Informing ASPIRE and a future student-run clinic: healthcare needs assessment of London, Ontario

A needs assessment was conducted by the Alliance of Students Providing Interprofessional Resources and Education (ASPIRE) to identify gaps in healthcare delivery and health promotion within London, Ontario that can be addressed by a student-run clinic. Investigations into the social determinants of health revealed a low employment rate with notable housing and food insecurities. From a physical health perspective, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases were identified as the leading causes of hospitalization and mortality. Additionally, a high burden of mental illness and rising incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were identified as major health challenges. Upon examination of primary care resources, various patient and practitioner-reported barriers to care were noted. Patients cited long wait times, inaccessible office hours, and inconvenient locations of practice as barriers. Primary care practitioners reported lack of resources to adequately meet the needs of complex populations, particularly those of low socioeconomic status backgrounds. To conclude, a discussion of the role and operation of a student-run clinic in addressing these findings is presented; an additional interdisciplinary healthcare resource that offers extended hours of operation, clinical outreach, and healthcare-related workshops can improve the accessibility to timely healthcare for underserved populations in London.