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USF Students Try To Bridge Health Gap For The Poor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 4, 2007

Some Bay area people who lack medical insurance and don't know how they'll be able to afford health care can cross that bridge when they come to it.

The BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic, run by University of South Florida medical students, had its grand opening Tuesday night.

The patient is seen by a social worker and two medical students, one a first- or second-year student who is paired with a third- or fourth year student in the 'real world learning' program. The student team reports to attending physicians who question the students about the condition and the students' recommended treatment. A physician then sees the patient with the student team and makes the final decision.

Metro, Page 1

•The BRIDGE operates Tuesday evenings at the University Area Community Health Center, a county-run facility on North 22nd Street.

•To qualify, patients' income must be below 200 percent of the poverty level. They cannot have medical insurance or receive other assistance such as Medicaid.

•Appointments are required, and a visit may take an hour or more.

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