the St. Louis medical students care about the feet of the homeless -
At Saint Louis University medical students care about the homeless feet .
This is the focus of the new homeless care clinic, which began earlier this year when Howard instead, MD, professor of orthopedic surgery at SLU, approached the Resource Centre health to develop a foot care program for the homeless.
"Foot care is a great need in the city, but does not receive much attention," said Talia Coney, former lead coordinator for the HRC, a free clinic run by medical students SLU.
HRC has decided to collaborate with the bridge, a local organization that provides food and shelter for homeless people. students and the place come to the center once a month to provide services. in each session, instead directs students to evaluate feet, wash and clean them, take care of calluses, nail cutting and distributing socks and hygiene products for future needs.
"The population of homeless people spend more time on their feet and the problem is often overlooked," said site. "Real Foot problems can create more challenges to their limited mobility."
On average, the group sees about 45 patients in each visit and spent four hours at the center.
HRC is not alone in thinking the homeless feet. Mobile Health Initiative (CMI), a newly formed group formed by another set of students in second year of medicine, is also running a similar program.
MHI provides hygiene clinic currently attending two local shelters at this stage, The Bridge and Peter & Paul Community Services. The purpose of ICM is to extend their reach to more centers and to involve community members to those who are homeless with concerns.
"We wanted to help the homeless because they do not have access to care," said Marco Kim, a student of second year of medicine and co-director of the initiative. "Our idea was to go to these people and give them the basic care they need. "
"In addition to the services we provide, they are grateful to be able to tell their story. They are affected by the interaction that we connect with them on a personal level," said Nikhil Patel, another medical student of second year and co-lead manager for the ICM.
Location believes this experience will give students the opportunity to work with people they have never worked before .
"this program helps students in a number of ways. It gives them an education on how to care for the feet, which will be very useful in the future as care physicians orthopedic or primary, "said site." It helps to continue to experience the gift of volunteering. It offers a new level of service. "
For Coney, the experience has given him a new perspective on life.
"cleaning someone's feet is good for the soul. It is a reminder of why we are here at SLU that future physicians," said Coney. "This is one of many benefits of working with the clinical care of the homeless. "
Patel said that the beginning of a long journey.
" the more we do, the more people we trust. people will be more willing to help us and we want to get the word out, "he said.
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