Non-profit Clinics are Bridging Existing Health Disparities in Austin, Texas
Non-profit health clinics in Austin are amplifying our community through the integration of preventative health education programs and by providing affordable health care to uninsured and low-income people. The foundation of health care was based upon cultivating a community of health care providers that took a Hippocratic Oath, vowing to “apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick and keep them from harm and injustice.” However, the divided healthcare system proves to exclude low-income residents from being able to get the care that they deserve. As a result, over 44 million people in the United States currently do not have access to health care (Wheeler).
The health disparity in Austin can be traced by the division of I-35. Dr. William Lawson, Associate Dean for Health Disparities at Dell Medical School states that it is significant to “understand racial and ethnic factors that contribute to disparities in health care,” and to recognize the geographical health disparities that exist. Even with institutions in place catered to provide access to low-income citizens of our community, often times, government run programs require a social security number as well as proof of United States residency. With the growing number of undocumented immigrants in Austin, these programs prove to be inaccessible to this growing community. As a result, non-profit health clinics act as the medium between patients and health care. In Austin, we see a growing number of these health clinics such as the People’s Community Clinic and the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic. These clinics aim at connecting our community in order to enhance the quality of life in Austin. The People’s Community Clinic and The Volunteer Healthcare Clinic, aren’t simply medical centers, instead, they encompass every facet of health such as education, access to food, and many other resources that affect health.
Health Disparities in Austin According to I-35
Figure 2 by the Central Health Demographic Report geographically illustrates poverty according to various Austin areas. The physical barrier between environmental income is evident by the division of I-35. Additionally, Figures 3 below, depicts patients who suffer from diabetes. By looking at the map, one immediately notices the huge number of people suffering from diabetes on the east side of I-35 compared to the west side. This disparity is not synonymous to Austin because it is common for low-income areas to be associated with chronic illnesses (Flores). In Figure 2, primary care centers and hospitals in Austin are marked by a turquoise circle. Unfortunately, the majority of hospitals in Austin are located west of I-35. Due to the high number of low-income patients east of I-35, being able to access care is further hindered since many of these patients do not have a car or access to resourceful public transportation. As a result, several non-profit clinics are located east of I-35 in order to address the high levels of disparities that exist. Although they do have some facilities west of I-35, their expansion towards predominately affected areas aids in the enhancement of health disparities.
Austin has a very heterogeneous demographic. A large percentage of those located east of I-35 consists of low-income minorities. According to the Archives of Pediatrics people who earn below the U.S poverty line, $24,250 per year for a family of four, are more likely to suffer from chronic illnesses such as heart disease, obesity, type two diabetes, and many other illnesses (Newacheck). The daunting reality of these maps highlights the severe health crisis that plagues our community.
Non-profit Clinics and their Emphasis on Social Determinants of Health
The root of health problems is determined by complex interactions between social and economic facets that determine our health, these facets are collectively known as social determinants of health (Marmot). The United Nations defines social determinants of health as the conditions in which people are born, work, and live. Some of the facets that make up social determinants of health include income and social status, physical environment, and social environment.
Our income status affects our health because as income increases, access to health improves due to food security, a higher quality of housing, and results in the expansion of life expectancy (Marmot). If an individual has less income to spend on housing, they may not be able to afford to live in a high-quality neighborhood. These feelings of anxiety and insecurity have detrimental impacts on overall health.
The physical environment that surrounds us includes the bodies of water around us, the air, our work places, homes, schools, and roads. Evidence suggests that access to resources such as clean water, affordable grocery stores, and green spaces lead to an overall significant health status.
Our social environment includes the support centers that encompass an individual such as family, friends, and the communities that create a cohesive and fruitful environment from those around them. An example of this would be the existence of a non-profit community clinic that offers other programs such as nutrition and cooking classes, literacy enhancement programs, domestic violence support groups, as well as higher education workshops demonstrate the creation of an enriching community (Braithwaite).
Programs offered at People’s Community Clinic and The Volunteer Healthcare Clinic
Upon entering the People’s Community Clinic, you’ll quickly notice the wide windows that bring natural light into the facility. The walls are covered in pictures of patients as well as bright art work created by some of the pediatric patients. To the left of the main staircase, a wide kitchen is located with an arrangement of tables. Located next to the play area, a room filled with toys and plastic vegetables and fruits can be found. This room hosts the seasonal nutrition classes catered to some of the patients and community members of Travis County. The architecture of the building incorporates the stairs as the center of the hospital in order to promote the movement of patients. Additionally, the facility has an open patio filled with lush vegetation so that the staff can enjoy an open area.
As I waited to meet with Gayla Stock, the Volunteer Coordinator at People’s Community Clinic, I saw a volunteer carry a stack of books that were donated to the hospital. “These are some of the books that we give out to the kids,” said the volunteer happily. Mrs. Stock happily greeted me and began to tell me about the deep relationship the facility had with their volunteers, “our facility runs on donations and volunteers. We have volunteers who stay with a patient until their check-up is over and they help translate. We also have volunteers who create and run a lot of the outreach programs. For example, one of our volunteers created an outreach program that helped with increasing literacy in kids. At the clinic, we try to do everything we can to help.” It is important to note that the nutrition classes also provide a bag of ingredients for each participant so that they are able to replicate the healthy dish in class. Once the participants complete each workshop, they are awarded a cook book donated by a local organic food stand in Austin. In addition to these programs, the People’s Community Clinic has a clinic dedicated to women’s reproductive health where women can get free contraceptives, sonograms, and yearly vaginal checkups. The programs hosted at the facility are a mixture of community work and effort aimed at improving the livelihood of Austin residents.
“The mission of People’s Community Clinic is to improve the health of medically underserved and uninsured Central Texans by providing high quality, affordable health care with respect and dignity.” –People’s Community Clinic
Just three miles west of the People’s Community Clinic, you’ll find the Volunteer Healthcare Clinic. The Volunteer Healthcare Clinic is also a non-profit clinic that hosts a walk-in clinic three times a week, a weekly chronic disease management program which provides treatment for hypertension, diabetes, and other endocrine disorders, as well as a monthly specialty clinic that provides dermatology, psychiatry and nutrition counseling.
The Volunteer Healthcare Clinic and the People’s Community Clinic collaborate to support the success of each other. These non-profits enhance the social determinants of health of the community members around these organizations. Figure 7 illustrates some of the accomplishments that The Volunteer Healthcare Clinic achieved in 2017, one of the biggest accomplishments included saving over $631,620 in avoided emergency room visits. Not only do these programs provide the residents of Austin access to health care, but they enhance the future of our community.
Bibliography
Braithwaite, R. L. (1989). Community empowerment as a strategy for health promotion for black and other minority populations. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association,261(2), 282–283. doi:10.1001/jama.261.2.282
Flores, G., Bauchner, H., Feinstein, A. R., & Nguyen, U. S. (1999). The impact of ethnicity, family income, and parental education on childrens health and use of health services. American Journal of Public Health,89(7), 1066–1071. doi:10.2105/ajph.89.7.1066
Marmot, M. (2005). Social determinants of health inequalities. The Lancet,365(9464), 1099-1104. doi:10.1016/s0140–6736(05)71146–6
Newacheck, P. W. (1994). Poverty and Childhood Chronic Illness. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine,148(11), 1143. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1994.02170110029005
Wheeler, S. M., & Bryant, A. S. (2017). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health and Health Care. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America,44(1), 1–11. doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2016.10.001
