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(From right to left) Roberta Kroeger, clinical associate, UNMC College of Nursing family nurse practitioner program and student, Julie Danielson, welcome new patient, Josie LeMere, to Clinic with a Heart, which provides free health care to Lincoln’s underserved populations. |
For more than 30 volunteers at Lincoln’s Clinic with a Heart, these are small inconveniences for providing health care for those who cannot afford it.
Clinic with a Heart provides free treatment to those who find health care difficult to access because of financial, language or other barriers. Since its inception three years ago, the clinic has logged more than 2,500 patient visits.
Last year, the clinic became an additional community resource for valuable teaching and learning experiences for UNMC College of Nursing faculty and students in the college’s family nurse practitioner program. It’s also an opportunity for students to apply their skills and give back to the community.
“Working with populations of culturally diverse backgrounds is integral to the mission of the UNMC College of Nursing,” said Roberta Kroeger, a clinical associate in the UNMC College of Nursing family nurse practitioner program and volunteer at the clinic. “It’s important to work with patients who speak different languages and are from different ethnic, economic, religious and cultural backgrounds. We gain sensitivity and a better understanding.
“If students have the opportunity to learn this during their education, they will be more effective when they’re out practicing. I feel strongly, as does UNMC, that we need opportunities to help vulnerable populations,” Kroeger said.
The clinic provides a wide array of services, including primary care, dental screenings, chiropractic care, physical therapy and laboratory services. Free medications are provided by pharmaceutical companies and community donors, including St. Mark’s Methodist, Southwood Lutheran and Christ’s Place churches.
During a typical clinic 35 to 40 patients are seen at the Lincoln Action Program. Clinics are conducted on the first and third Tuesdays and second Thursday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Interpreters also are provided. Patients who require further care are referred to specialists who provide services at little or no cost.
The students are surprised to learn there’s a population in Lincoln that needs the services, Kroeger said.
The clinics bring to life the health care disparities students learn about in class, said Julie Danielson, a nurse-practitioner student who plans to graduate in May.
Although students are required to complete 16 community service hours, Danielson said she wants to continue being a volunteer.
“Everyone is entitled to have their basic health care needs met,” she said, “and health care providers play an important role by reaching out in clinics such as this.”
Kroeger said students love what they get in return for sharing their time, knowledge and skills.
“They love it and feel appreciated. They’re proud to be involved in something where health care professionals are giving their time and talent,” she said. “They’re so pleased by how grateful our clients are.”
Clinic with a Heart was founded by Rob Rhodes, M.D., with the help of the Medical Mission Team of St. Mark’s Methodist and Lincoln Action Program. Health-care providers include physicians, pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, lab personnel and UNMC family nurse practitioner students.
Clinic With a Heart is a 501C3 organization. Donations are welcome and are tax deductible. To make a donation, send checks to P.O. Box 22851,Lincoln, NE 68542-2851. For information on volunteering, see www.clinicwithaheart.org or contact Pat Carlson, at (402) 421-2924 or pat@clinicwithaheart.org.