TCC Unveils New Website for Community Health Services

Tulsa Community College has launched a new website, HealthatTCC.com, for community members to access information about free healthcare services related to three academic programs.

The healthcare services are delivered through on-campus sites which serve as teaching clinics for students to gain hands-on learning. At the same time, these clinics provide professional, critical healthcare services to underserved and uninsured individuals in the Tulsa metro area.

“For students studying to work in a healthcare field, the experience of working with real patients while being supervised by licensed professionals in the respective areas is invaluable,” said Jenny Fields, DNP, RN; School of Health Sciences dean. “These opportunities ensure our graduates in these Work Ready programs are prepared to go directly into the workforce.”

Students in three Health Sciences programs – Physical Therapist Assistant, Dental Hygiene, and Diagnostic Medical Sonography – participate in clinics on campus. For example, at the Nate Waters Physical Therapy Clinic, TCC faculty train students to be physical therapist assistants, while offering reduced-cost physical therapy services for underserved and uninsured adults and children in the Tulsa area.

“It’s a teaching clinic that benefits the students with hands-on learning and client care. At the same time, our community benefits with access to physical therapy where TCC has provided in excess of $576,000 worth of services to individuals who live in northeast Oklahoma,” said Melanie Heffington, Physical Therapist Assistant program director and faculty member.

In addition, students in the Dental Hygiene program see patients in the Dental Hygiene Clinic, providing in excess of $3 million worth of services to uninsured or underinsured individuals since 2009 when the program started tracking the data. However, it is worth noting the Dental Hygiene Clinic has been providing services for three decades to members of the community.

“When our dental hygiene students graduate from the program, many of them have jobs and we are extremely proud of our 100% pass rate on the licensure exams,” said Rachel Ostberg, Dental Hygiene Program director and faculty member.

The TCC Diagnostic Medical Sonogram program offers obstetrical ultrasounds to community members who are pregnant from August to December each year.

“Mothers gain invaluable bonding time with their babies,” said Aimee Francois-Schnetzer, Diagnostic Medical Sonogram program director and faculty member. “At the same time, the ultrasound students gain scan skills and learn best practices when working with the public. Both skills are highly desired by employers.”

The three clinics have a different set of guidelines regarding the patients they see, or a specific list of services offered. The new website helps community members understand what is offered and when, as well as ways to schedule an appointment or contact someone. To learn more, visit www.healthattcc.com.