Student-Run Clinics Adapt to Emerging Changes in Healthcare and Education Previewing the 2016 Society of Student-Run Free Clinics Annual Conference

Healthcare and medical education have undergone rapid evolution in the past five years. These changes highlight the flexibility and impact of student-run clinics (SRCs). From the passage of the Affordable Care Act to medical education's increasing emphasis on healthcare delivery and experiential learning, the rise of SRCs has placed students on the front lines of progress. During this time, the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics (SSRFC) has worked diligently to help clinics adapt and prosper in this new era. In this article we reflect on the upcoming SSRFC Annual Conference and how SRCs are situated to adapt to these recent changes. We conclude by identifying specific SSRFC goals to help students and clinics continue to grow. Healthcare for the Underserved The passage of the Affordable Care Act and widespread state expansion of Medicaid presented ethical and logistical challenges for student-run clinics (SRCs) designed to be primary medical homes for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Nationally, many clinics responded to the expansion of healthcare benefits by adopting bridge-to-care models and identifying patients eligible for health insurance. SRCs are in contact with many low-income and now newly eligible patients and can help connect them to insurance benefits. During this historic transition point, bringing together the SRC community to share ideas, collaborate, and support each other is as paramount as ever. Each year, the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics (SSRFC) hosts its Annual Conference to do just that. At the 2016 Annual Conference, many clinics are sharing how their models of care have evolved. There will be presentations about clinic initiatives to address specific community needs as they arise, as well as presentations about expanding access to rural patients. Novel and niche clinic models will continue to broaden the growing impact of SRCs. Abstract Healthcare and medical education have undergone rapid evolution in the past five years. These changes highlight the flexibility and impact of student-run clinics (SRCs). From the passage of the Affordable Care Act to medical education's increasing emphasis on healthcare delivery and experiential learning, the rise of SRCs has placed students on the front lines of progress. During this time, the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics (SSRFC) has worked diligently to help clinics adapt and prosper in this new era. In this article we reflect on the upcoming SSRFC Annual Conference and how SRCs are situated to adapt to these recent changes. We conclude by identifying specific SSRFC goals to help students and clinics continue to grow. Healthcare for the Underserved The passage of the Affordable Care Act and widespread state expansion of Medicaid presented ethical and logistical challenges for student-run clinics (SRCs) designed to be primary medical homes for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Nationally, many clinics responded to the expansion of healthcare benefits by adopting bridge-to-care models and identifying patients eligible for health insurance. SRCs are in contact with many low-income and now newly eligible patients and can help connect them to insurance benefits. During this historic transition point, bringing together the SRC community to share ideas, collaborate, and support each other is as paramount as ever. Each year, the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics (SSRFC) hosts its Annual Conference to do just that. At the 2016 Annual Conference, many clinics are sharing how their models of care have evolved. There will be presentations about clinic initiatives to address specific community needs as they arise, as well as presentations about expanding access to rural patients. Novel and niche clinic models will continue to broaden the growing impact of SRCs. Abstract Healthcare and medical education have undergone rapid evolution in the past five years. These changes highlight the flexibility and impact of student-run clinics (SRCs). From the passage of the Affordable Care Act to medical education's increasing emphasis on healthcare delivery and experiential learning, the rise of SRCs has placed students on the front lines of progress. During this time, the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics (SSRFC) has worked diligently to help clinics adapt and prosper in this new era. In this article we reflect on the upcoming SSRFC Annual Conference and how SRCs are situated to adapt to these recent changes. We conclude by identifying specific SSRFC goals to help students and clinics continue to grow. Healthcare for the Underserved The passage of the Affordable Care Act and widespread state expansion of Medicaid presented ethical and logistical challenges for student-run clinics (SRCs) designed to be primary medical homes for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Nationally, many clinics responded to the expansion of healthcare benefits by adopting bridge-to-care models and identifying patients eligible for health insurance. SRCs are in contact with many low-income and now newly eligible patients and can help connect them to insurance benefits. During this historic transition point, bringing together the SRC community to share ideas, collaborate, and support each other is as paramount as ever. Each year, the Society of Student-Run Free Clinics (SSRFC) hosts its Annual Conference to do just that. At the 2016 Annual Conference, many clinics are sharing how their models of care have evolved. There will be presentations about clinic initiatives to address specific community needs as they arise, as well as presentations about expanding access to rural patients. Novel and niche clinic models will continue to broaden the growing impact of SRCs.