Journal of Regional Medical Campuses

Vulnerable Patient Outreach Program (VPOP)

Meaningful Roles for Medical Students during COVID-19

Thomas Kellner

Penn State College of Medicine

Brittainy Hereford

Penn State College of Medicine

Mark Stephens

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jrmc.v4i3.3627

Keywords: COVID, Medical Student, Outreach

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted many traditional patient care delivery models. To help meet patient needs, the Penn State Health Department of Family and Community Medicine started a medical student-run Vulnerable Patient Outreach Program (VPOP). This program pairs medical students with providers to address healthcare needs for the most vulnerable patients. At the program outset, a total of 125 patients were identified and 64 agreed to participate. All patients were over the age of 65 and had multiple medical comorbidities. This study reviews the impact of VPOP on the care of 34 participants. Each participant completed pre-structured satisfaction surveys over the phone. The results indicate a high degree (94%) of patient satisfaction. Patients were particularly comfortable communicating their health needs to medical students and specifically highlighted medical student professionalism. Medical students also found this program to be beneficial, citing an ability to help during pandemic times in a clinically meaningful way. The highly positive reactions from both patients and medical students suggest that outreach programs, like this one, are one way to meet the needs of vulnerable patients. These findings also suggest that, as a longitudinal experience beyond COVID-19, medical students may benefit from participation in vulnerable patient outreach programs.