Revealing the "True" Costs and Benefits of Education in an Interprofessional Student-Run Free Clinic

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session One
  In Roundtable Session: Interrogating and Integrating Interprofessional Education (Table 5)

Abstract

Student-run free clinics (SRFCs) are a valuable resource to both communities and health profession programs. While SRFCs often serve underinsured patients who may not have access to other health care institutions in a community, they also are frequently used to recruit for health professions programs, to fulfill clinical observation or practical hours, and to obtain course credit. We conducted a cost-benefit analysis of one SRFC to reveal clinic costs compared to educational benefits received by students. We found that for every $1 spent by the clinic, $2.86 were realized as benefits to students. We interpret our results through a critical and race-conscious lens (Ladson-Billing & Tate, 1995; Milner, 2007) to critique the distribution of these benefits.

Authors

• Joseph C. Rumenapp, Rosalind Franklin University
  Presenting Author

• Megan Mazander, Rosalind Franklin University
  Presenting Author

• Derek Lee, Rosalind Franklin University
  Presenting Author

• Emily Floramo, Rosalind Franklin University
  Presenting Author

• Char Ong, Rosalind Franklin University
  Presenting Author

• Maureen Benjamins, Sinai Urban Health Institute
  Presenting Author

• Melissa Chen, Rosalind Franklin University
  Presenting Author