Race Track Clinic Receives Grant

University Family Physicians has received a generous grant from SC Ministry Foundation to support the free clinic for indigent employees at River Downs Race Track.  The funds will be used to pay for an interpreter, a nurse coordinator, vision screening, a health fair and patient education materials in English and Spanish, and to transport patients to University Hospital and a dental clinic when needed. 
 
The Department, in conjunction with the Cincinnati Health Network, has been operating the free clinic since the 2004 racing season.  For the 2005 season it will expand from one exam room to four, thanks to the new clinic trailer being purchased by the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association. 
 
The Track’s migrant workers are typically paid minimum wage, many do not speak English, and most have no health insurance or means of transportation to medical appointments even if they could afford care.  Neither can they pay for any medications they might need.
 
The clinic was envisioned and brought to fruition by Joe Kiesler, MD, Assistant Professor, Joy Williams, MD, a Family Medicine Faculty Development Fellow, and two of our resident physicians, Suzanne Gaudreault, MD and Chris Bernheisel, MD.  For the 2005 Season, Dr. Kiesler and Dr. Montiel Rosenthal will be the main volunteer physicians at the clinic, but other departmental physicians will also volunteer throughout the year.
 
Under the guidance of our faculty, each clinic session usually has two medical students and two resident physicians providing medical care for patients. This educational component is helping prepare the next generation of physicians to care for similar indigent patients in their communities.