Disparities in Geographic Proximity to Outpatient Physical Therapist Services in a Large Metropolitan Area.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cross-sectional secondary data analysis.

BACKGROUND

Geographic access to outpatient physical therapist (OPT) services in densely populated urban areas is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

Describe the geographic distribution of need for and supply of OPT services in this area and explore disparities in geographic proximity to services.

METHODS AND MEASURES: Sociodemographic and OPT need data were collected for each census tract in the Denver Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) from the United States Census. Need for OPT was defined as the percentage of respondents within the census tract who responded "yes" to the question, "do you have difficulty walking or climbing stairs?" A geocoded database of businesses and hospitals with OPT services was constructed from the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and the Department of Public Health and Environment, respectively. Geographic proximity to OPT services was defined as living within a one-mile radius of a clinic. We leveraged Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to integrate and analyze relevant spatial data.

RESULTS

A total of 359 OPT practices were identified in the Denver MSA. Census tracts with high social vulnerability and high OPT need tended to have poor geographic proximity to services.

CONCLUSIONS

Disparities in geographic access to OPT services exist within large metropolitan areas. GIS represents a useful strategy for understanding geographic disparities in care and informing the allocation of physical therapist resources.

INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW: University of Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: The authors have no financial relationships to disclose.