Graduation Year
2019
Embargo Period
6-28-2019
Document Type
Research Paper
Degree Name
Medical Doctor (MD)
First Advisor
Susan Cavanaugh, MLS, MPH
Subject(s)
Education, Medical, Patient Care
Abstract
Abstract
Medical schools often have student-run clinics that give medical students the opportunity to have increased clinical exposure. Often, the clinics provide free or a reduced cost of care for patients and target underserved populations. Current research regarding medical student-run clinics is few and far between. The research that does exist usually targets investigating the effect of the clinics on medical student education, while fewer studies exist that target investigating the actual care that patients receive. In order to increase the number of studies investigating patient care at student-run clinics, this retrospective chart review sought to determine whether Cooper Medical School of Rowan University’s student-run clinic adequately evaluates diabetic patients’ hemoglobin A1c level through lab referrals. It also strived to determine whether patients are able to adhere to those lab referrals and whether those patients have any documented social barriers to health that are preventing them from adhering to lab services. The chart review, of 100 patients diagnosed with type II diabetes, found that students do refer patients to lab services, and that patients do go to the labs. However, patients often are lost to follow-up, and their social history is often not documented in the electronic medical record. In addition, there was no significant improvement in two consecutive hemoglobin A1c values collected from patients’ charts. These results suggest that while the clinic is adequately assessing a core measure for diabetes care, it is not adequately assessing patients’ social needs or working on improving patients’ hemoglobin A1c levels.
Recommended Citation
Rose, Emily, "Evaluating CMSRU student clinic diabetic patients’ hemoglobin A1c values, adherence to laboratory services, and potential barriers to care" (2019). Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Capstone Projects. 32.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/cmsru_capstones/32
