Rotation FAQs
What kind of student/resident should rotate at Lawndale Christian Health Center?
This elective is designed for medical and PA students and residents who are interested in doing a rotation in an urban, underserved setting with health care professionals and who are motivated by their faith in Christ and by their love for Christ. Medicine can be learned in any office, hospital or clinic. LCHC is looking for students and residents who are excited about the opportunity to work alongside Christian health care professionals and staff who are seeking to live out their faith through their profession. We are also looking for students who are interested in learning about the people and about practice of medicine in our community, as an example of an urban, medically-underserved area.
Preference for the rotation is given for medical students in their 4th year, any year resident, and PA students in their final clinical year, though we have accommodated 3rd year medical students towards the end of that year.
What about other Health Professional Students?
Nursing and Nurse Practitioner students should contact Ann McLaughlin (voice mail x1289) about scheduling their rotations. Pharmacy, dental and 1st and 2nd year medical students may also contact Dr. Wang to refer them to the appropriate resource. The information below does not directly apply to you, but you may find some of the information helpful. Premed students who want to volunteer please contact Karen Poulsen at Human Resources at (773) 843-3000 x 1161.
What is an elective?
An elective, or preceptorship, is a two week to two month rotation at LCHC. Most students will be expected to be at the clinic full time; however, some local residents may need to be away for their continuity clinics or required lectures.
You always get out of a rotation what you put into it. We want students and residents to actively participate in a variety of learning experiences both clinical and non-clinical (see below). Outside reading of recommended books and attendance of church and community-based activities is also strongly encouraged.
How do you schedule an elective, or preceptorship?
You can apply for a rotation by completing the online application or by leaving a voice mail for Dr. Prosper Wang at (773) 843-3000 x1515. When leaving a voice mail, please leave the following information: your name, the dates you wish to come to LCHC, the type of rotation you desire (general, Pediatrics, Family Practice, Internal Medicine, etc.), your school's name, your level of training, and when and how to contact you by phone or pager. Also, briefly describe how you heard about the rotation and why you want to rotate with us. Dr. Wang will contact you for final approval and scheduling.
Important! Required for the rotation is a letter from your school or training program that states that this is an approved rotation and that your medical malpractice is covered while on the rotation. If possible, also include a letter verifying vaccination status (HepB) and that your TB skin test is negative within the past year (or, if positive, has been treated).
What will be my clinical responsibilities and how does the rotation work?
Your hours in the clinic are somewhat flexible and this should be discussed with Dr. Wang or your preceptor at the beginning of the rotation. The clinic is open Monday through Saturday starting at 9:30a.m. On Wednesday, there is a staff meeting across the street at 8:00 a.m. You should attend staff meeting if at all possible. On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the clinic stays open until 9:00p.m., all other days until 5:00p.m. You may opt to work some evenings or Saturdays to fulfill your requirements. Just let your preceptor know in advance.
Initially, students seem to benefit most by seeing the acutely ill or "walk-in" patients. This will give you a chance to get used to the clinic system. Eventually, though, you should spend at least some time with a provider seeing scheduled patients. All patients must be staffed with one of the physicians at LCHC, and all notes require a co-signature. For more information on this please see the "Student and Resident Scope of Practice" policy.
We recommend planning ahead during your rotation. You may need to confer with one or two other students who are rotating at the same time to coordinate scheduling of home visits or working with a particular provider. This is easily done by looking at the monthly schedule posted in all provider work areas. On a daily basis, you can look up who is the "walk-in" doctor for the day on a list by the nurses station. The things which do require some advance planning are home visits and some of the other educational opportunities as listed below.
What are some of the clinical opportunities at LCHC?
While just seeing patients in the regular clinics at LCHC is a great learning experience, we recommend that you expand that scope of your rotation by taking advantage of some unique opportunities.
- TB clinic - Open Monday through Friday, this is one of the City of Chicago's busiest TB clinics. It serves Chicago's west side.
- Diabetes clinic - One of LCHC's premier service lines, the student will see quality, comprehensive and compassionate delivery of health care services to those with type 2 diabetes.
- Asthma clinic - On Tuesdays and Thursday, a physician, nurse practitioners and a team of asthma educators provide care for patients with asthma - a persistent and growing problem in the inner-city.
- Specialty clinics - LCHC is privileged to have several volunteer physicians who donate their time. Especially if you see yourself serving in this way in the future you might spend some time in these specialty clinics - general surgery, otolaryngology, orthopedics, or ophthalmology.
- School Outreach - A new program in 2001, one of LCHC's pediatricians and a nurse assistant take the show on the road and do physicals and immunizations at a local school.
Other opportunities may include rounding in the hospital with a physician or participating in a few of the programs by LCHC's Health Support Services. A few examples are:
- Home Visits - Highly Recommended. Accompanying one of LCHC's case managers you will gain insight into the economic, emotional and social struggles of patients who live in the community.
- Health Education - You might attend a MIP (Maternal Incentive Program) or PIP (Pediatric Incentive Program) educational class.
- Chaplains - Spend some time asking one of LCHC's chaplains about our programs. You might even accompany them on a hospital visit (with permission of the patient).
- Substance Abuse Recovery Programs - The Hope House is a live-in drug and alcohol rehab program. LCHC also runs a Christ-centered twelve-step program.
- HIV/AIDS Program - Possibly sit in on a patient's session with a case manager (with permission).
Just let us know if you have any other special interest, such as healthcare administration, and we can hook you up with the appropriate person.
The clinic is also a site for the Illinois SEARCH Program which is designed to encourage students and residents to consider practicing medicine in an underserved area. There is a stipend for participating! (See below)
What are some of the non-clinical opportunities at Lawndale Christian Health Center?
The clinic is just one part of the ministry at Lawndale. During your rotation you will get a chance to see some of the other exciting programs developed by Lawndale Community Church and how they are impacting the neighborhood and its people. You are strongly encouraged visit Lawndale Community Church and/or its sister church La Villita Community Church at some point during your stay. Below is a brief list of Lawndale organizations and a schedule of events.
LCC - Lawndale Community Church
Sunday Services: 9:00 and 11:00am
Kingdom Men: Mondays at 8:00pm
Kingdom Women: Saturdays at 8:00am
LCC Prayer Meeting: Wednesdays at 7:00pm
LVCC - La Villita Community Church
Sunday Service: 11:00am
CCHF - Christian Community Health Fellowship
LCDC - Lawndale Christian Development Corporation
CCDA - Christian Community Development Association
Also, if you can come a little early each work day (except Wednesday when staff meeting is across the street), there is a time of Prayer and Praise on the gym floor in the clinic building.
Where do I stay if I am from out of town?
Those who need housing will be assigned to a host family. Let us know if you will have a car available during the rotation. A general recommendation is that you reimburse your host $10/day for room and board; however, this is up to you and your host. Please contact us two weeks prior to the start of your rotation for your housing assignment. Then call your host and confirm your arrival date and time.
What is the Illinois SEARCH Program? ?
The Illinois Student/Resident Experiences and Rotations in Community Health (SEARCH) Program is funded by the National Health Service Corps. One of the objectives of the program is to increase recruitment and retention of health care professional in Healthcare Professional Shortage Area (HPSAs) and Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) of Illinois.
There are basically three levels of participation from which you can choose. We do ask that all students and residents complete at least the Basic SEARCH Student Information sheet. Even if you are not from Illinois, still fill out the form. There is no further obligation. However, if you wish to participate at a higher level, the program and its benefits are outlined below.
Level I - Just complete the Basic SEARCH Student Information sheet. You are not required to do anything else.
Level II - Full SEARCH student. Complete the Basic SEARCH Student Information sheet, the SEARCH student Application, participate in a half-day orientation, and complete two small assignments. Full SEARCH students receive a $100 stipend and a certificate.
Level III - If you wish to do a project that would enhance your experience, as well as help out LCHC, you would qualify to receive an additional $100. This project, for example, could be entering data, enhancing/developing health education pamphlets, helping to develop part of a program, developing or doing a health education presentation in a local school, etc.
If you are interested in Levels II or III, let your preceptor know as soon as you arrive for the rotation.
How can I prepare for the rotation at LCHC?
Please check out the rest of the Lawndale Christian Health Center website. Especially helpful would be to read "Health Care Among the Poor - The Vanishing Promise" by Dr. Art Jones and the article "A Brief History of Lawndale" which will give some insight into the Lawndale communities and the history of the health center.
If you are interested in doing further study, here is a brief Recommended Reading List. You might also check out some of the recommended website linksin our resources section.
1). Real Hope in Chicago by Wayne Gordon. The story behind the Lawndale Community Church and the associated ministries.
2). Breaking Down Walls by Raleigh Washington and Glen Kehrein. How racial reconciliation can happen and how it did at the Rock of My Salvation church and Circle Family Center in Chicago.
3). Let Justice Roll Down by John Perkins. The personal story of one man God has used to bring about a model of Biblical social justice.
4). Upholding the Vision available from the Christian Community Health Fellowship. A collection of short stories by various Christian health professionals who work in underserved communities.
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