Student-run medical clinics in the United States: A national survey

Abstract

Study objectives: By serving indigent populations, student-run medical clinics expose medical students to administrative, clinical, and public health issues similar to those of a typical emergency department. This study describes operational and functional characteristics of student-run medical clinics on a national level. Methods: This prospective, anonymous, mailed survey of student-run medical clinics was conducted at the Medical College of Ohio. Surveys were mailed to all identified student-run medical clinics in the United States. Results: To date, data have been collected on 33 programs. Of these programs, clinics were initiated between 1968 and 2003. Participants report a mean 607.4 patient visits per year (range 50 to 2500), or 11.8 patients per session. Clinics use a mean 11.8 volunteer employees (range 4 to 48) and 0.7 paid employees (range 0 to 5). The mean annual operating budget was $17,352 (range $200 to $100,000). Most clinics routinely care for uninsured patients (60%), and 33% specifically provide services to homeless patients. Of specialty services, adult medicine (97%), obstetrics and gynecology (76%), and pediatrics (76%) were most common. Services identified as most commonly available onsite include urine dipstick analysis (available in 91% of student-run medical clinics), glucose (91%), Papanicolaou test (88%), urine or serum pregnancy test (85%), urinalysis (82%), serum chemistries (82%), CBC count (82%), serum lipid levels (79%), gonorrhea and chlamydia testing (76%), guaiac (73%), streptococcal antigen (73%), prostate specific antigen (70%), radiography (67%), cultures (64%), stress testing (64%), mammography (61%), and oxygen saturation (61%). Conclusion: Student-run medical clinics provide numerous important services to patients and often serve uninsured and homeless patients. Considerable variation exists in services available to patients. Study objectives: By serving indigent populations, student-run medical clinics expose medical students to administrative, clinical, and public health issues similar to those of a typical emergency department. This study describes operational and functional characteristics of student-run medical clinics on a national level. Methods: This prospective, anonymous, mailed survey of student-run medical clinics was conducted at the Medical College of Ohio. Surveys were mailed to all identified student-run medical clinics in the United States. Results: To date, data have been collected on 33 programs. Of these programs, clinics were initiated between 1968 and 2003. Participants report a mean 607.4 patient visits per year (range 50 to 2500), or 11.8 patients per session. Clinics use a mean 11.8 volunteer employees (range 4 to 48) and 0.7 paid employees (range 0 to 5). The mean annual operating budget was $17,352 (range $200 to $100,000). Most clinics routinely care for uninsured patients (60%), and 33% specifically provide services to homeless patients. Of specialty services, adult medicine (97%), obstetrics and gynecology (76%), and pediatrics (76%) were most common. Services identified as most commonly available onsite include urine dipstick analysis (available in 91% of student-run medical clinics), glucose (91%), Papanicolaou test (88%), urine or serum pregnancy test (85%), urinalysis (82%), serum chemistries (82%), CBC count (82%), serum lipid levels (79%), gonorrhea and chlamydia testing (76%), guaiac (73%), streptococcal antigen (73%), prostate specific antigen (70%), radiography (67%), cultures (64%), stress testing (64%), mammography (61%), and oxygen saturation (61%). Conclusion: Student-run medical clinics provide numerous important services to patients and often serve uninsured and homeless patients. Considerable variation exists in services available to patients.