Enhancing health care access utilizing a student-run free clinic

Issues: Approximately 26.4 % of the population of Flint, Michigan lives poverty. The clinic is located in a predominantly African-American, low-income neighborhood, which enables high accessibility to individuals who may have significant barriers to health services.

Description: PT HEART (Physical Therapy Health Education and Rehabilitation Treatments) is a student-run free clinic that uses a combination of physical therapy and health education services to facilitate behavior change and enhance the quality of life. This clinic is an innovative model and provides a unique opportunity for health education and physical therapy students to learn effective synergistic interactions with patients. Students are responsible for developing innovative ways to helping patients overcome barriers to healthy lifestyles indirectly impacting health disparities. Research supports the use of bio-psycho-social models to treat the whole person. This model is the foundation of our clinic's emphasis on patient education and empowerment.

Lessons Learned: Needs assessment data and exit surveys have identified health education needs for the population (diabetes, sexual health, and nutrition education; physical activity and mental health). Patients have had a positive response to one on one health education.

Recommendations: Due to our overwhelming positive response we recommend that more student-run free clinics use an interdisciplinary approach to combat the health needs of medically underserved urban populations. Other disciplines such as social work and nursing should be involved in this collaboration. There should be more advocacy for providing health education services in patient treatment.