History of the Crimson Care Collaborative at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

According to a 2009 MMS Physician Workforce study, patients are now waiting an average of 82 days to see their primary care physicians. With the wait times increasing, many patients who may want to spend more time with their family doctor now resort to the costly option of the emergency room.

Started by Harvard Medical students in 2010, the Crimson Care Collaborative (CCC), a student-faculty clinic, addresses this gap in the healthcare system. At the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), CCC provides specialized care after normal operating hours. CCC-BIDMC focuses on chronic disease management and partners with primary care providers and specialists to serve patients with hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Every Tuesday evening students and faculty see patients, either recruited or referred by their primary care physician, for their chronic care and various episodic needs.

Students are involved in every step of the practice and develop valuable skills in health care and research. As of 2013, students work in committees ranging from chronic care innovation, which educates patients with chronic diseases, to research, which compiles data on the clinic. In addition, students who are either junior or senior clinicians work with patients directly. Pharmacy students and faculty also counsel patients and make recommendations on their medications.

Look at our website for more about this student-faculty clinic: http://www.crimsoncare.org/