Bloomington Leader

Access to healthcare remains a pressing concern in Indiana, with 70 percent of counties in the Indiana Uplands region identifying it as a top community need. A report from the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement highlights this issue, noting that Indiana ranks 41st out of 50 states in health care access according to U.S. News and World Report.

Indiana University (IU) is actively addressing these challenges through various outreach initiatives. Britney Arce, a clinical assistant professor at the IU School of Nursing, leads annual health clinics that offer free screenings to underserved communities. These clinics are conducted in partnership with the IU Center for Rural Engagement and Southern Indiana Community Health Care.

“We see these events as us being able to be an extension to the primary-care offices,” said Arce. Her students participate through a course designed for second-year nursing students. The clinics have served over 250 people across southern Indiana over the past five years, taking place at locations like Melton Public Library in French Lick and Solutions Center in Mitchell.

Each clinic visitor receives a basic blood panel test, which includes important metrics such as blood glucose and cholesterol levels. “Even basic numbers are valuable for telling people what they need to know,” Arce explained. The clinics also provide students with opportunities to practice health coaching skills under the supervision of registered nurses.

Participants whose results indicate potential health risks are invited for further consultation with registered nurses who can help arrange primary care appointments or other necessary services. Arce shared an example of how clinic volunteers facilitated care for a veteran lacking transportation by coordinating with local medical services covered by his veteran’s insurance.

Beyond rural health clinics, IU School of Nursing students collaborate on wellness fairs led by Sonita Ball, another lecturer at the school. These fairs involve contributions from various IU schools and departments including Public Health, Social Work, Optometry, and others.

The IU School of Optometry hosts an annual "MLK Day of Vision" event offering free eye exams and prescription glasses to low-income residents without vision insurance. Similarly, the IU School of Dentistry provides dental services to children in rural areas and shelters through monthly trips and low-cost services at its Fritts Clinical Care Center.

The IU Outreach Clinic offers free medical exams, dental services, physical therapy, social work access, and legal aid to underrepresented populations in Indianapolis. This initiative involves multiple IU schools including Dentistry, Nursing, Social Work, Health and Human Sciences, and Law.

Additionally, students from the IU School of Health and Human Sciences provide affordable fitness programs through community partnerships like John Boner Neighborhood Centers.

IU is also committed to addressing healthcare shortages by increasing enrollment in its nursing programs across undergraduate and graduate levels. The university recently enrolled its largest first-year class across three campuses: Fort Wayne, Bloomington, and Indianapolis.

At IU Indianapolis—home to many health professional programs—over 90% of graduates remain in Indiana post-graduation. Furthermore, IU trains more than 80% of dentists statewide; approximately 32% of medical school graduates choose residency training within Indiana.

This ongoing effort includes graduates from its rural medicine education program who serve as primary-care physicians in rural or medically underserved areas throughout the state.