Gonzalo F. Del Río Montesinos
Fabián A. Mercado Nieves
Ian Olmeda López
Alondra Soto-González
Gabriel Camareno Soto

Universidad Central del Caribe
Clínicas Padre Venard, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Introduction

Founded in 1999, Clínicas Padre Venard is a student-led free clinic committed to Puerto Rico’s underserved, uninsured, and houseless populations. Our mission extends beyond healthcare, offering preventive screenings, health education, and essential resources such as hygiene supplies, clothing, and food. Due to the limited data on Puerto Rico’s uninsured and underserved urban populations, we aim to characterize our patient demographics. A deeper understanding of their healthcare challenges will help us implement targeted strategies to improve overall health outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of de-identified patient records from 2018 to 2025, including all clinic visits during this period. Data was manually extracted, focusing on sex, age, chief complaints, past medical history, social history, and visit frequency. This project is IRB-approved (#2024-01) and adheres to HIPAA regulations.

Results

A total of 179 patient records were reviewed, with a mean age of 55 years. The majority (84.5%) of participants were male. Since 2018, there have been a total of 442 clinic visits, with routine checkups accounting for 43% of encounters, followed by musculoskeletal complaints (17.3%) and dermatological issues (12.8%). The most prevalent chronic conditions were mental health disorders (17.8%), hypertension (16.7%), and diabetes (11.1%). Among respondents providing social history (N=110), 61.8% reported smoking, 55.4% consumed alcohol, and 29% reported drug use.

Conclusion

This study provides insight into our community clinic’s patient demographics, serving as a foundation for a more personalized and comprehensive approach. By understanding the specific needs of our patients, we can implement changes and tailor resources towards them, such as the development of specialized clinics focused on ophthalmology, dermatology, and dental medicine. Additionally, we are developing additional specialized services in orthopedics/physiatry, ENT, cardiology, and gastroenterology to further address unmet needs.

IRB Approval Number

2024-01