Community Partner Feature: Rebel Recovery

Community Partner: Rebel Recovery

FLASH Exchange Clinic

The FLASH Clinic is a new project for RMC DOCS, building off of previous advocacy efforts by past RMC students. FLASH is a syringe service program operated by Rebel Recovery, an organization that serves people who inject drugs and/or are experiencing homelessness in Palm Beach County. RMC DOCS students operate a bimonthly mobile clinic in partnership with FLASH, the Department of Health, and local physicians, providing wound care and other medical services to FLASH participants. The clinic, which first started in Fall 2021, now operates at two locations in Delray Beach and Lake Worth.

Medical students that volunteer at FLASH clinic with DOCS at the RMC get a unique opportunity to work with people who use drugs in those participants’ environment. Medical student volunteers get to interact with many participants that will not go to a hospital, unless they are absolutely forced too. This is because of poor treatment, stigma and negative experiences they have had in the past. Unfortunately, most of our participants have had these experiences, which has made them weary and untrusting of doctors in a normal medical setting. Medical students will get one on one experience dealing with people who are currently using drugs and get an inside perspective. Because of the relationship and trust that the participants have built between the employees on FLASH, they know that they are in a place where they will not be judged or have consequences for their drug use. Because of this, they are more honest and open with the medical team. The medical students also gain knowledge of safe use practices, drug interactions, what drugs are currently being distributed and used on the street, and different medical complications as they relate to the use of specific substances.