-year doctoral student from the University of Central Florida. She is pursuing her PhD in Public Affairs with a specialization in Health Service Management and Research. Her research interests include the Affordable Care Act, social determinants of health, access to health care, and the opioid crisis. Her presentation today will focus on her research surrounding access to care and health coverage for a low-income community in Central Florida.
Abstract:
This qualitative study, which is informed by community-based participatory research (CBPR), is a collaboration between the University of Central Florida and the City of Orlando to identify the health needs of a community in central Florida. The community is considered a vulnerable population, with 1 in 4 residents unemployed and the average income of the community under $10,000 per year. This pilot study conducted focus group sessions and surveys with 23 residents, which examined how the access and availability of health care providers affect health outcomes of the Central Florida community. Results showed income affected insurance status, the decision to seek medical services, provider relationships, and health outcomes.
Overall, the results of this current study support the findings of previous literature related to the financial concerns faced by residents in need of health care services. Specifically, this research explored the lack of access and availability of health care providers for this vulnerable population. Furthermore, the study examined where these residents gain access to care and how they afford these services. Although these results provided some valuable information regarding the health needs of the community surrounding access and availability of care through health coverage, the sample size was small. Future research is needed with a larger sample of residents to increase the generalizability of the study.