UNMC College of Nursing, Indian health coalition partner on new clinic

On Aug. 7, the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition Health and Wellness Clinic opens to the community at 23rd and N streets in NUIHC’s comprehensive community center. In a new partnership with NUIHC, UNMC College of Nursing faculty will provide the advanced practice clinical services at the Omaha clinic.

UNMC advanced practice registered nurse faculty Cheryl Darby-Carlberg, DNP, Amber Golden, DNP, and Jennifer Schmitz will staff the South Omaha clinic, which will provide primary care and ongoing health services support for patients.

Donna Polk, PhD, chief executive officer for NUIHC, approached the UNMC College of Nursing with plans for a clinic and a mission to elevate the health status of urban American Indians and other underserved populations.

“We have a long history of working with the UNMC College of Nursing,” she said. “We approached them because we knew they would provide the type of patient-centered, respectful health care we wanted for the people we serve.”

Kate Fiandt, PhD, the college’s associate dean for transformational practice and partnership, knew the mutual commitment to the population would produce an effective and meaningful partnership. Clinicians will use a unique nursing-focused primary care model that she calls “intensive primary care nursing,” which allows nurses to work intensely with patients to improve their health and health-related behaviors with a goal of reducing health inequalities in highly vulnerable populations.

“We’re not just looking at their current issues, but their whole health and the social problems that impact their health,” Dr. Fiandt said. “We have implemented this model in other partner practices in rural communities and North Omaha and have data that shows that the intensive model improves patients’ trust in providers, their satisfaction with their care and, most importantly, their ability to care for themselves.”

Dr. Darby-Carlberg, the lead APRN at the clinic, said the personal, intensive nature of the care provided at the clinic gives the patient ownership of their health and helps the providers more deeply explain the importance of prescribed treatments and medications.

“NUIHC leadership recognizes that the way we practice demonstrates respect for the patient,” she said.

NUIHC provides community and social services targeting urban American Indian, Alaska Native and other vulnerable populations in the greater Omaha area. Many services are offered to anyone regardless of background.

The clinic officially opens Aug. 7. Appointments may be made by calling 402-929-6966. For more information, email Dr. Darby-Carlberg.