Patient Expectations and Satisfaction When Using a Student-Run Health Clinic

Abstract

Background: Promise Clinic, a student-run continuity-based free health clinic affiliated with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, serves the uninsured and low-income population in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Though it has been operating for over ten years, Promise Clinic does not yet have a formalized system for evaluating quality of care from a patient’s perspective. The purpose of this study was to investigate patient satisfaction and expectations at Promise Clinic. Methods: Over a two-month span, we interviewed 21 patients at Promise Clinic. The interview addressed a variety of factors, including patient satisfaction with student doctors, health education and awareness, and understanding of and access to community health options. Furthermore, we elicited open-ended feedback from patients, allowing them to express opinions regarding their healthcare and reasons for attending Promise Clinic over other low-income healthcare providers. Results: We found that while patients were highly satisfied with their overall experience and student doctor teams, there were some concerns about wait times, the timing of clinic, and student doctor preparedness. Patient health education was strong in many, but not all, areas. Of eligible patients, 40.0% reported receiving regular cancer screenings and 33.3% were unaware of other healthcare options. Conclusions: Overall, this study provides a patient-centered assessment of the clinic. Insight obtained has helped medical students and faculty administrators at Promise Clinic address chief patient concerns and improve upon the patient experience. We hope that patient interviews will continue to be a part of quality improvement processes at Promise Clinic and other similar clinics.

Building a No Cost Undergraduate Community Speech Clinic

“…4,6,7 Compared to the literature in the field, a positive correlation is noted between those participating in community-based services before graduation and those who continue to do so after graduation. 5,6,8 The literature comparison even suggests that institutions that have limited resources to consider putting those resources into student-led activities due to the positive service-career outcomes. 3,7,9,10 The theory related to these goals includes using collaboration and accountability, as seen in Bandura's Triadic Reciprocal Model of Causality and Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning.…”

“…9,10,12 Students who participate in student ran-free clinics (SRFCs) are more likely to build sustainable constructs for cultural humility in their careers, including accounting for the costs of healthcare in management plans. 5,[8][9][10]12 Integration of the opportunity for clinical experiences is found to provide significant benefits to all stakeholders: patients, students, and faculty. [12][13][14] When faculty stresses open communication and accountability among professional advisory boards, community advisory boards, and student advisory boards, a culture of innovative and interprofessional model of support is achieved.…”