The Project Access Model of Care: A patchwork approach to addressing healthcare disparities in the United States

Abstract

The current state of the United States healthcare system leaves the door wide open for already existing health and healthcare disparities to be perpetuated. The structure of the United States healthcare system makes health insurance a necessity. Additionally, people with limited English proficiency are struggling to access services in the United States healthcare system as not enough is being done to provide these patients with language resources to facilitate access. Furthermore, the social determinants of health framework has been successfully implemented in public health policy, but the way it is applied is damaging to its own primary goal of health justice. Through interviews and analysis of gray literature, it was found that the Project Access model of care addresses the exclusionary nature of the United States healthcare system by eliminating the barriers of insurance, income, and language. However, in addition to being a model of care, it is also a form of philanthropy which does not get to the root causes of the disparities and barriers to care in the US healthcare system. Nevertheless, this model can initiate political and social debate by making these issues more apparent and highlight the more immediate needs in local communities.