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BCMS – TOGETHER
WE STAND

of disadvantaged communities to pursue having their skin concerns ad- access to dermatology providers. With this article, we hope to encour-
dressed without the burden of worrying about transportation, pay- age awareness and stand together as medical professionals, healthcare
ments or other time obligations. Eventually, with the medical volunteers and community service providers to improve community
institution's support, establishing more available clinic times would health and patient wellbeing.
provide flexibility and reliability to cultivate stronger relationships with
our patient communities. References:
Another way to increase the utility of free clinics is to broadcast their 1. Tripathi, R., Knusel, K. D., Ezaldein, H. H., Scott, J. F., & Bordeaux,
existence to primary care practices. Many free clinics are often only J. S. (2018). Association of Demographic and Socioeconomic Char-
known by word-of-mouth, so many primary care practices may not be acteristics With Differences in Use of Outpatient Dermatology
aware of these resources. At Travis Park, patients occasionally walk in Services in the United States. JAMA dermatology, 154(11), 1286–
after being referred to by their primary care providers. These patients 1291. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.3114
were typically referred because they could not afford a visit to a regular 2. U.S. Census Bureau quickfacts: San Antonio City, Texas. (n.d.). Re-
dermatology practice or get an appointment until much later; however, trieved November 21, 2022, from https://www.census.gov/quick-
they still needed treatment for their skin conditions. Thus, improving facts/fact/table/sanantoniocitytexas/LND110210
free clinic visibility to the San Antonio medical community may help
provide physicians with more options to recommend to their patients. Christina Pierce, Rebecca Wang and Tue
“Felix” Nguyen are all medical students at
Closing thoughts - how can we stand together? UT Health San Antonio Long School of
Addressing dermatological concerns or questions is essential for all Medicine.
patients. However, by recognizing the barriers that exist, it is imperative
to ensure that patients with lower SES have the opportunity to have

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