INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana University Student Outreach Clinic will celebrate the start of its fifth year of providing free health care to Indianapolis residents with an open house from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24.
Greetings will be extended at noon and include information on the history of the clinic, current operations and future plans. Tours of the free clinic will follow.
The IU Student Outreach Clinic, which is sponsored by the Indiana University School of Medicine Office of Medical Service-Learning, opened Aug. 1, 2009, in the Neighborhood Fellowship Church, 3102 E. 10th St. Uninsured and underinsured patients are seen weekly on a first-come first-served basis, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
Free medical care is provided by student and faculty volunteers from the IU School of Medicine, in collaboration with students from Butler University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, IU School of Dentistry (who see patients at the People’s Health Center, 2340 E. 10th St.), IU School of Health and Rehabilitation Science Department of Physical Therapy, and the University of Indianapolis Krannert School of Physical Therapy.
Students from the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law volunteer in partnership with Indiana Legal Services to provide free legal services and resources, and IU School of Social Work student volunteers help by identifying needs, providing information on available resources and offering referrals.
The clinic, which serves as a hands-on educational opportunity for students, sees about 35 patients for acute and chronic conditions each Saturday. During the first eight months of 2013, there were 1,005 medical patient visits, about one-third of which were from new patients.
“In 2012, there were 1,837 patient encounters, with more than 2,400 total diagnoses,” said Janice L. Farlow, an M.D.-Ph.D. student at the IU School of Medicine and medical chair of the IU Student Outreach Clinic. “This is triple the number of patients seen at the clinic from two years ago.
“The savings to the community for the free care are immense, and the educational opportunities the clinic provides to future professionals are invaluable,” she said. “The clinic is truly a unique gem for the city of Indianapolis, as it represents a collaborative effort between students and faculty of three different institutions spanning multiple professions, connected by a common interest of serving the community.”
Last year, 1,856 medications were dispensed, and the lab work completed was valued at nearly $6,000. Overall dental fees for the free services provided were valued at $45,263.
For questions about the clinic, contact freeclinic@iu-soc.org or 317-225-1881.