Pharmacy students support underserved patients through traveling mobile health unit

South Carolina has 67 medically underserved areas, with more than 95% of the population living in a primary care health professional shortage area, according to the S.C. Legislative Safety Net Proviso Report. To combat this shortage in underserved communities, the Palmetto Palace mobile health unit made its debut in 2019. According to the Palmetto Palace website, founder Youlanda Gibbs, Ed.D., wanted to support underserved individuals by introducing a mobile health unit to serve communities throughout the state, providing preventive medical and dental services to those in rural and underserved areas. 

The Palmetto Palace caught the attention of MUSC College of Pharmacy associate professor James Sterrett, Pharm.D., who believed this was an opportunity not only to help underserved communities but also educate students with hands-on experience. So, Sterrett had the idea to place students on the unit for their rotations. 

“I'm very passionate about longitudinal experiences, and I find value in those. So, I jumped at the opportunity. I said, ‘Hey, would you like to have students volunteer?’ And so, I recruited Kyrle and Julia,” Sterrett explained. 

Julia Hormann and Kyrle Luth are both third-year pharmacy students at MUSC in Charleston. Sterrett was excited that two outstanding students were able to build their education outside of the classroom. An experience that Hormann said was invaluable. 

"I think it's a really great opportunity that you don't realize when you're beginning in the program how valuable it is to be a working student. I think just now as a P3, as we're kind of nearing the end of our education, you start to realize how much that's impacted, and it's sort of piecing things together for you,” said Hormann.

“So, I think that actually getting a chance to apply what you're learning inside the classroom with patients outside of school starts to kind of really mold your experience.”

According to the students, patients who use the mobile health unit have access to prescriptions, screenings, vaccinations, health checkups, dental care and health education. Its locations include Santee, Charleston and North Charleston, and teams set up outside churches and recreational centers. 

“When patients walk on the bus, and if it's the first time, a lot of them are confused. They've never been to a doctor's office on a bus before,” said Hormann. “They don't know: Are they going to the right or the left? So, we welcome them.”

Rather than your typical brick-and-mortar pharmacy, the unit provides a unique experience for students and patients. When patients walk onto the bus, they’ll see rooms for patients, and the pharmacy is right in the middle of it all. So, students are constantly seeing patients and actively learning.

“There have been days when we’ve had four pharmacists – two students and two licensed pharmacists – working together in a small space, counting pills, printing labels and preparing everything for the patients. It’s an exciting and collaborative experience,” said Luth. 

Recently, the College of Pharmacy expanded the program to include six students instead of just two. For an educator like Sterrett, seeing his students thrive by not only learning but also extending care to patients in different areas of the state means a great deal. 

“You just feel good for them because you can see that they're really taking care of people. They care, and they're growing,” said Sterrett. “And, ultimately, we want them to be able to practice like we do. So we’re really grateful to the Palmetto Palace for this community partnership, which benefits both our students’ education and the Palmetto Palace’s ability to help patients.”

Luth agreed, explaining that to have the opportunity to sit with patients outside of the classroom and work in real-world scenarios has prepared him to kickstart his career after he graduates. 

“It’s such a rewarding experience to sit with a patient and provide counseling. It’s even more meaningful to see how receptive they are and the trust they place in you to deliver the information they need. For many, it’s the first time they’re hearing it from a student, which makes it even more impactful.”