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Show ; fc t r I lr 8 "1 . .. ' - - New community clinic staff member Susan Andersen encourages women to learn more about their health. l; , photo by Nan Chalat J Health educator joins I P C. Community Clinic bv Nan Chalat ! Susan Andersen was recently hired as the new health educator at the Park City Community Clinic. She has a master's degree in health education from the University of Utah, where she concentrated on alcohol and drugs and women's health, she said. Anderson replaces Ruth Gezelius in the position. "We had close to 40 applicants," said clinic director Diana Maxwell, who added that Andersen's experience exper-ience will allow the clinic to emphasize public outreach more than it has in the past. Andersen previously worked for the Utah State Department of Health in health promotion and risk reduction. She helped to organize the Healthy Utah workshops for state employees. She hopes to begin similar workshops on women's health in Park City. "There is a great need for family planning services in this area," said Andersen, who plans to begin assessing the needs of the community com-munity and promoting the services offered at the Park City Community Clinic. Her responsibilities also will include taking patient medical histories. "Women have a lot of concerns about the different methods of contraception and their consequences. conse-quences. They want help in determining which is best for them," said Andersen. "There is a need for women to learn more about themselves and their health. It is so important. Reproduction is an especially big issue, one women have to deal with for many years of their lives." Andersen said the workshops will deal with everything from how to communicate with a health provider to being in control of your life. "It is far better to be knowledgeable about ourselves than to leave our health in someone else's hands." . -. Andersen joins staff member Sandra McCormick, the clinic's secretarybookkeeper. Maxell, a nurse practitioner, can diagnose and prescribe for 98 v percent of the cases she sees at the clinic. For the two percent of cases which are more complicated the clinic retains a physician on contract, Maxell said. ! 6Ui |
