Working in the “Helping Revitalize Medical Education through Service,” better known as HeRMES, clinic is more than just a service project for Chris Erb, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Illinois and executive director of the free clinic. The service clinic has seen a vast variety of patients looking for free care, including a family who only spoke Mayan and a woman who preferred to wait for a bus rather than pay for ambulance services as she was having a mild heart attack.

Almost 40 percent of Champaign County’s population lacks access to primary health care, according to Megan McClaire of the Champaign County Health Care Consumers. The service clinic can only help 15-20 people each night the clinic is open, which is usually twice a month.

However, after four years in operation, Erb estimates that they’ve seen 2,000 patients, many of whom return for their regular checkups of chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension.

“You have to look at it over time,” said Erb. “We’re addressing the problem with a short-term solution, treating people who need care right now, but we can’t help them for not having insurance or no access to private clinics.”

At the service clinic, volunteer medical students are supervised by physicians who review their notes and projected courses of action, and sign off on prescriptions for the patients.

“We’ve tried to create learning and service opportunities for people who are qualified to treat patients, as well as provide services for low-income families,” said Erb.

The service clinic is partnered with the Champaign County Christian Health Center, the only free clinic in the area. Being a low-budget operation, the medical “offices” include a rented, two-bedroom apartment in Orchard Downs and after-hours space in the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District facility.

“It’s really a win-win situation for us,” said Jeff Trask, administrative coordinator with the Christian Health Center. “They use our space, and we get to see more clients with the additional volunteers.”

Dr. Robert Woodward, assistant professor at the University’s School of Medicine and a volunteer at the service clinic, said even though they don’t see a huge number of people, whatever they can do helps.

“A needy population is a needy population, but we think about the individuals who need their medications every day,” Woodward said. “Is the impact too small if a child can get his physical and go to school? It has to start with one person at a time.”

Since the service clinic is staffed entirely by volunteers, and they have access to their exam space for free, the clinic itself has very few expenses. The grant money they receive is often donated to the Champaign County Health Care Consumers for new equipment, like glucose testing strips or new exam tables, said Erb.

The service clinic also gives medical students a chance to treat patients face to face and test their diagnostic skills under the supervision of a licensed, volunteer physician.

“Students think of patients as what they see in books,” said Woodward. “With (the service clinic), for the first time, they’re the ones making the difference.”

All medical students attend clinicals – hands-on hours at a hospital or clinic in which they observe physicians working with patients.

However, with HeRMES, it is the student that gets to take charge of the patient’s care instead of standing in the background taking notes.

“Being involved in HeRMES has a different role than if one of us was to be volunteering at Frances Nelson,” said Erb. “It’s more hands-on here, and since it’s entirely student run, you can be as involved as you want to be.

“We think we’re prepared for everything when we get here,” he continued. “But there are always surprises, and you’ve always got to be on your toes.”