Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the capabilities and resources of free and charitable
clinics in the United States to deliver musculoskeletal care to an indigent
population. DESIGN: A voluntary, anonymous, cross-sectional survey. SETTING:
Electronic mailing list for the National Association of Free and Charitable
Clinics in September 2011, and in person at the Annual Summit for the National
Association of Free and Charitable Clinics in October 2011. At the time of
survey, 427 member-clinics were eligible for participation. PARTICIPANTS: One
hundred forty-five (34%) respondents were included in data analysis.
INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Answers to a questionnaire regarding
access to musculoskeletal care. RESULTS: The average annual clinic volume was
5690 patient visits. Low back pain was the most common orthopedic complaint.
Access to musculoskeletal specialty consultants was rated as poor or worse in 83%
of clinics surveyed. The majority of respondents (63%) believed that their staff
was able to treat only half or fewer of the patients who presented with
musculoskeletal complaints in their clinic. The resource most needed to treat
these conditions was musculoskeletal physician consultants.
CONCLUSIONS: Indigent
populations have a strong need for musculoskeletal care, but affordable access to
physiatrists and other musculoskeletal specialists is extremely limited.
Personnel at surveyed clinics believed that the greatest need to improve care is
better access to these specialty physicians.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS