UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project
Encyclopedia
The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project (UCSD Free Clinic) is a non-profit, free clinic
that maintains three community locations and is headquartered at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
. The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project is 1 of approximately 24 student-run clinic programs in the nation; students plan, manage, and carry out clinic operations under the supervision of licensed physicians. The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project seeks to provide high-quality and comprehensive care to uninsured
and underserved patients throughout San Diego, who cannot otherwise afford access to care; the majority of patients are working poor
. Its three clinics are located at the First Lutheran Church in Downtown San Diego, the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church in Pacific Beach
, and Baker Elementary School located just north of National City
.
, California approached Dr. Ellen Beck, M.D, Clinical Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at UCSD. Together, they called a meeting of interested students and formed a planning committee. The key learning for the team was that an exclusive building was not needed to house the clinic; the project needed an established community partner that could provide them with support and facilities.
The team identified a well established program already serving the homeless at the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church. Mary Mahy, a formerly homeless woman, had created the Harvest for the Hungry program and was receptive to the idea of a free medical clinic. With her support and assistance, the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project gained access to several rooms in the church that they could use during the evenings. Thus, the first UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic site was opened at the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church on in January 1997. On that first night, 10 patients came seeking aid and over the next few months the clinic became very busy.
A minister from the First Lutheran Church in Downtown San Diego, who was passionate about social justice and serving the homeless, heard about the free clinic that had started in Pacific Beach. He approached Dr. Beck and asked if a second site could be started at his church. This coincided with rising student interest for the project and with a sufficient number of medical student volunteers, a second site was opened in October 1997.
The medical students then became interested in reaching out to underserved minority populations. Initially, Dr. Beck approached an inner city church. Though the congregation was primarily middle-class, the pastor of the church referred Dr. Beck to his wife, Dr. Louilyn Hargett, who was the leader at Baker Elementary School. Dr. Hargett along with the school's principal, Krisi Dean, welcomed the creation of a clinic and became partners with the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project. During 1998, the San Diego Unified School District approved the request to use school buildings for a medical clinic. It was the school board's hope that the clinic would help to affirm the idea that school was at the center of the community. On October 13, 1998, the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project's third site was opened at Baker Elementary.
Through the first 10 years of operations, the clinics provided no-cost healthcare to 7,500 people. At any given time, the clinics have approximately 2,500 active patients.
The clinic funding comes from UCSD, grants, foundations, and donors.
The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project strives to provide top-notch care to all of its patients and works towards fulfilling dimensions of unmet need. The clinic stresses safety and confidentiality and adheres to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA). The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project seeks to educate and empower its patients and encourages them to take control of their health; the clinic hopes that this grassroots
effort will spread and make all San Diegans more conscious and proactive
about their health. The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project strives to act as a teacher not only to its patients, but also its students, doctors, and volunteers. The staff learn first hand from their patients about the health disparity affecting low-income people as well as the non medical needs of the underserved. The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project works to create an environment where all who attend, feel energized, encouraged, supported, respected, trusted and open to one another, thus making the San Diego community a healthier place to live.
, dentistry
, acupuncture
, a basic pharmacy
, legal aid
, and access to social work
ers.
. Specialty clinics are once-per-month occurrences that active patients must be referred to in advance of the scheduled specialty clinic date. Patients of the UCSD free clinics may be treated by a doctor representing: cardiology
, dermatology
, endocrinology
, gastroenterology
, gynecology, nephrology
, neurology
, ophthalmology
, orthopedic surgery
, podiatry
, pulmonology
, and rheumatology
.
(Cal Western) organizes the Community Law Project at the Downtown clinic
. The Community Law Project's mission is to offer pro bono legal advice, information and referral services to low income residents of the San Diego community. The law students from Cal Western work directly in a multidisciplinary context with the other clinics at the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project to provide legal services to the client. The Community Law Project addresses all areas of law related to the indigent client, with more emphasis being in the areas of Family, Consumer, Administrative, and Immigration law. It does not provide legal representation.
school of Social Work intern with the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project Project under the guidance of a social worker. They provide patients with resources and information about public programs, housing, public services, and employment opportunities.
New patient clinics are held Monday evening downtown and Wednesday evening in Pacific Beach. A medical student or a team of medical students conduct a comprehensive interview including information about the patient's present condition, history of the present illness
, social and family history
. A physical examination on the patient is also performed. The medical student(s) then presents the patient's case to an attending physician
and together they talk with the patient. The attending, medical student and patient collaborate to determine the best course of action. If needed, medications are ordered from the pharmacy and are then dispensed to the patient.
Through "Addressing the Health Needs of the Underserved," and individual consultations, the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project Project has been emulated around the country in at least 7 new locations including Jackson, Mississippi, Lexington, Kentucky, Kansas City, Kansas, and Houston, Texas
In addition, attendees have used information from the program to create 29 new resident curricula in community medicine, 18 new medical student curricula, successful grant proposals that address training in underserved communities, and new programs addressing the needs of migrant workers, street homeless, and other underserved groups.
Partners
Student-Run Free Clinic Information
Free clinic
A free clinic is a medical facility offering community healthcare on a free or very low-cost basis in countries with marginal or no universal health care. Care is generally provided in these clinics to persons who have lower or limited income and no health insurance, including persons who are not...
that maintains three community locations and is headquartered at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project is 1 of approximately 24 student-run clinic programs in the nation; students plan, manage, and carry out clinic operations under the supervision of licensed physicians. The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project seeks to provide high-quality and comprehensive care to uninsured
Uninsured in the United States
The number of persons without health insurance coverage in the United States is one of the primary concerns raised by advocates of health care reform. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2009 there were 50.7 million people in the US who were without health insurance...
and underserved patients throughout San Diego, who cannot otherwise afford access to care; the majority of patients are working poor
Working poor
- Definition in the United States :There are several popular definitions of "working poor" in the United States. According to the US Department of Labor, the working poor "are persons who spent at least 27 weeks [in the past year] in the labor force , but whose incomes fell below the official...
. Its three clinics are located at the First Lutheran Church in Downtown San Diego, the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church in Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach, San Diego, California
Pacific Beach is a neighborhood of San Diego, bounded by La Jolla to the north, Mission Beach and Mission Bay to the south, Interstate 5 to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. While largely populated by young people, surfers, and college students, the population is becoming older, more...
, and Baker Elementary School located just north of National City
National City, California
National City is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 58,582 at the 2010 census, up from 54,260 at the 2000 census. National City is the second oldest city in San Diego County and has a historic past.-History:...
.
History
Students at the UCSD School of Medicine had wanted to start a free clinic for many years however, the models initially proposed did not gain the support of UCSD administration. One day, a UCSD pre-med student who had served at the Suitcase Clinic in BerkeleyBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, California approached Dr. Ellen Beck, M.D, Clinical Professor in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at UCSD. Together, they called a meeting of interested students and formed a planning committee. The key learning for the team was that an exclusive building was not needed to house the clinic; the project needed an established community partner that could provide them with support and facilities.
The team identified a well established program already serving the homeless at the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church. Mary Mahy, a formerly homeless woman, had created the Harvest for the Hungry program and was receptive to the idea of a free medical clinic. With her support and assistance, the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project gained access to several rooms in the church that they could use during the evenings. Thus, the first UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic site was opened at the Pacific Beach United Methodist Church on in January 1997. On that first night, 10 patients came seeking aid and over the next few months the clinic became very busy.
A minister from the First Lutheran Church in Downtown San Diego, who was passionate about social justice and serving the homeless, heard about the free clinic that had started in Pacific Beach. He approached Dr. Beck and asked if a second site could be started at his church. This coincided with rising student interest for the project and with a sufficient number of medical student volunteers, a second site was opened in October 1997.
The medical students then became interested in reaching out to underserved minority populations. Initially, Dr. Beck approached an inner city church. Though the congregation was primarily middle-class, the pastor of the church referred Dr. Beck to his wife, Dr. Louilyn Hargett, who was the leader at Baker Elementary School. Dr. Hargett along with the school's principal, Krisi Dean, welcomed the creation of a clinic and became partners with the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project. During 1998, the San Diego Unified School District approved the request to use school buildings for a medical clinic. It was the school board's hope that the clinic would help to affirm the idea that school was at the center of the community. On October 13, 1998, the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project's third site was opened at Baker Elementary.
Through the first 10 years of operations, the clinics provided no-cost healthcare to 7,500 people. At any given time, the clinics have approximately 2,500 active patients.
The clinic funding comes from UCSD, grants, foundations, and donors.
Mission
Quoted from the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project Project website:"The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project Project, in partnership with the community, provides accessible, quality health care for the underserved in respectful environments, in which students, health professionals, patients and community members learn from each other. We seek to sustain health through: free medical and preventive care, health education and access to social service."
Philosophy
The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project's motto as quoted from the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project Project website:"Serving the Underserved."
The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project strives to provide top-notch care to all of its patients and works towards fulfilling dimensions of unmet need. The clinic stresses safety and confidentiality and adheres to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 was enacted by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996. It was originally sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy and Sen. Nancy Kassebaum . Title I of HIPAA protects health insurance coverage for workers and their...
(HIPAA). The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project seeks to educate and empower its patients and encourages them to take control of their health; the clinic hopes that this grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
effort will spread and make all San Diegans more conscious and proactive
ProActive
ProActive is Java grid middleware for parallel, distributed, and multi-threaded computing. It is developed by the OW2 Consortium, including INRIA, CNRS, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, and ActiveEon...
about their health. The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project strives to act as a teacher not only to its patients, but also its students, doctors, and volunteers. The staff learn first hand from their patients about the health disparity affecting low-income people as well as the non medical needs of the underserved. The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project works to create an environment where all who attend, feel energized, encouraged, supported, respected, trusted and open to one another, thus making the San Diego community a healthier place to live.
Services and Partners
The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project offers many services in addition to basic medical care. These include care from specialized doctorsSpecialty (medicine)
A specialty in medicine is a branch of medical science. After completing medical school, physicians or surgeons usually further their medical education in a specific specialty of medicine by completing a multiple year residency to become a medical specialist.-History of medical specialization:To...
, dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
, acupuncture
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a type of alternative medicine that treats patients by insertion and manipulation of solid, generally thin needles in the body....
, a basic pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, legal aid
Legal aid
Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people otherwise unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right to counsel and the right to a fair trial.A number of...
, and access to social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
ers.
Specialty Clinics
In efforts to provide comprehensive medical care, the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project offers specialty clinics where active patients have the opportunity to receive care from a specialistSpecialty (medicine)
A specialty in medicine is a branch of medical science. After completing medical school, physicians or surgeons usually further their medical education in a specific specialty of medicine by completing a multiple year residency to become a medical specialist.-History of medical specialization:To...
. Specialty clinics are once-per-month occurrences that active patients must be referred to in advance of the scheduled specialty clinic date. Patients of the UCSD free clinics may be treated by a doctor representing: cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
, dermatology
Dermatology
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....
, endocrinology
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
, gastroenterology
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine whereby the digestive system and its disorders are studied. The name is a combination of three Ancient Greek words gaster , enteron , and logos...
, gynecology, nephrology
Nephrology
Nephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics dealing with the study of the function and diseases of the kidney.-Scope of the specialty:...
, neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
, ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
, orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
, podiatry
Podiatry
Podiatry is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. The term podiatry came into use first in the early 20th century United States, where it now denotes a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine , a specialist who is qualified by their...
, pulmonology
Pulmonology
In medicine, pulmonology is the specialty that deals with diseases of the respiratory tract and respiratory disease. It is called chest medicine and respiratory medicine in some countries and areas...
, and rheumatology
Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a sub-specialty in internal medicine and pediatrics, devoted to diagnosis and therapy of rheumatic diseases. Clinicians who specialize in rheumatology are called rheumatologists...
.
Dental Care
Dental care is the greatest unmet health care need in the nation; 108 million people lack access to dental care. Patient restorative dental care, not solely emergency dental care, is made possible by the work of the UCSD Pre-Dental Society. UCSD students arrange for dentists to volunteer and treat patients on an appointment-only basis except at the Pacific Beach site. Approximately 5-10 patients are seen during each clinic session. Because of the limited resources and availability of volunteer professional dentists, potential dentistry patients are typically placed on a waiting list until there is room for them to receive full dental care except in the case of a dental emergency.Acupuncture
Acupuncture is provided by the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Acupuncture trials are encouraged for pain and stress management as part of the integrative focus of the clinic.Medication Dispensed
UCSD Skagg's School of Pharmacy students volunteer at the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist. The clinic's pharmacy dispenses many types of medication free of charge to patients. When a patient needs a drug that the pharmacy does not stock, the drug may be ordered though a pharmaceutical company drug donation program. The pharmacy works closely with volunteers who arrange to get medications through drug companies' patient assistance program. While this allows free clinics to obtain drugs for patients free of charge, there is an extensive amount of paperwork that must be completed for each patient enrolled in the program.Legal Advice
California Western School of LawCalifornia Western School of Law
California Western School of Law, founded in 1924, is a private, non-profit law school located in San Diego, California. It is popularly known as California Western or Cal Western and formerly California Western University. The school was approved by the American Bar Association in 1962 and became...
(Cal Western) organizes the Community Law Project at the Downtown clinic
Legal clinic
The phrase legal clinic may refer to any private, nonprofit law practice serving the public interest. In the academic context, these law school clinics provide hands-on experience to law school students and services to various clients. Academic Clinics are usually directed by clinical professors...
. The Community Law Project's mission is to offer pro bono legal advice, information and referral services to low income residents of the San Diego community. The law students from Cal Western work directly in a multidisciplinary context with the other clinics at the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project to provide legal services to the client. The Community Law Project addresses all areas of law related to the indigent client, with more emphasis being in the areas of Family, Consumer, Administrative, and Immigration law. It does not provide legal representation.
Social Worker Consultations
Students from San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
school of Social Work intern with the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project Project under the guidance of a social worker. They provide patients with resources and information about public programs, housing, public services, and employment opportunities.
The Clinics
The Free Clinic Project aims to serve patients who are not eligible to receive health care through any other program.New patient clinics are held Monday evening downtown and Wednesday evening in Pacific Beach. A medical student or a team of medical students conduct a comprehensive interview including information about the patient's present condition, history of the present illness
History of the present illness
In a medical encounter, a history of the present illness refers to a detailed interview prompted by the chief complaint or presenting symptom ....
, social and family history
Family history
Family history is the systematic narrative and research of past events relating to a specific family, or specific families.- Introduction :...
. A physical examination on the patient is also performed. The medical student(s) then presents the patient's case to an attending physician
Attending physician
In the United States, an attending physician is a physician who has completed residency and practices medicine in a clinic or hospital, in the specialty learned during residency. An attending physician can supervise fellows, residents, and medical students...
and together they talk with the patient. The attending, medical student and patient collaborate to determine the best course of action. If needed, medications are ordered from the pharmacy and are then dispensed to the patient.
Nationwide Impact
The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project created a national faculty development program in 1999 called, "Addressing the Health Needs of the Underserved" with grant funding. Over 107 faculty from 30 states have visited UCSD for three week periods to learn the mechanics of creating similar student-run free clinic programs in their communities. The UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project now offers an Advanced Skills Program, in which previous participants return for a week and continue to learn from each other and their programs.Through "Addressing the Health Needs of the Underserved," and individual consultations, the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project Project has been emulated around the country in at least 7 new locations including Jackson, Mississippi, Lexington, Kentucky, Kansas City, Kansas, and Houston, Texas
In addition, attendees have used information from the program to create 29 new resident curricula in community medicine, 18 new medical student curricula, successful grant proposals that address training in underserved communities, and new programs addressing the needs of migrant workers, street homeless, and other underserved groups.
External links
GeneralPartners
- UCSD School of Medicine
- UCSD Skagg's School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Pacific College of Oriental Medicine
- California Western School of Law
- UCSD Pre-Dental Society
- Third Avenue Charitable Organization (TACO)
Student-Run Free Clinic Information