Dates: To be arranged by the student.

Primary Care Clinics are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. PT Clinic is held on Wednesday evenings.

Participation: Participation is open to all PA & PT students. (Students who have a course requirement to participate at St. Vincent's Clinic, such as 3 year track PA students, must receive permission from their program advisor to use this activity for INDS points.)

Description:

Join a primary health care team providing care to the underserved population of Galveston. Gain experience diagnosing patients and conferring with physicians regarding care. This student-run clinic provides opportunities to learn about different cultures, the effects of poverty on health care, and the legal and ethical issues involved in providing health care to the underserved.

Activities:

1. Attend an orientation session led by Teri Bigler and/or student directors.
2. Participate in a shadowing experience to learn basic procedures and your role within the healthcare team.
3. Participate in a minimum of four 4-hour shifts (for PT's a total of 16 hours on site) at the St. Vincent’s clinic.
4. Keep a journal of each experience, including the patient(s) seen, the evaluation completed, and personal reflections of what you learned about communication skills, health care issues, and the needs of the underserved.
5. Review your journal entries and then complete a 300 word essay summarizing your experience and describing your evaluation of the legal and ethical health care issues involved in providing health care to the underserved community. Include how you have personally grown from the volunteer experience. PA's Please send an email to Teri Bigler (tjbigler@utmb.edu) when you are ready for her to review an activity.PT's send to Ann Charness.

Activity Objectives: Students will be given the opportunity to: