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Investigating the Spatial Relationship between Social Vulnerability and Healthcare Facility Distribution in Nassau County, New York

Author

Listed:
  • Alea Jones

    (Pipeline Programs, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Ijeoma Nnadi

    (Pipeline Programs, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Kelly Centeno

    (Pipeline Programs, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Giselle Molina

    (Pipeline Programs, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Rida Nasir

    (Department of Population Health, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Gina G. Granger

    (Pipeline Programs, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Nicholas R. Mercado

    (Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA)

  • Andrea A. Ault-Brutus

    (Department of Population Health, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Martine Hackett

    (Department of Population Health, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

  • Ibraheem M. Karaye

    (Department of Population Health, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA)

Abstract

Health is a fundamental human right, yet healthcare facilities are not distributed equitably across all communities. This study aims to investigate the distribution of healthcare facilities in Nassau County, New York, and examine whether the distribution is equitable across different social vulnerability levels. An optimized hotspot analysis was conducted on a dataset of 1695 healthcare facilities—dental, dialysis, ophthalmic, and urgent care—in Nassau County, and social vulnerability was measured using the FPIS codes. The study found that healthcare facilities were disproportionately distributed in the county, with a higher concentration in areas of low social vulnerability compared to areas of high social vulnerability. The majority of healthcare facilities were found to be clustered in two ZIP codes—11020 and 11030—that rank among the top ten wealthiest in the county. The results of this study suggest that socially vulnerable residents in Nassau County are at a disadvantage when it comes to attaining equitable access to healthcare facilities. The distribution pattern highlights the need for interventions to improve access to care for marginalized communities and to address the underlying determinants of healthcare facility segregation in the county.

Suggested Citation

  • Alea Jones & Ijeoma Nnadi & Kelly Centeno & Giselle Molina & Rida Nasir & Gina G. Granger & Nicholas R. Mercado & Andrea A. Ault-Brutus & Martine Hackett & Ibraheem M. Karaye, 2023. "Investigating the Spatial Relationship between Social Vulnerability and Healthcare Facility Distribution in Nassau County, New York," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4353-:d:1083698
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cerdá, M. & Tracy, M. & Ahern, J. & Galea, S., 2014. "Addressing population health and health inequalities: The role of fundamental causes," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(S4), pages 609-619.
    2. Kathryn Freeman Anderson, 2018. "Racial/Ethnic Residential Segregation, the Distribution of Physician’s Offices and Access to Health Care: The Case of Houston, Texas," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-18, July.
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