[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 151 (Thursday, November 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S7220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 603--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 26 THROUGH 
    NOVEMBER 30, 2012, 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. 603

       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, the prevention of 
     illness, the alleviation of suffering, and the diagnosis and 
     treatment of illness;
       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, including 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, as of June 2011, more than 200 nurse-managed 
     health clinics provided care across the United States and 
     recorded more than 2,000,000 client encounters annually;
       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics serve a unique dual 
     role as both health care 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 students 
     entering the health profession;
       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;
       Whereas the 2011 report of the Institute of Medicine on the 
     future of nursing highlights the work nurse-managed health 
     clinics are doing to reduce health disparities by bringing 
     evidence-based care to individuals who may not otherwise 
     receive needed services; and
       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics offering both primary 
     care and wellness services provide quality care in a cost-
     effective manner: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of November 26 through November 30, 
     2012, 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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