Lessons from a clinic for the homeless. The Camillus Health Concern.
OBJECTIVE
To present the educational opportunities provided by a model clinic for homeless persons.


METHODS
Descriptive.


METHODS
Patients are those who are cared for at Camillus Health Concern clinic for the homeless in Miami, Fla. Other participants include students, residents, and faculty affiliated with the University of Miami (Fla) School of Medicine.


METHODS
Affiliation of the clinic with the medical school has shifted the clinic from a pure service model to an education and service model.


METHODS
Numbers of patients and encounters are presented, as well as student and resident rotations, numbers, and hours.


RESULTS
Shifting to an education and service model has increased productivity of the clinic while providing a unique, multifaceted educational experience to students, residents, and faculty.


CONCLUSIONS
Those factors that contribute to the success of this education and service model include the professional satisfaction that results from providing care to patients who previously have not had access to health care; a team approach that includes faculty, students, nurses, and social workers; an environment that fosters clinical judgment rather than expensive tests; and the opportunity to teach social responsibility in the process of providing health care. We encourage other schools to consider the development of clinics for the homeless as alternative ambulatory training sites.
Fournier
A M
AM
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL 33101.
Perez-Stable
A
A
Greer
P J
PJ
D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005431:Florida; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013337:Students, Medical; D000078329:Workforce