UniUniversity City East (UCE) is a community development, not- for-profit charitable organization dedicated to creating a healthy community. The goal of UCE is to create a healthier, stronger community by developing a "vision" and strategy for the future of eastern University City and by implementing our action plans, as developed in the UCE 1999 Community Plan, to positively impact community development, programs and services that serve the community and reflect the will and needs of the residents. UCE has become a resource for capacity building and community outreach throughout all of University City.
A key phrase circulating throughout the broader community indicates that,
"If it's good for UCE, it's good for University City."
The University City East Mission Statement promotes:
- neighborhoods that are welcoming, clean, orderly and safe;
- accessibility of comprehensive, effective community services;
- strong local economy;
- excellence in education;
- opportunities and respect for youth and senior citizens;
- partnerships with neighboring communities and the metropolitan area;
- diversity of races, cultures, beliefs, traditions, economics and life styles;
- citizen responsibility, action, and optimism about the problem solving process;
- justice, fairness and dignity of the individual.
Currently there are five (5) UCE Action Committees: Business & Transportation, Health, Politics & Citizen Action, Senior Issues and Youth. Issues addressed by these committees include: accessible healthcare and preventative health education programs for people of all ages, especially for those who are under- or uninsured in the community; seamless, year-round youth programming that is free and accessible to all youth with a strong connection to the school district efforts to raise student achievement; increased voter-registration, voter turn-out and citizen involvement in the political process that can positively impact their immediate neighborhoods and community; residential, business, transportation and economic development awareness to increase services that impact a healthy community. Learn more about UCE initiatives at web site
http://ucityeast.com.
The Health Committee has continued to offer free monthly Health Protection & Education Services (HPES) at the University City Public Library on the fourth Saturday of each month from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Currently more than 70 people are screened at each 2-hour session for height and weight, vision, hearing, blood lead, blood pressure, urinalysis, stool exam, EKG, PSA (men over 35), cholesterol, blood sugar, hemoglobin, lung function, mental health screenings, physical exams for youth (call UCE Health Educator at 721-6133 to set an appointment), and more!
This fall the HPES administered 100 flu shots and 24 mammography exams in addition to the regular screenings. A patient education handbook has been developed for more than 100 clients to document their medical histories and to educate patients about maintaining their good health.
New volunteer groups include the Washington University Ligget/Koenig Residential College and the Tzi Chu Foundation to translate for clients who do not speak English and to escort them through the health screenings while explaining the procedures and translating questions and answers between healthcare professionals and clients.
 
Special thanks to the St. Louis American and the
St. Louis Chinese America News for the success of their promotions of the HPES!
Funding was acquired to hire a professional health educator/advocate to coordinate the monthly screenings. Pamela Colson, R.N., came on board in July 2002 and has made significant improvements to the quality of the monthly screenings, the organization of the volunteers, the development of patient educational materials, and the tracking system for each client and their tests results. The Health Committee is working to address the community health care services and needs by providing education, visibility and accessibility at our monthly FREE Health Protection & Education Services (HPES). We are targeting people of all ages with health education, follow-up service and development of personal health histories.
HPES offers an opportunity for participants to discuss personal health concerns with a physician and other health professionals. After their screenings are completed, clients are invited to have refreshments and to sit down with a physician to review the results and to discuss personal health concerns. At all times during the Health Protection Service hours, there are 2 or 3 physicians available for clients to consult. We continue to stress that HPS clients are free to discuss their health concerns with a physician, even if they do not wish to participate in any of the screenings.
HPES has a system that allows referral of screened patients to a free medical clinic. Clients who need follow-up are referred to their own physician or to one of the city or county clinics. At least two St Louis health care institutions have agreed to accept patient referrals from the HPES, even if patients do not have health insurance.
The Health Committee adopted the Youth Leadership Committee as a subcommittee to further address the needs of youth in the community to keep them healthy, safe and positively engaged year-round. Award of the Healthy Kids at Play grant to UCE from Children's Hospital will result in new playgrounds at Pershing Elementary School, a health mobile that visits the schools and performs health screenings on site, and "safety town" to teach young people about their personal safety in an urban setting. For more information about the HKAP initiative in University City East, please see the Healthy Kids at Play Fact Sheet link: http://www.slch.org/articles/media.asp?ID=766
University City East FREE Monthly Health Protection and Education Services (HPES)
U. CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 6701 Delmar Boulevard (auditorium, 2nd floor), U. City, MO
Now every 4th Saturday of the month, 9:00am - 11:00am:
NO HPES in December 2002
2003 Dates: January 25, February 22, March 22, April 26, June 28 (NO HPES in May 2003.)
Come and have a conversation-consultation with a doctor about ANY health problem. This is a chance to talk and get unhurried personal advice. You can choose to have or NOT to have any or all of the screening tests. QUICK, PAINLESS and FREE - all you need to do is SHOW UP! NO APPOINTMENT! People of all ages are welcome!
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