The St. Ambrose University Interprofessional Health Clinic provides student-led healthcare services to underserved populations in the Quad Cities. Adults who do not have access to healthcare, have exhausted their insurance benefits, or for whom healthcare costs are prohibitive are eligible to receive care.
"They have something going on here," said the grateful wife of a client battling back from a stroke.
The clinic opened in November 2015 and sees clients at the Center for Health Sciences Education, 1320 West Lombard St. on Tuesdays. A team of students and faculty from Nursing, the Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Social Work, and Master of Speech-Language Pathology programs provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, and communication therapy for clients at no cost.
"This innovative approach to experiential health sciences education provides students in each of these thriving St. Ambrose programs an early immersion in the integrative, interprofessional approach to patient and client care that is becoming standard in the healthcare industry," said Sandra Cassady, PhD, PT, St. Ambrose vice president for strategic initiatives and dean of the College of Health and Human Services.
This year, a student leadership group composed of representatives from each of the five participating programs is overseeing the clinic's operations.
"This is giving students the chance to practice the administrative side of running a clinic," noted Michael Puthoff, PhD, PT, director of the Physical Therapy Department and the clinic. "As importantly, the Interprofessional Health Clinic aligns with the University's commitment to social justice and service. By providing care at no cost to those who are underserved, the students and faculty are helping to improve the health and wellness of our community. Our students are learning the value of service to community that will carry into their professional practice upon graduation."
From a Quad-City Times story:
Jenn White knows there are just some things you cannot learn in a classroom.
That's why the St. Ambrose University student is happy to be volunteering at the new Interprofessional Health Clinic at the university's Center for Health Science Education on the Genesis Health System campus in Davenport.
"You learn all components, but things like listening and empathy you can't learn in class," said White, patient care manager at the clinic who is a graduate student in physical therapy.
Read the Quad-City Times article
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