The Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB) Palm Desert Campus announced that it has been awarded a $73,422 grant from the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation to help fund its Nursing Street Medicine program, which provides essential medical services to Coachella Valley’s most in-need community members. This grant aims to bolster the healthcare services for vulnerable populations in Coachella Valley by expanding the scope and reach of the existing Nursing Street Medicine program.
This grant comes as part of CSUSB's continued commitment towards community healthcare services. According to a Nov. 27 CSUSB article, the grant will fund a range of free medical services offered by the Nursing Street Medicine program to Coachella Valley's vulnerable population, such as the homeless. The services—delivered through nurse and medical clinics at shelters, free food program locations, homeless encampments and at cooling/warming centers—include wound care, foot soaks, triage, health assessments, vital sign and blood glucose level checks, medication management and preventative healthcare and education.
Speaking about this development, "The funds from the Desert Healthcare District & Foundation will provide support for us to continue our efforts to grow our Nursing Street Medicine program. We are providing much-needed healthcare services for homeless and unsheltered people in the Coachella Valley and preparing our future nurses to understand the needs of this vulnerable population," Diane Vines, Street Medicine Program coordinator and CSUSB nursing faculty member, said in the CSUSB article.
Moreover, According to the CSUSB article, the grant money will also bolster Coachella Valley’s healthcare workforce. Specifically, it will increase the number of registered nurses in the community by allowing 32 students enrolled in the university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, along with six nursing student assistants, to participate in the Nursing Street Medicine program for course credit or volunteer hours.
Reinforcing this initiative, "Removing barriers to accessing healthcare is essential in our underserved communities. The CSUSB nursing program continues to be an important part of that outreach among the homeless and unsheltered population, and we support the work they’re doing," Chris Christensen, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation Interim CEO, said in the CSUSB article.