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Medical Volunteering: Giving Something Back

  • SOCIAL/SOCIETAL TOPICS IN PULMONARY MEDICINE
  • Published:
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Abstract

A national health issue is how to provide medical care for the large number of people who are uninsured or do not qualify for medical coverage. Establishing free health clinics staffed by volunteer health professionals is one approach that is increasing, but this alone will not solve this societal problem. Many volunteer health care providers are needed, and more senior and retired physicians might be recruited. However, practicing general, not subspeciality, medicine in an unfamiliar surrounding with different patient demands may seem intimidating and anxiety producing. However, a conducive clinical environment and working with other volunteer health care staff may alleviate these feelings and make medical volunteering very enjoyable. The Mercy Health Clinic in Montgomery County, Maryland, has had this effect on us who volunteer there and care for its needy patients.

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References

  1. Barr CW (2004) Coalition of clinics gives hope to uninsured—Montgomery ponders investment needed to expand venture, reach more adults. In: The Washington Post. The Washington Post Co., Washington, DC, August 24, 2004 pp 1, A6

  2. Berger L (2005) Health; Retired Doctors, Retired Nurses, Very Busy Clinics. In: The New York Times. The New York Times Co., New York, November 14, 2005 (Health), p F5

  3. Ronan JA Jr (2003) Letter to Dr. Isabel V. Hoverman, Chair, Awards Committee, 2003-2004, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA, June 25, 2003

  4. Ronan JA Jr (Medical Director) (2004) Minutes and State of the Clinic, Mercy Health Clinic Volunteer Physicians’s Meeting, March 1, 2004

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Acknowledgments

The assistance of Dr. Amra Slakovic-McClanen, Clinic Administrator, is greatly appreciated as was the review of the manuscript by Dr. James A Ronan, Jr., Dr. Richard B. Perry, Dr. Joseph C. Fratantoni, Mrs. Sharon Sokal, M.Sc. (A), C.R.N.P., and Mrs. Anne L. Reynolds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DLD/NHLBI, Two Rockledge Center, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7952, USA

    Herbert Y. Reynolds

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  1. Herbert Y. Reynolds
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Correspondence to Herbert Y. Reynolds.

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Reynolds, H.Y. Medical Volunteering: Giving Something Back. Lung 184, 369–371 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-006-0028-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-006-0028-x

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