NEWS FROM THE CHARLOTTESVILLE FREE CLINIC
SPRING 2018
PHOTOGRAPHY: STEPHANIE GROSS
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR THE FUTURE
Above: UVA Medical student Lauren Yi works with a patient during evening clinic. Right: Hannah Shadowen, a student receiving her Master’s in Public Health, works with the Student Ambassador Program.
Above: Monica Nable, Taylor Dorr, and Aisha Hayat work as part of a team focused on integrated care. Ms. Hayat is a community partner for The Women’s Initiative. (Not pictured: Carol Marsh)
Having your blood pressure checked
created access to mental health
As the Integrated Care model has
by a nurse is one of the first things
support—counseling and psychiatry,
evolved, an excellent opportunity
you do when you visit the doctor.
within the medical clinic for over
to engage future providers within
Vital signs such as blood pressure,
1,761 patients through 7,176 visits.
the healthcare team environment
body temperature, and a blood
Patients are offered a mental health
has been developed. Working
glucose for a diabetic patient, are
screening during a primary care
alongside healthcare providers,
essential tools used by healthcare
examination and, when appropriate,
medical students are provided with
providers to monitor our health,
are connected with counseling and
a hands-on-learning experience to
detect infections, and prevent
psychiatry within the clinic.
assist patients completing a mental
chronic disease.
Underlying mental health issues
health screening, and then make
What if there was also a vital sign for
often go unnoticed. Incorporating
mental health that was incorporated
screening into a primary medical care
provider or psychiatrist/counselor.
into our primary medical care
appointment ensures patients get
A group of UVA Social Issues in
checkups? At CFC, this has become
the care they need. There has been
Medicine (SIMs) program students
the model of care for patients
a noticeable positive impact of this
work closely with CFC medical staff
through the Integrated Care Program.
model as patient engagement rates
and volunteer physicians, nurses, and
Over the course of the last five years,
are significantly higher when patients
other healthcare providers to learn
CFC’s Integrated Care model has
the connection between the medical
can access mental health support through the primary care visit.
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