Examining Healthcare Access Disparities: Social Determinants and Patient Experiences at Valley HealthCare

<p>Persistent disparities in healthcare access continued to affect low-income, rural, and underserved populations across the United States. This capstone project explored these disparities within Valley HealthCare, a regional provider in Columbus, Georgia, by examining how social determinants such as income, education, geography, and transportation shaped healthcare engagement among adult patients. A mixed-methods case study design was used to analyze survey data, patient satisfaction feedback, and organizational reports from a sample of 80 adult patients between January and March 2025.</p> <p>The results showed that patients residing in lower-income or geographically isolated areas reported significantly higher rates of missed appointments. Individuals with limited health literacy expressed greater dissatisfaction and were more likely to delay or forgo preventive care. Additionally, the absence of reliable transportation in rural ZIP codes was strongly associated with delayed or missed healthcare access. Educational attainment also was a key factor, as patients who had not completed high school were less likely to follow through with recommended care.</p> <p>These findings emphasize the barriers faced by underserved populations and supported the need for patient-centered, community-informed interventions. Based on these results, this capstone proposed practical solutions such as mobile clinics, appointment reminder tools, culturally appropriate health education, and expansion of programs like “Food is Medicine.” By using patient feedback with structural data, this project offered actionable recommendations for healthcare systems and policymakers to reduce inequities and promote more accessible, equitable care delivery in similar community-based settings.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Health Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology and Health Sciences

Year

2025

Author dc:creator

• Larmond, Mikaila

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Patricia Anafi
• Dr. Rebecca Toland

• Valley HealthCare
• Columbus
• Georgia
• Healthcare Access
• Underserved Populations
• Health Literacy
• Community Health and Preventive Medicine
• Public Health
• Public Health Education and Promotion

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/741

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:csuepress.columbusstate.edu:theses_dissertations-1728