Perspectives Spring 2015

PERSPECTIVES • SPRING 2015 44 PHYSICAL THERAPY Tampa PARTNERING IN CARE FOR TAMPA’S UNINSURED: The Hybrid D.P.T. Program and the Judeo Christian Health Clinic By Mary Tischio Blackinton, Ed.D., PT, GCS Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Hybrid Entry-Level D.P.T. Program In June 2013, faculty members from the Hybrid D.P.T. Program began providing pro-bono physical therapy services to patients at the Judeo Christian Health Clinic (JCHC) on Fridays. The JCHC, which is Tampa’s oldest and only completely pro-bono health clinic, was established in 1972 to meet the health care needs of the uninsured and the working poor. All health care providers—physi- cians, nurse practitioners, pharma- cists, dentists, optometrists, dentists, and now physical therapists—do- nate their time. Prescription med- ications are provided at the clinic free of charge from donations made by drug companies, and the only prescriptions not provided are narcotics. Approximately 75 per- cent of patients at the Judeo-Chris- tian Health Clinic are Hispanic and only speak Spanish. The following paragraphs tell the story of how and why this partner- ship developed and its impact on the D.P.T. Program faculty mem- bers, students, and patients served. Key stakeholders sharing their per- spectives include: Martha Price, M.D., a Tampa physician volun- teer; Jessica Estrada, a fourth-year PT student who served as an inter- preter for the PT faculty members; our D.P.T. faculty members; Auldeen Sampson, a patient who has been seen by the physical thera- pists at the JCHC; and Kelly Bell, JCHC executive director. The story actually originates with the initiative of Dr. Price. When asked what inspired her to invite the D.P.T. faculty members and stu- dents to collaborate with the JCHC, she replied, “I have been caring for Judeo-Christian patients for many years. Musculoskeletal pain is almost universal in this set- ting, and the prescribing of anti-in- flammatories or pain medications has its own serious drawbacks and offers little hope of getting better. The use of physical therapy seemed like a natural solution; however, the population served would have to go to a large and unfamiliar hospital setting to receive those services. Most of our patients would or could not follow through due to real constraints, which is why an in- house physical therapist seemed like an unrealistic dream. So how did it all begin? “In 2012, I attended a white coat cere- mony for a dear friend’s son. I was PT-2 Natasha Brenner assesses the range of motion of a patient’s neck as interpreter Aura Arevalo (left) assists with translating her instructions.