Barriers to the Right to Health Among Patients of a Public Emergency Department After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

Barriers to the Right to Health Among Patients of a Public Emergency Department After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

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Purpose: Emergency physicians are witnesses to the impact of socioeconomic determinants of health on physical and psychiatric illness.Understanding structural barriers to the right to health (RTH) serves as a foundation for interventions to promote health equity.This study was performed to determine self-described barriers to fulfillment of the RTH among a public emergency tonic shower cap department (ED) patient population.

Methods: A convenience sample survey between June and August 2014 of 200 patients in public ED assessing demographic characteristics and desired assistance with 36 barriers to fulfillment of the RTH.Results: There was a high demand for specialty care (91%, 182/200), access to primary care (87.5%, 175/200), and access to health insurance (86%, 172/200).

Undocumented residents were significantly more likely to cite health insurance as beetroot birkenstock the most important area for assistance (p=0.04).Conclusion: Despite implementation of Affordable Care Act, access to health care and insurance were still perceived as the most important barriers among underserved patient populations, particularly undocumented groups.