Expanding access to dermatological and wound care for underserved communities through a free clinic in rural Illinois

Summary: Disparities in care and outcomes in dermatology are rising, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Despite comprising a large portion of the general population, under- and uninsured individuals are often underrepresented in dermatology practice, resulting in delays in diagnosis, management, and treatment. There is a high incidence and prevalence of dermatological conditions affecting the population of rural Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the incidence of skin cancers, bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic skin infections, STIs, acne, dermatitis, and psoriasis, as well as superficial and open wounds secondary to chronic conditions and tool and machine use, injury, or trauma, continues to rise. Increasing access to dermatological and wound care in under- and uninsured individuals may help reduce the risk and burden of these skin conditions in rural Illinois. To address the pressing and critical need for dermatological and wound care in rural Illinois, we created the first-ever free dermatology and wound care facility in Urbana-Champaign, Champaign County, IL. It offers dermatological and wound care services that are 100% free to residents. On stratification, our patients encompass Hispanic 33.3%, Caucasian 33.3%, African American 11.1%, and those that declined to respond 22.2%. The conditions we have managed include benign growths (38.89%), foot-related conditions (5.57%), dermatitis (22.2%; all types), malignant/at risk growths (5.56%), appendage-related (11.11%), and pigmentation disorders (16.67%). 77.7% of patients treated don’t have medical insurance; while 22.3% don’t know/are unsure. 11.1% of patients speak a primary language other than English. We discuss the establishment and operationalization of the clinic, highlighting its impact on patient dermatological and wound healthcare outcomes and its role in fostering and empowering student involvement in dermatology. Christian Guerrero-Juarez¹, Neil Mashruwala¹, Caitlyn Foote² 1. Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL, United States. 2. Christie Clinic, Champaign, IL, United States. Minoritized Populations and Health Disparities Research