School of Nursing Opens Much-Needed Health Center in Midtown Jackson
The UMC School of Nursing opened Mississippi's first urban health center
staffed by nurse practitioners on June 1, 1998. The neighborhood health
center
provides primary health care and education to residents of Midtown Jackson,
a community where a large portion of the population is medically under-served.
UNACARE began as part of the
Work Ready Program of the Walker Foundation. This revitalization project
encourages welfare recipients to reenter the job force, and provides health
assessments and screenings for clients. Dr. Wallace Conerly, vice chancellor
for health affairs at UMC (1994-2003), asked the School of Nursing to
participate in the program. The initial intent was for the nurses to perform
pre-employment health screenings, but it became evident that the Midtown
area residents needed more than episodic health care because they did
not have access to affordable, quality health care.
Dr. Theresa Doddato, professor of
nursing and associate dean for administrative affairs and practice in
the School of Nursing, is the UNACARE project director. She said that
nursing school faculty surveyed the Work Ready Program participants and
discovered that, in addition to primary health care needs, the Midtown
residents also needed educational resources to prevent further illnesses.
The School of Nursing, along with the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and
Dentistry, formed a cooperative partnership with the Center for Career
Development, Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, and Jackson Metro
Housing to open the critically-needed health care facility.
Dr. Anne Peirce, professor and dean of the School of Nursing (1996-2002),
said, "The
Midtown clinic is a keystone of how I view the School of Nursing in
the
community. The profession of nursing traditionally serves the under served.
We're approaching it holistically, trying to bring the combined resources
of the greater University to bear on the problems in the Midtown area
through the School of Nursing."
Joyce Brewer, instructor
of nursing and a nurse practitioner at the UNACARE clinic, echoed Peirce's
sentiment. "We really want to provide access to good health care for the
residents of Midtown Jackson in a family-oriented atmosphere," said Brewer.
"Nurse practitioners are nurses with an advanced nursing degree who are
educated not only in nursing but also in diagnosis and management of illness,
" said Brewer, explaining the role of nurse practitioners in the UNACARE
project. "We strive to provide care in a total sense, taking into consideration
the whole family as well as the patient, and we always practice under
protocol with collaborating physicians," she said.
Judy Leavitt, associate professor
of nursing, was over the interdisclipinary and interinstitutional project
teams. She said, "UNACARE offers really the first opportunity for nursing
to take a leadership role in working with the Schools of Pharmacy, Medicine
and Dentistry in providing health care together to a local community.
The expertise of each area of these health care professions can be maximized
for meeting a variety of health needs of the Midtown community."
UNACARE is staffed by School
of Nursing faculty and students working in tandem with physicians from
the Medical Center. The facility provides the area's residents with primary
health care including screenings and diagnosis and treatment of health
problems, blood pressure and diabetes management, family planning, HIV
testing and counseling, immunizations, flu shots, TB skin tests, and treatment
for sexually transmitted diseases.
In addition, other hallmarks
of the program are consumer education and wellness, including information
on high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, stress, parenting, nutrition,
and substance abuse.
Dr. Barbara Boss, professor of nursing, said, "We're very excited to
be a part of the Midtown community. We hope the community will let us
know the types of services they would like so we can try to provide them
as needed." 
"UNACARE is a learning lab
of reality-based education for nursing students," said Doddato. "This
is the first interdisclipinary educational collaboration of the different
Medical Center schools that involve students."
"UNACARE will also be the
first time that the UMC School of Nursing has worked with Jackson State
University and Tougaloo College to provide mentoring relationships to
African-American students," said Leavitt. "We hope this will facilitate
and encourage more African-Americans to enter the health professions."
Dr. Rosie Lee Calvin, professor
of nursing and coordinator for educational programs, is a former Midtown
resident. She said, "I feel this clinic meets a great need. The Midtown
community is excited about it. As a former resident of the Midtown area,
I feel a closeness to the project and am very happy to be a part of it."
Calvin also said, "I think its wonderful as well, that UNACARE will be
collaborating with two predominantly African-American urban schools to
help address the special needs of this community."
The UNACARE offices are located at 1207 North West Street in Jackson,
Mississippi. The phone number is 354-6654.
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