Nebraska Methodist College students provide health screenings to underserved

Omaha, Nebraska - Nebraska Methodist College (NMC) students are learning what it truly means to meet people where they are when providing healthcare services.

NMC has partnered with Caring for our Communities, a Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Foundation initiative, to provide healthcare services and screenings at New Visions Homeless Services Joshua House in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

The program allows nursing, occupational therapy or respiratory therapy students to provide healthcare to a population who can’t easily access it.

“By being where people are, we are helping overcome barriers by eliminating the need for payment, insurance, transportation, appointments and more,” said Kiley Petersmith, director of NMC’s Center for Diversity and Community Engagement (CDCE). “We are able to help coordinate care for further needs, identifying risk earlier with the hope of reducing chronic disease burden in real-time.”

Students provide services such as diabetes and hypertension screenings, cholesterol screenings, foot checks, first aid, wound care, medication reviews and health education.

“NMC students, who are learning what it truly means to meet people where they are, benefit by engaging in preventative, population-focused healthcare that addresses health equity, social determinants of health and health promotion,” Petersmith said. “Students also benefit from connecting and learning from the community.”

Service-learning is an integral part of the mission at NMC. NMC works with 75 organizations giving students opportunities to help community members in need, while putting clinical knowledge and patient care skills into practice.

“Caring for our Communities is based on the principle that no one agency or sector can solve society's most prevalent issues alone,” Rachel Reis, director of volunteers and community health at the Jennie Edmundson Foundation. “Together we will go further and together will be able to make a bigger impact. The partnership between New Visions Homeless Services, Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Foundation and Methodist College is a perfect example of this principle in action.”

Since the clinics began in August, about 90 people have been screened or their critical medical needs have been triaged to the appropriate resources. In October, 23 flu vaccines have been given.

“Poor health is one of the major causes of homelessness and being without a home is detrimental to health. Compared to the housed population, this population has a higher prevalence of chronic disease burden and compounding health conditions,” Petersmith said. “Delivering healthcare in the community allows nurses to flex our ingenuity and human connection while bringing resources to where people live, work, play, pray and learn to overcome barriers to access and opportunity.”