Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC)

Vital Site Stats

Host Site:Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC)
Site Emphasis: Community Clinic
Program Length: 1 year
No. of Positions: 1 per year
Site Coordinator: May Xia Lo, Pharm.D.
Website


SITE PROFILE
-  Organization
-  Pharmacy Services
-  Resident's Educational Experience
-  Site Coordinator

Organization:
Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC) opened its doors in 1966 to provide primary care services to children and low income families in South Minneapolis.  

Vision: To be an organization known for excellence in community health care for diverse populations. 

Mission:  To advance the well-being of people experiencing health disparities. 

Services include: Medical Clinic: Primary and preventativeservices include pediatric and adult care, physical examinations, well-child care, patient education, immunizations, ongoing care for chronic disease, family planning & prenatal care, and education. Dental Clinic: One of only three sliding scale fee dental clinics in South Minneapolis, CUHCC provides preventative care and a full range of restorative services to patients of all ages.  Mental Health and Social Services Clinic:Staffed by psychiatrists, psychologists and master's level social workers and bilingual practitioners, the mental health clinic offers a full range of outpatient services.  On-site Pro Bono Legal Clinic: Sponsored by the firm of Leonard, Street and Deinard.  Lawyers donate over 4,000 pro bono hours annually.  Reach Out and Read Program: Provides children with high quality, developmentally appropriate books when they attend clinic appointments.

Patient Demographics:  CUHCC’s patient base mirrors the diversity of South Minneapolis.  Stepping into the waiting room one immediately notices how people from all walks of life identify CUHCC as their clinic.

• 71% of the 9,237 patients served in 2006 are people of color, immigrants or refugees; 19% Asian/Pacific Islander; 29% White; 33% are Black, African or African American; 6% American Indian; and 13% Latino. 
• 38% of patients or 3,510 patients are either non-English-speakers or speak English as a second language. 
• Patients at CUHCC live predominantly below than federal poverty guidelines ($20,650 a year for a family of four).  85% of CUHCC patients are at 100% or below the federal poverty line. 
• Nearly 14% of patients are uninsured and pay on a sliding fee scale, while 69% are covered by government health care programs that cover most but not all of the cost of services.  Only 17% of patients have private insurance. 

Pharmacy Services
The Pharmacy Program improves the health and quality of life of patients by ensuring the rational use of pharmaceuticals through the provision of direct patient care, improved medication access, and drug information/education.  Clinical services provided include medication therapy management, diabetes education and management, anticoagulation monitoring, asthma education, and tobacco cessation counseling.  The Pharmacy Department also manages clinic pharmaceuticals (samples and in-clinic medications) and vaccines.  The program is responsible for educating and training pharmacy residents and students to become competent practitioners who are able to provide a broad scope of pharmaceutical services (clinical services, drug information, drug distribution services, etc).  Ongoing pharmacotherapy education is also provided to clinic providers, residents, students, and staff.  

Resident's Educational Experience
- Provide medication therapy management, diabetes education and management, anticoagulation monitoring, asthma education, and tobacco cessation counseling during one-on-one appointments

- Facilitate weekly diabetes educational sessions for culturally diverse groups

- Work collaboratively with providers on projects related to health disparity collaboratives

- Assist in management of sample medications, in-clinic pharmaceuticals, and vaccines

- Involved in quality management encompassing all aspects of the delivery of pharmaceutical care to patients

- Precept fourth year pharmacy students on rotations

- Provide pharmacotherapy education for medical residents, students, and staff

Site Coordinator
May Xia Lo, PharmD joined CUHCC as a clinical pharmacist in 2003.  She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy in 2002 and completed her residency with emphasis on community health at the University of Minnesota in 2003. As director of pharmacy services, she is involved in integrating pharmaceutical care services throughout the clinic as well as improving patient access to medications through implementation of a 340B pharmacy model.