Barriers in Healthcare Access: Possible Solutions for North Shore Communities

Abstract

The environment in which someone lives and mental health struggles such as depression can impact all aspects of a person's life. Through standard screening assessments like the Patient Health Questionnaires for depression and Social Determinants of Health addressing living conditions and other areas of life, healthcare professionals can provide effective treatment to meet the needs of their patients. For this senior internship project at North Shore Community Health Center, barriers to accessing healthcare resources (language barriers, lack of health literacy, etc.) were uncovered through patient screenings. As a result, possible solutions to make a positive impact will be implemented to improve the lives of individuals living on the North Shore.