There are several barriers that limit healthcare access for vulnerable populations including a lack of funding, mistrust of the healthcare system, lack of education, geographical barriers, and societal beliefs. The Northern Area Community Health Alliance was developed to address the health needs of vulnerable populations in Northern Kentucky by identifying these barriers through surveys of clinic patients, tracking emergency room visits and demographics, and collecting data on health habits. The results will be analyzed to draw conclusions and advocate for changes to improve healthcare access for vulnerable groups.

1. IDENTIFYING BARRIERS TO
HEALTHCARE ACCESS FOR THE
VULNERABLE
The vulnerable are PROBLEM: Common Morbidities
There are barriers which limit healthcare access for the Among Vulnerable Population
people who fall through vulnerable. These include the perception that the vulnerable have
the cracks of the equal access to healthcare and that the vulnerable avoid taking
responsibility for their own health. It is also assumed that the
healthcare system and vulnerable lacks resiliency. This population faces a variety of
are therefore at risk for barriers which prevent access to healthcare.
physical, psychological BARRIERS INCLUDE:
and sociological health •Funding
•Mistrust
problems. This •Lack of education
population is subject to •Lack of access within their geographical area
•Lack of urgency
a variety of chronic and •Societal belief that they choose to be sick
• Information about health disparities PROCESS:
acute illnesses. There is within this population •Identify a valid standardized tool for data collection
often a delay or • Information about disparate outcomes •Meet NKU Internal Review Board Requirements
•Interview appropriate patients
involving this population.
insufficiency of •Develop software
•Collect data
treatment for the N.A.C.U. was developed to address the health related needs of the
vulnerable populations in Northern Kentucky. •Analyze data
individual based on •Draw conclusions
•Advocate for change
his/her ability to pay PLAN:
•Improve access to healthcare for the vulnerable
for healthcare by identifying barriers.
METHODS OF
treatment. •Survey new patients of clinics which served IMPLEMENTATION: . Data collection to
health-vulnerable population in Northern Kentucky begin 9/2012 until 10/2013
•Track ER visits
•Track demographics
References
•Corbie-Smith, G., Thomas, S. B., & St. George, D. M. (2002, November). Distrust, Race and Research. Archives of Internal
Medicine, 162(21), 2458-2463. doi:10-1001/ pubs.Arch Intern Med
•Hill, C., Zurakowski, D., Bennet, J., Walker-White, R., Osman, J. L., Quarles, A., & Oriol, N. (2012). Knowledgeable neighbors: A •Track health habits to identify barriers and health
EVALUATION, RESULTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS:
mobile clinic model for disease prevention and screening in underserved communities. American Journal of Public Health, 102(3),
406-410.
•Kamble, S., & Boyd, A. S. (2008). Health disparities and social determinants of health among african-american women undergoing
percutaneous coronary interventions(PCI). Journal of Cultural Diversity, 15(3), 132-142.
perceptions
•Netto, G., Bhopal, R., Lederle, N., Khatoon, J., & Jackson, A. (2010, March). How can health promotion interventions be adapted
for minority ethnic communities? Five principles for guiding the development of behavioral interventions. Health Promotion
International, 25(2), 248-257.
To be done following completion of data collection
•Peacock, N., Issel, L. M., Townsell, S. J., Chapple-McGruder, T., & Handler, A. (2011). An innovative method to involve community
health workers as partners in evaluation research. American Journal of Public Health, 101(12), 2275-2280.