Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

MS in Physician Assistant Studies (PA)

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

First Advisor

Vanessa Bester, EdD, PA-C

Abstract

Background: Over 3.5 billion people—half of the world’s population, did not have access to any healthcare facilities or services in 2017.1 In order to provide more healthcare to more individuals, student run clinics (SRCs), community-based health systems, and other low-cost clinics have opened up all over the world.

Purpose: It is important, however, to understand how these clinics run, their effectiveness, and how they may increase healthcare access. This study analyzed articles involving free or low-cost clinics to determine which models are utilized within free or low-cost clinics to provide effective standard of care resulting in increased healthcare access.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using google scholar using the search terms “student run free clinic”, “low-cost health care facilities”, “community health care”, and “faith-based clinic effectiveness”. Inclusion criteria were studies from 2015-2022 that involved a free, low cost, religious based, or student run clinic. Exclusion criteria were studies from before 2015, involved large corporation clinics or hospitals, and were not community based, free, low cost, or student run. Conclusions: Many models were identified in this literature review. Models including, days of operation, funding and staff, HTN and diabetic programs, type of care, screening tools, and telehealth, were found to be utilized in low-cost and student run free clinics, all of which provided effective standard of care resulting in increased healthcare access.

Identifier

SC 11.PAS.2022.Nyman.J

Download

Share

COinS