The University of South Alabama Student-Run Free Clinic (SRFC) provides persons in need in Mobile and hands on experience for students.
The SRFC is designed to provide under served persons in Mobile with access to healthcare and health literacy.
The student teams receive guidance from preceptors. The SRFC allows the students to spend more time explaining the complex conditions patients face compared to the time spent during a typical clinical office visit.
The interdisciplinary approach at SRFC helps ensure patient problems are talked about from multiple angles. This allows both patients and students to learn about the healthcare problems.
Economic developer Dr. Nicole Jones told the Alabama Political Reporter, “The University of South Alabama’s creation of a student-run free clinic is a win-win situation. Students gain more hands-on experience in a clinical environment, and underserved community members receive medical care that they may not otherwise have access to. The volunteers and board should be commended for their commitment to this Mobile-area quality of life initiative.”
The SRFC new services offered new services this past year including: Free HIV screenings through a partnership with AIDS Alabama; a free dental screenings through partnership with Franklin Primary Health Center; new occupational therapy-driven pediatric evaluation and treatment program focused on appropriate physical, mental and social development at Salvation Army Family Haven; innovative ambulant clinic where SRFC directly provided care to Spanish-speaking patients in the community through partnership with the Medical Spanish Interest Group and local nonprofit BELONG; and un-house physicals and documentation for those beginning rehab programs at Salvation Army.
The University of South Alabama is highly important to the economy of South-west Alabama.
(Based on original reporting by Carol McPhail with the University of South Alabama.)
