Presentation Type
Poster
Discipline Track
Patient Care
Abstract Type
Program Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine Student Run Clinic is to bridge the healthcare gap in the local colonias by providing excellent, compassionate primary care to all who enter our doors, free of charge. We also work to connect our patients to low-cost, high-quality services in the area like women’s health visits, appointments with social workers, and dental services. Additionally, we offer medical students’ opportunities from their first year to serve an underserved population and get hands-on experience with patients.
Many patients in colonias face challenges like limited transportation options and a lack of awareness about affordable healthcare services, which can prevent them from accessing primary care. To address these issues, we chose to establish our student run clinic in 2016 at a community center located in Las Penitas, a location that is accessible to the target population.
Description: Patients first get their vitals and blood glucose taken followed by bloodwork. HbA1c is checked every three months and a lipid panel is done yearly. The patient is then assigned to an examination room where a team of student volunteers conduct the patient interview and perform relevant physical exams briefly presenting to the attending physician and identifying a care plan. The team then discusses the diagnosis and treatment with the patient. The goal is to have the patient able to explain back to the care team about their disease management by the time of discharge.
Under the supervision of a nurse practitioner, students are taught decision-making skills for performing lab draws. Regular lab work is crucial for managing chronic conditions like diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
We make it a point to ensure the privacy of all our patients, as many are wary of seeking medical care in fear of being deported because of their undocumented status. Legal residency status is not a question we ask our patients, and we encourage patients to inform their friends and family that we are a space for all community members.
Partners: We are supported our nurse practitioner who allows us to do routine blood work. Physicians associated with the school of medicine regularly volunteer their time to see patients with students and teach us valuable skills and medical knowledge. We work with the community center staff to schedule clinic dates, reach out to patients, manage patient paperwork, and facilitate our clinic days. Finally, our patients, the residents of Penitas and the neighboring areas, are also important stakeholders in our clinic.
Looking Ahead: The clinic has seen amazing patient outcomes, especially seeing patients able to get affordable management of their chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. As the clinic expands, we envision going from monthly clinics to every two weeks. We also are currently working on moving to electronic medical records, so patient information can be logged and tracked much more efficiently. We would also like to use the patient data from our clinic to analyze so we can identify trends and potentially improve our methods of care.
Academic/Professional Position
Medical Student
Mentor/PI Department
Pediatrics
Recommended Citation
Cauba, John Nicholas; Callan, Andrew B.; and Tapia, Beatriz, "Establishing the First Student-Run Clinic to Provide Free Health Care to a South Texas Colonia" (2024). Research Symposium. 28.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2024/posters/28
Included in
Establishing the First Student-Run Clinic to Provide Free Health Care to a South Texas Colonia
Purpose: The purpose of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine Student Run Clinic is to bridge the healthcare gap in the local colonias by providing excellent, compassionate primary care to all who enter our doors, free of charge. We also work to connect our patients to low-cost, high-quality services in the area like women’s health visits, appointments with social workers, and dental services. Additionally, we offer medical students’ opportunities from their first year to serve an underserved population and get hands-on experience with patients.
Many patients in colonias face challenges like limited transportation options and a lack of awareness about affordable healthcare services, which can prevent them from accessing primary care. To address these issues, we chose to establish our student run clinic in 2016 at a community center located in Las Penitas, a location that is accessible to the target population.
Description: Patients first get their vitals and blood glucose taken followed by bloodwork. HbA1c is checked every three months and a lipid panel is done yearly. The patient is then assigned to an examination room where a team of student volunteers conduct the patient interview and perform relevant physical exams briefly presenting to the attending physician and identifying a care plan. The team then discusses the diagnosis and treatment with the patient. The goal is to have the patient able to explain back to the care team about their disease management by the time of discharge.
Under the supervision of a nurse practitioner, students are taught decision-making skills for performing lab draws. Regular lab work is crucial for managing chronic conditions like diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
We make it a point to ensure the privacy of all our patients, as many are wary of seeking medical care in fear of being deported because of their undocumented status. Legal residency status is not a question we ask our patients, and we encourage patients to inform their friends and family that we are a space for all community members.
Partners: We are supported our nurse practitioner who allows us to do routine blood work. Physicians associated with the school of medicine regularly volunteer their time to see patients with students and teach us valuable skills and medical knowledge. We work with the community center staff to schedule clinic dates, reach out to patients, manage patient paperwork, and facilitate our clinic days. Finally, our patients, the residents of Penitas and the neighboring areas, are also important stakeholders in our clinic.
Looking Ahead: The clinic has seen amazing patient outcomes, especially seeing patients able to get affordable management of their chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension. As the clinic expands, we envision going from monthly clinics to every two weeks. We also are currently working on moving to electronic medical records, so patient information can be logged and tracked much more efficiently. We would also like to use the patient data from our clinic to analyze so we can identify trends and potentially improve our methods of care.