A Study to Characterize Access to Specialty Care Received by American Indians/Alaska Natives

This is an observational study to define current care pathways for American Indian or Alaska Native patients requiring specialty care and potential feasibility of conducting clinical research within the existing framework. The study is designed with the flexibility to enroll patients with any indication requiring referral to a specialist (neurologist, ophthalmologist, or oncologist). Eligible patients will have recently (<3 months) been referred to a specialty care provider and not yet seen.The study will collect data to determine whether a patient was seen by a specialist, diagnosed with a specialized disease, patient characteristics potentially associated with being seen or not seen by a specialist, and the reasons/barriers why a patient was not seen by a specialist through a number of patient surveys.

Inclusion Criteria:Ability to read English at 8th grade proficiency or have a household member willing to assist in translation to complete patient surveysSelf-identification as American Indian or Alaska NativeReferred to a neurologist, ophthalmologist, or oncologist for the first timePersonal landline or cell phone and/or access to internetWillingness to complete all surveys in the study and participate for 12 monthsExclusion Criteria:Currently under the care of a specialist (>3 months) to whom they are being referred to by the primary care provider (i.e., to be eligible, the specialty care physician should be new to the participant)Currently or planned to receive care that requires in participant visits for the indication requiring referral from the primary care provider (e.g., radiotherapy, chemotherapy for cancer diagnosis) within 3 months of consent date