title: Opportunities for Prevention: Assessing Where Low-Income Patients Seek Care for Preventable Coronary Artery Disease.
abstract: The Affordable Care Act has many aspects that are aimed at improving health care for all Americans, including mandated insurance coverage for individuals, as well as required community health needs assessments (CHNAs), and reporting of investments in community benefit by nonprofit hospitals in order to maintain tax exemptions. Although millions of Americans have gained access to health insurance, many--often the most vulnerable--remain uninsured, and will continue to depend on hospital community benefits for care. Understanding where patients go for care can assist hospitals and communities to develop their CHNA and implementation plans in order to focus resources where the need for prevention is greatest. This study evaluated patient care-seeking behavior among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Florida in 2008--analyzed in 2013--to assess whether low-income patients accessed specific safety net hospitals for treatment or received care from hospitals that were geographically closer to their residence. This study found evidence that low-income patients went to hospitals that treated more low-income patients, regardless of where they lived. The findings demonstrate that hospitals-especially public safety net hospitals with a tradition of treating low-income patients suffering from CAD-should focus prevention activities where low-income patients reside.
authors: 1 University of the Sciences in Philadelphia , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Tamar A
authors: TA
authors: Klaiman
authors: 1 University of the Sciences in Philadelphia , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|2 Ieseg-Lille and Paris , France .
authors: Vivian G
authors: VG
authors: Valdmanis
authors: 3 Florida Atlantic University , Boca Raton, Florida.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Bernet
authors: 4 East Jefferson Medical Center , Metairie, Louisiana.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Moises
mesh_terms: D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011203:Poverty; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D064876:Safety-net Providers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data