St. Mary’s Regional Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, hosted a Poverty Immersion Experience in conjunction with United Way of Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction’s Housing Department.

Leaders at St. Mary’s, family medicine residents, faculty, and clinic staff experienced a month’s worth of challenges that come with living in poverty in one afternoon. Participants went away with perspective, empathy, and clearer understanding of the roadblocks that those living in poverty must overcome to get a step ahead.

Victoria Grasmick, Director of Community Health for Intermountain’s Western Colorado market also serves on United Way’s United to Solve Homelessness Committee. She has been supporting the Poverty Immersion Experience for community members as part of the United Way’s programming to raise awareness, inspire solutions, and help solve the issue of homelessness in the area.

A St. Mary’s physician came to Grasmick and requested all residents take part in the powerful exercise to improve care for low-income patients.

“Regardless of where we have come from in our lives, most -- if not all -- physicians are far removed from living a life where you are one bad day away from a serious financial problem leading to joblessness or houselessness,” said Sabrina Mitchell, DO, Program Director of Family Medicine Residency and participant in the program.

“Even if you are passionate about providing great care to underserved communities, you can become less aware of what some of our families and patients go through on a monthly basis,” said Dr. Mitchell.

At the beginning of each Poverty Immersion Experience, all participants are assigned personas, briefed on their life situations, and given a set amount of funds. Volunteers set up stations and act as services in the community ranging from childcare, grocery stores, medical clinics, and other social services. The immersion takes participants through a simulated month of living with limited resources while providing for their families and making tough decisions.

In the St. Mary’s simulation, which happened in November, Victoria acted as a difficult pharmacist. “One resident came up to my station and wanted to buy medicine,” she said. “I told her the cost, and she told me she couldn’t afford it. Then she started bargaining and asked, ‘Can I just get three days of medicine, then?’ I saw it on her face the moment she realized what her patients could be experiencing with their prescriptions.”

Participants said the immersion was a powerful learning experience that will affect how they interact and care for patients facing these types of barriers.

“The residents were already great at utilizing our amazing care coordinators to help connect patients with resources. Simulating a possible day in the life of a patient brings a new level of awareness. Now I think we will all ask better informed and specific questions, and we will have an increased sympathy for patients when they share the frustrations of jumping through hoops to get assistance. I may have insights to share with patients on medication changes that might stretch their tight budget,” Dr. Mitchell said.

When reflecting on the simulation, Grasmick said, “I hope this program helps caregivers and community members develop a sense of empathy and connectedness to their community, and they are stirred to help. I think the solution has to be community-based. Let's be partners and work together to support others.”

The Poverty Immersion Experience is made possible by the Mesa County United Way and community grants.