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Rural Medicine Interest Group Spring Break ‘09. Laura Goodman, Kevin Kralik, Lindsay Tawa, Mirat Shah, Jon Halevy, Jessica Lee, Lindsay Hintz, Eliana Bonifacino, Ben Meza. Why?. Service See need Collaborate RMIG, GHIG … Learning Improve H & P skills Non-threatening, unhurried,
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Rural Medicine Interest Group Spring Break ‘09 Laura Goodman, Kevin Kralik, Lindsay Tawa, Mirat Shah, Jon Halevy, Jessica Lee, Lindsay Hintz, Eliana Bonifacino, Ben Meza
Why? • Service • See need • Collaborate • RMIG, GHIG … • Learning • Improve H & P skills • Non-threatening, unhurried, • Motivational interviewing • Practice awkward conversations • Learn about different cultures • “the sugar” • A non-tertiary care environment
Sat. BurgettstownSun. Cecil & WashingtonMon. Perryopolis & CharleroiTues. Avella/Cross Creek
Washington 15,268 people 81.88% White 14.60% African American 0.15% Native American 0.45% Asian 0.02% Pacific Islander Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% The median income for a household in the city was $25,764 and the median income for a family was $34,862. 16.4% of families were below the poverty line
Perryopolis Estimated median household income in 2007: $37,785
Charleroi Males: 2,048 (44.9%) Females: 2,517 (55.1%) Estimated median household income in 2007 $29,673 Pennsylvania: $48,576 White (94.9%) Black (3.2%) Hispanic (0.7%)
Avella (Cross Creek) The population = 1,685. White 1,654 Median household income 38,226
THERE’S A HEALTH FAIR • COMING TO YOUR TOWN!!! • When:Sunday, March 15th from Noon-4:00pm • Where:Burgettstown Community Library • Medical students from the University of Pittsburgh will be taking • blood pressure • measuring body mass indexes (BMI) • giving eye examinations • PLUS providing information on: • smoking cessation • high blood pressure • diabetes • mental health • exercise and diet • ALL FOR FREE! • Adults and children welcome
Patient Demographics • Saw 64 Patients through 3 Community Sites • Mean Age = 71 yrs old • Mostly came from local towns, mostly caucasian
Majority of patients were women: • More proactive about health • More likely to go to library/senior center • Top health concerns included: • Blood Pressure • Cholesterol • Diabetes • Arthritis • Watching weight
Health Care Concerns: • Many were happy with their health services • Quality of physicians, proximity to physicians • Lack of specialty health care- i.e. Dentists, Optometrists • Lack of emergency services
Most of the patients went to a doctor’s office at least once a year and had health insurance.
How can we reach the people who need our services the most? • Local Contacts to identify potential target populations • e.g. teenage mothers without prenatal care, house-bound seniors • Advance Planning/Advertising • Local paper, flyering, church announcements • Accessibility • Location, arranging car pools?
Lessons Learned • Access to doctors in rural areas is variable • Services available • Convenience • Quality • Small towns may have multiple potential target groups which require different strategies to reach • Elderly (particularly those with limited mobility) • Parents with young children • Teens • Logistical issues
Future Plans • Additional trips: • Participate in health fair in the fall • Repeat health screenings; add additional services such as flu shots • Perform needs assessments to better target offerings • Plan programs addressing community-specific needs such as teen pregnancy • Work with community contacts to publicize events and better reach underserved groups