Lessons from a clinic for the homeless. The Camillus Health Concern
A. M. Fournier, A. Perez-Stable and P. J. Greer Jr
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL 33101.
OBJECTIVE--To present the educational opportunities provided by a model
clinic for homeless persons. DESIGN--Descriptive. PATIENTS OR OTHER
PARTICIPANTS--Patients are those who are cared for at Camillus Health
Concern clinic for the homeless in Miami, Fla. Other participants include
students, residents, and faculty affiliated with the University of Miami
(Fla) School of Medicine. INTERVENTION--Affiliation of the clinic with the
medical school has shifted the clinic from a pure service model to an
education and service model. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Numbers of patients and
encounters are presented, as well as student and resident rotations,
numbers, and hours. RESULTS--Shifting to an education and service model has
increased productivity of the clinic while providing a unique, multifaceted
educational experience to students, residents, and faculty.
CONCLUSIONS--Those factors that contribute to the success of this education
and service model include the professional satisfaction that results from
providing care to patients who previously have not had access to health
care; a team approach that includes faculty, students, nurses, and social
workers; an environment that fosters clinical judgment rather than
expensive tests; and the opportunity to teach social responsibility in the
process of providing health care. We encourage other schools to consider
the development of clinics for the homeless as alternative ambulatory
training sites.
