December 28, 2012 - Baptist Memorial Online

Nursing
While going to school and serving, he injured his back and suffered two
herniated disks.
“I had back surgery and by the grace of God I was able to come back to
nursing school a year later and finish where I left off. I was sad at first
because I wouldn’t graduate with my original classmates but then again, if
I would’ve graduated a year ago, I wouldn’t be able to accept this job that
just opened up.”
Skinner accepted a nursing position in a new unit at Baptist Memorial
Hospital-Memphis. During one of his clinical rotations, he followed Betsy
Brooks, nurse manager in the myelosuppression unit.
“This is another reason why nursing has just worked out for me and I
know I am meant to do this. Meeting Betsy and this job opening up is just
a blessing.”
NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation
offers free program for diabetic,
cancer and cardiac patients
Wellness Works is now accepting
referrals for the next session
beginning Jan. 11. Wellness Works
is a free medical and health
professionally monitored fitness
program available exclusively for
diabetic, cancer and cardiopulmonary
patients.
The 12-week program focuses
on nutrition and exercise specifically
geared toward each illness.
Each class is taught by a professional
within that field. A personal
training session and weekly group
Continued from page 3
The myelosuppression unit protects patients who receive
chemotherapy and radiation from infections with rooms that have a positive
pressure airflow that ensures that no bacteria from the hallway will
enter the room. Strict rules about hand washing, visitation, mouth care
and ongoing care are enforced to protect patients in the unit.
“I just fell in love with that staff, and I have the ability to help open a
new unit and still work with myelosuppression and gain experience.
Everything is just falling in line for me and God continues to work it out.”
Skinner’s former teachers at the College praise his work and determination
and have confidence in his future as a nurse.
“Brad was the ideal nursing student. He has the determination and
commitment necessary for the rigors of the nursing program as exhibited
when circumstances forced him to sit out for a short time,” said Sandra
Lea, RN and associate professor at Baptist College. “Brad has a friendly,
positive personality as well as the nurturing spirit so important to those
called to the ministry of nursing. He was a model student and it was a
pleasure to teach him and watch him grow and mature into the graduate
nurse. I am proud of him and the nurse he has become and I hold him in
the highest esteem.”
exercise classes are taught by certified
trainers. Included in this
program is a free 12-week
membership to the NEA Baptist
Clinic Wellness Center. Applicants
must be referred by a physician to
participate in the program.
For more information about
NEA Baptist Charitable
Foundation’s Wellness Works or to
download a referral form, log on to
neabaptistfoundation.org or
contact Jennifer Martinez at 870-
336-1760.
Health care van Continued
Baptist Memorial Health Care and Christ Community Health Services
have partnered since 2003 to provide quality, patient focused
primary/acute care for homeless individuals.
The Baptist Operation Outreach mobile health care clinic provides
direct and immediate access to medical and health care examinations,
health education, illness prevention, medications, transportation to
medical appointments and referral services to the homeless population in
Memphis and Shelby County.
“Baptist Operation Outreach has effectively reduced the number of
inpatient hospitalizations, emergency room visits and ambulance transports
for many years,” said Allen.
The new van will minimize,
perhaps eliminate,
the need to cancel clinic
days due to maintenance
Objectives for the Baptist
Operation Outreach Mobile
Health Care Van
issues and/or cold 1. Increase the number of health care services
weather. Consistency of
care will serve the home-
available for homeless individuals
less population more
2. Improve medical outcomes of the home-
effectively and continue
less
to reduce the popula- 3. Establish a consortium of community parttion’s
dependence on
local emergency rooms
ners
for primary care. This
will be measured by the
4. Maintain a continuum of care
number of days the clinic is open, number of patients served and the
range of illnesses treated.
An newer mobile unit with an additional exam room will expand
medical services on an as-needed basis and continue to service other
existing community partners. The new unit will also provide for inclusion
and training of additional medical professionals through internships and
clinical rotations.
The mobile clinic also provides an education lab for Baptist College of
Health Sciences Nursing students and the Rhodes College Summer
Scholars program.
Students have an opportunity to receive hands-on instruction and indepth
community service experience working with homeless patients at
the clinic.
Did you know?
A recent survey among homeless service providers showed that the top
three barriers to health care were:
1. Transportation
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2. Stable housing to store medicine, reliably schedule/attend medical
appointments
3. Fee structure/eligibility criteria for programs serving the uninsured.
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