College of Nursing hosts free health clinic for local truck, bus drivers

The Augusta University College of Nursing hosted the third annual Horizon Truckers Clinic for employees of Horizon Motor Coach in the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons lobby on Jan. 30.

Many of the Horizon employees drive buses for Augusta University and nearby hospitals, providing necessary transportation for students, employees and medical workers. CON leaders were grateful to once again be able to provide services to a community of drivers who give so much to the university and the Augusta area.

Led by Pam Cromer, DNP, the community engagement event offers an interdisciplinary approach to health services for Horizon employees, including care and consultations to mitigate inherent health risks associated with sedentary behaviors among truck drivers. 

“An interdisciplinary approach to health care is when multiple people with diverse professions share expertise and act in step with the participant,” said Ryan Carrick, PhD, a professor in the College of Allied Health Sciences who provided occupational therapy services at the event. “This woven thread adds color and quality to the meaningful care.”

Al Harris, owner of Horizon Motor Coach, said he was proud to partner with AU, recognizing the incredible support and services this program provided for his employees.

“My friend, Debbie Layman, shared with me that this program worked well with her own company, Layman Wholesale Nurseries,” Harris said. “After going to observe her clinic, we gave it a try, and it was very successful. We want to offer the safest drivers in the CSRA, and we want to make sure they’re healthy.”

Students from multiple AU colleges also directly benefited from the health fairs, as they learned how to connect with different populations and communities while developing skill sets uniquely matched to public health needs.

“The development of a diverse array of skills is imperative in the formal education of health professionals,” said Zubair Karim, PhD, a CAHS professor specializing in nutrition and dietetics. “Engaging in experiences beyond the conventional environments affords students the opportunity to acquire early clinical and leadership experience through direct participation in health care delivery.”

Karim recognizes the increased risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome that drivers face due to their work environment. The health fair provided services not only to address those issues but also to enhance student competencies in treatment and prevention.

Doctor of Nursing Practice students were able to experience hands-on supervision and training in the roles and responsibilities associated with DOT certification and examinations. The DOT exam is a specific physical for commercial drivers and is required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration every 24 months.

Instructor Lynn Allmond became a certified medical examiner to better participate in this event for the patients and students.

“These drivers can only be evaluated by these certified examiners,” Allmond said. “Now that I’ve taken this test, I have the skill set and knowledge base to really explain this process to students in better detail.”

As a student in the Family Nurse Practitioner program, Libby Newsome applauded the benefits the health clinic grants her as a student.

“It helps my overall experience by introducing assessments and getting to talk to and work with a different population than I’m used to,” Newsome said.

“I wish we had this when I was younger and in school,” said Toy Brown, phlebotomist supervisor for Wellstar MCG Health. “We really enjoy the community-based approach.”

Along with DOT examinations, the event included booths from other Augusta University departments and colleges. Each booth provided informative demonstrations or materials that Horizon employees can use to enhance their well-being.

Outside organizations included the American Heart Association, Oak Street Primary Care, Shepheard Community Blood Center and LifeLink organ donation. The various groups offered cancer prevention information, dental exams, occupational and physical therapy sessions, nutritional advice and blood work provided by Wellstar MCG Phlebotomy. Employees were also screened for hearing, blood pressure and diabetes and received an eye exam covered by the local Lions Club.

“We provide patient education connecting the oral cavity with the entire body,” said Kim Capehart, DDS, associate dean of AU’s Dental College of Georgia. “I see the truck drivers on their routes every day and see the positive impact our students have had.”

Jennifer Toole, a community impact director for the American Heart Association, provided participants with a document featuring facts about sleep health.

“Sleep is one of eight health factors and behaviors linked to us living our longest and healthiest lives, which is the mission of the American Heart Association,” Toole said.

Nyree Riley, community outreach coordinator for the Georgia Cancer Center, also attended and shared cancer awareness information around modifiable health behaviors such as smoking and covering up or wearing sunscreen to prevent skin cancer.

“Providing students interprofessional education with experiential learning opportunities while serving the CSRA community is an academic program’s dream,” said JoAnn Denemark, program director of the new Master of Health Science in Speech-Language Pathology, who facilitated hearing screenings for the truck drivers. “I am genuinely grateful to Dr. Cromer and the CON’s holistic approach to providing clinical opportunities for AU students to come together and learn from one another.”