Community Nursing Clinic Responds to COVID-19 with Telemedicine

The Coronavirus pandemic has made a significant impact on all of our lives. Watching the pandemic sweep through our communities has underscored the importance of community health. While large health care systems have pivoted to meet the rising demand of patient care, local community health care providers, such as the Widener Community Nursing Clinic, have followed suit. 

At a time of tremendous uncertainty, the Widener clinic, hosted in partnership with CityTeam Chester, is now offering telemedicine services by phone to continue meeting the needs of our patients. Our team of registered nurses and nurse practitioners are accessible by phone for existing patients to deliver remote health care management and advice. Additionally, patients can use the temporary telemedicine service to refill prescriptions and arrange to safely pick up prescriptions at the clinic. 

Since 2011, the Widener clinic has provided pro bono medical care to uninsured or underinsured residents. Even in the midst of COVID-19, our mission has remained to care for and serve our community. The clinic also contributes to real-world learning experiences for undergraduate and graduate nursing students at Widener. This early introduction puts their nursing education on the inside track to success, preparing them for work in the diverse and evolving health care sector. 

Perhaps most importantly, students’ work in the clinic demonstrates to them the importance of community health. For many area residents, the clinic serves as their sole health care provider. Educating the next generation of nursing professionals on the impact of health care at the local level prepares them as clinically and culturally competent nurses in the communities that they will go on to serve.

I am proud to be part of such a dynamic educational and community partnership.