Health Clinic a Win-Win Idea

Letter to the Editor:

As a Registered Nurse and soon-to-be permanent resident of Cedar Key, I was pleased to read about the possibility of a health clinic on the island.

As a health care professional, I`ve always felt strongly about prevention. Seemingly minor symptoms can quickly reverse to a serious health problem unless detected and treated. Having a health clinic at Cedar Key would be an ideal way for residents to have the convenience of preventive medicine available to them.

As your article stated, monitoring blood pressures, blood sugars for diabetics and assessing wounds and dressing changes are a few of the ways that the clinic could be beneficial. Also having a medical advocate available to the residents enhances one of the ways that patients are able to participate more fully in their own care. Doctors are busier now than they`ve ever been. Having a professional in a clinic would provide a source to monitor and assess symptoms, side effects or potential problems at a convenience to Cedar Key residents. I also believe it would assist doctors on the mainland as well. Having been a home health RN for eighteen years in Florida, I feel a health clinic would operate on the same concept. By assessing the problem, the health care professional acts as the liaison between the patient and primary physician. I also feel that residents, especially the elderly on Cedar Key, would be more apt to seek out acute medical attention at a convenient location much faster than driving the forty or so miles to the physician`s office. The "liaison" at the clinic would have direct contact with physicians via phone or fax and would provide residents with more immediate care.

I feel it would be a win-win situation for all concerned and I hope the health clinic will become a reality for a location I consider a "slice of heaven."

Terri DuLong
New Port Richey