For Immediate Release

Monday, May 8, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Ipswich Public Health Department Celebrates National Nurses Week

IPSWICH — The Ipswich Public Health Department announces that it will join the American Nurses Association (ANA) this week to celebrate National Nurses Week.

National Nurses Week runs from May 6-12 in honor of Florence Nightingale, whose birthday marks the end of the event.

The Ipswich Public Health Department would especially like to recognize Public Health Nurse Pamela Lara for the important work she does for the community. Though the position is part-time, Lara accomplishes a variety of projects during her time in Ipswich.

Over the past year, Lara held a wellness clinic on the second Wednesday of each month where she offere to assess participants’ blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, weight, auscultation of breath sounds, medications, psycho-social needs and answered health-related questions. She also runs the town’s flu clinic, where in addition to providing vaccines, she also collects data for the town’s emergency preparedness plans. Lara organized the vaccination of 116 residents at last year’s clinic.

Additionally, Lara supported three Polished Dental programs last year, and one this year, advertising the free dental clinic to the community through multiple channels and collaborating with Ipswich Schools to make the program available to all residents.

Lara has also worked with Lahey Health to bring the Slip, Slop, Slap! SunSmart program to Ipswich summer camps, including Summer Quest, YMCA Sports Camp and Appleton Farms Camp. She helped put together and distribute more than 100 kits for the American Cancer Society, which included sunscreen, educational pamphlets, and beach shovels and pails for young campers. She also volunteered for Operation Stand Down to provide foot care to homeless veterans.

In addition to the numerous programs that Lara is responsible for throughout the year, she also attends Public Health Nurse Collaborative meetings, Ipswich School Nurse’s meetings, and meets monthly with public health nurses from neighboring communities.

“We are proud to have someone like Pam working with us,” Director of Public Health Colleen Fermon said. “She is one of the people leading Ipswich towards a healthier future, and we need to recognize how much time and effort she has volunteered for our community.”

The ANA has designated 2017 as the “Year of the Healthy Nurse,” and this year’s theme is “Nursing: the Balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit.” For more information about National Nurses Week, visit the ANA webpage.

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