Bonita Springs gets parish nurse program
Bonita Springs residents living near Old US 41 will have a new option for seeking health screenings, prevention, and education. Thanks to a grant from the Bonita Springs Assistance Office, a part-time parish nurse is being hired and will be placed at Hope Lutheran Church and the Amigos Center off old US 41 in Bonita Springs.
"It takes a special calling to be a nurse, but it takes an even higher calling to be a parish nurse," said Rita Horvath, director of the parish nurse program at Lee Memorial Health System. Like a regular nurse, parish nurses provide screenings, health education, and case management. But parish nurses do this from a church based in the community. "Not all of the patients are church goers, some of the clients reside near the church and have no other option for basic health care," added Horvath.
Parish nurses meet with patients regarding existing health concerns and develop prevention and education programs. The nurses also act as case managers and develop partnerships with other Bonita Springs agencies to help clients, especially those who are homeless, uninsured, or older, navigate through "the system" for care and treatment.
Lee Memorial Health System has 22 parish nurses located throughout Southwest Florida. Most of the nurses are funded by the churches that house them. The new position at Hope Lutheran Church is being funded with a grant from the Bonita Springs Assistance Office.
"The parish nurse program at Lee Memorial Health System began in 1997 and continues to provide a significant benefit to the community," said Jim Nathan, Lee Memorial Health System's president. "Through this program, we are able to see a vast number of uninsured people and to partner with other agencies in the community to address their needs before they become catastrophic."
Other parish nurses in Bonita Springs and Estero are located at First Presbyterian Church and Lamb of God Lutheran Episcopal Church.
To learn more about the parish nurse program, contact Rita Horvath, Lee Memorial Health System's parish nurse director at (239) 432-3182. ¦
