Underrepresented Minority Family Physicians More Likely to Care for Vulnerable Populations

Abstract

Using data from 2016 to 2020, we found that family physicians who identify as underrepresented minorities in medicine were more likely to have a larger percentage of vulnerable patients in their panels. Increasing access to care for vulnerable patient populations will require a combination of advocating for policies to diversify the physician pipeline and those that encourage all primary care physicians to care for vulnerable patients.

Keywords: Family Medicine; Family Physicians; Health Services Accessibility; Insurance; Minority Health; Policy; Primary Care Physicians; Social Determinants of Health; Vulnerable Populations.