Abstract
BackgroundDespite the increasing popularity of Student-Run Clinics (SRCs) in Canada, there is little existing literature exploring their role within the Canadian healthcare system. Generalizing American literature to Canadian SRCs is inappropriate, given significant differences in healthcare delivery between the two countries. Medical students at the University of Calgary started a SRC serving Calgary’s homeless population at the Calgary Drop-In and Rehabilitation Centre (CDIRC). This study explored stakeholders’ desired role for a SRC within Calgary’s primary healthcare system and potential barriers it may face.MethodsIndividual and group semi-structured interviews were undertaken with key stakeholders in the SRC project: clients (potential patients), CDIRC staff, staff from other stakeholder organizations, medical students, and faculty members. Convenience sampling was used in the recruitment of client participants. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a coding template which was derived from the literature.ResultsParticipants identified factors related to the clinic and to medical students that suggest there is an important role for a SRC in Calgary. The clinic was cited as improving access to primary healthcare for individuals experiencing homelessness. It was suggested that students may be ideally suited to provide empathetic healthcare to this population. Barriers to success were identified, including continuity of care and the exclusion of some subsets of the homeless population due to location.ConclusionsSRCs possess several unique features that may make them a potentially important primary healthcare resource for the homeless. Participants identified numerous benefits of the SRC to providing primary care for homeless individuals, as well as several important limitations that need to be accounted for when designing and implementing such a program.
Highlights
Despite the increasing popularity of Student-Run Clinics (SRCs) in Canada, there is little existing literature exploring their role within the Canadian healthcare system
Student Run Clinics (SRCs) are increasingly important contributors to healthcare in North America
Numbers of subjects were decided a priori, based on coverage of the key organizations and what was permitted by our funding: homeless clients (n = 11); Calgary Drop-In and Rehabilitation Centre (CDIRC) staff (n = 5); medical students (n = 6); faculty members (n = 4); and leaders from other agencies providing services to the homeless (n = 8)
Summary
Despite the increasing popularity of Student-Run Clinics (SRCs) in Canada, there is little existing literature exploring their role within the Canadian healthcare system. This study explored stakeholders’ desired role for a SRC within Calgary’s primary healthcare system and potential barriers it may face. There are over 100 SRCs associated with medical schools in the United States [1]. SRCs most often provide primary care services to the there is extensive literature on how SRCs in the United States meet health needs, there is a paucity of literature on their Canadian counterparts. Since program planning is dependent on systematic research within the local context [8] it is necessary to study SRCs in Canada to understand their potential role
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