Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic: Creating clinical programming for a new, multidisciplinary student clinic in Portland

Isla McKerrow, Oregon Health & Science University

Abstract

  1. Context: Our community project, Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic, was developed in response to two problems. First, Portland’s houseless population on the Eastside is geographically isolated from the majority of Portland’ low-cost health services. Secondly, OHSU/PSU did not offer a student-run clinic. Aim: We aimed to develop clinic programming that would satisfy the needs of the houseless population while providing valuable education opportunities to students from a variety of programs. Approach: We interviewed representative students and faculty to determine the ideal role of different student types in the clinic. After balancing overlapping ideal roles and patient needs to determine final roles and responsibilities, we mapped our proposed clinic flow out in our clinic space and held run-throughs. Once the ideal flow was established, alternative versions were created to allow for flexibility. Conclusions: Using our model and methodology, it is possible to balance the conflicting needs of different stakeholders when developing a student clinic as evidenced by continued volunteer and patient participation. Implications: The Bridges model offers an opportunity to expand services for underserved populations. Our methods can be used to create new programming or could be adapted by existing programs to expand their teams to include more diverse volunteers.

  2. Learning Objectives:

    1. Explain the steps necessary to design a clinic flow to incorporate diverse types of student volunteers while respecting patient needs.

    2. Design student and preceptor volunteer roles that best utilize skill sets of volunteers from a variety of programs.

    3. Identify programs that could be incorporated into a student-run clinic beyond the M.D. program.

 
Apr 3rd, 4:00 PM Apr 3rd, 5:00 PM

Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic: Creating clinical programming for a new, multidisciplinary student clinic in Portland

Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 296/8

  1. Context: Our community project, Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic, was developed in response to two problems. First, Portland’s houseless population on the Eastside is geographically isolated from the majority of Portland’ low-cost health services. Secondly, OHSU/PSU did not offer a student-run clinic. Aim: We aimed to develop clinic programming that would satisfy the needs of the houseless population while providing valuable education opportunities to students from a variety of programs. Approach: We interviewed representative students and faculty to determine the ideal role of different student types in the clinic. After balancing overlapping ideal roles and patient needs to determine final roles and responsibilities, we mapped our proposed clinic flow out in our clinic space and held run-throughs. Once the ideal flow was established, alternative versions were created to allow for flexibility. Conclusions: Using our model and methodology, it is possible to balance the conflicting needs of different stakeholders when developing a student clinic as evidenced by continued volunteer and patient participation. Implications: The Bridges model offers an opportunity to expand services for underserved populations. Our methods can be used to create new programming or could be adapted by existing programs to expand their teams to include more diverse volunteers.

  2. Learning Objectives:

    1. Explain the steps necessary to design a clinic flow to incorporate diverse types of student volunteers while respecting patient needs.

    2. Design student and preceptor volunteer roles that best utilize skill sets of volunteers from a variety of programs.

    3. Identify programs that could be incorporated into a student-run clinic beyond the M.D. program.