NEWS
TULSA, OKLA. – Community programs at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa will support local low-income patients and families with healthcare, nutrition and insurance resources thanks to generous grants from Ascension St. John’s Community Health Equity Catalyst Strategy.
The grants from Ascension St. John in Tulsa will fund the work of the OU Bedlam Clinics, the OU Food First Pharmacy, the Tulsa Healthcare Coverage Program and the Team for Children at Risk, all of which provide services for indigent and underserved residents of the Tulsa area.
Funding is supported by Ascension St. John’s Community Health Equity Catalyst Strategy, which aims to create more equitable health outcomes in the city of Tulsa.
“The support of Ascension St. John with a gift like this allows our students and faculty to do this very important work in our community,” said James Herman, MD, MSPH, dean of the OU-TU School of Community Medicine. “From the OU Bedlam Clinics for the underserved to our Team for Children at Risk for suspected victims of child abuse, our goal is to meet Tulsans where they are and get them the healthcare they need. Support from community leaders such as Ascension St. John allows us to do that and to educate our students about the needs of our most vulnerable populations.”
The OU Bedlam Clinics serve uninsured patients in Tulsa who may not otherwise receive healthcare. The clinics allow OU-TU School of Community Medicine students to gain experience and build relationships with patients, who receive accessible, quality care.
At the OU Food First Pharmacy, patients receive foods tailored to support chronic disease self-management. Students studying medicine, social work and physician assistantship also learn to function as a food insecurity clinical response team.
Uninsured Tulsans also find resources at the Tulsa Healthcare Program, which aims to determine patients’ healthcare coverage eligibility and connects them to affordable coverage as well as a medical home.
The Team for Children at Risk offers healthcare services to children who are victims of abuse or who are at risk for abuse. These services include medical exams of suspected victims, medical care for children with out-of-home placements and civil legal services for pediatric families and guardians.
Ascension St. John’s Community Health Equity Catalyst Strategy allows the healthcare system to partner with OU’s community leaders and offer free, reliable resources to improve the health of all Tulsans.
About the University of Oklahoma
Founded in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. As the state’s flagship university, OU serves the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. OU was named the state’s highest-ranking university in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent Best Colleges list. For more information about the university, visit ou.edu.
About the OU Foundation
The University of Oklahoma Foundation is an independent charitable organization that facilitates and manages philanthropic gifts to support the University of Oklahoma. With a culture of integrity, skill and persistence, we align the passions of donors and our alumni with the indelible mission of the University of Oklahoma.
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