The North Louisiana Farm Workers Health Project
An Introduction
Agriculture, since long before the inception of the state of Louisiana, has been an integral part of our region’s economy, culture, and very essence. Even in today’s increasingly seamless and high tech global economy, the crops of north Louisiana keep our communities bonded, and our citizens grounded to the same land and values of our forbearers. As we enter a new millennium, we hope to keep these traditions alive with along with the knowledge and sense of community that our forbearers have passed down. At the center of this agricultural cycle is a diverse group of farm workers whose labor allows this tradition to continue year after year. The descendants of English, Scottish, German, Irish, the Acadian French, African American slaves, and more recently migrant workers from Central and South America, all labor in this region, contributing to its economy and community.
While the hard work and values of our farm workers have remained over the generations, something else has also remained. We continue to live in one of the most medically underserved regions in the United States. Included in this medically underserved population are the farm workers at the heart of our community. These farm workers often do not have the knowledge regarding how to obtain medical care and cannot afford to see a physician or miss the day of work required to bring their family member or themselves to attend a physician’s appointment. By starting a clinic that will serve these farm workers, the North Louisiana Farm Workers Health Project hopes to overcome some of these obstacles that prevent these individuals from receiving the health care they deserve.
What does this project entail?
For 8-10 consecutive Saturdays in the harvesting season of March and April, 3-5 physicians from various specialties, and 8-10 medical students, nurses, translators, and allied health professionals will go to farms around north Louisiana and providing basic primary care to farm workers. Many of the local farmer owners have offered us structures (barns, trailers, etc.) in which to conduct these clinics. If there is not a structure, we will bring tents. We will treat common ailments that are manageable in a mobile health care setting such as skin rashes, hypertension, diabetes, dehydration, and infections. We hope to prevent these mild conditions from progressing into more dangerous conditions. In the case that we do find individuals with emergent conditions, we have received permission from the administrators at LSUHSC to have these patients sent to one of the north Louisiana charity hospitals in Shreveport or Monroe for more comprehensive care.
We will provide a basic system of documentation. This will benefit both the caregiver and the patient. We will give the patient a copy for their own knowledge, as well as any future interactions he/she has with us or other health care workers. We will maintain a copy for ourselves in the case of future interactions with the patient. We will also maintain a copy so we can document the types of illnesses we are seeing for future planning of the clinic as well as epidemiologic purposes. We will provide a contact number at our institution should the farm worker have questions regarding the health care instructions he/she received
This project will provide an incredible educational experience for medical students who will have an opportunity to interact with patients and our professors in an atmosphere that is wholly unique from the typical learning experience. As there is an increase in the need for our services, more physicians, students, and other allied health professionals will become involved.
Is there a need for a project like this?
Absolutely…We have spoken with a number of farmers in north Louisiana who have expressed a strong desire for us to come to their farms and provide basic medical care to their workers. Many of these farmers employ up to 50 or more workers, many of who receive little or no medical care. This basic primary care will benefit the individual and potentially preventing serious future health complications. Through this inexpensive prophylactic care and education, we have the potential to prevent more serious complications that may require extended and expensive hospitalizations. These hospitalizations can cost the individual and the state an exorbitant yet avoidable amount of money.
Will you treat the farm workers families?
Yes… Our goal is to also treat the immediate family of the farm worker. In addition to treating common ailments listed above, we will provide services including pregnancy tests and well child exams. Again, we can provide a level of medical care that these individuals would otherwise not receive, potentially preventing future medical complications. We have received a commitment of childhood vaccinations from our pediatrics department, the benefit of which is incalculable. This will be particularly beneficial to the children of migrant farm workers, whose native countries often have no or poorly implemented vaccination programs. This helps prevent potentially serious disease in the individuals receiving the vaccination as well helps prevent outbreaks in our schools and communities.
How Will This Project Be Funded?
From many different sources… We have received permission from our hospital administrators for the use of basic supplies including syringes, gloves, patient gowns, tongue depressors.. We are also in the course of discussing the donation of basic machines such as glucometers, blood pressure cuffs, and EKG machines from medical supply companies. A major activity of our clinic will be prescribing and administering medications. We are currently in the process of arranging the acquisition of drug samples as well as contacting pharmaceutical companies for donations. We will, whenever possible, prescribe medicines on the $4 formulary available at Wal-Mart and Target. These stores do not require citizenship to fill these prescriptions, an allowance that will greatly benefit the migrant population we are treating. The success of this clinic also relies on the monetary donations for the purchase of basic supplies. Frequently the ailments afflicting the farm workers can be managed with over the counter supplies from a Wal-Mart or a grocery store: dry cotton socks and antifungal creams to prevent potentially crippling fungal infections, sunglasses and hats to prevent sun damage to the eyes, toothpaste and toothbrushes for dental health, and analgesics for the aches and pains involved with strenuous manual labor. The sources of these donations will include non-profit organizations, and individual donors.
What Are Your Immediate and Long Term Goals?
Ultimately, we would like to see a self-sustaining program that returns year after year. We would like to see a program that treats an increasing number of farm workers each year. We would like to see a program that goes to not only farms, but factories and other places employing medically underserved people. We would like to see a program that treats a broader range of ailments. All of these hopes for meeting the immediate and the future goals are predicated on the enthusiasm and time commitment of the individuals at our medical institution. Equally important to the meeting of these goals is the availability of donations from companies, organizations, and individuals. We can promise the enthusiasm and time commitment from our institution. The donations will have to come from those who understand the importance of agriculture and farm workers as a positive binding force in our community.
Are There Programs Like This Elsewhere in the United States?
Yes…Many medical institutions around the United States, including University of Connecticut, Syracuse and Emory, have implemented programs like this with incredible success. The program at Emory began treating 150 farm workers in its first year in 1996. Their program treated over 1400 workers in 2006! These schools’ show this program can work. We have been in touch with the individuals who direct these other programs. They have been helpful and gracious in answering our questions regarding getting a program like this started at our institution. They also reiterated the importance of the generosity of private donors in their success.
Providing health care to the farm workers of our region is encompassed within the mission statement of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center; to provide health care to those within our borders regardless of race, gender, nationality, age, or any other classification. This project has received resounding support from LSUHSC-Shreveport administrators and physicians, many of whom will oversee patient care, financial and logistical issues, and education of the medical students. Additionally, farmers and other financial contributors have shown incredible enthusiasm regarding this project. We hope that the information above inspires enthusiasm in you and your organization.
