Developing a student-led health and wellbeing clinic in an underserved community: collaborative learning, health outcomes and cost savings

Abstract

BackgroundThe University of New England (UNE), Australia decided to develop innovative placement opportunities for its increasing numbers of nursing students. Extensive community and stakeholder consultation determined that a community centre in rural New South Wales was the welcomed site of the student-led clinic because it fit the goals of the project—to increase access to health care services in an underserved area while providing service learning for students.MethodsSupported by a grant from Health Workforce Australia and in partnership with several community organisations, UNE established a student-led clinic in a disadvantaged community using an engaged scholarship approach which joins academic service learning with community based action research. The clinic was managed and run by the students, who were supervised by university staff and worked in collaboration with residents and local health and community services.ResultsLocal families, many of whom were Indigenous Australians, received increased access to culturally appropriate health services. In the first year, the clinic increased from a one day per week to a three day per week service and offered over 1000 occasions of care and involved 1500 additional community members in health promotion activities. This has led to improved health outcomes for the community and cost savings to the health service estimated to be $430,000. The students learned from members of the community and community members learned from the students, in a collaborative process. Community members benefited from access to drop in help that was self-determined.ConclusionsThe model of developing student-led community health and wellbeing clinics in underserved communities not only fulfils the local, State Government, Federal Government and international health reform agenda but it also represents good value for money. It offers free health services in a disadvantaged community, thereby improving overall health and wellbeing. The student-led clinic is an invaluable and sustainable link between students, health care professionals, community based organisations, the university, and the community. The community benefits from the clinic by learning to self-manage health and wellbeing issues. The benefits for students are that they gain practical experience in an interdisciplinary setting and through exposure to a community with unique and severe needs.

Factors associated with patient-satisfaction in student-led physiotherapy clinics: A qualitative study

“…Research has demonstrated that student-led clinics are feasible for student learning (Ellett, Campbell, and Gonsalves, 2010;Simpson and Long, 2007) and provide a rich source of experiential practice in the context of direct patient care (Jokelainen et al, 2011). Student-led clinics also provide opportunities for health professional students to take responsibility for the logistics, operational management, and treatment of patients under the guidance and supervision of registered and licensed health professionals, thus facilitating professional socialization (Ernstzen, Blitzer, and Grimmer-Somers, 2009;Stuhlmiller and Tolchard, 2015). Research relating to student-led clinics has demonstrated increased student placement capacity (Frakes et al, 2011;Kent, 2012), as well as increased clinical experiences within an interprofessional environment (Moskowitz, Glasco, Johnson, and Wang, 2006).…”

“…Additionally, they are required to foster learning opportunities for students as well as provide them with feedback. Furthermore, the environment is often less private than other healthcare settings, with patients also frequently needing to set aside more time for a consultation than they would in a non-student-led clinic (Stuhlmiller and Tolchard, 2015).…”

Volunteering, health and the homeless – the cost of establishing a student-run primary healthcare clinic serving the inner-city homeless in South Africa

“…Free and charitable healthcare services over time have filled the gap for patients needing medical assistance without the financial means, especially in the United States [44]. Likewise a SRC at the University of New England, Australia, was estimated to save the healthcare system around $437,000.00 in 2013/2014 [45]. This was determined through savings from averting visits to the emergency department.…”

Flinders medical students pilot free clinic for homeless men

“…In 2012, the first Australian SRC began providing medical, nursing, social work and physiotherapy services in Melbourne, and similar clinics have also sprouted in New South Wales and Queensland . In the same vein, medical students from Flinders University in Adelaide piloted the Flinders Student Run Clinic (FSRC), with the support of faculty and of the Vinnie's Men's Crisis Centre, which provides crisis accommodation, meals, showers and case management for up to 47 homeless and vulnerable men aged over 18 years.…”