2014 Theses Master's

Patient Accessibility to Primary Healthcare in Brooklyn, New York

Sollenberger, Gillian Barlow

The primary concern for patients in healthcare shortage areas is accessibility, which in turn can reduce the long-term costs necessitated by treating initially undiagnosed illnesses. This thesis examines primary healthcare resources in Brooklyn, New York, revealing the barriers that prevent doctors from providing care and patients from receiving care, as well as areas with low accessibility to primary care. The key to accessibility is the provision of primary healthcare during business hours as well as nights and weekends, in addition to the ability to accept walk-ins.
In the past, urban planners and public health professionals have worked closely together to provide buildings and services to serve these needs, although in the recent past this cooperation has not been present in New York State. This thesis stands as the first part of the research required for the integration of primary care resources in Brooklyn communities, as well as recommendations that begin to retie the urban planning and public health professions. Research design consists of a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods in the following forms: policy research, surveying existing primary care providers in Brooklyn, mapping of existing resources and demographic conditions, cluster analysis, and interviews with healthcare provider professionals.