Mason and Partners Clinics and Prince William Health District Partner to Deliver Vaccine and Testing to Underserved Residents
Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics received the Innovative Practice or Partnership of the Year award from the Prince William County (VA) Chamber of Commerce 2022 Business Awards for its trailblazing work with the City of Manassas Park Public Health Department and Prince William County Health Department (PWHCD).
“Our collaboration with the MAP Clinics has enabled the Prince William Health District to expand its vaccination and testing programs, and to reach individuals who may be hesitant to be tested for COVID or receive the vaccine,” said Prince William Health District Director Alison Ansher.
The Clinics have innovated their services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to provide health services to underserved populations in Northern Virginia. In 2021, MAP Clinics supported the PWCHD with its vaccination efforts and provided free COVID-19 testing to uninsured and low-income community members. From July 2020 through June 2021, the Clinics provided more than 41,300 vaccinations at Clinics and 3,7000 mobile vaccinations. As another example of innovating to meet the need of the community, the health district and the MAP Clinics vaccinated thousands of early childhood educators. Then-Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam praised the MAP Clinics for their work as frontline workers supporting other frontline educators.
"I am so proud of all of the MAP Clinic and Health District staff who work together to find new ways to provide excellent care each day to members of our community. We are grateful to the City of Manassas and Prince William County Health District for their partnership, helping us achieve our goals to support and uplift the community,” said, Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP, Director, MAP Clinics, and Associate Professor of Nursing.
The MAP Clinics, operated by the School of Nursing, provide opportunities for Mason students to receive firsthand, guided experience in giving interprofessional care to patients and responding to community-based needs.
“Through the work of these partnerships, our students truly understand the social determinants of health,” said Cheryl Oetjen, interim Chair of the Department of Nursing. “The magic in student learning is visible when what may have been stigma becomes empathy.”
Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics are a network of no-cost bridge health care clinics supported by the School of Nursing and the College of Health and Human Services at George Mason University. These academic-community partnered interprofessional clinics serve the underinsured and uninsured communities within Prince William and Fairfax counties by providing low barrier access to acute and chronic health care services, school physicals and childhood immunizations, screenings, and mental health services for vulnerable populations. The ambulatory clinics address the social determinant needs for the community and help navigate individuals through community referrals, resources, and case management for medical home placement; wellness and integrated care; and nurse-led follow up for chronic disease management and education.
The Innovative Practice or Partnership of the Year award is awarded to a member business, not-for-profit organization, or government entity that has demonstrated outstanding vision and groundbreaking solutions in the last year. The Prince William Chamber Business Awards are held annually to honor the best of local businesses to recognize excellence in business, innovative practices, outstanding contributions to the community, and organizations that stand out among their peers.