CARES Clinic: Serving the underserved
Samantha Brice is a third-year PharmD candidate at The Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy.
The CARES Clinic is a student-run clinic at The Medical University of South Carolina that provides free primary care services to uninsured patients in the Charleston, SC, area. Students from the colleges of medicine, pharmacy, and health professions collaborate to produce comprehensive medical care for patients in the clinic 3 to 4 nights a week under the supervision of licensed physicians.
During my first year, I took the opportunity to volunteer at the clinic and serve a patient population that holds a special place in my heart after learning about the health disparities they face.
Comprehensive patient care
Health disparities within the Charleston community are often overlooked or forgotten. The CARES Clinic mission is to provide high-quality medical management to vulnerable populations while educating future health care professionals on the importance of health equity. Student pharmacists work in collaboration with medical students to improve access to care for patients who suffer from increased disease burden due to being uninsured or consistently dismissed in standard health care settings.
The clinic mainly provides primary care, but it additionally offers specialty nights that focus on female reproductive health, mental health, dermatology, and cardiology. However, one of the largest challenges facing underserved patients is access to medications prescribed to them. Student pharmacists are indispensable in addressing this issue, as we can bridge the gap between prescription and acquisition of medication. Through volunteering in the clinic, student pharmacists have the opportunity to not only improve upon their patient care skills, but also challenge themselves to think outside the box to choose accessible medications for patients.
Positive community impact
Select student pharmacists who volunteer in the clinic also work on the board that oversees operations. During my second year of school, I had the privilege to be one of these students and serve as the pharmacy follow-up coordinator. My role in that position involved ensuring patients received their medications and refills prescribed at the clinic for little to no cost. These responsibilities expanded my perspective of pharmacy by challenging me to find unique ways to improve medication accessibility and adherence.
My role as pharmacy follow-up coordinator has been immensely fulfilling and enjoyable, as I’ve had the opportunity to make a tangible and positive impact on underserved patient populations by ensuring they receive proper and deserved medical care. Serving alongside other health care professional students challenges us to apply our classroom knowledge while concurrently developing interprofessional collaboration skills.
Working on the board at the CARES Clinic has improved my understanding of diverse patient populations encountered in the medical field and has given me the tools to continue to provide future patients from all backgrounds with high-quality care.