[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 163 (Tuesday, November 3, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S7726]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 303--DESIGNATING THE WEEK BEGINNING NOVEMBER 8, 2015, 
            AS ``NATIONAL NURSE-MANAGED HEALTH CLINIC WEEK''

  Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself and Mr. Merkley) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 303

       Whereas a nurse-managed health clinic is a nonprofit 
     community-based health care site that offers primary care and 
     wellness services based on the nursing model;
       Whereas the nursing model emphasizes--
       (1) protection, promotion, and optimization of health;
       (2) prevention of illness;
       (3) alleviation of suffering; and
       (4) diagnosis and treatment of illness;
       Whereas an advanced practice nurse leads each nurse-managed 
     health clinic and an interdisciplinary team of highly 
     qualified health care professionals staffs each nurse-managed 
     health clinic;
       Whereas each nurse-managed health clinic offers a broad 
     scope of services, including--
       (1) treatment for acute and chronic illnesses;
       (2) routine physical exams;
       (3) immunizations for adults and children;
       (4) disease screenings;
       (5) health education;
       (6) prenatal care;
       (7) dental care; and
       (8) drug and alcohol treatment;
       Whereas, as of September 2015, approximately 500 nurse-
     managed health clinics--
       (1) provided care in the United States; and
       (2) recorded more than 2,500,000 patient encounters 
     annually;
       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics serve a unique, dual 
     role as healthcare safety net access points and health 
     workforce development sites, because the majority of nurse-
     managed health clinics--
       (1) are affiliated with schools of nursing; and
       (2) serve as clinical education sites for students entering 
     the health profession;
       Whereas nurse-managed health clinics strengthen the 
     healthcare safety net by expanding access to primary care and 
     chronic disease management services for vulnerable and 
     medically under-served populations in diverse rural, urban, 
     and suburban communities;
       Whereas research has shown that--
       (1) nurse-managed health clinics experience high rates of--
          (A) patient retention; and
          (B) patient satisfaction; and
       (2) nurse-managed health clinic patients, compared to 
     patients of other similar safety net providers, experience--
          (A) higher rates of generic medication fills; and
          (B) lower hospitalization rates;
       Whereas the 2013 Health Affairs article, ``Nurse-Managed 
     Health Centers And Patient-Centered Medical Homes Could 
     Mitigate Expected Primary Care Physician Shortage'', 
     highlights the ability of each nurse-managed health clinic to 
     bring high-quality care to individuals who may not otherwise 
     receive needed services; and
       Whereas each nurse-managed health clinic that offers 
     primary care and wellness services provides quality care in a 
     cost-effective manner: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week beginning November 8, 2015, as 
     ``National Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Week'';
       (2) supports the ideals and goals of National Nurse-Managed 
     Health Clinic Week; and
       (3) encourages the continued support of nurse-managed 
     health clinics so that nurse-managed health clinics may 
     continue to serve as healthcare workforce development sites 
     for the next generation of primary care providers.

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