Vision Statement | Through this project, we look to increase access to healthcare in an underrepresented group by bringing awareness regarding screening, transmission, and treatment of a disease prevalent among this group. We seek to apply the strategies learned by this project to increase access to healthcare for other underrepresented groups in the community. |
Team Objectives | The aim of this project was to increase the number of Vietnamese patients in the Internal Medicine Residency Continuity Clinic by 25% within a period of 6 months by raising awareness of hepatitis B virus (HBV). |
Success Factors | The most successful part of our work was raising awareness about HBV by providing free educational events. We also were able to increase access to healthcare by providing information about our clinic for the uninsured. |
Barriers | The largest barrier encountered was that many of the uninsured we encountered were not eligible for our clinic because of their citizenship status or their income was above the threshold. We worked to overcome this challenge by making these patients aware of another clinic in the community where they could receive primary care. |
Lessons Learned | The single most important piece of advice to provide another team embarking on a similar initiative is to establish relationships with community leaders!! They have experience with getting out into the community and having an impact. |