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MEDIC:
Students and physicians volunteer their services to those in need
By Corrie Klopcic ('04)
Former MEDIC president
 University of Wisconsin Medical School luminaries will be honored in a unique way when their names are linked to the five learning communities that will be a key feature of the new Health Sciences Learning Center.
The year has been marked by profound change, yet MEDIC, the UW Medical School student organization, maintains its quest to provide healthcare services to those in need. Throughout the past few years, MEDIC has expanded its services and linked up nationally with other free clinics, while remaining one of the largest student organizations at the Medical School. More than 200 first- and second-year students and over 500 volunteer doctors combine to serve over 2,000 patients each year.
MEDIC consists of six clinics, each serving a distinct patient population. Grace Homeless Shelter Clinic, established in 1991, was the first MEDIC clinic. It currently serves homeless men at the Episcopal Church on the Capitol Square. The Salvation Army Clinic serves primarily single women and children. MEDIC operates the Safehaven Clinic for psychiatric patients at a transitional housing site. South Side Clinic, established in the Madison Community Health Center (MCHC) building, serves uninsured residents of a largely low income, racially and culturally diverse neighborhood in Madison. Our Teen Clinic, which moved to the new Lussier Teen Center last February, seeks to attract more patients through ongoing publicity efforts.
Our newest clinic, the Michele Tracy Project, began as a series of monthly preventive health clinics directed at the residents of the Community Housing and Services (CHAS) building. CHAS provides short-term housing at a reduced rate for those with no other option, while assisting with job placement and linking to community resources. This clinic is named in memory of the late Michele Tracy of the UW Medical School Class of 2002, who organized the first clinics. Topics that have been addressed include: general healthcare, flu and respiratory health, smoking cessation, depression, first aid, infectious diseases, and our annual "Valentine's Heart Healthy Clinic." A new grant will allow MEDIC volunteers to expand to provide acute care and to target elderly through a collaboration with the Wisconsin Coalition of Aging.
MEDIC's mission includes building additional bridges to existing community resources; thus we have teamed up with a variety of local programs. For example, MEDIC runs sports physical exam days for high school athletes over the summer and has been successful in clearing over 50 athletes for participation in sports. MEDIC works side-by-side with the Dane County Health Department to provide volunteer staff for "Well-Child Checks." We also brought the national reading advocacy program, "Reach Out and Read, " into clinics where children are read to while sitting in the waiting room. As part of the program, MEDIC recruits members of the undergraduate pre-medical society, Alpha Epsilon Delta, to volunteer and provide the children a book of their choice. MEDIC is also working to start a free dental clinic at MCHC, which we hope to open next year.
In addition, MEDIC has undergone a technology upgrade and is working to get a computerized database in every clinic. With good record keeping, the clinics can clearly identify the most common problems and expand care to effectively meet the needs of the community. MEDIC also established a drug database and tracking system on its donated samples to better serve the patients.
As the United States adapts to a lagging economy, MEDIC continues to be greatly affected by the budgetary shortfalls and their medical consequences. We have seen a significant increase in numbers of uninsured patients, many of whom are homeless and transient. As more and more people have less access to healthcare, the ability to refer patients and plug them into consistent healthcare has become MEDIC's greatest challenge.
 To address this challenge, MEDIC developed a referral system with University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics to send a limited number of patients to its specialty clinics. While this relationship has furthered the resources available through MEDIC, two local community clinics receiving the most referrals have been severely overworked and, therefore, have stopped seeing MEDIC patients altogether during the past few months. In order to ameliorate this difficult situation, MEDIC has appointed a referral chair to address the problem and gain access to primary care physicians who provide follow-up. We can only do this with the help of local physicians. If you could help by agreeing to take on just a few of our patients, or in any other way, please contact Sarah Knutson at seknutes@students.wisc.edu.
MEDIC has worked to increase opportunities for volunteers while addressing the significant needs within the Madison community. Each year the number of compassionate and motivated students interested in serving at MEDIC clinics greatly outweighs the number of volunteer positions available.
But we are always in need of volunteer physicians, and residents as well. Any commitment you would be willing to make would be greatly appreciated.
MEDIC is doing amazing work in Madison and throughout Dane County. It is truly a testament to the character of students enrolled at University of Wisconsin Medical School, and the physicians within our community. A private grant was matched by the Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association (WMAA) three years ago that has provided the foundation for continued healthcare. MEDIC would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the WMAA and the university for their support and encouragement.
For more information, please take a look at our website at http://www.fammed.wisc.edu/medic.
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