On the road to good health; Van brings care to patients.Byline: Lynne Klaft FITCHBURG - Folks in Green Acres Green Acre is a conference facility in Eliot, Maine, in the United States. It was founded by Sarah Farmer in 1894. After Sarah Farmer became a Bahá'í in 1900, many Bahá'í speakers were invited, including Mírzá Abu'l-Fadl in 1903, `Abdu'l-Bahá in 1912 and Mírzá , Wallace Towers, and Main Street can now avail themselves of medical treatment that will come to them in the form of a doctor's office on wheels. "We call her `Maggie'," said family nurse practitioner nurse practitioner n. Abbr. NP A registered nurse with special training for providing primary health care, including many tasks customarily performed by a physician. Rosemarie Spaulding of the 40-foot mobile health van that brings medical attention to seven sites in Fitchburg, Leominster, Gardner and Winchendon every week. The idea behind ACTION - Accessible, Comprehensive Treatment In Our Neighborhoods - Health Service's mobile medical and dental vans is to bring services to the people who really need them, people who might not be able to travel to or access services in the normal course of events. "We see folks who haven't seen a doctor in 20 to 30 years and we see newborns. We do everything from soup to nuts "Soup to nuts" is an English idiom conveying the meaning of "from beginning to end". It is derived from the description of a complete meal, whose courses range from soup to a dessert of nuts. - chronic disease management, newborn immunizations, back-to-school check-ups, well-woman checks, ear infections, strep throat Strep Throat Definition Streptococcal sore throat, or strep throat as it is more commonly called, is an infection of the mucous membranes lining the pharynx. Sometimes the tonsils are also infected (tonsillitis). , you name it," Ms. Spaulding said. ACTION Health Service's mobile vans are one of four health centers run by Community Health Connections Inc. The other centers include the Family Health Center in Fitchburg, the Greater Gardner Community Health Center and the Leominster Community Health Center. The mobile health van, staffed by two nurses and a case management worker, travels to seven locations. Another van, which provides dental care, is stationed at the Clark in Winchendon. The vans serve children and adults who are living in public housing, homeless or in unstable housing situations. "Homelessness has so many meanings," said Stacey Auger auger (ô`gər): see drill. auger Tool (or bit) used with a carpenter's brace for drilling holes, usually in wood. It looks like a corkscrew and produces extremely clean holes, almost regardless of how large the bit is. , assistant director of ACTION. "A person could be homeless and living with family or friends. Whatever the barriers are to access to medical services, we are here to help. Even the name, homeless, might have been a barrier, so we changed that, too." The mobile health vans are equipped to serve as many basic medical needs as possible. When people need more medical attention, they are referred to services elsewhere by the staff on board. "The services are well-used, walk-ins are a big part, but appointments have been scheduled and people have returned. We have incredible staff who are dedicated to this mission and giving excellent care and the people have responded," Ms. Auger said. Ms. Spaulding wears multiple hats on board `Maggie.' She drives her from location to location and does medical checkups and paperwork. "The important thing is continuity of care, getting involved with the person to make sure they come back. We do not dispense or prescribe narcotics narcotics n. 1) techinically, drugs which dull the senses. 2) a popular generic term for drugs which cannot be legally possessed, sold, or transported except for medicinal uses for which a physician or dentist's prescription is required. , if there is such a need - we refer them - there are very few medicines on board," Ms. Spaulding said. The nurse does throat cultures, wellness checks, hands out educational material and performs glucose screenings and blood pressure testing. Katie LeBlanc, the case management staff member, helps patients fill out forms and applications necessary to that continuity of care described by Ms. Spaulding. The community health service is breaking many barriers, like language and transportation, with their community partners. "We see a lot of seniors, too. Some of them have transportation problems, Medicare issues, things that we can help with. We've been welcomed with open arms, there, too," Ms. Auger said. For more information on the mobile health and dental van schedules and locations, land-based sites and services offered, call (978) 878-8110 or send an e-mail to Martha Rivera at www.mrivera@chcfhc.org. Mobile medical unit stops Faith United Parish, 820 Main St., Fitchburg: Tues. 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Ginny's Thrift Shop thrift shop n. A shop that sells used articles, especially clothing, as to benefit a charitable organization. , 52 Mechanic St., Leominster: Wed. 9 a.m.-12 noon Green Acres, 60 Normandy Rd., Fitchburg: Wed. 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. GVNA Community Service Ctr., 35 Main St., Fitchburg: Thurs. 9 a.m.-12 noon Wallace Towers, 54 Wallace Ave., Fitchburg: Thurs. 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Olde English Village English Villages are language teaching institutions which aim to create a language immersion environment for students of English in their own country. The concept is run as a commercial venture in Spain and Italy. The one in Korea is quasi-governmental (see below). , 120 Manca Dr., Gardner: Fri. 9 a.m.-12 noon Clark Memorial YMCA YMCA in full Young Men's Christian Association Nonsectarian, nonpolitical Christian lay movement that aims to develop high standards of Christian character among its members. , 155 Central St., Winchendon: Fri. 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ART: PHOTO CUTLINE: Licensed practical nurse li·censed practical nurse n. Abbr. LPN A nurse who has completed a practical nursing program and is licensed by a state to provide routine patient care under the direction of a registered nurse or a physician. Massiel Colon perches in the van's window with Jennifer Rodriguez Jennifer Rodriguez (born June 8, 1976 in Miami, FL) is a Cuban-American speed skater. She started her career as an artistic roller skater, winning multiple national championships and placing second and third at world championships. and Jakob Smith. PHOTOG pho·tog n. Informal A person who takes photographs, especially as a profession; a photographer. : SUBMITTED PHOTO |
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