SHAC Beyond Clinic Walls

Beyond Clinic Walls (formerly known as Mobile SHAC) serves community members who have limited access to community clinics and other local services. Beyond Clinic Walls helps their clients to understand their often complicated health needs and to maintain contact with their primary care providers. Student volunteers from the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Public Health, and Social Work collaborate in interdisciplinary teams that partner with clients for a year.

Student teams visit on a monthly basis, and assess their client's health status, living conditions, and concerns. Student teams meet each semester with allied health faculty and community volunteers to discuss their experience. Additionally, student teams share their observations with their client's primary care provider.

In addition to monthly visits, student teams organize special projects that will benefit their client's standard of living. These projects are financed by donations and assisted by community volunteers with relevant expertise. Past projects include renovating a deck to improve accessibility, handling water quality issues, and installing grab bars to prevent injury.

Beyond Clinic Walls benefits tremendously from its close relationship with Carol Woods, a retirement community in Chapel Hill. Carol Woods volunteers provide advice to student teams at semester meetings, lend their expertise to assist with special projects, and provide generous financial support.

Current Volunteers

To access your team webpage login to Blackboard. In addition to information about your team, you will find answers to frequently asked questions regarding reimbursements, special projects, and team timelines. If you have trouble accessing Blackboard, please contact Daniel Parker (dcparker@email.unc.edu).

Volunteering

Beyond Clinic Walls provides volunteers with an extraordinary opportunity to help community members who may otherwise lack adequate access to healthcare and other local services. Our volunteers learn much more than the practical application of classroom knowledge. Outside the clinic, our volunteers develop a holistic view of their client and their unique circumstances. In addition, students learn the invaluable lessons that come with working on an interdisciplinary healthcare team and the tremendous benefit of pooled knowledge from diverse academic perspectives. By conquering the obvious and unforeseen conflicts that inevitably arise when working on a team with a complex population, students leave with an increased awareness and preparedness for the challenges they will face in their professional careers. 

SHAC Beyond Clinic Walls - Student Roles:

Team Leader: The team leader is responsible for maintaining regular contact with his/her client and scheduling monthly visits. The team leader addresses any issues or concerns that arise with their coordinator, the Operations Director, and, if necessary, the relevant faculty advisor.

Medical Students and Nursing Students: At each visit vital signs are taken and recorded. This includes monitoring glucose levels for diabetics. Through informal medical interviews students assess their client's general health and explore any questions or concerns they may have. Students provide education about medical problems and treatments in addition to giving information about community resources.

Pharmacy Students: Students are responsible for documenting and updating a list of medications for each client. Students monitor their client for medication contraindications and adverse side effects and report any concerns to their team leader. Students also assess their client's compliance and knowledge about their medications and provide education as needed.

Dental Students: Dental students assess their client's oral health and hygiene practices and provide education as needed. Students also help their client find appropriate care.  

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Students: Students assess their client's home, mobility, and activities of daily living. Students develop strategies to improve their client’s standard of living and connect them with outside services as needed.

Social Work and Public Health Students: Students assess the social and living situation of their client through observation and discussion. Students formulate and execute a plan to address problems by linking clients to organizations and arranging for additional services.