[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 129 (Thursday, September 23, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S7424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 643--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING OCTOBER 3, 2010, 
            AS ``NATIONAL NURSE-MANAGED HEALTH CLINIC WEEK''

  Mr. INOUYE (for himself and Mr. Alexander) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 643

       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics are nonprofit 
     community-based health care sites that offer primary care and 
     wellness services based on the nursing model;
       Whereas the nursing model emphasizes the protection, 
     promotion, and optimization of health as well as the 
     prevention of illness and the alleviation of suffering along 
     with diagnosis and treatment;
       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics are led by advanced 
     practice nurses and staffed by an interdisciplinary team of 
     highly qualified health care professionals;
       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics offer a broad scope of 
     services that may include treatment for acute and chronic 
     illnesses, routine physical exams, immunizations for adults 
     and children, disease screenings, health education, prenatal 
     care, dental care, and drug and alcohol treatment;
       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics have a proven track 
     record, as the first federally funded nurse-managed health 
     clinic was created more than 30 years prior to the date of 
     approval of this resolution;
       Whereas, as of the date of approval of this resolution, 
     more than 200 nurse-managed health clinics provide care 
     across the United States and record over 2,000,000 client 
     encounters annually;
       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics serve a unique dual 
     role as both safety net access points and health workforce 
     development sites, given that the majority of nurse-managed 
     health clinics are affiliated with schools of nursing and 
     serve as clinical education sites for health professions 
     students;
       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics strengthen the health 
     care safety net by expanding access to primary care and 
     chronic disease management services for vulnerable and 
     medically underserved populations in diverse rural, urban, 
     and suburban communities;
       Whereas research has shown that nurse-managed health 
     clinics experience high patient retention and patient 
     satisfaction rates, and nurse-managed health clinic patients 
     experience higher rates of generic medication fills and lower 
     hospitalization rates when compared to similar safety net 
     providers; and
       Whereas the use of nurse-managed health clinics offering 
     both primary care and wellness services will help meet this 
     increased demand in a cost-effective manner: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning October 3, 2010, as 
     ``National Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Week'';
       (2) supports the ideals and goals of National Nurse-Managed 
     Health Clinic Week; and
       (3) encourages the expansion of nurse-managed health 
     clinics so that nurse-managed health clinics may continue to 
     serve as health care workforce development sites for the next 
     generation of primary care providers.

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