Harmony in Healthcare

A Student-Run Free Clinic’s Approach to Enhance Clinical Education through Interprofessional Collaboration and Patient Centered Care

Abstract

Background: Although prior studies have demonstrated the value of multidisciplinary, student-led clinics in improving healthcare accessibility, fewer have explored how these models concurrently influence early clinical education across multiple health professions. This study aims to examine the impact of a free clinic’s interdisciplinary approach on both community healthcare access and the professional development of student volunteers, offering a framework for institutions seeking to integrate experiential, team-based learning into their curricula.

Methods: 136 students from multiple midwestern universities, who had volunteered at least once at the Near West Free Clinic (NWFC), participated in a mixed-methods survey. Quantitative data were analyzed based on mean and standard deviation and plotted on various charts to demonstrate significant results. Qualitative responses were analyzed through thematic analysis to gain additional insight.

Results: Students reported the highest level of agreement that volunteering at NWFC enhanced clinical skills, heightened awareness of social determinants of health, increased comfort in working with other disciplines, and motivated them in their studies. 

Conclusion: As universities look to enhance the medical education model to train students in an interdisciplinary manner, community clinics may be a solution that strengthens the foundation of future healthcare professionals, while serving the needs of the public.