Specialty-care access for community health clinic patients: processes and barriers.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Community health clinics/centers (CHCs) comprise the US's core health-safety net and provide primary care to anyone who walks through their doors. However, access to specialty care for CHC patients is a big challenge.

Materials and methods

In this descriptive qualitative study, semistructured interviews of 37 referral coordinators of CHCs were used to describe their perspectives on processes and barriers to patients' access to specialty care. Analysis of data was done using content analysis.

Results

The process of coordinating care referrals for CHC patients is complex and begins with a provider's order for consultation and ends when the referring provider receives the specialist's note. Poverty, specialist and referral coordinator shortages, lack of insu

SUBMITTER: Ezeonwu MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5826087 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature