People without insurance might put off going to the doctor for months or even years. In other instances they might seek emergency treatment for conditions best managed by a primary care doctor. Now uninsured Columbia residents have another option - access to free primary care through MedZou, the city's first student-coordinated community outreach clinic.

Since the clinic began accepting patients on Oct. 16, 2008, MedZou has provided free care, prescriptions and lab tests for about 100 uninsured patients. At 9 a.m. March 9, University of Missouri medical students and their community supporters will host an open house at the Central Missouri Community Action agency, 400 Wilkes Blvd., which houses the clinic.

Mark Sims, a first-year medical student and one of the clinic's four student directors, said that working at the clinic has already given him insight into how those experiencing life's hardships, such as lack of a job or social stability, can have an even more difficult time staying healthy. Sims used the example of a young MedZou patient who was homeless and diabetic but who did not previously have access to insulin to treat her condition.

"To see her step in the door and get something that never would have been a priority or a possibility for her before is a huge thing," Sims said. "It's really inspiring to sit down with people and know that you're helping them with a part of their lives."

Medical students began researching the possibility of opening a student-run clinic in fall 2007. They conducted a small survey of patients in stable condition at MU's emergency department. More than 21 percent of these non-urgent patients were uninsured, an indication that they could benefit from another source of care, Sims said.

Thirty percent to 40 percent of the patients treated at the Family Health Center, Columbia's federally qualified health center, are uninsured. At times, there has been a long waiting list for these patients to receive care at the center, said Erik Lindbloom, MD, Fellow '99, associate professor of family and community medicine and MedZou faculty adviser.

"We thought that MedZou could sometimes be a triage clinic for folks who were waiting to establish care at the Family Health Center," Lindbloom said.

MedZou has had tremendous University and community support. More than 100 students are scheduled to staff the clinic, and about 20 faculty and resident physician volunteers have donated their time to supervise. Financial backing comes from a four-year $30,000 grant from the Association of American Medical Colleges, an annual $10,000 donation through the medical school, private donations, student fundraisers and the free building space donated by the Central Missouri Community action agency.

Each Thursday, the MedZou clinic begins at 5 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m. Patients first see several medical students, then a physician and a social worker. A visit may last up to an hour, but clinic organizers feel the process is beneficial to students' education as well as patient care.

Through their work in MedZou, first- and second-year medical students have significant interaction with patients earlier in their medical training.

"The heart of this really has come from our enthusiastic and motivated students," Lindbloom said. "And from an educational standpoint, they are getting early exposure to medical skills, not even specific to underserved care, that they otherwise wouldn't experience for another year or two."

The following partners have provided support for MedZou: University of Missouri School of Medicine and its University Physicians group; Central Missouri Community action agency; Centro Latino; Beacon of Hope; First Chance for Children; Loaves and Fishes; St. Francis House; Harbor House; Family Health Center; Columbia/Boone County Health Department; Boyce and Bynum Pathology Laboratories; Kilgore's Pharmacy; Poplar Bluff Home Medical Supply; and Hy-Vee Pharmacy.

Donations to MedZou may be made through the University of Missouri Medical School Foundation, One Hospital Drive, DC205.00, Columbia, MO 65212. To give or request information about giving, supporters may also contact Sue Dunkin, foundation executive director, at (573) 882-5371 or toll-free at 1-866-260-4517.