Healthcare Access, Utilization, Sociodemographic & Spatial Factors (HAUSS)

The Healthcare Access Utilization, Sociodemographic and Spatial Factors lab focuses on cancer health disparities through the lens of the social determinants of health using a socio-ecological perspective. We focus on health care access and utilization and the intersection of race/ethnicity, rurality and other identities. The lab also incorporates geographic and spatial analysis to examine spatial patterns of disease as well as geographical medical accessibility (distance and travel time analyses).

Current projects include survey-based research assessing delayed medical care, cancer screening uptake and availability of social supports through primary care settings. The lab also conducts research using secondary data sources including provider databases and electronic health records.

Research Team & Collaborators

• Dr. Lisa Smith, Grace Abbot School of Social Work, University of Nebraska Omaha
• Dr. Hongmei Wang, Department of Health Services Research & Administration, UNMC
• We have had several MPH and PhD students participate on the research team. 

If you are interested in collaborating, please contact Dr. Ratnapradipa.

Publications

• Kabayundo J, Ahuja M, Jadhav S, Smith LC, Bithi FA, Shahi S, Johnson G, Mundi S, Ratnapradipa KL. Transportation barriers to healthcare access: a scoping review of measurement approaches and associated health outcomes. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives.2025;34:101697. Published 2025 Oct 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2025.101697
• Smith LC, Johnson G, Jadhav S, Kabayundo J, Ahuja M, Wang H, Ratnapradipa KL. Ever use of telehealth in Nebraska by March 2021: Cross-sectional analysis. J Med Internet Research. 2024;26:e53320. Published 2024 Nov 28. DOI: 10.2196/53320. PMID: 39608002
• Ratnapradipa KL, Jadhav S, Kabayundo J, Wang H, Smith LC. Factors associated with delaying medical care:  cross-sectional study of Nebraska adults. BMC Health Services Research. 2023;23(118). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09140-0. PMID: 36739376
• LaCrete F, Ratnapradipa KL, Carlson K, Lyden E, Dowdall JR. Rural-urban otolaryngologic observational workforce analysis: The state of Nebraska. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology. (E-pub 2023 Nov 21). 2023;8(6):1602-1606. https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.1181. PMID: 38130258
• Ratnapradipa KL, Wang R, Kabayundo J, Marquez Lavenant W, Nelson E, *Ahuja M, Zhang Y, Wang H. Cross-sectional analysis of primary care clinics' policies, practices, and availability of patient support services during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Published online 2024 March 5.] BMC Health Services Research. 2024;24(1):279. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10660-6. PMID: 38443959