El Centro de Salud

A Future Dental Apprentice looks on at
El Centro de Salud's Dental Program

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Overview
The Columbia College of Nursing (CCON) sponsors El Centro de Salud in partnership with the United Community Center, a leading organization for serving Hispanic people in Milwaukee. El Centro is a nursing center that is managed by Columbia College of Nursing faculty and provides services through a nurse practitioner and CCON nursing students.

El Centro provides immunizations, physicals, health education, health promotion, screening and support to students of United Community Center preschool, elementary and middle schools as well as to adults in family programs and older adult services. Through these programs, El Centro provided 14,370 encounters from July 2007 - June 2008, including 6,620 child health visits, 2,023 medication education and supervision visits, 1,440 dental visits, 231 developmental screenings and 4,056 adult visits.

Through a grant from the Harley Davidson Foundation, El Centro provides a range of dental services including screening, prophylaxis, and children’s sealants. Additionally, restorative dental care is provided in partnership with Madre Angela Dental Clinic.

El Centro de Salud received the Partnership With the Hispanic Community Award in 2006 in thanksgiving for its many services to clients of United Community Center.

Patient Stories

A New Attitude
By Gladys Simandl, PhD

Roberto came to the El Centro de Salud dental program with “attitude”. Although he was in seventh grade, he had never been to a dentist. He may have been feeling anxiety, but he certainly made it look like anger. When he walked into the one room dental operatory at El Centro de Salud, he would not smile for me, no matter how hard I tried to make him comfortable or cheer him up. I was thankful that he did agree to the screening and dental hygiene treatment. It is not always easy for children to sit through the treatment, particularly if this is the first time and the hygienist must remove much plaque and tartar.

He was an entirely different boy, however, after completing the treatment and leaving the office. I was first struck by the beauty of his smile. Roberto flashed a broad and bright smile when he left the treatment room. I was genuinely pleased and told him so. And he smiled more. Then he walked past the school office and the school secretaries told him how great he looked. And he smiled even more. I can only hope that the smile will continue and he will know that he can have great impact on others through that smile and through a positive attitude.

Julio’s Story
Being a working mother of a fifth grader can be a challenge unto itself. It is even more challenging when the student is newly diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes. Julio’s mother was able to receive support from El Centro de Salud because Julio was a student at the United Community Center. He was one of hundreds of children provided health education and monitoring by the nursing students and faculty of the Columbia College of Nursing.

As Julio returned to school following his initial diagnosis and treatment at Children’s Hospital, El Centro de Salud helped him to monitor his glucose levels and learn the ongoing challenge of carbohydrate counting. Daily communication with his mother helped all to feel confident that Julio’s health was being protected and that he was learning to manage his own care in a safe environment. Regular communication with Children’s Hospital helped to assure that there were no surprises in Julio’s care. Often Julio’s care required up to two hours of nursing intervention and education in one day.

With the partnership of Julio, the UCC teachers, his mother, the CCON faculty and nursing students, Julio had a remarkably successful year. He learned a great deal about his diabetes and its management and was able to continue his education without interruption.

When the regular academic semester ended, Julio’s mother called with concern for his disease management during summer school. She was greatly reassured to hear that El Centro de Salud would continue to be their partner in health throughout the summer. Julio was thankful that successful management of his diabetes allowed him to fully participate in sports and recreation activities with his fellow classmates… and to a fifth grader, that can be the most important accomplishment of all!

Partnerships

• Carrol College Physical Therapy
• Columbia College of Nursing
• Harley Davidson Foundation
• MADC Dental Hygiene Program
• Madre Angela Dental Clinic
• Milwaukee Area Health Education Center
• United Community Center

Contact Information

El Centro de Salud
United Community Center
1028 S. 9th St.
Milwaukee, WI 53204

Sam Bastian, Center Coordinator
T: (414) 643-6441, ext. 500
F: (414) 649-4411

Center Hours
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on UCC School Days

Referrals
El Centro de Salud provides services to the United Community Center students and family members and works closely with the UCC to serve its community clients through health education and promotion activities.