Dental, nursing, and medical student driven community-based infectious disease prevention

Background: Bridges Collaborative Care Clinic (BCCC) is Oregon’s first multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary student-run free clinic. BCCC’s mission is to engage vulnerable populations by providing low-barrier, participant-centered care and services in the Portland metro area through an interprofessional, student-led clinic. As an interprofessional collaboration, BCCC engages students from public health, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, physician assistant, and social work programs. Methods: An immunization program created collaboratively between medical, dental, nursing, and pharmacy students was designed to integrate interprofessional students in community-based infectious disease prevention. This project follows the Oregon State House Bill 2220 that adds the prescription and administration of vaccines into a dentist’s scope of practice. Community partners included Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and Transition Projects, Inc. (TPI). TPI provides housing and social services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the Portland metro area. Influenza, hepatitis B, and Tdap vaccines were provided free of charge in TPI residential living facilities. Results: Number of students from each program Number of vaccines provided Discussion: This program illustrates how different health professions educational programs contribute to an interprofessional clinic and the implementation of public health interventions. Early educational experiences should respond to changes in healthcare professions’ scope of practice in order to shape future clinical practices