Recorded presentation

Anne Peneff Albert, DC, Dipl Ac, Evanston-Rogers Park Family Health Center, 1555 W. Howard Street, Chicago, IL 60626, (773) 764-7146, dralpalbert@yahoo.com

OBJECTIVES: I described use of chiropractic and/or acupuncture services in a Chicago clinic for the medically underserved, as defined by the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) criteria and discussed challenges of providing these new services. METHODS: I used data from Access Community Health Network's billing office and patient files to analyze patients I saw from July 2002 - July 2003. Analysis was by age, race/ethnic group, gender, children/no children, type of insurance (e.g. Medicaid, Medicare, HMO or private insurance, Worker's Compensation or uninsured), number of new patients and patient visits, and previous use of chiropractic and/or acupuncture services. RESULTS: Patients were typically female in mid-thirties with children, more African-Americans than Latinos (latter's percentage increasing with time) than Whites. Plurality of patients had Medicaid (state insurance); the next largest group had no insurance, with that percentage increasing. Most patients without insurance were Latinos. Most patients had never been to a chiropractor. Use of chiropractic and acupuncture services significantly increased over time. CONCLUSIONS: Medically underserved patients at our clinic, like the general population at large, are increasingly using chiropractic and/or acupuncture services. Challenges remain on how to best "educate" both patients and health care providers about these services.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the patient population using chiropractic and/or acupuncture services in a Chicago clinic for the medically underserved.
• Discuss the challenges encountered in providing these new services.

Keywords: Chiropractic, Underserved Populations

Related Web page: www.accesscommunityhealth.net

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Access Community Health Network, Evanston-Rogers Park Family Health Center
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: full-time employee

Recorded presentation