Providing Affordable, Patient-Centered Care: Building Patient Satisfaction in a Student-Run Athletic Training Clinic

Objective Student-run clinics (SRCs) may offer cost-effective care and invaluable training across health care disciplines. To better understand this promising avenue for increasing health care access and educational opportunities, this study (1) qualitatively explored factors influencing patient satisfaction in an SRC and (2) evaluated patients’ comparisons of care received in a SRC athletic training clinic vs other musculoskeletal (MSK) care settings. Patients or Other Participants One hundred thirteen individuals who received MSK treatment at the SRC in 2023 completed an online mixed-methods survey. Participants rated their satisfaction with the treatment experience and perceived provider empathy at the SRC and, if applicable, in previous MSK care settings. Results Patients reported higher satisfaction at the SRC compared with other MSK care settings (mean = 5.16 vs 4.91, P = .0018) and perceived SRC providers as more empathetic (mean = 4.35 vs 3.70, P = .001). Qualitative analysis from open-ended responses highlighted 2 distinct elements of the SRC treatment experience: the care environment and the care approach. Drawbacks of the SRC setting noted by some patients were lower levels of student provider knowledge and less availability of specialized tools and technology; however, patients evaluated the overall quality of the SRC care more highly than comparable prior MSK care settings. Conclusions Student-run clinics can deliver high-quality care that meets or exceeds patient satisfaction levels compared with traditional clinical settings. Patients rated SRC care with higher satisfaction and provider empathy, and the affordability of SRCs mitigated potential impacts of lower provider knowledge and limited resources.