A Telemedicine Intervention for a Student-Run Free Clinic During COVID-19

Abstract

During COVID-19, student-run free clinics were tasked with providing care to vulnerable populations that were heavily impacted by the pandemic. This project describes a free clinic intervention at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons for a telemedicine service offering primary care, mental health, and social work outreach for an uninsured and vulnerable population in New York City, the first epicenter of the U.S. pandemic. The clinic developed and implemented a protocol for evaluating and responding to medical, psychiatric, and social needs during COVID-19. The specific facets of the intervention, as well as the successes and challenges of implementation, are discussed.