USI partners with HOLA and EVSC to open third community health center

The University of Southern Indiana's College of Nursing and Health Professions will open its third Community Health Center, located at Lodge Community School at 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 9. This is the anniversary of the opening of the first USI Community Health Center at Glenwood Leadership Academy on January 9, 2012. Cedar Hall Community Health Center at Cedar Hall Community School opened a year later on January 9, 2013.

The USI Community Health Center at Lodge uses the tagline "Partnering with HOLA for a healthier community," and will primarily serve a need within the Hispanic community. HOLA is a non-profit organization in Evansville with a goal of enhancing appreciation of cultural diversity and promoting the successful inclusion of Latinos in the community. Karen Brossman, the nurse practitioner hired to serve the new center is also bilingual.

In addition to serving the Hispanic community, the center will be open to the community at large and will begin seeing patients on Tuesday, January 14. A larger open house will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, including representatives from USI, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC), and HOLA, as well as community partners and healthcare providers. Light refreshments will be served.

"After two years of successfully offering primary care services at our two nurse managed community health centers, I am pleased that we are now able to add a third center at the Lodge school," said Dr. Ann White, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions. "I'm also pleased that we will partner with EVSC and HOLA to open this center to serve all individuals especially the Latino population in the area."

The three USI Community Health Centers are the result of a five-year $1.2 million grant to USI from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant was a collaborative effort between USI, EVSC, St. Mary's Health System, and Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.

The centers provide primary health care services to neighborhood residents, including students and families. USI undergraduate and graduate students in nursing, respiratory therapy, occupational therapy, food and nutrition, social work, dental and health administration participate in delivering services to patients and neighborhood residents.

"We are excited to partner with USI to have this third health center available for our families and neighborhoods," said Cathlin Gray, EVSC associate superintendent for family, school, and community partnerships. "Now these families will have access to a familiar place to see medical professionals for the medical help they need.  Children who do not feel well often do not perform well in school.  Our goal through this partnership is to create a community of individuals healthy and ready to learn."

The USI Community Health Center at Lodge will be open on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning January 14. The USI Community Health Center at Cedar Hall is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. The USI Community Health Center at Glenwood is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, Thursday's, and Fridays, and Wednesday's 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lodge Community School neighborhood residents may call 812-435-0977 to make an appointment.