ARCH Program begins after months of preparation
Matt McColl
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: News
After months of planning, Francis Marion's newest work-study program - Advancing Rural Community Health (ARCH) - has begun.
The program, which provides free health screenings to residents of Marion, Williamsburg and Marlboro counties, made its debut Jan. 18 at Bethel United Methodist Church in Marion.
"It went very well," said Dr. Paul DeMarco, director of Rural Community Health Programs. "It exceeded my expectations. We had 23 people show up in all, which was a reasonable crowd, and we were able to give all of the people who showed up a free health screening."
There are 50 students participating in the program, which is supported by students and faculty in the Biology, Nursing, Psychology and Sociology departments, as well as the School of Education.
The planning phase of the ARCH program began in August when DeMarco accepted his position. He had been a member of Marion Medical Group for nearly 14 years.
"We had an orientation meeting…" DeMarco said. "We talked about our code of conduct, confidentiality training, and we handed out our shirts and lab coats."
DeMarco said he's excited about the new equipment the program has received and the opportunity to go out into the field to help people.
The program also has been provided with a van, which was rented from the state and will be used to transport ARCH members and their equipment.
"We've been getting all sorts of equipment… blood pressure cuffs, equipment to draw blood, scales and things to measure height, and then some things that we're going to give away, like pens (with the ARCH logo on them)," DeMarco said.
While in Marion, the students and DeMarco tested patients for high blood pressure and high blood sugar.
A phlebotomist also was on hand to assist in drawing blood.
"We drew blood to measure kidney function, and we also measured people's cholesterol," DeMarco said.
Participants of the ARCH Program also have an opportunity to express concerns about their health or medicine they are prescribed.
The program, which provides free health screenings to residents of Marion, Williamsburg and Marlboro counties, made its debut Jan. 18 at Bethel United Methodist Church in Marion.
"It went very well," said Dr. Paul DeMarco, director of Rural Community Health Programs. "It exceeded my expectations. We had 23 people show up in all, which was a reasonable crowd, and we were able to give all of the people who showed up a free health screening."
There are 50 students participating in the program, which is supported by students and faculty in the Biology, Nursing, Psychology and Sociology departments, as well as the School of Education.
The planning phase of the ARCH program began in August when DeMarco accepted his position. He had been a member of Marion Medical Group for nearly 14 years.
"We had an orientation meeting…" DeMarco said. "We talked about our code of conduct, confidentiality training, and we handed out our shirts and lab coats."
DeMarco said he's excited about the new equipment the program has received and the opportunity to go out into the field to help people.
The program also has been provided with a van, which was rented from the state and will be used to transport ARCH members and their equipment.
"We've been getting all sorts of equipment… blood pressure cuffs, equipment to draw blood, scales and things to measure height, and then some things that we're going to give away, like pens (with the ARCH logo on them)," DeMarco said.
While in Marion, the students and DeMarco tested patients for high blood pressure and high blood sugar.
A phlebotomist also was on hand to assist in drawing blood.
"We drew blood to measure kidney function, and we also measured people's cholesterol," DeMarco said.
Participants of the ARCH Program also have an opportunity to express concerns about their health or medicine they are prescribed.
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