Recipients of PSC Small Grant Awards

My research examines differences in access to care and preventive services among different models of primary care delivery. I’m particularly interested in a model known as the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) because it puts patients’ needs first and strives to provide care that is high quality and high value. Growing up in a rural area, I realized the disparities my family and community faced in accessing healthcare. Receiving regular primary care isn’t always a priority for rural community members and other vulnerable populations. Primary care is often necessary to receive regular healthcare screenings for cancer and other chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Therefore, patients that experience access-related barriers to primary care are often diagnosed with disease at a later stage and often with a poorer prognosis. The PCMH is also designed to enhance access to primary care through extended office hours and virtual visits.