English 中文网 漫画网 爱新闻iNews 翻译论坛
中国网站品牌栏目(频道)
当前位置: Language Tips > Normal Speed News VOA常速

Student street clinic helps homeless(视频)

[ 2012-10-16 09:23] 来源:VOA     字号 [] [] []  
免费订阅30天China Daily双语新闻手机报:移动用户编辑短信CD至106580009009

Get Flash Player

Get Flash Player

Download

Medical students in California are getting real-world experience by helping the homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. They are filling gaps in the health-care system while learning about their future profession.

The patients sit on folding chairs along the sidewalk in Hollywood, as students unload supplies and medical records from a truck. They are creating a makeshift clinic on the street.

The first stage is triage, assessing the needs of poor and homeless at this once-a-week mobile clinic. It is run by students from the University of California, Los Angeles, who operate similar clinics in different communities on other nights.

They provide medicine and offer clean socks and reading glasses to those who need them. They bandage injuries and monitor vital signs.

Another charity offers nutritious meals to the patients. Students in social work and law also come to offer assistance, getting long-term help from the government or private agencies for those people who qualify.

Patient Charles Brownridge comes here every week, as much for companionship as health care. “I like the atmosphere, the food, and they give pretty good service. They are training, sort of like rookies doing an apprenticeship. And it is fun to be around youngsters. It is a nice atmosphere.”

Physician Walter Coppenrath helped start this street clinic 12 years ago when he was a medical student. He now teaches at UCLA and sees patients at a nearby medical center. He says this mobile care is crucial for this population.

“Small infections on your foot might be able to be handled by just changing your socks, but when you [are not] able to wash in a bath or change your socks," said Coppenrath. "They can actually lead to limb-threatening infections.”

The care is given to those who do not get help in other places, says medical student Steffanie Becerra. “They see us as their only point of care within the medical system where they can get their medications filled, a lot of people with hypertension or diabetes who really have no other choice but to come here because they just can not afford the medications elsewhere,” she explained.

The mobile clinic helps both patients and students, says undergraduate Kevin Norris, who plans to become a doctor.

“We really treat them as individuals deserving of respect because so many of the homeless people here in Los Angeles are really just looked down upon and largely ignored by much of the population,” Norris stated.

He says that once a week these people get the attention and the care they deserve, and the volunteer work helps him understand his future role as a physician.

相关阅读

Number of Chinese students in US dramatically expands

Unusual Mars rock surprises rover scientist

Many millions suffer from depression

Seattle, 'City of Clocks' keeps on ticking

(来源:VOA 编辑:Julie)

 
中国日报网英语点津版权说明:凡注明来源为“中国日报网英语点津:XXX(署名)”的原创作品,除与中国日报网签署英语点津内容授权协议的网站外,其他任何网站或单位未经允许不得非法盗链、转载和使用,违者必究。如需使用,请与010-84883631联系;凡本网注明“来源:XXX(非英语点津)”的作品,均转载自其它媒体,目的在于传播更多信息,其他媒体如需转载,请与稿件来源方联系,如产生任何问题与本网无关;本网所发布的歌曲、电影片段,版权归原作者所有,仅供学习与研究,如果侵权,请提供版权证明,以便尽快删除。
 

关注和订阅

人气排行

翻译服务

中国日报网翻译工作室

我们提供:媒体、文化、财经法律等专业领域的中英互译服务
电话:010-84883468
邮件:translate@chinadaily.com.cn