Pairing Medical Student Education and Pap Smears at the Eastern Virginia Medical School HOPES Free Clinic

Abstract

Invasive cervical cancer represents nearly 10% of all cancers in women. Papanicolaou testing (Pap smear) programs in many low income groups have performed poorly in reducing the burden of cervical cancer due to lack of access to healthcare. Student-run free clinics have the unique ability to shape future physicians while providing important services to those in need. The Eastern Virginia Medical School Health Outreach Partnership of EVMS Students Free Clinic (EVMS H.O.P.E.S. Clinic) capitalizes on this pairing by providing Pap smears to uninsured women in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area while teaching students valuable clinical skills. From July 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014, 152 patients were seen at the EVMS H.O.P.E.S. Women’s Health Clinic, and 33 Pap smears were performed. A mean of 58 student volunteers per month attended the EVMS H.O.P.E.S. Women’s Health Clinic over the date range evaluated (range 31-74 volunteers/month) with volunteers representing the medical degree program as well as the master of physician assistant program. By providing Pap smears to underserved women in Hampton Roads, the H.O.P.E.S. clinic is lessening the health care access disparity between low and high-income women while successfully pairing student education and patient care. This structure can be a model for any student-run free clinic looking to expand their student opportunities and patient services.