key: cord-0031414-qrssxu1a
authors: Hoyer, Paige; Reisler, Jenna; Rachapudi, Sruti; Ross, Lindy
title: “Comparison of Patient Demographics at a Free Clinic Prior-to versus During the COVID-19 Pandemic”
date: 2022-05-13
journal: J Am Acad Dermatol
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.03.007
sha: ffdb7a0b78f490ca4404bbfeaaa17e5bfb093270
doc_id: 31414
cord_uid: qrssxu1a

nan

and urgent cares for healthcare needs. 1 Access to specialty care is scarce for uninsured, minority, 27 and lower socio-economic status patients. 2 This study assessed who was seen, how they were 28 seen, and what was treated at a free clinic during a pandemic vs 'normal' times. 29

With IRB approval, a retrospective chart review was performed on all dermatology visits 30 during the COVID-19 pandemic (June 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020) and prior to 31 COVID-19 (June 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019). Information collected included: 32 demographics, diagnosis, treatment, procedures performed, appointment type (in-person versus 33 telemedicine), and overall attendance rates. 34

In 2020, the clinic transitioned to 41% synchronous-only telemedicine appointments, 35 which were largely audio-only given the general socio-economic status of this patient 36 population. Demographics did not significantly differ ( Figure 1 ). However, the "No-Show" rate 37 significantly improved in 2020 (p=.002). "No-show" was defined as patients who did not attend 38 their in-person appointment, or did not answer their phone after three call attempts. This 39 improvement in 2020 suggests either: patients perceived their condition warranted the risk to be 40 seen in-person, or telemedicine increased access to care by circumventing external factors such 41 as transportation, childcare, or work hours. Notably, significantly less (p=.002) new patients 42 were seen in 2020. 

Uninsured Adults 72 Presenting to US Emergency Departments: Assumptions vs DATA

Dermatologic health disparities