Hofstra University medical students and faculty recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of launching a free clinic in Queens to provide basic care to uninsured patients in a joint venture with Northwell Health.
The clinic—the first of its kind for Northwell Health—offers annual physicals, sick visits, blood work, electrocardiograms and more, including referrals at no cost to uninsured and undocumented residents ages 18 and older.
“In a number of cases, patients have not seen a doctor in many years,” said Delia Kristol, the clinic’s co-chair and a third-year medical student at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine. “One patient recently told us he hadn’t seen a doctor since he was in high school, and he’s now significantly older.”
The student-run facility follows in the footsteps of a free clinic established in the Far Rockaways after Superstorm Sandy by Doctors of the World in partnership with the School of Medicine.
Students said they hope to become the primary care physicians for the patients, who often return weekly for help managing chronic conditions. Faculty members said the clinic is a win-win.
“The clinic is not only a great benefit to the community, but also to our students,” said Dr. Mitchell Adler. “They obtain hands-on experience with clinical tools, hone their knowledge and listening skills, and also learn how to run a medical practice—an important reality of medicine that can’t be taught in the classroom.”
The clinic is fully integrated into Northwell Health, which provides administrative and clinical support for the effort, including a call center for scheduling, medical records management, lab services and referral sources. It is open 6-9 p.m. Mondays, except holidays.
The clinic is located in the Northwell Health Multi-Specialty Medical Group, 95-25 Queens Blvd., Rego Park, Queens. For more information about the free clinic, email [email protected]. To make an appointment, call 631-393-5650 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
