University Of Houston: University Of Houston College Of Nursing To Launch Midtown Clinic For Homeless

Press release from the University of Houston:

Laurie Fickman

September 9, 2021

The University of Houston College of Nursing is opening the doors of its Nursing Health Clinic, a new nurse-managed facility in Midtown that will meet the health needs of homeless people. The clinic will begin seeing clients Sept. 13 in the Abraham Center of St. Paul's United Methodist Church.  

The nurse-managed clinic will be initially staffed by nursing faculty and students. Dr. David Buck, associate dean of community health at the UH College of Medicine, will work as a collaborating physician. Patients will be treated by Patricia Obulaney, certified adult nurse practitioner and UH clinical associate professor. The clinic will offer services from treatment of minor injuries and illnesses such as colds and flu, and other services including immunizations and screenings. Telehealth will be used for referrals. 

“The best way to provide the homeless with health care is to take it to them,” said Shainy Varghese, associate professor of nursing, nurse practitioner and clinic director. “The clinic will draw patients from the Emergency Aid Coalition, an interfaith organization committed to helping those in need, which is housed at St. Paul’s church.” 

The clinic is funded by grants from the Humana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute, the Texas Methodist Foundation and private donations. Along with Obulaney, the nurse-managed clinic will have a registered nurse and receptionist on staff and will be open on Mondays from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. The goal will be to have the clinic opened two days a week in the spring. 

WHAT: Opening of University of Houston College of Nursing Health Clinic 

WHO: Walk-in patients and family nurse practitioner Patricia Obulaney; Shainy Varghese, associate professor of nursing, nurse practitioner and clinic director; Kathryn Tart, UH College of Nursing founding dean, professor of nursing and Humana Endowed Dean's Chair in Nursing; Rev. Andrew Wolfe, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. 

WHEN: 8:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 13, 2021 

WHERE: Abraham Center of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 5401 Fannin, Houston, TX 77004 

This press release was produced by the University of Houston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.