Community Needs Assessments in a Student-Run Clinic serving a West Philadelphia Neighborhood

Background: While Community Needs Assessments (CNAs) are an important tool for Student-Run Clinics (SRCs) to understand local communities healthcare needs, few studies have evaluated CNAs and their impact on care provided at SRCs. Objective: Evaluate results from two CNAs of an SRC in East Parkside, Philadelphia to better comprehend (1) community awareness and opinions regarding the SRC and (2) local healthcare concerns and access. Methods: 58 and 105 East Parkside residents were surveyed in 2011 and 2015 respectively. The results were analyzed to quantify various health-related measures in the community. Results: Results showed high rates of hypertension, asthma, and diabetes. Rates of pap-smear and hypertension screening matched national averages while mammograms and colonoscopies were below national rates. Both CNAs showed that less than 40% of community members were aware of the clinic9s existence. Conclusions: CNAs can provide valuable insights regarding local health needs which can inform future healthcare interventions.