A comic strip explains physical barriers to healthcare

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Comics artist Tatiana Gill interviewed Christine Lindquist, director of an organization that supports free clinics, to find out what kinds of barriers people face when trying to get healthcare. These barriers drive the thousands of patients who seek care at the annual free Seattle/King County Clinic, happening April 23-26 in 2026. Free clinics provide critical relief from some immediate health needs, but as Christine points out, free clinics are not enough if the barriers remain.

The title of this comic strip is "Physical Barriers to Accessing Healthcare." In the first panel, a person using a walker is at the bottom of a staircase. At the top of the staircase is a building with a healthcare symbol. This comic strip in an interview with Christine Lindquist, MPH, Executive Director of Washington Healthcare Access Alliance.
Christine, a woman with short auburn hair and glasses, speaks in close-up. She says there are many barriers to people accessing the care they need and the ones who need it the most have it the hardest.
A person with gray hair and a frown sits on a bus stop bench. Cobwebs extend from their shoulders to the bench. Christine, the narrator, describes a lack of personal and public transportation that accomodates mobility difficulties.
A map sources from Washington State Geospatial Open Data Portal showing a dispersal of dots clustered mainly around the I-5, I-9, and I-82 freeways. Christine describes how the distance to providers is an issue. Healthcare is not evenly distributed through King County or Washington state.
Charlie Brown bangs his head against an empty booth for psychiatric help. A sign reads that the doctor is out. Christine narrates that the there is also a lack of types of healthcare, with multiple county areas where there's not a single license psychologist.
A person with a mustache talking to a doctor shown on a mobile phone. Christine narrates that there's an opportunity to bridge some of these gaps with telehealth, but people in rural areas can also lack internet service.
A woman gets her blood checked by a healthcare professional in a white coat wearing a stethoscope. Christine narrates that even if you can get care from a free clinic, there aren't always follow-up care options like specialty care, lab services, and medication.
A custodian grimaces as he lies on the ground holding his head where a point of pain radiates. A puddle of water and a map are next to him on the floor. Christine narrates that people who are in poverty or do shift work can't take the time off to get care. And they are more likely to have chronic illness or get injured on the job.
A closeup of Christine speaking. She says that we lose out on so many people who are ill or injured, who could be made whole if we had a system that took everyone into account. But we don't.

About this comic

Thank you to Christine Lindquist for sharing her insights. Artist Tatiana Gill is a cartoonist drawing about public health issues including mental health, abortion, harm reduction, homelessness, and fat positivity. She has been self-publishing comic books for 30 years and makes comics for various organizations and publications. See more of her work at tatianagill.com. 

This comic is one of a series of comics commemorating over ten years of Seattle/King County Clinic, an annual event that offers free medical, dental, and vision care. With the Seattle Center Foundation, we collaborated with a team of comics artists to tell stories about the challenges that everyday people have with getting the healthcare they need. We hope that the stories will spark conversations about what can be done to close these gaps and make the need for the Seattle/King County Clinic obsolete.

Information on Seattle/King County Clinic

Seattle/King County Clinic brings together healthcare organizations, civic agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and thousands of volunteers to produce the largest community-driven free health clinic of its kind in the United States. Free medical, dental and vision services are available for anyone who struggles to get healthcare. Seattle/King County Clinic will held April 23-26 in 2026. More information for patients and volunteers: seattlecenter.org/skcclinic

Read other comics in this series

Leda’s Story: How Medicaid helps families thrive
Three Buckets: A comic about barriers to people on Medicaid
Health + Care: a comic strip salutes 10 years of Seattle/King County Clinic

Originally published on April 9, 2026.

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