UTHSC College of Nursing, Southwest Tennessee Community College Open Health Center on Southwest’s Union Avenue Campus

The College of Tennessee Well being Science Heart’s (UTHSC) College of Nursing and Southwest Tennessee Neighborhood Faculty (STCC) launched a free well being useful resource middle for STCC college students, school, and employees at a ribbon-cutting Nov. 8. The Well being Schooling and Way of life Promotion (HELP) Heart is a collaboration of the UTHSC Faculty of Nursing and STCC.

The HELP Heart will enable the neighborhood faculty’s college students, school, and employees to acquire physicals, referrals, and well being care assets offered by a nurse practitioner on the college of the UTHSC Faculty of Nursing in the future per week. That is the primary such collaboration between STCC and the UTHSC Faculty of Nursing.

Assistant Professor and Director of Scientific Affairs Diana Dedmon, DNP, FNP-BC, leads the UTHSC Faculty of Nursing’s improvement of school follow alternatives. “Developing a student health education and lifestyle promotion center is an ongoing commitment to student well-being,” she stated. “By providing the right resources and support, STCC and UTHSC can empower students to make healthier choices and lead more balanced lives, which, in turn, can contribute to academic success.” 

Wendy Likes, PhD, DNSc, APRN-BC, FAAN, FAANP, dean of the UTHSC Faculty of Nursing, stated the college is honored to companion with STCC to offer these providers. “We know health screenings are essential to detect symptoms of chronic diseases at their earliest stages in order to maximize health and well-being. This clinic will provide easy access for those at STCC to do just that.”

UTHSC Chancellor Peter Buckley, MD, famous that the clinic is nurse-led and stated, “There is a saying that if you save one life, you are a hero. If you save 100 lives, you are a nurse.”

The HELP Heart is funded by a $500,000 grant to STCC from the Facilities for Illness Management’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capability for Prevention and Management of Rising Infectious Illnesses Program by means of the Tennessee Division of Well being. People can have entry to academic supplies and details about well being promotion and illness prevention. Treatment won’t be prescribed, and referrals can be made if a specific service is required. All of the HELP Heart’s providers can be free and no insurance coverage is required.

“As health care providers, we realize that some individuals may not be insured and may not understand that affordable options exist to achieve optimal health,” stated Sheila Bouie, EdD, STCC dean of the Well being and Pure Sciences Division. “Many of our students lack access to affordable health care. The center will enable these students and others who are uninsured to receive care that focuses on preventive health care. Helping our students achieve their educational outcomes is paramount at STCC, and a healthier student is a better learner.”

Dr. Bouie stated the middle additionally can be a handy means for college students to get physicals for work, well being packages, and sports activities alternatives. Nurse practitioners from UTHSC operating the clinic will function function fashions for STCC college students within the nursing program and different well being careers packages.

Assistant Professor Shelley Miller, DNP, APRN-BC, FNP, a nurse practitioner who’s on the college at UTHSC, will function employees for the clinic. Dr. Miller earned her her Physician of Nursing Follow diploma from the UTHSC Faculty of Nursing. She has practiced at Le Bonheur Youngsters’s Hospital, Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics, and Methodist Minor Medical Facilities. Plans are underway to relocate the HELP Heart to an expanded, everlasting facility on STCC’s Union Avenue Campus in January 2024. Particulars in regards to the HELP Heart operations may be discovered at HELP Center.

Associated