Miami Community Health Survey: Access to Care and Opportunities for Primary Care in an Underserved Urban Community Kenneth Obiaja, MD, MPH.1 Dorothy Parker, MHS.2 David Lee, PhD.2,3 Marsha Stevens, MPH.2 Noella Dietz, PhD. 2,3 Monica Webb, PhD. 2,3 Erin Kobetz, PhD, MPH. 2,3 1 Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine 2 University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center 3 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine Objectives Strategies, Interventions, and Programs Describe the results related to health care utilization and barriers to care from a health survey of residents of Liberty Square, an public housing project in Miami, Florida. The purpose of the survey was to determine the health and social needs of the community, to learn about barriers to health care utilization, and assess the risk for cancer and other chronic diseases. Outline the steps taken and describe the role of primary care to reduce barriers to care and utilization of services. The Liberty City Community Advisory Board (CAB) was established to partner with the UM Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center to reduce cancer health disparities. Their first collaborative effort was to conduct a community health survey to identify residents’ risks and needs related to cancer. The UM-CAB partnership serves as the gateway for future research, health promotion and community service activities brought into the neighborhood. With direction from the CAB, a community resource guide with pertinent information on health centers, transportation and, social services was developed and distributed to members of the community and local health services providers. The DCO Core also created cancer fact sheets for the Liberty City area, and distributed them along with other cancer education material from NCI and ACS. The UM Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Community Services (DOCS) program now holds health fairs, staffed by resident doctors, medical students, and allied staff to bring free health screening and education to Liberty City as well as provide linkage to tertiary care facilities if necessary. Survey results were used to secure state and federal research grants designed to reduce smoking, develop stress management interventions, and to identify early-stage oral cancer thru non-invasive methods (i.e., salivary markers).  The provision of free mammograms was also secured using survey results which indicated multiple access and logistical barriers limiting compliance with screening recommendations. Methods A questionnaire was developed by University of Miami (UM) Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers in partnership with the Liberty City Community Advisory Board (CAB). The questionnaire included standard health questions and included modifications from the CAB members. 250 households in the Liberty Square Public Housing Project were randomly selected for door-to-door interviews. An additional 25 convenience interviews were also conducted. UM subcontracted with the Liberty Square Residents Council, Inc. to hire interviewers who were residents of Liberty Square. Interviewers (5), data entry staff (2) and a study coordinator were hired. They were trained by the Sylvester Cancer Center’s Disparities and Community Outreach Core. The data were analyzed by UM researchers using SPSS Ver. 17. Results Liberty City University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center A total of 275 adults who live in the Liberty Square Housing Project participated in the survey. Approximately 40% of respondents were male and 60% were female. Most respondents (86%) reported good-to-excellent health status, 81% had a place to get routine health care (48% went to a clinic or doctor’s office), and 80% saw a doctor within the past two years. Barriers to getting care included problems getting appointments, long waits at local clinics, and no transportation to the health care centers. Most respondents got their health related information from the television (22%), health fairs (21%), and from other community members (19%). Approximately 20% of respondents reported that they could not afford medical care, prescription medication or eyeglasses in the past year. Liberty City Community Advisory Board and UM Researcher Team Conclusion Local primary health are providers are in a position to play a key role in the reducing health disparities in this community by collaborating with researchers and the community advisory board and using these pilot study findings to provide and coordinate a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, and eliminate barriers to care. Contact information: Dorothy Parker, dparker@med.miami.edu www.sylvester.org/dcocore