primary care nurses, nursing care beyond the ... - School of Nursing

eyond the hospitalPublic Health ‘Foot Soldier’ Seeks toBring Care to the UninsuredWhether addressing a restaurant chain’swidely publicized outbreak of HepatitisA, a national shortage of flu vaccine, orresources for diabetes patients who lackadequate insurance, Lorraine Starskyhas made public health the focus of hercareer with the Allegheny County HealthDepartment (ACHD).“The foundation that I received incommunity health at Pitt nursing schoolhas been invaluable in my role as a publichealth foot soldier,” says Starsky, whoearned her BSN in 1994 and was a classKeeper of the Light (see sidebar). Inaddition to the high-profile health crisesthe department has faced, she now servesas the diabetes nurse consultant withthe ACHD’s Chronic DiseasePrevention Program.“Carrying out this work in thecommunity has reinforced what all of usin health care are witnessing,” she says,namely: “Burgeoning numbers of peoplewithout health insurance, many workingfull-time jobs.” Many of the calls shereceives are from diabetics without coveragewho turn to ACHD as a last resort.Recognizing the need for a simple,concise guide to local resources, Starskywon support from her administratorto create Underinsured or Uninsured:A Guide to Health Care Resources inAllegheny County, which was released inMarch 2007. Updated every six months,the guide is one of the most frequentlydownloaded documents on the department’sWeb site, www.achd.net. Thedepartment mails printed copies to peoplewho do not have computer access.According to Jessica Seabury,executive director of the ConsumerHealth Coalition in Pittsburgh, almost 16percent of adults ages 19–64 lack healthinsurance in Allegheny County. Whenpeople lack coverage, many delay orforego medical care.Citing 2007 statistics from FamiliesUSA, Seabury says two uninsured peopledie in Pennsylvania each day becausethey waited too long to seek care, oftenfor conditions that could have beenprevented.“The guide that Lorraine createdis so critical because it is a comprehensive,reliable, and user-friendly resource tohelp people get the care they need,”she says.Starsky calls the positive responseto the guide by community organizations,social services agencies, and consumers“most gratifying.”She credits her education at theSchool of Nursing with providing“wonderful preparation for my career.”She specifically cites Jackie Lamb, herpediatrics clinical instructor, for servingas a role model and advocate for underservedpediatric patients and theirfamilies and Rosanne Levine, hercommunity health clinical instructor,who mentored her.Terri Seidman, manager of theAmerican Diabetes Association’s WesternPennsylvania chapter, calls Starsky “a truepublic health nurse.”“She is in touch with the community,and her tireless commitment to the publicis reflected in her ongoing outreach andcommunity involvement,” says Seidman.“She sees opportunities, grabs them, andcreates liaisons.”Lorraine Starsky (right) takes health information to IdaCummins and Harold E. Scott Jr. at the Epiphany Barber Shopin the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Wilkinsburg as part of theCenter for Minority Health’s annual Take Health Professionalsto the People day.10 university of Pittsburgh