Nursing and Health Professions Partnering with NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine in Care-a-van Project
JONESBORO – Arkansas State University is partnering with New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in a grant-funded mobile medical clinic, which it announced today.
The NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine at A-State received an award of $828,748 through a U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Delta Healthcare Service Grant to conduct the service and research project.
Partners in the mobile clinic have developed the "Delta Care-a-van," created to deliver health care to underserved and rural populations in Arkansas and the Delta region.
"The College of Nursing and Health Professions is very excited to partner on this community intervention project," stated Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the college. "The health of our Delta region needs attention. This work should be impactful for the individuals in the cities identified and will be a great way for our students and faculty to form interdisciplinary care teams, which have been a curriculum focus."
According to the announcement from NYIT, NYITCOM at A-State also is collaborating on the project with University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Northeast Family Medicine Residency Program, and St. Bernards Medical Center Internal Medicine Residency Program.
Initially the mobile clinic will travel to seven northeast Arkansas rural communities to deliver preventive care services and health education, without cost to the patient or need for an appointment.
Medical students from NYITCOM at A-State, resident physicians from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and St. Bernards Medical Center, and A-State nursing and social work students will be involved in the training program. The van will be equipped with two examination rooms and state-of-the-art telemedicine technology.
The mobile clinic is expected to begin visiting the Arkansas cities of Harrisburg, Leachville, Lepanto, Manila, Piggott, Walnut Ridge, and Marked Tree in late summer 2018, with plans to expand services to other areas of the Delta region.
From these visits, NYITCOM at A-State will collect data regarding diabetes, obesity, immunization and vaccination, prenatal care, mental health, and other health topics to measure performance levels and determine strategies for improving patient outcomes.
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