TAMPA, Fla. (WTSP) – A $1.2 million donation from Florida Hospital Tampa is allowing the University of South Florida to expand its BRIDGE Clinic's hours and locations provide more services for uninsured patients in Tampa.
Currently, the student-run clinic operates weekly on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 until 9:30 on USF's campus, and the expansion will allow the clinic to also operate on Thursdays at Florida Hospital Tampa.
"Florida Hospital, by helping us open this new clinic, we can see more patients [and] see them more frequently. We can better manage our patients' health, and they won't end up in the emergency room incurring these huge costs to themselves personally," said Dr. Michelle Blanco. "And because of this, I think it's not only a benefit to our patients, but also to the community."
Clinic directors said there is a huge need for this service in the area surrounding USF, as they tend to see a lot of patients who are homeless, don't speak English and have a difficult time applying for and receiving health care.
"We screen our patients once they come in, and if they're eligible, we see them in the clinic. A lot of our patients don't speak English, several of our patients are illiterate--they don't know how to read or to write," said Dr. Blanco. "So for them, it's very challenging to try and find health insurance to apply, and it's very hard for them. They're scared to seek out healthcare."
The clinic offers primary and women's health care. To be eligible to receive services from the BRIDGE Clinic, patients but not have insurance and must have an income within 200 percent of the povety line. They must also live in the area around USF. For more information, click here.
