Proximity analysis of hospitals and federally qualified health centers to syringe exchange programs in New York City

ABSTRACT

Objective

Syringe exchange programs (SEPs) are very important in New York City (NYC), a place greatly affected by the opioid epidemic. Access to SEPs and health-care services located in proximity to each other is critical for reducing overdose deaths. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine if SEPs are appropriately located near health facilities in NYC.

Methods

Publicly available data on population totals, as well as location data of SEPS, hospitals, and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) across NYC, were obtained for the purpose of mapping. Thereafter, we conducted a proximity analysis of SEPs to hospitals and FQHCs.

Results

There are a total of 13 SEPs across NYC. Proximity analysis shows that, while there are numerous FQHCs located in close proximity to SEPs, there are minimal hospitals in close proximity to SEPS. Furthermore, there are notably higher population totals living in close proximity to SEPs compared to those living farther away from these facilities.

Conclusion

Our findings illustrate that health-care centers currently tend to be located distantly from SEPs, particularly in Richmond County. In an effort to expand services to address the opioid epidemic across NYC, the development of SEPs needs to be closer to health-care resources.

KEYWORDS:

• Overdose
• syringe exchange
• health care
• inequities
• access

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Russell K. McIntire, PhD, MPH, for his insights.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.