UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division in
Scottsbluff to Celebrate One-Year Anniversary of Diabetes Clinic for Underserved,
Expansion into Alliance
The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing West Nebraska
Division in Scottsbluff will host open houses next week in Scottsbluff
and Alliance. The Panhandle Diabetes Outreach Project in Scottsbluff will
be celebrating its one year anniversary and its grand opening expansion
in Alliance.
The clinics are funded by a three-year, $536,000 grant from the Excellence
in Health Care Fund (tobacco settlement) of the Nebraska Department of
Health and Human Services. They provide diabetes screening, monitoring
and education to underserved populations in the panhandle area, including
Native American and Hispanic populations, who are at greater risk for diabetes
and its complications.
To date, the clinics have recorded a total of 300 client visits.
On Monday, Feb. 25, UNMC will host a grand opening open house for the
public and health community to learn about the new Panhandle Diabetes Outreach
Project in Alliance. The clinic, which began operating in November, is
housed in a clinic at 119 W. 3rd St.
On Tuesday, Feb. 26, the Panhandle Diabetes Outreach Project in Scottsbluff
will celebrate its first anniversary as well as offer foot care to clients.
The clinic is located at 525 East Overland Drive. It opened Feb. 13, 2001.
UNMC operates the clinics in partnership with Scottsbluffs Regional
West Medical Center, Guadalupe Center; Indian Center, and Lakota Lutheran
Center; Panhandle Community Services; Western Community Health Resources
in Chadron; Panhandle Partnership and Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance;
and Gordon Memorial Hospital in Gordon.
The need for services like those the clinics serve is great, according
to Gloria Gross, Ph.D., assistant dean of the UNMC College of Nursing.
People in the Native American and Hispanic populations are two-and-a-half
to four times as likely to get diabetes and have more serious complications.
Undetected and unmonitored diabetes causes complications like blindness,
kidney failure, heart disease and foot amputation all of which are preventable.
The number of Hispanics in the 11 Panhandle counties has increased
by 24 percent over the last 10 years. According to the 2000 census, the
area has an estimated 8,890 Hispanics, 2,400 Native Americans, and 3,000
seasonal workers.
We are pleased to invest this grant money in diabetes screening and
monitoring for the members in our communities who may not have access to
this basic health service, Dr. Gross said. “Another great benefit of this
grant is the collaboration with a number of agencies throughout the panhandle
who are working toward the same goal to reduce health disparities in
our communities.”
Marie Kreman, Ed.D., project director and assistant professor of the
UNMC College of Nursing, said the clinics currently help many clients who
cannot afford the tools to monitor or control their diabetes. Some are
homeless and dont have phones. But we find ways to get them what they
need to manage their diabetes.
Dr. Kreman said something as simple as getting foot care can prevent
foot amputation. She said because of poor circulation, sores can form on
the feet of diabetics. If not properly cared for, the sores can ultimately
cause gangrene which requires amputation. Amputation can disable individuals
and require nursing home care.
These complications may be prevented or delayed by careful monitoring
of blood glucose levels by people with diabetes, Dr. Kreman said.
Charges at both clinics are based on a sliding scale fee, according
to income. “No one will be turned away,” Dr. Gross said.
She said the clinics also enable UNMC students to learn about diabetes
and work with people from diverse backgrounds.”
Drs. Gross and Kreman currently are working on expanding service at
the clinics to include heart disease education and prevention.
Refreshments will be served at each open house.