Volunteer Experiences at a Free Clinic in the United States: A Qualitative Study

Gorski, Hannah; Gull, Bethany; Harris, Talon; Garfield, Tammy; Ashby, Jeanie; Kamimura, Akiko

doi:10.21767/2049-5471.1000103

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 12 publications

(16 reference statements)

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“…This relates to a previous study on volunteer experiences at a free clinic, because it was found that there is a consistent shortage or frequent turnovers of volunteers at free clinics [18,25,26]. A possible solution to this would be to promote volunteer opportunities, as well as promote the benefits of volunteering in order to obtain more volunteers [18,26].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Since the clinic is run mostly by volunteers who do not always feel that they receive proper training, the attitudes of some receptionists which were negatively perceived may be due to the fact that they had multiple tasks at the front desk. Patients' perceptions on their time being respected and communication with staff has been associated with patient satisfaction [18,19]. A possible solution is to train the volunteers on customer service while increasing the number of receptionists at the front desk, which may in turn improve the patients' experiences at the clinic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perspectives of Health Care Services among Free Clinic Patients in the USA: A Qualitative Study

Juárez¹,

Puerto²,

Hagarty³

et al. 2018

Divers Equal Health Care

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The United States (US) is the only developed country which does not have universal health insurance. Free healthcare clinics are operated largely by volunteers for the purpose of providing healthcare services to populations who are under-or un-insured in the US. Few qualitative studies have been conducted on patient experience and satisfaction at free clinics and, of those that do exist, most have been administered through focus groups. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore perceptions and satisfaction among patients at a free clinic using a qualitative approach. Free clinic patients (N=649) participated in a survey with one open-ended question asking about their perceptions of the free clinic in 2017. This study analyzed the qualitative data from the openended question only. On average, the participants responded as being grateful and satisfied with the services provided by the free clinic. However, participants felt that they would benefit from further continuity of care and a higher number of medical providers, as well as more specialists. Future services to be modified or added, as indicated by the participants, include a greater variety of class times for health education and exercise classes, as well as the addition of urgent care services. To improve patient satisfaction, it is recommended to increase promotions for volunteer opportunities in addition to more training. Furthermore, it is necessary to give patients better access to referrals to community resources that offer the additional services that they are interested in.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives of Health Care Services among Free Clinic Patients in the USA: A Qualitative Study

Juárez¹,

Puerto²,

Hagarty³

et al. 2018

Divers Equal Health Care

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Volunteers with confidence in their ability to contribute to the organization and the community remain engaged and loyal to the organization (Harp, Scherer, & Allen, 2017). Structured training to meet competence satisfaction in a comfortable environment increases loyalty to the organization (Gorski et al, 2017). Bang (2015) encouraged nonprofit organizations to implement training strategies that focused on volunteers' age to increase recruitment and loyalty.…”

Section: Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving Volunteer Engagement in Nonprofit Healthcare Organizations

Hudson¹

2021

OJBM

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Grounded in the conceptual lens of Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory, the strategies nonprofit healthcare leaders use to reduce volunteer turnover were explored in this single-case study. The participations included 5 nonprofit healthcare leaders from a single organization in the Southwestern United States. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, internal and external organizational documents, and publicly available data. Analysis of internal and external organizational documents and publicly available data were manually coded and thematically organized. The use of a methodological triangulation process and member checking increased the reliability of data interpretation. Using the thematic approach, 3 themes emerged: volunteer recognition improved volunteer turnover, open communication improved volunteer turnover, and relationship building improved volunteer turnover. The findings from this study may contribute to positively social change by providing nonprofit leaders with strategies to reduce volunteer turnover, enhance operational processes, and improve organizational performance. The results of this study indicated that nonprofit healthcare leaders who develop volunteer engagement strategies could increase organizational success and develop successful work habits among volunteers to improve economic growth in the communities they serve.

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“…Later authors cite free clinics as vital to the health care safety net (Geller, Taylor, & Scott, 2004). Over the years, free clinics became known as places of valuable care offered by retired physicians, nurses, and nurse practitioners (NPs; Johnson, 2010; Reynolds, 2009; Wells, 2010; Wilson, Lester, & Simson, 2000) and, more recently, as places that benefit both the community and the volunteers personally as they develop greater understanding of issues facing underserved populations (Gorski et al., 2017). The most recent census of free clinics reported operations in 49 states and the District of Columbia.…”

Section: Definition History and Current Statusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Free Clinics and the Need for Nursing Action in Uncertain Political Times

Ghazal

Rambur

2018

Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice

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Free clinics have been a source of health care for uninsured and low-income Americans for half a century and serve some of the nation's most vulnerable within their home community. Despite parallels to nursing's significant involvement in the formation of free public clinics and commitment to care for all, there is paucity of nursing literature about free clinics. This article details the history of U.S. free clinics and the intersections among free clinics and value-based care, health reform, and tax reform, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Challenges impacting free clinics are detailed, as well as strategies nurses may employ to support survival of free clinics and enhance service to their target populations. Roles for nurses in free clinic governance, management, and practice are described as well as suggestions for research, education, and public policy.

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Volunteer Experiences at a Free Clinic in the United States: A Qualitative Study

Cited by 5 publications

References 12 publications

Perspectives of Health Care Services among Free Clinic Patients in the USA: A Qualitative Study

Perspectives of Health Care Services among Free Clinic Patients in the USA: A Qualitative Study

Improving Volunteer Engagement in Nonprofit Healthcare Organizations

Free Clinics and the Need for Nursing Action in Uncertain Political Times

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