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Libby’s Corner: Our partnerships continue to grow

Posted on September 8, 2022September 9, 2022 by CMCAiken

By Elizabeth Seal

Nurse Practitioner

Welcome back to Libby’s Corner where I get to share with you, our readers, health information and news about what we are doing at the Community Medical Clinic of Aiken County. That is a long sentence with an even longer title for our clinic. Why do we have such a long name? It came about because the intention is that the community supports the clinic to provide free care to the uninsured. Certainly, such good intentions come with responsibility, and we at the clinic must let the community know of our needs and ask for help to engage Aiken County in our mission.

Certainly, monetary support keeps us in business. Thank you to everyone who participated in our last fundraiser, Trivia Night. There will be more because without donations, we would not be able to open our doors. Besides monetary help, we ask for specific needs. Those who have medical, nursing, pharmacy, social work, or case management skills who are looking for a home to volunteer, we have a need for you. We have tried over the years to bring together other community resources, and we are grateful for successes. We believe we have many resources in the community which have and can play a role in helping those whose needs are great. With new leadership, we are reorganizing to add new players to our team.

I am proud today to announce some of our successes. We have continued our partnership with the University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken). Please join me in welcoming undergraduate nursing students who are taking their community health education on the road this fall semester. They will both be observing and volunteering this fall at the clinic. So, if you meet any of the students while you are at the clinic take the time to welcome the next generation of new nurses. USC Aiken in 2021 was ranked first among the “Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges South” by U.S. News & World Report. While this is group of students are smart and adept at technology, coming to the clinic will give them an opportunity to see real life problems from the perspective of the patient. Help us grow new nurses. They are a scarce resource right now and will be thrust into leadership roles very quickly due to the demand. We look forward to sharing with them the reality of what we deal with daily, so when they are leaders, they understand their community.

We are also continuing our partnership with Augusta University School of Nursing. A nurse practitioner student will be continuing their education with me. We are thankful to continue this partnership as well and I am excited about precepting yet another student. Again, the opportunity to teach the reality of being unable to afford your medications and the consequences of the damage it ensues is an important lesson. Nurse practitioners working with physicians play a necessary role in health care today.
Over the next few months, we will announce our future community participants as we work together. We are reaching out to enroll new patients and are actively working on engaging new players. We will be a presence at NewSpring Church on some Fridays; look to hear more very soon. We had a very successful community outreach there recently. Thank you to Pastor Matt for welcoming us to his church and supporting our mission. And thanks to the many volunteers that were there that day.

Let me add a special thank you to Christ Central. One of my patients had a refrigerator that died, and he was not able to afford a new refrigerator. He is a diabetic and takes insulin. Without the generosity of Christ Central, who had a donated refrigerator, he would have had a big problem. Happily, we worked together to coordinate the delivery of a necessary working refrigerator for this patient. Christ Central does not usually have such appliances to donate; in this case the need was met. I have learned that it doesn’t hurt to ask, all someone can say is no. I will end this on a big thanks to our community for the support of the clinic and your neighbors, and if you want to help just call us. You just might find a home.

‘I have the best job in the world’

Posted on June 27, 2022June 27, 2022 by CMCAiken

By Elizabeth Seal

Wow! I have been asked to write a blog, I never would have thought that someone might be interested in the wandering thoughts of this old lady. Thank you for letting me share with you why I believe that I have the best job in the world. You ask me why I say that? I get to wake up every day and spend my energy on achieving the best possible outcomes for my patients – the invisible people that everyone has forgotten. These are your neighbors that work at the grocery stores or gas stations or the personal care attendants for your family. They maybe used to work in the textile industry or at a local factory and are worn out. They might be working at a local fast food chain. What they have in common is that they are poor and have a chronic disease and either cannot afford insurance or will never get disability, and therefore, Medicaid because they aren’t sick enough to meet the requirements. They might be going to the ER when they are sick enough and have been out of their medications which they have been rationing. But the ER is not a primary care facility. They range in age from 19 to 64 and they have a variety of issues that landed them in our office.

I have been fortunate enough to hear their stories; I celebrate their successes. I encourage them to take part in opportunities for education; just as I did. Emory University paid for my graduate degree, but I had to work full-time in the ICU to receive that gift. I tell them it is possible and even easier since you can take online classes. I listen to their stories of sadness and realize that sometimes you have no answers for the bitterness that life offers some of us. Each patient has a story. Often it is a series of events that ended in a tailspin of destruction that led to the loss of a life that was well lived previously. Or it may be a life that never got started right and needs some direction to change the path of destructive behavior. Often, we are the first opportunity given to provide stability in the chaos they are living. My job is to provide an anchor for them. It starts with the clinic, which is a group of people who care about you. Now you must start to care for yourself. We have some necessary paperwork that we need to get your medications for free. Work with us so we can work with you.

I get to see diabetics who are transitioning between jobs and cannot risk being out of insulin. Or truck drivers that lost their CDL license, but with some change in eating habits and some fancy new oral medications will get that license back and return to work. I learn the ups and downs of people’s lives and praise their successes, coach them through the challenges and comfort them during the losses. In it all, I am better able to understand how to tailor my care so that they gain the skills to be able to make lifestyle changes. Since I worked and went to school through three college degrees, I remember those who supported me along the way and encouraged me to be successful. I remember when ½ my take-home pay paid my rent. And when my car died, I walked to the local bus stop and took the bus. All these struggles were when I was young, in good health and had a mother who did a lot of praying. As I drive home and reflect on my day, I give thanks for the gifts I had and pray for my patients to just get an even break, a chance, and the energy they will need to take advantage of that chance. And I pray that we get the support we need to make Aiken a better place with more opportunities for our neighbors. I ask everyone to remember the words from Matthew 25:40 “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Yes, this is charity but it is charity with a purpose, please, take care of yourself.

Hello world!

Posted on June 13, 2015 by CMCAiken

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