We have received approval for and are currently in the midst of two survey-based projects pertaining to CURE Clinic. Both projects include demographic questions that help to provide some context for our results. Our research team has developed a separate version of the survey which can be distributed at the migrant camps. This survey has been translated into Spanish, as well.
One project is focused on collecting data related to the nutritional habits of those living in the homeless shelters. The survey asks questions pertaining to the number of meals eaten per day, quality of meals, access to nutritious food options, and availability of educational resources.
The other project is centered around gathering patient feedback on the experience visiting the CURE Clinic. The survey asks questions pertaining to patient satisfaction, usefulness of the clinic, access to a primary care provider, alternate sources of care, and likelihood of returning for follow-up care.
The surveys are still being actively distributed, and the projects are in somewhat early phases of data collection. That being said, the small amount of data collected has allowed us to perform preliminary data analysis and submit abstracts for presentation. We were accepted to present our work at both Rush University Medical Center’s Trainee Day 2024 and the National ENT Interest Group Conference 2024.
The results of these surveys, along with a chart review comparing the number of homeless individuals visiting the emergency room for ENT care before and after the implementation of the CURE Clinic, will serve as useful tools for self-evaluation. The high volume of patients we have seen already – many of them for follow-up care – is both encouraging and indicative of a sustainable and replicable clinical model.