MAP Clinic

Nursing students help underserved communities get their kids back-to-school ready

Shayla Brown — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 17:05:19 +0000

Nursing students help underserved communities get their kids back-to-school ready Shayla Brown Wed, 08/14/2024 - 13:05

��AV’s Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinic holds free clinics throughout Northern Virginia every day. This summer, two of those community-based clinics helped local elementary school students get back-to-school ready.

School of Nursing students at the MAP Clinic in the Population Health Center. Photo by Shayla Brown

Managed by practitioners in the College of Public Health, the clinics offer uninsured school-aged children and other underserved communities essential health services. They also allow undergraduate nursing students, including MSN Family Nurse Practitioner and Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) students, as well as graduate psychology, social work, health informatics and administration students among others, to complete Community Health Clinical requirements in a meaningful way.

George Mason’s School of Nursing ran the first clinic on June 21, where 38 ABSN and four nurse practitioner students were working, and the second on July 19, where 28 ABSN and three nurse practitioner students were working. In total, 45 families brought their children to receive vaccines and physical examinations.

“The clinics are a different side of nursing. The families are so sweet and grateful for everyone who’s there,” said ABSN student Kaleigh O’Keefe.

The MAP Clinic collaborates with many community partners throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area including Fairfax County Public Schools, Manassas City Public Schools, Manassas Park City Schools, Prince William County Schools, Refugee Resettlement Agencies, Fairfax United Methodist Church, Inova Alexandria Hospital, and non-profits across the region.

School of Nursing faculty providing medical care to a student in the Population Health Center. Photo by Shayla Brown

School nurses, school-parent liaisons, refugee resettlement case managers, and caregivers from these various locations reach out to MAP Clinic administration to schedule appointments for students.

“Many of these families are long-term patients who we’ve been seeing at our MAP Clinics for years now,” said Kenneth Frese, director of clinical operations in the School of Nursing.

The clinics are able to address a variety of communities and health issues such as general health, pediatrics, and substance abuse, said O’Keefe. Nursing students rotate through all of the specialties.

The clinics collaboration with Inova comes in the form of the Inova Cares Clinic for Families, which allows patients that need to be closely monitored to receive care from Inova for a discounted rate based on income.

“I had a patient whose blood pressure was really high, which in children is typically caused by some type of kidney problem, so we tested his urine and there was a high protein count, which can indicate kidney damage,” explained O’Keefe. “We sent him to Inova where he was officially diagnosed, though he still comes back to the MAP Clinic to follow up with us sometimes.”

Nursing students also collaborated with students and faculty from George Mason’s Department of Social Work throughout the MAP clinics.

Amy Joyner with backpacks that were donated to the children at the MAP clinic. Photo by Shayla Brown

“Social work was a big part of the work we were doing. A lot of our job was ––communicating with those students,” Isabelle Kahng, an ABSN student who will be doing a neuro-ICU practicum for the MedStar Health Future Nurse Program partnership.

“It was our responsibility to relay the patient’s information to the provider, as well as the social workers, so that we could work together in getting the resources the patients need,” said Kahng.

“Bonding with these kids is my favorite part,” said O’Keefe. “They’re just so happy to be there, and being there to help them thrive is everything.”

In This Story

Kenneth Frese

Make a difference with the College of Public Health

Support the Mason Nation

Topics

School of Nursing

population health center

Mason and Partners (MAP)

Ashley Wiest, DNP, FNP-BC

Mary Cunningham — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:14:34 +0000

Ashley Wiest, DNP, FNP-BC Mary Cunningham Fri, 06/07/2024 - 13:14

Project Coordinator for Mason’s Learning Laboratory for Community Health
Provider for ECOP JMAT and Bridge Program
Faculty for the School of Nursing (Mason Online Program)
Family Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified (FNP-BC)

Contact Information

Email: ahabina@gmu.edu

Biography

Dr. Ashley Wiest (she/her/hers) is the Project Coordinator for Mason’s Learning Laboratory for Community Health, a Provider for ECOP JMAT and Bridge Program, and a professor for the School of Nursing (Mason Online Program) and College of Public Health. Wiest is a leading expert on working with underserved populations, particularly the uninsured, homeless, and disabled populations. She specializes in developing relationships with partners, focusing on community engagement and relationship building.

Before her career at Mason, she worked as a clinical specialist for Sentara Health System in the Emergency Department, developing a fellowship program focused on a new graduate retention model. Wiest is a three-time alumnus of ��AV (BSN, MSN, DNP). She has extensive experience in her career in project development, developing programs from the ground up and leading them towards successful sustainability. Her current project involvement includes workforce development for graduate research assistants in the Learning Lab, focusing on student education, experience, and rapid quality improvement.

Degrees

Bachelor of Science, Nursing, ��AV, 2009
Master of Science, Nursing Education, ��AV, 2015
Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner, ��AV, 2022

In the News

Learning Laboratory for Community Health prepares graduate students to solve real-world public health challenges
June 6, 2024

Mason and Partner Clinics see 189% increase in appointments since 2018 and delivered $3.8 million in free services to the community

mthomp7 — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 13:14:41 +0000

Mason and Partner Clinics see 189% increase in appointments since 2018 and delivered $3.8 million in free services to the community mthomp7 Wed, 10/04/2023 - 09:14

Rebcca Sutter discusses the opioid services offered at the MAP Clinics with Representative Jennifer Wexton.

Empowered Communities Opioid Partnership extends Mason’s efforts to reduce overdoses for those involved in the criminal justice system

Rebecca Sutter, professor in the School of Nursing and director of the Mason and Partner Clinics also oversees the Empowered Communities Opioid Partnership (ECOP) – a $2.8 million initiative serving five local health districts (Prince William, Chesterfield, Crater, Portsmouth, and Norfolk) with the goal of reducing opioid-related overdose deaths, non-fatal overdoses, and adverse health consequences among those newly released from jail or prison.

“The chance of overdose or relapsing can be up to 129% higher in the two weeks after release, so we are committed to working with partners in the criminal justice and community-based systems of care to connect high-risk individuals quickly and with low barriers to the care they need,” said Sutter. ECOP has screened more than 950 patients to date and is looking at opening a dedicated Center in early 2024.

In This Story

Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP

Mason and Partner Clinics see 189% increase in appointments since 2018 and delivered $3.8 million in free services to the community

Economic downturn and reductions in Medicaid coverage drive demand for free wellness, preventative, and COVID-related services.

For the past five years, the Mason and Partner (MAP) Clinics have filled an important gap in community health services. In close partnership with area health districts and other service providers, the MAP Clinics have responded to community need with increased accessibility, expanded services, and unwavering support.

During the COVID-19 pandemic alone, the nine MAP Clinics delivered more than 58,220 vaccines and 6,650 COVID tests – providing more than $3,800,000 in free services to the community. The pandemic not only increased demand for health care – it raised awareness about the valuable services offered by the MAP Clinics.

MAP Clinic faculty and staff built deep trust and relationships within the communities they serve – which created a natural place to seek care when economic challenges and/or Medicaid reductions adversely affected vulnerable populations. In addition, the MAP Clinics placed a greater emphasis on preventive care and education post-pandemic to help patients manage their health conditions before they become severe.

“To best meet the needs of the community, the MAP Clinics continually seek new collaborations and partnerships with grassroot community organizations and government agencies. With the deepening opioid crisis, we’ve expanded access for those suffering from this horrible disease through expansion of our Medication for Opioid Use clinics and have expanded our network of peer-recovery support specialists to further assist those struggling with addiction,” says Rebecca Sutter, professor in the School of Nursing and director of the Mason and Partner Clinics.

Topics

MAP Clinic

Mason and Partners Clinic

Washington Post: Students working at the MAP Clinics mentioned in article on ending hunger

eander6 — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 13:36:00 +0000

Washington Post: Students working at the MAP Clinics mentioned in article on ending hunger eander6 Thu, 09/22/2022 - 09:36

We can - and should - end hunger before 2030.

Topics

Nursing

CHHS in the Media

College of Health and Human Services

College of Health and Human Services School of Nursing

MAP Clinic

Nancy R.B. Spencer, QMHP

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 18:13:31 +0000

Nancy R.B. Spencer, QMHP John Brandon C… Tue, 09/20/2022 - 14:13

Project Manager, Nursing

Contact Information

Email: nspence@gmu.edu

Biography

Ms. Nancy Spencer manages a portfolio of public health projects, which engages high-risk, high-need individuals with Opioid Use Disorder and Criminal Justice involvement to facilitate health and social care systems navigation. She is responsible for the implementation and delivery of community-based participatory research that includes cross-sector health equity initiatives. Ms. Spencer leads interdisciplinary teams, talented in nursing, social work, behavioral health, counseling, health informatics, peer recovery support, and pharmacy. Through partnerships with governments, public health, and the legal and carceral systems, Ms. Spencer’s programs strengthen community health systems, upskill the health workforce, and deliver community-based care and treatment in health districts across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Research

Parekh, T., Cuellar, A. E., Farina-Morse, M., Spencer, N., & Sutter, R. E. (2022). Where It Really Counts: Feasibility and Potential of the Peer Engaged Empowered Recovery Program for Substance-Dependent Jail Inmates. Journal of addictions nursing, 33(3), 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1097/JAN.0000000000000478.

Virginia Elected Officials Praise ��AV’s Mason and Partners Clinic Located in Prince William Shelter

Mary Cunningham — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 14:16:31 +0000

Virginia Elected Officials Praise ��AV’s Mason and Partners Clinic Located in Prince William Shelter Mary Cunningham Wed, 08/31/2022 - 10:16

National, state, and county leaders learned about the Mason and Partner Clinics, which prepare students to serve vulnerable populations and increase access to care for marginalized communities.

Community partnerships and community-based care play an integral role in addressing the growing shortage of health care workers and the increasing demand for low-cost or free care among vulnerable populations across the Commonwealth of Virginia. At a shelter for unhoused individuals in Woodbridge, Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinic staff work alongside the Department of Social Services and the Prince William County Health Department to deliver care and educate students.

On Thursday, August 24 a delegation of state and local leaders visited the Mason and Partners Clinics to discuss how the MAP Clinics’ network of 10 clinics in Fairfax and Prince William counties helps serve underrepresented communities.

The delegation included: U.S. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (VA - 7^th District), Senator Jeremy McPike (VA - 29^th District); Delegate Elizabeth Guzman (VA - 31^st District), and Woodbridge District Supervisor, Margaret Franklin.

"The MAP Clinics are important partners in the communities we serve. The unique bridge-care model and co-location in places such as shelters address community gaps in service,” said Cheryl Oetjen, Interim Director of George Mason’s School of Nursing. The MAP Clinics are offered by the ��AV College of Health and Human Services and School of Nursing.

“We provide care for vulnerable populations here in the community – delivering services – such as treating acute and chronic conditions and monthly preventative health screenings –that they might not otherwise receive. In addition, students’ clinical opportunities at the MAP Clinics prepare the next generation of nurses, social workers, informaticists, and nutritionists to work with marginalized populations. This reduces the stigma and increases the likelihood of students caring for vulnerable populations throughout their careers," said Rebecca Sutter, Professor and Director of the MAP Clinics explained.

MAP Clinic staff discussed the importance of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants to fund on-going curriculum development and training so Mason students are prepared to serve marginalized communities. MAP Clinics play a critical role in increasing access to care and linking clients to community systems of support for ongoing care, and helping patients navigate the health care system.

The delegation also examined the robust telehealth capabilities that the MAP Clinic expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The MAP Clinic shelter site has had 428 telehealth visits over the past year providing acute and chronic disease education and management including access to needed medications. Federal funding for telehealth has grown since 2020 to meet growing demand for access.

“The new and emerging technology implemented at the MAP Clinic was as exciting as it was innovative. In the U.S. House of Representatives, I am committed to caring for underserved Virginians,” said Congresswoman Spanberger. Spanberger, a strong advocate for funding mental and behavioral health services for the most vulnerable, voted for the American Rescue Plan and authored the bipartisan Summer Barrow Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Act, which recently passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"We met with undergraduate and graduate students [at the MAP Clinic] who have hands-on experience while pursuing their degrees. I believe this is a win-win for them, but also for our most vulnerable residents while we have a shortage of healthcare professionals in our area. Everyone deserves access to health care and the MAP Clinic is helping all vulnerable residents. Thank you for all that you do," said Delegate Guzman. Guzman expressed her on-going commitment to helping find a permanent location and on-going funding for the MAP Clinic to help more individuals in need.

“The MAP Clinics’ impact reinforces the role of partnerships in serving the region and meeting the changing needs of the health workforce. The College continues to recruit, train, and graduate faculty and students who are committed to health equity and increased access to care,” said Dean Melissa Perry.

Since starting the shelter-based clinic in Woodbridge, the MAP Clinic has seen an increase in the number of clients who advocate for themselves, utilize Clinic services, and request appointments. There has been a 40% increase in MAP Clinic service utilization from 2021 to 2022. Over the last two years, the Clinic has provided care for 543 patients and have documented a 69% reduction in emergency room visits for shelter clients.

College of Health and Human Services faculty and staff present at the meeting included:

Melissa Perry, Dean, College of Health and Human Services
Cheryl Oetjen, Interim Director of the School of Nursing
Rebecca Sutter, Professor and Director of the MAP Clinics
Mary Righi, Operations Coordinator
Samba Pathak, Operations Support
Shanti Chang, Assistant Professor of Nursing
Jennifer McKee, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) MAP Clinic Graduate Research Assistant, Shelter lead
Grace Stover, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) MAP Clinic Graduate Research Assistant, Shelter lead
Brian Longo, Bachelor of Science, Nursing and Community Health student

Topics

CHHS

MAP Clinic

Mason and Partners Clinic

School of Nursing

Megan S. Harvey, DNP, FNP-BC, BSN, RN

John Brandon Cantrell — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 17:56:21 +0000

Megan S. Harvey, DNP, FNP-BC, BSN, RN John Brandon C… Wed, 08/24/2022 - 13:56

Research Scientist, Nursing
Assistant Professor, Nursing

Contact Information

Email: msturm1@gmu.edu

CV

Download Megan Harvey's curriculum vitae (CV) here.

Personal Websites

Orcid

Biography

Dr. Megan Harvey is an assistant professor and Research Scientist in the School of Nursing, Research faculty. Harvey’s research interests include vulnerable populations, community and population-based healthcare and substance use disorders. She has a passion for opioid use disorders and works closely with the ��AV Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics as a provider for at risk populations in substance abuse and chronic disease management. Before coming to Mason, Harvey worked at Inova Fairfax Hospital as a Registered Nurse, Trauma Nurse Specialist, in the Adult Emergency Department and completed her doctorate at ��AV in 2020 with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner. Her field of research during her doctoral year was Rural and community-based telehealth implementation.

Degrees

Bachelor of Science, Nursing, ��AV
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Family Nurse Practitioner, ��AV

CHHS Alumni Board Hosts School Supply Drive

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 13:06:20 +0000

CHHS Alumni Board Hosts School Supply Drive Mary Cunningham Mon, 08/08/2022 - 09:06

CHHS alumni work to break down lack of access to educational resources as a barrier to health

In preparation for the upcoming school year, the CHHS Alumni Board is collecting school supplies to donate to low-income children in the Northern Virginia area. The supply drive will be gifting paper, pencils, and other supplies to the College's MAP Clinics for children who otherwise may not have the ability to purchase supplies, many of whom are new to the United States.

“The College's MAP Clinics play an important role in Northern Virginia's community health, and we as alumni can also support the Clinics and local low-income children who are going to school,” said CHHS Alumni Board President Kathi Huddleston. “As alumni of CHHS, we understand that health can be boosted by a bookbag full of new school supplies to brighten that first day of school.”

The Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics aim to elevate the health of underserved populations by providing health care access to uninsured patients. With service projects like this drive, CHHS alumni are actively working to do their part in improving population health alongside the MAP Clinic, with a specific focus on elevating education in relation to overall health. This project supports the efforts of our nurse-run clinics, which are headed by Professor Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP and the School of Nursing Interim Director Cheryl Oetjen, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC.

Donated supplies can be dropped off in boxes located in the School of Nursing located on the third floor of Peterson Hall. The Board will be collecting supplies through the end of September. Additionally, if you would like to make a charitable donation to the CHHS Alumni Chapter for service projects like this, please visit this webpage.

Information about the CHHS Alumni Board and how to support more service efforts can be found on the CHHS Alumni Chapter Board page.

Topics

CHHS

MAP Clinic

Mason and Partners (MAP)

CHHS Alumni

CPH Upward

Mary Righi

John Brandon Cantrell — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 15:07:46 +0000

Mary Righi John Brandon C… Mon, 06/13/2022 - 11:07

Clinical Operations Coordinator, Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics

Contact Information

Email: mrighi2@gmu.edu

Biography

Mary Kirtley Righi, MPH is the Clinical Operations Coordinator of ��AV’s Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics. In her role, Righi provides operational support to all MAP clinic locations and develops and maintains community partnerships. Prior to joining GMU, her previous work included patient navigation within fertility care and coordination of clinical research addressing pediatric health disparities.

Righi received a Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literatures from Middlebury College and a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Global Health from Brown University.

Degrees

Master of Public Health, Brown University
BA, English and American Literatures, Middlebury College

InsideNoVa: MAP Clinics Honored by Prince William Chamber of Commerce.

eander6 — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 16:19:35 +0000

InsideNoVa: MAP Clinics Honored by Prince William Chamber of Commerce. eander6 Thu, 03/03/2022 - 11:19

Hal Parrish, Transaction Expert, Chantilly Air win top Prince William Chamber honors.

Topics

MAP Clinic

CHHS in the Media

College of Health and Human Services

MAP Clinic

Nursing students help underserved communities get their kids back-to-school ready

In This Story

Make a difference with the College of Public Health

Support the Mason Nation

Related News

Topics

Ashley Wiest, DNP, FNP-BC

Contact Information

Biography

Degrees

In the News

Mason and Partner Clinics see 189% increase in appointments since 2018 and delivered $3.8 million in free services to the community

In This Story

Mason and Partner Clinics see 189% increase in appointments since 2018 and delivered $3.8 million in free services to the community

Topics

Washington Post: Students working at the MAP Clinics mentioned in article on ending hunger

Topics

Nancy R.B. Spencer, QMHP

Contact Information

Biography

Research

Virginia Elected Officials Praise ����AV’s Mason and Partners Clinic Located in Prince William Shelter

National, state, and county leaders learned about the Mason and Partner Clinics, which prepare students to serve vulnerable populations and increase access to care for marginalized communities.

Topics

Megan S. Harvey, DNP, FNP-BC, BSN, RN

Contact Information

CV

Personal Websites

Biography

Degrees

CHHS Alumni Board Hosts School Supply Drive

CHHS alumni work to break down lack of access to educational resources as a barrier to health

Topics

Mary Righi

Contact Information

Biography

Degrees

InsideNoVa: MAP Clinics Honored by Prince William Chamber of Commerce.

Topics

Virginia Elected Officials Praise ��AV’s Mason and Partners Clinic Located in Prince William Shelter