Objective: The objective of this review is to explore existing literature related to free clinic oversight, and patient and health outcomes reported with the use of free clinics in the United States, to examine and conceptually map the evidence, and to identify any gaps.
Introduction: Free clinics serve a unique role in American health care; however, little is known about clinic oversight and the outcomes seen in uninsured and under-insured patients who are treated at free health clinics.
Inclusion criteria: The review will consider studies that include hospital or privately owned and operated community free clinics, and adults and children who utilize free clinics in the United States. In addition to information about clinic oversight, patient outcomes to be considered include disease course management metrics and patient satisfaction. Health outcomes to be considered include hospitalization rates and emergency room visit rates.
Methods: This scoping review will consider both experimental and quasi-experimental study designs in addition to analytical observational studies. Qualitative studies, systematic reviews that meet the inclusion criteria, and text and opinion papers will also be included. The search will be limited to those studies published in English since 1967, the year the first free clinic opened in the United States. The proposed review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Data will be extracted from papers by two independent reviewers using an extraction tool developed by the reviewers.