In the United States, safety-net clinic services aim at providing these individuals with accessible and affordable healthcare, along with transport and legal services. Personally, what do clinic users think about these services? To answer this question, Howard et al from the University of Washington Tacoma carried out an open-ended single-question survey. Their findings have been published in the September issue of the Journal of Young Investigators.
A part of the United States’ healthcare system, safety-net systems deliver a significant amount of care to members of vulnerable populations. These populations often face unique challenges in accessing healthcare due to lack of insurance, limited income and marginalization by their race, ethnicity and gender identity. This study aims to understand how these individuals perceive their healthcare support within the current safety-net framework. A qualitative analysis was performed on a single questionnaire item that asked participants to openly state a belief or opinion regarding how safety-net systems in Washington, D.C. and Washington State could better support their healthcare needs. Our findings imply that even with access to healthcare through the safety-net system, patients from low-resourced populations, particularly those who identify as transgender, continue to face significant barriers to achieving adequate healthcare resources and support that could impact health outcomes.
