Innovative Nurse-designed Model Created by Gloria J. McNeal, Arneta Finney, Patricia L. Humbles, and Angela T. Williams Selected for Recognition
Washington, D.C. (October 6, 2020) – Today the American Academy of Nursing (Academy) recognizes the National University Nurse Managed Clinic (NUNMC) Project as an American Academy of Nursing Edge Runner. The NUNMC Project was created by Gloria J McNeal, PhD, MSN, ACNS-BC, FAAN; Arneta Finney PhD, APRN, FNP-C, APWHc, CNL; Patricia L. Humbles, PhD, RN; and Angela T. Williams PhD, FNP-C, APRN, CNL.1 Academy Edge Runners are nurse-designed innovative models of care or interventions with significant, demonstrated outcomes to improve health, impact cost, and influence policy.
The NUNMC Project uniquely shifts the paradigm for the provision of health care services by bringing the interprofessional health care team directly to the community, and by adhering to the principles of person-centered care in the delivery of primary care and mental and social services, on-site at designated locations throughout underserved neighborhoods.2-3
“The Academy is proud to designate the National University Nurse Managed Clinic as an Edge Runner model of care,” said Academy President Eileen Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This inventive model brings the health setting directly to the patients by providing critically important, culturally-appropriate care in settings that are comfortable for the patient, thus improving health outcomes. Dr. McNeal and her team have demonstrated great success with this project and we at the Academy are honored to recognize their work as it aligns with our goal to advance health equity.”
The NUNMC Project is the fourth in a series of multimillion dollar corporate and federally-funded nurse-led clinics designed by Dr. McNeal over the course of nearly three decades. Dr. McNeal’s related projects have improved care in selected underserved communities within Philadelphia County in Pennsylvania, Essex County in New Jersey, and Los Angeles County in California. For each iteration, she has improved upon the model, which has been covered by the press in major news outlets from coast to coast, and has been awarded numerous proclamations and citations from elected officials at the municipal, state, and federal level. The American Academy of Nursing initially recognized this work in 1994 when Dr. McNeal was named the recipient of its Media Award. In 2009, Dr. McNeal presented testimony regarding this model of care before the Institute of Medicine (IOM), now the National Academy of Medicine, subsequently publishing this work as an invited co-contributor in the landmark IOM publication on the Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. In 2018, AARP’s Public Policy Institute identified this work as fostering a Culture of Health.4 The current NUNMC Project utilizes an interprofessional health team approach and outcomes-oriented focus for this university-based healthcare initiative, which cost effectively employs faculty-supervised students and a mobile health care team, in association with the clinical affiliates of National University, community-based organizations, and faith-based entities. Additionally, with this iteration of the nurse-led model, Dr. McNeal and her team introduced the concept of telehealth technologies to remotely monitor biometric data: body weight, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, body temperature, and heart and respiratory rate, transmitted to the cloud over HIPAA compliant networks.
“Congratulations to Dr. McNeal and her team for achieving the esteemed recognition of the American Academy of Nursing for their Edge Runner model,” said Dr. David Andrews, president of National University. “Their leadership of the National University Nurse Managed Clinic highlights their dedication to providing students with unique opportunities to gain skills that will shape the future of our health care system, and it further exemplifies our commitment as a University to give back to the communities we serve.”
“My colleagues and I are truly so appreciative of the American Academy of Nursing for recognizing our work and for awarding our Project this tremendous honor. We proudly accept the Edge Runner designation on behalf of the communities, faculty, students, and staff who work tirelessly to address health care inequities, improve access to care, and promote the principles of person-centered care” stated Dr. McNeal, NUNMC Project Director and Associate Vice President for Community Affairs in Health at National University.
The National University Nurse Managed Clinic Program’s Edge Runner profile is available to view on the AAN spotlight page.
The American Academy of Nursing (www.AANnet.org) serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 2,700 Fellows, the Academy represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia.
National University (nu.edu) founded in 1971, is among the largest, private, nonprofit universities in California. With more than 230,000 alumni, National University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of students through its three Colleges: Sanford College of Education, College of Law and Public Service, and College of Letters and Sciences. Programs are offered both online and at campuses throughout California and Nevada. National University is headquartered in La Jolla, California.
Acknowledgement: The grant funded project referenced in this press release was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UD7HP28533, NEPQR-IPCP for $1,549,656, and is supplemented with 53% of nongovernmental sources, including in-kind support. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
Source: American Academy of Nursing
1McNeal, GJ. (2019). Implementing interprofessional team-based training for diverse student populations using a person-centered conceptual framework. The ABNF Journal, 30:4, 96-108.
2Harrison, J., Frampton, S., McNeal, GJ., Todorova, E., Wahl, C., & Kreiger, J. (2019) Rethinking education from the patients’ perspective. The ABNF Journal, 30:3, 65-73.
3McNeal, GJ., Finney, A., Humbles, P., McKeehan-Campbell, I., Williams, A., & Peralta, A. (2019). Applying person-centered principles in the design and implementation of a virtual nurse managed clinic. The ABNF Journal, 30:3, 81-89
4McNeal, GJ. (2018). “Bringing health services straight to the people”. IN AARP Public Policy Institute’s Culture of Health Initiative. (Ed.) Reinhard, S. Washington, DC: Association of Retired Persons. pg 10. https://www.aarp.org/ppi/info-2017/cultivating-a-culture-of-health-leaders-transforming-their-communities.html