Free Clinic Model Discussed at National Physician Assistant Meeting in Puerto Rico.

Thursday, December 22, 2005 - [Barry University] - Keith Moore, J.D., PA-C, director of clinical education for the Barry University Physician Assistant Program (BUPAP) and Robert Nguyen, D.P.M., 2nd year Barry/Mercy Primary Care Resident presented a poster session on "New Model for Delivery of Health Care Services - The Open Door Health Center" to a national audience of physician assistant faculty at the Association of Physician Assistant Programs 2005 Education Forum recently in Los Croabas, Puerto Rico. The poster was viewed by more than 350 PA faculty from California to Michigan, many indicating an interest in replicating the free clinic model in their communities.

The presentation is part of a Barry University initiative to train health professionals nation-wide on how to develop free multidisciplinary health care clinics to reduce the disparity in access to health care among minorities and other medically underserved groups. This effort has funding support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through a grant to Barry University for Project Health C.A.R.E. II (Collaborative Area Resource Effort).

As a model, the Open Door Health Center in Homestead, Florida cares for patients regardless of their inability to pay or immigration status. The area is home to large migrant, immigrant and impoverished patient populations.According to Moore "there were several faculty members from New England and Michigan who are actively engaged in trying to establish community clinics and they found the Barry model information to be very timely and useful."

The model has won numerous state and national awards. Adaptation of the free clinic model on a national basis can positively impact health care delivery to many medically underserved communities.