Influence of Rural–Urban Status, Demographics, and Insurance Type on Access to Pediatric Dermatology in South Carolina: A Retrospective Analysis of Referral Data

Access to board-certified pediatric dermatology (PD) is scarce in South Carolina (SC) and nationally, and this study aimed to investigate how geographic location, patient demographics, and insurance type influenced access to the only board-certified, fellowship-trained pediatric dermatologists in the state. Patients with Medicaid faced farther travel distances to attend their PD appointment than those with private insurance (77 vs. 21 miles, p < 0.001) and had a greater time between referral placement and first attended appointment (51 vs. 22 days, p < 0.001). Rural patients, compared to suburban and urban patients, also had a greater length of time between referral placement and first appointment (58 vs. 34 and 43 days respectively, p = 0.027). This study highlights distinct demographic disparities in access to specialized PD, providing data to support initiatives that improve access to PD care.