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Volunteering with the Medically Indigent Population

By Caroline Beaulieu posted 05-09-2015 18:03

  

Have you thought about volunteering with the medically indigent population? If you haven’t had a chance to do so, I would strongly encourage you to find a free health clinic in your area and give it a try. This semester, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the University of Kentucky Salvation Army Clinic (UKSAC): a free clinic run by medical and pharmacy students. UKSAC opened in 1986 to offer care to the uninsured adult population in Lexington. This leadership effort allows underserved patients to have access to free group smoking cessation classes, individualized care, and medications.

My experience at the Salvation Army Clinic was very enriching. It made me realize how important our help is to the underserved population and how interprofessional work can optimize patient outcomes. Having the opportunity to collaborate with other healthcare students/professionals and help assist in the clinical decision making process was very rewarding. Not only was I able to utilize my knowledge but I also had the chance to apply my clinical skills to suggest ways to optimize some of the patients’ treatments.

Volunteering at UKSAC made me appreciate the importance of interprofessional relationships. In my opinion, an environment like this clinic is a great way to gain some experience providing direct patient care and working closely with other healthcare students/professionals. It allowed me to start implementing an interprofessional approach to patient care early in my career.

My time at the UKSAC was a big eye-opener. It made me realize how different health care professionals can contribute to patient care as a team to significantly improve clinical outcomes. It also made me realize how important pharmacists’ role is on the healthcare team. My experience motivated me to continue building interprofessional relationships and support ongoing efforts aimed at expanding our role. As I begin my fourth year rotations, I will build on this foundation of establishing trust and effective communication with other health care professionals. 

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Kevin Anderson
07-31-2015 11:14

Caroline, I couldn't agree with you more that students should reach out to free clinics to expand their knowledge. I have started volunteering at a free clinic in my area because I was very uncomfortable about counseling patients on their medications. The collaborative and respectful environment at the free clinic really gave me the confidence I needed to push through my doubts and deliver effective care. My preceptors have told me that they have seen a shift in my confidence since I started volunteering and to keep it up because that is what our patients need.
To any student who wants to expand on the education you are getting through school i highly recommend getting involved in a free clinic near you. I am sure many of you, like me, have anxiety about what real practice will be like. My suggestion is simple: use your time as a student to push yourself into those uncomfortable areas now, because you have mentors and preceptors helping you along the way. Believe me, preceptors love to work with students to help them shed the anxiety and build their confidence as strong pharmacy professionals.