Educational Value of a Free Medical Clinic Operated by Medical Students.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Student Outreach Clinic (SOC) at the University of Nevada School of Medicine is one of several student-run free medical clinics associated with US medical schools. We report on the educational value of the SOC to medical students who volunteer at this clinic.

METHODS: The records of all patients seen between August 1, 2012, and July 31, 2013, at the SOC were abstracted on a deidentified basis to collect key demographic and clinical components of the visit, including past medical history, components of the physical exam performed, clinical diagnoses recorded, patient disposition, and medications prescribed.

RESULTS: A total of 593 clinic visits were reviewed. Students performed a full physical exam on 80% of patients, primarily for educational purposes. The most frequent diagnoses mapped to a considerable extent to the top diagnoses seen in primary care as well as to the medical school curriculum, and the most frequent medications prescribed mapped to a considerable extent to the pharmacology curriculum.

CONCLUSIONS: The SOC provides incremental opportunities for medical students to gain valuable clinical experience during their first 2 years of medical school. The diagnoses encountered and medications prescribed parallel and supplement the medical school curriculum, with a particular focus on primary care. The educational value of these experiences should influence curriculum development and decisions.