Medical students from TCOM offer health screening for homeless

Dec 22 2009

Medical students from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) offered a health screening for the homeless Friday, Dec. 11, in an effort to give back to the people of Tarrant County.

Each Friday, 10 to 20 TCOM students from UNT Health Science Center screen anywhere from 25 to 70 individuals at Fort Worth's Day Resource Center -- one of the main refuges for the homeless during the day. This program began about 1 1/2 years ago to serve the homeless population of Fort Worth desperately needing health care, as well as to provide students a face-to-face experience with patients.

Students check pulses and blood pressure, screen for diabetes, ask questions about nutrition and life style, and test for pregnancy and STDs, in addition to other illnesses. Catching illness and injury early can prevent more serious developments and emergency room trips, which are costly in both treatment and dollars.

Many times, students find one patient during the screening needing hospitalization for extremely high blood pressure or high blood glucose and send them by ambulance. In less extreme cases, students try to get patients into urgent care centers for treatment.

The program is popular in the homeless community and among TCOM's students. More and more students ask to participate, demonstrating their dedication to both studying medicine and giving back to the community.