麻豆女郎

麻豆女郎鈥檚 Mar铆a de los 脕ngeles Ortega to Lead Nursing Clinical Care

Nursing, 麻豆女郎 Community Health Center, Clinical Practice, Community, Primary Care, Pediatric Care, Geriatric Care, FQHC

(Photo by Alex Dolce)


By gisele galoustian | 6/29/2022

Ordonez Maria Mar铆a de los 脕ngeles
Ortega Hern谩ndez

麻豆女郎鈥檚 , DNP, APRN, GNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CDP, FAANP, FAAN, is at the forefront of clinical care for the . Since 2014, she has served as director of the 麻豆女郎聽, which provides a comprehensive array of personalized services and programs of care, support, research, education and community outreach.

Ortega鈥檚 newest role as associate dean of clinical practice now places her at the helm of clinical care for both the Green Memory and Wellness Center and the 麻豆女郎 and Northwest Community Health Alliance's Community Health Center (), operated by the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. She will collaborate with 麻豆女郎/NCHA CHC executive director , Dr.PH, APRN, professor and associate dean for academic programs; and clinical director Desiree鈥 T. Weems, APRN, a certified nurse practitioner.聽

At the Green Memory and Wellness Center, Ortega oversees programs in memory, wellness, cognitive and neuropsychological testing, driving evaluations, caregiver programs and support, behavioral health (mental health, counseling, and psychiatry), and an adult day program for persons with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and related dementias (ADRD). In addition to the services provided, the center conducts research on best practices in care for individuals with ADRD as well as family caregiver support.

During the pandemic, the program successfully transitioned almost all services offered pre-COVID-19 to virtual telehealth and telemedicine-based platforms and tele-social work services. In addition, the program opened access to include out-of-state and out-of-country participants. In the last two years, the program has expanded to include behavioral and mental health services for patients and caregivers, integrating psychiatry and psychotherapy consultations and treatment. The project also has expanded to meet the needs of individuals who are unable to come to the facilities and those who are uninsured.聽

At the 麻豆女郎/NCHA CHC, advanced practice nurses in collaboration with other health care providers offer an array of pediatric, adult and geriatric services. 麻豆女郎 was the first university in Florida to be designated by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), as a 鈥淔ederally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike.鈥 An FQHC is a clinic that provides comprehensive primary, behavioral health and聽preventive care to patients of all ages in underserved and rural聽areas. The purpose of FQHCs is to serve communities that may have financial disadvantages, language barriers, geographic barriers, or other specific needs.

Among the 麻豆女郎/NCHA CHC services include mental health assessments, medication management, and behavioral interventions focused on restoration of function and quality of life; pediatric services, immunizations, and screenings; and adolescent services including physical exams, screenings, and education regarding high-risk behaviors. The center also provides gynecological prenatal and obstetric services. Other services include geriatric care as well as routine sick and health maintenance, preventive care and chronic disease management for adults 18 and older.

As an American Diabetes Association 鈥淒iabetes Certified Education Center,鈥 services at the 麻豆女郎/NCHA CHC also include diabetes patient and family education.

鈥淎ll of our programs in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing are grounded in caring to create a healing and supportive environment for the patients and families we serve throughout South Florida and beyond,鈥 said Ortega. 鈥淚 am excited and honored to expand the scope of my responsibilities and services to help our patients achieve their best physical, social and emotional health and well-being.鈥

Ortega is a board-certified gerontological and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner who continues her practice as a clinician and specializes in caring for the older adult. She is nationally certified as a dementia practitioner. Her work focuses on transforming health care environments by providing person and family centered care, interprofessional, culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate evidence-based interventions, opening and increasing access to dementia specific care and supportive services for diverse populations living with ADRD and their family caregivers. Ortega鈥檚 practice experience encompasses nursing rehabilitation facilities (skilled nursing, post-acute, and long-term care) and memory disorder clinics. The focus of her doctoral work was aimed at enhancing care in skilled nursing facilities through excellence in clinical practice and care coordination.聽

鈥淒r. Ortega is at the forefront of clinical care, leadership, teaching, research and policy development to advance health care for our most vulnerable populations throughout this region,鈥 said , Ph.D., dean, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. 鈥淚n her latest role as associate dean for clinical care, she will bring a wealth of knowledge, innovative thinking and compassionate care to spearhead our clinical and outreach programs, which are nationally recognized for providing timely, high-quality and patient-centered care.鈥澛

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