Last week on the Viterbo campus we had a very special Cultural Diversity symposium which filled not only the Fine Arts auditorium but also the entire morning beginning with a moving documentary called Clínica de migrantes: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness 2017. Students from the schools of Nursing, Social Work and Interpreting fields filled the seats and were given the charge of looking for answers to the following questions: if one could see this same situation in our city, if there is a difference between Medical Care and Health Care, how to care for the migrant population, and how one would use the documentary's info in one's future work.
Yes, the Migrant Clinic in Philadelphia reflects the frustration our country faces both in big cities and rural towns serving our migrant population who usually can not afford nor purchase health insurance/understand the services available to them. Facing issues of not having comprehensive health care creates a myriad of issues such as the cost incurred in emergency visits vs preventive health care.
Whether it's taking time off work, the demands on one's body of arduous long work days, dealing with the anxiety of being in a new country, the conditions and family/friends left behind create real stomach issues, back pain, strained muscles/ more severe maladies/ illnesses left unattended will worsen.
Low paying service jobs with employers who don't pay more than minimum much less health insurance don't want their profit affected. Clinics depend upon a skeletal volunteer staff but are expensive to run and in addition to a space and utilities, supplies and meds are needed.
The clinic staff treat their patients with care as they connect by asking personal histories in a non judgmental manner, gaining confidence and trust by using the patient's native language /with an interpreter/ to be able to obtain the patient medical care which certain patients are entitled. Bonding occurs between many of the medical staff and patients.
Our country's clinics are full of patients and the numbers and needs are growing. 10,000 patients are seen yearly at the clinic in the film.
After the documentary which caused more than a tear or two, both Michelle Pinzl, Viterbo's head of the Interpreter program and Sandy Brekke wearing her hat as the St Clare Clinic director led a discussion of the forementioned issues and were followed by a panel consisting of the clinic director, a farm worker advocate, 3 past Viterbo graduate professionals who work as a floor nurse, a rural outreach director, an interpreter and nurse, answered questions submitted by the audience.
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| Outreach director (l) , Mayo Nurse (R) |
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| Nurse interpreter |
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| Clinic Director, Farm Worker Advocate |
What is society's moral and ethical obligation to our invisible indigent population?
The answers given:
Health care in this country should not be viewed as a privilege, it is a human right. Equity in health care for all of our country's residents can only be achieved through Universal Healthcare.
Besides motivators listed in the slide above, other motivators highlighted included nurse residency options, ongoing learning ops, knowing people by their first name, true patient centered care, up to date technology, desire to raise family with small town values, close proximity to work, ease of drive (exception those farm vehicles) and a lower crime rate.
Hartline's message was loud and clear for future care professionals to consider the rural in addition to a city healthcare position. Nurses are in demand in both settings.
The morning's program was indeed an eyeopener and hopefully programs like this give our future healthcare professionals a better understanding of our healthcare needs and the demands that will be upon them...
Below are a couple links:Making of the documentary
The Philadelphia Clinic
The Documentary
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