Learning Without Borders: A Qualitative Exploration of a Service-learning Collaboration Between Healthcare and Computer Science Students in the Dominican Republic

Indianapolis, IN

To measure the success of the various partnerships between future healthcare professionals, computer science students, and students from the Dominican Republic, a survey was created to be taken by patients and volunteers of the Barnabas Task, free health clinic located within the Dominican Republic. The collaboration of healthcare and computer science students birthed an electronic medical record with hopes to improve clinic processes abroad and increase student learning. Students worked across different colleges using information technology to improve patient outcomes and place into action the skills learned within the classroom to provide care for patients. While in the Dominican Republic, healthcare students from both countries worked together to improve a community's health and provide it with hope for the future. With multiple partnerships, the groups gained knowledge from one another about their diverse cultures and healthcare.