Barrier reduction in access to care among the most vulnerable populations is the focus of the Unity Clinic, a student-led/faculty-supervised interprofessional clinical experience at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences . This presentation will examine the Unity Clinic’s community engagement process, outcomes, and lessons learned as a method for other institutions to consider utilization of student-led teams in their community health engagement efforts.
Following an intense community engagement initiative coordinating community Covid vaccination efforts, Unity Clinic teams transferred their energies to mobile community health outreach. Since 2022, over 30 community partners have been engaged to deliver health screenings and patient education. The goal has been two-fold: 1) provide a learning opportunity for students providing team-based practice, and 2) provide a community-engaged health outreach service to those in historically underserved communities.
Methodology followed best practices for community engagement where community representatives served as team members. Processes include a dynamic workflow designed by IPE students to engage the community, conduct joint planning on the health outreach initiatives, operationalize the plan to address the community’s assets and needs, and delivery mobile health outreach at a place and time convenient to the community.
Outcomes include process metrics where over 400 community members have received team-based health assessments and education. Primary services have included hypertension screening, diabetes screening, vision assessments, nutrition education, occupational therapy assessments, and mental health assessment. Over 300 student have been engaged in this process and well over a dozen selected for university-level leadership positions within the Vice Provost’s office.
However, lessons learned have included 1) challenges of operating a large mobile outreach vehicle, 2) obtaining sustainable funding, 3) communication to ensure utilization by the target population, and 4) managing PPI to track health outcomes. Further research will be needed to determine health outcomes of those screened and referred for treatment.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (National Center OICPD). The National Center OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
The National Center OICPD (JA#: 4008105) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs).
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Learners can claim CE credit by completing the Daily Evaluation.
