Thanks Emma,

You really nailed it in that last paragraph. Accepting the fact and approaching our roles knowing that we are students can put perspective on our actions. We can learn to help while helping, in fact I'm beginning to think there's no other way to do it.

At the same time, there's a fine line in street medicine. This first week back, I've been meeting with several of our homeless clinic staff and the healthcare district's leadership about a few things including street medicine. One nurse supervisor loved the idea because, as she said, she sees everyday how hard it is for her patients to show the trust and initiative to seek care for themselves. Like in your story though, outreach can be seen as intrusive if the approach doesn't happen at the exact time, place, and circumstance where it will be appreciated.

One of the better/funniest (to me) learning experiences for all students in the HOMES clinic in Houston, is the first time a client over at the Beacon (the free-kitchen next to the clinic where we usually find patients) rejects their attempt to join a table. After orientation, all of the students are told to go and join in and "just talk" while managers sign up people for the day. Sometimes students are told no, or worse, when they ask to sit down and it can be pretty shocking. Of course we debrief with them if they're upset and talk about just what we're talking about here. I do it because I know I felt pretty bad the first time someone told me to go away.

I thought about deleting this old thread, but it's going too well. Does anyone else have stories they want to share about limitations they've run into?

-Ben