VA Puget Sound Health Care System - 2020-08-19

Name of requestor
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Date of request
Request status
Approved
Data requested

Custom Data File

DUA current

Reason for approval/denial

Data request met WA-APCD data use criteria.

Fees

$9,100

Purpose of request

This study seeks to identify racial and geographic disparities in the care of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in Washington State, particularly King County. The study will use medical records (Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial) to characterize PD-related diagnoses, treatment, and specialty care in WA zip codes and to then determine how zip code or African American, Asian American, Latino American, and American/Alaskan Indian race/ethnicity may influence PD care. Using findings from these analyses, a pilot program will be designed to target underserved communities and help them better access specialist care and community services. More particularly, the pilot will identify and assess barriers to people with PD accessing specialized care (e.g., transportation, location and hours of medical facilities, marketing) and design access programs and interventions that address those barriers, including mechanisms that incentivize community doctors and primary care physicians to refer PD patients on to Movement Disorder Specialists. The study and pilot will initially address disparities within the African-American population of SE Seattle and South King County in contrast to the African American population of NW and North King County, with the idea that other population groups can be addressed in a future phase 2 project. By completing both the initial study and the pilot program, patients diagnosed with PD may be better served so that they can live healthier and longer lives, while reducing costs to the health-care system as a whole.

Includes Protected Health Information (PHI) or proprietary financial information

No