1. Plastic Surgery Outreach Clinics Expand Access to Cleft and Craniofacial Care in Mississippi.
- Author
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Hopper SJ, Hecox EE, Brown KW, Fernstrum CJ, Hoppe IC, and Humphries LS
- Subjects
- Humans, Mississippi, Craniosynostoses surgery, Craniosynostoses economics, Plastic Surgery Procedures statistics & numerical data, Plastic Surgery Procedures economics, Community-Institutional Relations, Male, Child, Travel statistics & numerical data, Cleft Palate surgery, Cleft Palate economics, Health Services Accessibility statistics & numerical data, Health Services Accessibility economics, Cleft Lip surgery, Cleft Lip economics
- Abstract
Abstract: Accessing treatment at ACPA (American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association)-approved centers is challenging for individuals in rural communities. This study aims to assess how pediatric plastic surgery outreach clinics impact access for patients with orofacial cleft and craniosynostosis in Mississippi. An isochrone map was used to determine mean travel times from Mississippi counties to the sole pediatric hospital and the only ACPA-approved team in the state. This analysis was done before and after the establishment of two outreach clinics to assess differences in travel times and cost of travel to specialized plastic surgery care. Two sample t-tests were used for analysis.The addition of outreach clinics in North and South Mississippi led to a significant reduction in mean travel times for patients with cleft and craniofacial diagnoses across the state's counties (1.81 hours vs 1.46 hours, P < 0.001). Noteworthy travel cost savings were observed after the introduction of outreach clinics when considering both the pandemic gas prices ($15.27 vs $9.80, P < 0.001) and post-pandemic prices ($36.52 vs $23.43, P < 0.001).The addition of outreach clinics in Mississippi has expanded access to specialized healthcare for patients with cleft and craniofacial differences resulting in reduced travel time and cost savings for these patients. Establishing specialty outreach clinics in other rural states across the United States may contribute significantly to reducing burden of care for patients with clefts and craniofacial differences. Future studies can further investigate whether the inclusion of outreach clinics improves follow-up rates and surgical outcomes for these patients., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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