Hello to everyone who is following my Service Learning Blog!
I can't believe that the semester is coming to an end soon. It has been a great learning experience for me, and one that I look forward to continuing in the semesters to follow. The following are my answers to the specific questions that we as a class have been asked to address in our service learning blog:
Are people you came in contact with through this experience having some needs met through the community activities? Are community activities like these necessary and/or sufficient to fulfill these community and individual needs? Do you see other means to do so?
The people that utilize the clinic are having some of their health care needs met through community activities. At Good Samaritan Clinic, appointments for primary health care services are available but often there is a wait of 1-2 weeks for an appointment time. There is very limited time for acute or "sick" visits. This is a concern since many patients will have to use a local emergency room instead or choose not to have care due to inability to pay. For dental needs, the Community Dental Clinic offers services but there is a 2-3 month wait for an appointment. Again, many of these patients will utilize one of the local emergency rooms for acute dental emergencies and often can't afford to pay. There is a dental clinic at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith that offers dental services on a reduced pay-scale. Appointments are limited there also. Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center offers mental health services to all ages and reduced rates are available to qualifying clients.
I view all of these services as necessary although many are insufficient due to the lack of appointments and/or wait times for appointments. Many individuals' needs are not met by services in the community especially if ability to pay prohibits their access to care. There are other means to do so but unfortunately there is a lack of local, state, and federal funding to expand and/or develop additional health care service programs in the area. This is a national problem that needs to be addressed but unfortuately in this political climate neither side seems willing to negotiate for an improved health care environment for the most needy and underserved client populations.
What was the best/worst/most challenging thing that happened this semester?
The best and also the most challenging thing that happened this semester was the planning of the diabetic education classes themselves. Most of the diabetic teaching materials that were in use at the clinic were outdated, and I needed to locate additional materials to use for my project. I was able to contact the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and locate patient education materials in English and Spanish. The ADA also has a Patient Education Toolkit that has great information! Another source of information on diabetic education materials is the MERCK-sponsored Conversation Map Program. I was able to receive a firsthand account of how this education program works at AHEC-Fort Smith. I spoke with one of the trained facilitators in the facility, and she was able to offer valuable information for me to locate the necessary materials and register for the training online. I am excited about the possibility of bringing this program to Good Samaritan Clinic.
What have you learned about yourself?
I have learned a great deal about myself through the service learning experience. I often do not stop to appreciate everything that I have been blessed with in my life, including health, children, family, friends, etc. It is truly a blessing to have an education and have the ability to pursue a doctoral degree. I have found that I take many things for granted and need to appreciate each day that God gives me on this earth. After having had the privilege of meeting some of the employees at the clinic, I am looking forward to working with them and to serve the clients that utilize the clinic. Although I have had limited exposure to the clients themselves, I have been struck by the stories that I have heard and the needs that have been expressed by the clinic workers and the clients themselves.
What are your future service learning plans?
I have several plans for longitudinal service learning at the Good Samaritan Clinic. This summer I plan on beginning to offer the diabetic education classes at the clinic on a bi-monthly basis. I would like to complete the online Conversation Map Program (Healthy Interactions, 2009) training course before beginning the classes. There are plans for a Health Fair in the fall semester, and my students will be involved as well. I am really excited about all of the possiblities.
God Bless!
Felicia
Conversation Map Program information available at
http://www.healthyinteractions.com/conversation-map-programs/helping-manage-chronic-disease/diabetes
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Off to a great start and more!
Well we are off to a great start so far on identifying the needs at the Good Samaritan Clinic and the patient population that is served at the facility. I was able to have a very productive meeting this week with the Executive Director of the clinic and the Executive Director of the School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. Through a combined effort, we will be offering educational opportunities related to diabetic education initially on a monthly basis but with plans to facilitate weekly educational offerings later this year. We also began the planning for an onsite health fair at the clinic to include food, health screenings, educational offerings, a whole lot of fun and fellowship. I am really excited to include my students in this project and introduce them to Service Learning! More to come...
Take care and God Bless!
Felicia
Take care and God Bless!
Felicia
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Felicia's Service Learning Blog Entry 1
How would you describe in detail your service learning site?
The facility that I have chosen for my service learning site is Good Samaritan Clinic in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The clinic is a faith-based healthcare ministry that provides healthcare for the homeless and uninsured low-income working persons and their families. Services available include primary healthcare services, prescriptions, eye examinations, gynecological services, and patient education programs.
Good Samaritan Clinic charges fees based on a sliding scale with average charge of $5-$7 (maximum of $35), and no person is turned away if unable to pay for services.The clinic is funded by donations from local individuals, churches, and businesses. Healthcare services are provided by physicians, residents physicians, and nurse practitioners from AHEC Fort Smith. There are also professional services provided by local healthcare professionals on a voluntary basis.
What is it about the community partner that calls you to work with them?
My first experiences at Good Samaritan Clinic occured in 2008 during my nurse practioner clinicals in my master's program. My NP preceptor (Dr. Landis) was performing services through AHEC Fort Smith. I learned much from the patients and their families during my time spent at the clinic. My heart warmed each and every time that I entered the facility and saw the smiles on the faces of the staff and patients at the clinic. There is such hope and faith exhibited at the clinic.
When I learned that I was going to perform service learning in my doctoral program, I immediately thought of Good Samaritan Clinic. My NP preceptor was still working at AHEC and performing services at Good Samaritan Clinic. She agreed to once again become my clinical preceptor. I truly am blessed to have such a wonderful person as my preceptor. Dr. Landis is a PhD-prepared FNP who has many years of clinical experience. She is a terrific role model and caring person.
When I think of expressing what my passion is for choosing this facility and my purpose for being here, I have only to look at the mission statement of the Good Samaritan Clinic.
Good Samaritan Clinic is an ecumenical healthcare ministry, which seeks to reclaim the biblical and historical committment of the church to care for the poor. With the volunteer services of health care professionals, along with the Good Samaritan Clinic staff and volunteers, the Clinic provides on-site affordable health care for the working poor, children, the elderly, and the homeless. The Clinic cares for the whole person by providing not only medical care but counseling, health education, and preventive care. It reaches out to the entire community by providing and encouraging healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.
http://good-sam-clinic.net/good-samaritan-clinic/mission-statement/
Because I am an advanced practice nurse and a nurse educator, my passion is nursing and teaching students and patients. Health promotion strategies encourage improved care outcomes and enhance quality of life. I could not think of a more appropriate site for my service learning experiences than Good Samaritan Clinic.
What are you currently doing with this organization and how do you see it evolving as you sustain your commitment with them?
My role in this service learning experience is an active one. I am collaborating with my DNP preceptor to provide health education services at the clinic. I have spent about 4 hours this semester at the clinic site and have perfomed literature searches on providing healthcare for the homeless and uninsured client populations. After a preliminary needs assessment, there is a great need for diabetic education services at the clinic. I am working on identifying what teaching methods would best serve the patients at the clinic. There are also opportunities for me to volunteer my services as an FNP to provide healthcare services as well.
For my future plans, I am collaborating with the clinic and the University of Arkansas Fort Smith to provide clinical experiences at Good Samaritan Clinic for undergraduate nursing students. I see this as a way to truly serve in a capacity that would fulfill a longitudinal service learning committment to the clinic. I would like to have this implemented in the fall 2011 semester.
God bless and talk with you later!
Felicia
The facility that I have chosen for my service learning site is Good Samaritan Clinic in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The clinic is a faith-based healthcare ministry that provides healthcare for the homeless and uninsured low-income working persons and their families. Services available include primary healthcare services, prescriptions, eye examinations, gynecological services, and patient education programs.
Good Samaritan Clinic charges fees based on a sliding scale with average charge of $5-$7 (maximum of $35), and no person is turned away if unable to pay for services.The clinic is funded by donations from local individuals, churches, and businesses. Healthcare services are provided by physicians, residents physicians, and nurse practitioners from AHEC Fort Smith. There are also professional services provided by local healthcare professionals on a voluntary basis.
What is it about the community partner that calls you to work with them?
My first experiences at Good Samaritan Clinic occured in 2008 during my nurse practioner clinicals in my master's program. My NP preceptor (Dr. Landis) was performing services through AHEC Fort Smith. I learned much from the patients and their families during my time spent at the clinic. My heart warmed each and every time that I entered the facility and saw the smiles on the faces of the staff and patients at the clinic. There is such hope and faith exhibited at the clinic.
When I learned that I was going to perform service learning in my doctoral program, I immediately thought of Good Samaritan Clinic. My NP preceptor was still working at AHEC and performing services at Good Samaritan Clinic. She agreed to once again become my clinical preceptor. I truly am blessed to have such a wonderful person as my preceptor. Dr. Landis is a PhD-prepared FNP who has many years of clinical experience. She is a terrific role model and caring person.
When I think of expressing what my passion is for choosing this facility and my purpose for being here, I have only to look at the mission statement of the Good Samaritan Clinic.
Good Samaritan Clinic is an ecumenical healthcare ministry, which seeks to reclaim the biblical and historical committment of the church to care for the poor. With the volunteer services of health care professionals, along with the Good Samaritan Clinic staff and volunteers, the Clinic provides on-site affordable health care for the working poor, children, the elderly, and the homeless. The Clinic cares for the whole person by providing not only medical care but counseling, health education, and preventive care. It reaches out to the entire community by providing and encouraging healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.
http://good-sam-clinic.net/good-samaritan-clinic/mission-statement/
Because I am an advanced practice nurse and a nurse educator, my passion is nursing and teaching students and patients. Health promotion strategies encourage improved care outcomes and enhance quality of life. I could not think of a more appropriate site for my service learning experiences than Good Samaritan Clinic.
What are you currently doing with this organization and how do you see it evolving as you sustain your commitment with them?
My role in this service learning experience is an active one. I am collaborating with my DNP preceptor to provide health education services at the clinic. I have spent about 4 hours this semester at the clinic site and have perfomed literature searches on providing healthcare for the homeless and uninsured client populations. After a preliminary needs assessment, there is a great need for diabetic education services at the clinic. I am working on identifying what teaching methods would best serve the patients at the clinic. There are also opportunities for me to volunteer my services as an FNP to provide healthcare services as well.
For my future plans, I am collaborating with the clinic and the University of Arkansas Fort Smith to provide clinical experiences at Good Samaritan Clinic for undergraduate nursing students. I see this as a way to truly serve in a capacity that would fulfill a longitudinal service learning committment to the clinic. I would like to have this implemented in the fall 2011 semester.
God bless and talk with you later!
Felicia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)