A Typical Visit
The Student Family Health Care Center (SFHCC) is a free clinic that is also a learning experience for medical students. Patients generally arrive at 5:45 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and first meet with a team of about 4 medical students. The team consists of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year medical students. In an effort to learn and hone skills, students ask a lot of questions and do a complete physical exam, with some repetition to be sure nothing is missed. The 1st and 2nd year students take the lead in asking questions and performing the physical exam while the 3rd and 4th year students guide them.
The teams then meet with an attending physician and report what they have found to formulate a plan. Afterwards, the patient meets with the team and doctor to discuss the plan and for the doctor to confirm the students' findings. There may be a few more questions and a quick physical exam before the plan is discussed with the patient, which can include medications or additional tests. Every patient gets counseling and education concerning their medical problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where is the clinic located?
A: We are located in the Doctor's Office Center across the street from University Hospital.
90 Bergen Street
Suite 7100
Newark, NJ 07101
Q: When is the clinic open?
A: We are open every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:45PM!
Q: I don't have insurance. Is that okay?
A: Yes! We are a completely free clinic, so you will not be charged for your visit with us. We can also help you apply for insurance or Charity Care to help you pay for any services you need outside of our clinic.
Q: Are you part of University Hospital?
A: Yes! All doctors that we work with work with University Hospital. Any bloodwork that we get or referrals that we make to specialists are usually done at University Hospital.
Q: How long will my doctor's visit take?
A: One visit usually takes about 2 hours.
Q: I don't want to be seen by students. Can I just see the doctor?
A: All patients are seen by a team of students before being seen by a physician. The clinic provides a learning experience for students, so it is good practice for them to see patients first! That being said, the physician in charge helps to make sure that all patients are receiving the best care possible.
Q: Can you treat my son/daughter too?
A: Unfortunately, we do not treat children. We only see adults 18 and older.
