Underserved Populations
For residents who want to serve those with the greatest need, our program offers many opportunities to care for underserved populations in the United States and around the world. Primary care residents are required to complete a preceptorship in an underserved area. All residents may choose rotations in underserved settings.
Local Urban Sites Include:
The Community Health Care Network of Denver Health and Hospitals: Westside Community Health Center serves a large Latino population with many Spanish speaking only patients. The clinic population is 30% Hispanic, 10% African American, and 5% other minorities. Approximately 60% of the population is uninsured or covered through the Colorado Indigent Care Program. Eastside Neighborhood Health Center is the second oldest continuous community health center in the country. Located in the Five Points neighborhood of Denver, Eastside serves a diverse clinic population that is 40% African American, 30% Hispanic, and 5% other minorities; approximately 25% of the patients speak Spanish only. More than 40% of the patients are either uninsured or covered through the Colorado Indigent Care Program. Webb Center for Primary Care serves patients who are predominately recipients of Medicaid and/or Medicare or are uninsured and receive care through the state’s indigent care program. In terms of racial characteristics forty-five percent of our population describes themselves as white, 11% black, 41% are unknown, and 3% report ‘other’ as their race. In terms of ethnicity, 43% of the clinic population self-describes as Hispanic.
Stout Street Clinic is an affiliate of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, and provides basic medical, mental health and dental care, and substance abuse counseling as well as a wide variety of supportive services to homeless families and individuals. The coalition’s mission is to work toward the prevention and elimination of homelessness through education, advocacy and improved services for homeless and at risk individuals throughout Colorado. The clinic has been operating since 1986 and currently has approximately 4,500 visits annually. Comprehensive health care services offered include acute and chronic medical care, mental health services, dental and prenatal care, family planning, nutrition counseling, alcohol/drug rehabilitation and detoxification services. Homeless prevention services include budget counseling, rental and utilities assistance, and transitional housing.
Clínica Tepeyac is located in North Denver and serves the needs of a largely immigrant, underserved Latino population. Originally established as part the Our Lady of Guadelupe Church in 1995, the clinic is now a free-standing entity serving the health care needs of this vulnerable community. Healthcare services include general and acute care for children, adolescents and older adults. Clínica Tepeyac also provides community outreach programs such as “Promatoras de Salud” (a health education project), an obstetrics program, and diabetes management support groups. Greater than 95% of patients are uninsured. Clínica is able to provide some basic services regardless of ability to pay. Clínica remains one of the few health care sanctuaries in Denver and represents an opportunity to learn about the unique healthcare needs of these patients while benefiting the community as a whole.
Urban Peak was founded as an outreach center for street youth in Denver. In 2005 Urban Peak served more than 2800 youth through programs as varied as the homeless shelters, transitional housing for disabled youth, contingency housing for youth entering addiction treatment, street outreach, Charter School, GED program, and Resource Center. Services include case management, jobs counseling, education, medical services, and psychological counseling. The medical clinic is staffed by physicians and nurse practitioners from The Colorado Health Foundation, Rocky Mountain Youth, and the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Ninety percent of the youth receiving care are uninsured; the other 10% have Medicaid/Medicare. Forty-six percent are of minorities. Sixty percent report major psychiatric diagnoses and 75% have experienced domestic violence or abuse. In addition to urgent care and chronic disease management, free screening for HIV, Hepatitis C, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Tuberculosis are provided on-site at the Shelter, The Spot, Street Outreach and the Addiction Treatment program. This site is currently part of the adolescent rotation.
Rev. 9/11/08
