Clinical Settings

Hospitals

Medical-legal partnerships are based in a full range of hospital settings, from large multi-specialty academic medical centers to smaller community hospitals.  Many of these hospital settings train residents in different specialties, such as pediatrics, internal medicine or family medicine, and some also have fellowship programs in such areas as geriatrics and oncology.

Though a few are publicly funded through a city or county, the vast majority of hospitals are private, not for profits and therefore have a mission to serve the community in which they are located.
 

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)

Federally qualified health centers are community based health centers that receive federal funds to care for populations that are traditionally underserved medically.  Examples of populations that are underserved are:

• homeless patients
• low-income patients
• patients from under represented minorities
• patients in rural areas that have long distances to travel for care.

Though the funds are given federally, its implementation is often different state to state. FQHCs need to re-apply on a regular basis for funding and show they are serving their vulnerable population comprehensively.

Community Health Centers

Community health centers are designed to provide comprehensive medical, mental, dental and other healthcare for the underserved patients in the community they are located.  The CHC model is one that treats people regardless of ability to pay and often CHCs are located in communities that are medical underserved.  The size of CHCs can differ greatly, with some open for limited hours on a weekly basis, and others that act like small community hospitals, with urgent care open close to 24 hours a day with subspecialty services on site.
 

Medical Schools

There are a limited number of medical schools in the United States -- only 130.  These medical schools are four year institutions.  Once students graduate, they must complete a residency in different clinical settings, such as pediatrics or family medicine, to become eligible to practice medicine.  The size of medical school classes per year ranges form 75 to over 200.  Medical schools are certified by the Association of American Medical Colleges and must demonstrate teaching competencies in system-based care, professionalism and advocacy to continue to be certified.