Philips, Emory School of Nursing and partners team up to support Farm Worker Family Health Program and Clinic
Philips ultrasound and AED innovations enhance access to primary care for medically underserved populations in Southwest Georgia
- Sep 5, 2023
- 5 minute read
Cambridge, MA – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, and the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing have teamed up with other Georgia universities and local partners to deliver preventive and episodic care to temporary farmworkers and their children in Southwest Georgia as part of Emory’s Farm Worker Family Health Program (FWFHP). Due to the nature of their work, access to and continuity of health care is a major challenge. Bringing the program to the community in the schools and fields helps address that challenge.
The program provides access to care for farmworkers and families in Colquitt, Tift, Brooks and Cook counties. It also offers a faculty-led educational training and service-learning opportunity for Emory University undergraduate and graduate nursing students, in partnership with students from other health profession education programs across Georgia. Emory nursing students receive hands-on experience with innovative Philips technologies such as the Lumify tablet-based ultrasound and access to the lifesaving HeartStart AED, all while providing vital care for the farmworker community.
The Farm Worker Family Health Program, now in its 30th year, is organized by the Emory School of Nursing and held in partnership with the Georgia Ellenton Farmworker Health Clinic in Colquitt County and a host of state, local and educational partners. The FWFHP and Ellenton Clinic anticipate caring for as many as 9,000 individuals over the next year.
Over two weeks each June, a team of 120 faculty members and students from various disciplines provide well-child care and screenings (vision, hearing, blood pressure, BMI, fine motor skills, etc.) for migrant children enrolled in a summer school program in Colquitt County, and evening clinics for adult migrant farmworkers on the H-2A visa program, with health screenings, focused care, medications and referrals to address health issues.
This program can only thrive through partnership with innovative organizations focused on health equity, and Philips’ support not only helped us during this year’s two-week FWFHP, but will support the farmworkers throughout the year through the Ellenton Clinic.
Erin Ferranti
“These workers and their families are the backbone of the agriculture industry. Their work is physically demanding, so providing this access to care is essential,” said Erin Ferranti, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, director of the FWFHP and assistant professor at the Emory School of Nursing. “This program can only thrive through partnership with innovative organizations focused on health equity, and Philips’ support not only helped us during this year’s two-week FWFHP, but will support the farmworkers throughout the year through the Ellenton Clinic.”
Federally funded through the Georgia Department of Community Health, the Ellenton Clinic is solely dedicated to agriculture workers and their families, providing primary healthcare for infants through adults. The Emory School of Nursing recently received funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration to purchase a mobile van to provide care to workers who have challenges visiting the clinic. Along with the Philips ultrasound and AEDs, Philips’ support will aid in the purchase of medical equipment to furnish the mobile van, enhancing health access to those most in need.
“We are always considering ways that we can address the health concerns of local migrant farmworkers, including resources to help bring care to them where they live and work,” said Leigh Hendley, director of the Ellenton Clinic. “Support from Philips, as well as the ultrasound equipment and the AEDs, will greatly expand our ability to offer services out in the community and supplement the care we provide in the clinic.”
“The Farm Worker Family Health Program is a great example of a community mobilizing to extend access to care to a vital and vulnerable population,” said Jeff DiLullo, chief region leader, Philips North America. “Access to care is at the core of our purpose at Philips. We seek partners like Emory University who share our commitment to improving health equity for underserved populations. The ongoing work at the Ellenton Clinic is impactful for the faculty, students, clinicians and, most importantly, the farmworkers.”
To learn more about the FWFHP visit here.
