OSTEOPATHIC MANIPULATIVE TREATMENT IN HISPANIC PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE CHART STUDY

Purpose (a): To understand the incidence of Hispanic patients presenting to the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Clinic, and to compare their demographics to the Hispanic and other ethnic populations in Tarrant County. Methods (b): Data for this retrospective chart study was collected for Hispanics patients who had visited the OMM Clinic from June 25, 2012 to June 25, 2013. Patient charts were reviewed for the following data: demographics, somatic dysfunction, osteopathic manipulative treatment, and assessment/diagnosis. Data for demographics of the population in Tarrant County was obtained through HealthyNorthTexas.Org. Results (c): The data for patients attending the OMM Clinic showed that 75.9% of patients were White, Non-Hispanic and 7.6% of the patients were Hispanic. In Tarrant County, 50.7% of the population is White, Non-Hispanic and 27.4% of the population is Hispanic. 82.5% of the White, Non-Hispanic population and 47.5% of the Hispanic population has health insurance. When comparing the data from the OMM Clinic and Tarrant County, it is evident that 41.8% of the White, Non-Hispanics in Tarrant County should be coming to the OMM Clinic based on health insurance status, and 13% of the Hispanics should be coming to the OMM Clinic. The Hispanics come into the OMM Clinic at a rate of 1:10 (1 Hispanic patient for every 10 White, Non-Hispanic patients). However, Hispanics should be coming to the OMM Clinic at a rate of 1:3. Conclusions (d): The study established that the Hispanic population does not come into the OMM Clinic at the same rate as the White, Non-Hispanic population does, despite having health insurance. Therefore, it is necessary to educate the Hispanic population on the benefits of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT).