My time at the Otis Moss Jr. Health Center
(OMJ-HC) has been good. Upon arrival I was more anxious to see the community,
the facility, and meet the staff and patients. This health care facility is
located in the Fairfax Community which is predominantly African Americans. This
community has two special characteristics, the elderly and/or retired
individuals who have a strong religious faith. Every block at least has one
church. Obviously like many other communities throughout the state of Ohio and
nationwide, this community has experienced a downward turn in the economy.
However
over the past few years local and national development groups
have been rejuvenating this community.
The OMJ-HC is a
satellite, outpatient community health center for the University Hospitals. It
was established in 1997 by an African American, Reverend Otis Moss Jr. and the
Olivet Institutional Baptist Church which is across the street. They not only
serve the residents in the Fairfax community but also provide care to anyone
and everyone. This cozy and small two story building houses various specialty
areas such as primary care, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and
podiatry. It currently employs a staff of fourteen. It offers various
educational health prevention and management classes and participates in many
local health fairs and seminars.
Since I am from the
island of St. Thomas (STT), United States Virgin Islands (USVI) OMJ’s small
setting was one of familiarity and ease. Having and keeping an open mind about
the patients community, cultural, educational, and social facets allows for me
to adapt. They were many similarities with this facility compared to those in
my native home. These similarities are simple things such as greeting someone
or a room filled with people by saying good morning and common courtesy and
respect in all interactions between staff and patients.
The USVI is made up
of four islands and a few cays. There two major hospitals (STT and St. Croix
(STX)) and one clinic (St. John (STJ)). Transportation between these islands is
either by air or sea. This has created us to become very efficient in providing
optimum health care. I also see a duplicate within the OMJ-HC because it is a
unique one-stop shop in this community. At this moment we are preparing to host
three diabetes classes for our capstone project. Over the past few weeks I have
enjoyed and learned a great amount of historical information about the OMJ-HC, the
community, and the city of Cleveland.
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