Gaudenzia
Title: Gaudenzia: Addressing Healthcare Disparities in Substance Use Recovery and Reentry Populations
Student Interns:
Praneeta Bandi
Drexel University College of Medicine
Sam Coren
Drexel University College of Medicine
Elizabeth Louie
Drexel University College of Medicine
Academic Preceptor:
James Buehler, MD
Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
Community Preceptor:
Agnes Brown
Gaudenzia
James Harold, MHS
Gaudenzia
Gwenn Swift, LMFT, DCFT
Gaudenzia
Community Site:
Gaudenzia supports long-term recovery for people with substance use disorders and mental health challenges. By providing housing, counseling, and advocacy services, Gaudenzia strives to improve the health and well-being of the community it serves. The Withdrawal, Stabilization, and Assessment Center (WSAC) is a 28-day residential rehab for those starting their recovery journey. Philly House provides transitional housing for women who are formerly incarcerated, struggling with substance use, or in need of mental health support and aims to facilitate their reentry by developing necessary life skills.
Team’s Experience:
At WSAC, the Bridging the Gaps intern spent the summer working with patients at the inpatient rehab throughout their stay. Regular activities included shadowing and participating in group and individual therapy sessions, creating and delivering health presentations, conversing with patients to better understand their experiences, and assisting with transportation needs and other day-to-day activities. The intern had the opportunity to gain invaluable insight into the biological and psychological aspects of addiction as well as historical and current treatment paradigms. The intern was also able to integrate their studies of the subject with the lived experiences of those struggling with substance use disorders in a meaningful way to improve the ability to manage and interact with patients struggling with addiction.
At Philly House, the interns’ tasks primarily focused on medical case management. They supported residents by scheduling appointments, navigating insurance applications, and escorting patients to medical visits. The interns also assisted with applications for social security disability income, helped with prescription and medication management, and led medical education presentations. They worked in tandem to ensure all residents at Philly House stayed up to date on medical visits and preventive screenings. They also completed medical intake for several new reentrants. Overall, this experience provided an in-depth understanding of the healthcare gaps faced by formerly incarcerated or low-SES residents.
Reflections
While interning at Philly House, I became intimately familiar with the gaps in healthcare access that affect people who are formerly incarcerated or generally come from a lower SES background. While our medical school training prepares our scientific knowledge, my time at Philly House showed me the structural gaps that patients face before coming to seek medical treatment. Being able to support these patients by scheduling long-awaited specialist appointments, sorting out insurance applications, and applying for disability benefits were just some of the ways that we were able to augment their healthcare needs. Through this experience, I was able to understand what minute changes providers can make to support their patients, particularly those who have preexisting barriers to care. As I move forward in my medical career, this experience will serve as a constant reminder to look beyond a patient’s immediate diagnosis, address the social barriers impacting their health, and practice compassionate, equity-driven medicine.
Praneeta Bandi
This summer, working at the WSAC inpatient rehab, I gained knowledge and lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my career. Addiction is an omnipresent disease, something that touches the lives of a vast majority of people in some way or another. Seeing what it is that people struggling with addiction go through on their journey in recovery was incredibly eye-opening. We talk about resources and services available in our classes, but by seeing it firsthand, I now have a deeper understanding of what those resources actually look like to the people who need them. It underscored the importance of learning about the resources and services available in whatever area I practice. I will take the humility and knowledge gained from this experience and use it to provide competent, trauma-informed care to all my patients, especially those with substance use disorders.
Sam Coren
Conversing and working with the residents of Gaudenzia Philly House was an experience that will guide my future career in medicine. Throughout the summer, I saw the frustration and stress that can come with seeking supportive healthcare, especially in marginalized groups. Many residents felt unsupported throughout this process, and my goal was to help residents feel that they had more control of their care. There was a strong emphasis on preventive care and helping residents navigate monitoring their health in the future. It was extremely valuable going through the process of resolving these issues. Bridging the Gaps not only made me more aware of common obstacles but also encouraged me to explore new ways of supporting patients. Speaking with other healthcare professionals and medical teams reinforced how critical communication across all health disciplines is. As a future medical professional, this experience will guide how I support patients. I hope to use my understanding of patients and their experiences to deliver tailored care that works best for them.
Elizabeth Louie
