Nebraskas state slogan for many years has been NebraskaThe Good Life.
Now, thanks to the efforts of numerous University of Nebraska Medical Center
students, the slogan applies to a new clinic in north Omaha, which provides
low-cost care to indigent patients with Type II diabetes.
Located in the Baker Place Clinic, 5050 Ames Ave., the GOOD LIFE Clinic
stands for Greater Omaha Outreach for Diabetes Lifestyles Impacting Fitness
and Education.
It is similar in concept to the SHARING Clinic (Student Health Alliance
Reaching Indigent Needy Groups), which opened in 1997 in the South Omaha
Neighborhood Association Building at 5211 S. 31st St.
The idea is to provide low-cost care to those people most in need,
said Robyn Kaiser, a second year medical student who is one of the students
who helped develop the GOOD LIFE Clinic. Its an interdisciplinary clinic
that brings together medical, nursing, pharmacy, medical technology and
nutrition students. Its really been a fantastic educational experience
for all the students.
The GOOD LIFE Clinic opened last October and is held on the second Wednesday
of the month from 6 to 9 p.m.
In the first five months the clinic has been held, nearly 20 patients
have been seen with the patients receiving a total 44 months of diabetic
care. Each month, the students strive to see four new patients in addition
to performing follow-up care on four existing patients.
The purpose of the clinic is to serve indigent people who dont have
insurance. Were looking for those people who fall through the cracks,
said Audrey Paulman, M.D., a clinical assistant professor in the family
medicine department and one of the UNMC faculty members who help supervise
the students at the clinic. We only charge the patients $10 for each visit,
and this fee is waived if the patient cant afford it.
Medications, examinations and laboratory evaluations are provided to
patients. To help keep costs low, Dr. Paulman said funding has been secured
from a variety of sources including the UNMC College of Medicine, Nebraska
Health System, the NHS Hospital Auxiliary and pharmaceutical companies.
Future plans include writing grants to federal and state agencies as well
as philanthropic foundations to help ensure the long-term financial viability
of the clinic, she said.
At a recent clinic, the students shared the story of a patient named
Michael (not his real name), whose case illustrates how the clinic can
make a difference.
Michael is in his 50s, and he has a lot of things going on, said Kim
Olsen, a second year medical student and one of the developers of the clinic.
When I first saw Michael, I thought, Oh my gosh, we have to save this
guy. Weve got to get him to quit smoking, change his diet and lower his
blood pressure.
The students took things gradually, but initially addressed Michaels
diet and his diabetes management.
He was not monitoring his blood sugar levels at all, said Preston
Omer, another second year medical student who helped develop the clinic.
We encouraged him to check his blood sugars at least twice a day. We adjusted
his medications, put him on aspirin once a day and used a cream to treat
the fungus on his feet.
Since his initial visit with the students, Michael has started eating
a healthier diet and has been faithful about checking his blood sugar levels
twice a day.
All the students are learning what a difficult disease diabetes is,
Omer said. But, were also learning how important it is to manage the
disease. It can really make a difference when people take control of their
diabetes.
For more information or to make an appointment for the GOOD LIFE Clinic,
call 595-2280.
In addition to Dr. Paulman, other UNMC/NHS faculty and staff participating
in the GOOD LIFE Clinic include: Paul Paulman, M.D., UNMC family medicine;
Joyce Hall, NHS clinical nurse specialist; Bruce Lovejoy, a nurse practitioner
in UNMC family medicine; Glenda Woscyna, manager of nutrition care for
NHS and director of medical nutrition education for the School of Allied
Health Professions in the UNMC College of Medicine; and four registered
dieticians and certified diabetes educators for NHS Maxine McElligott,
Brenda Bishop, Nessie Ferguson and Cindy Polich.