Augsburg’s Health Commons sites are faculty-led, drop-in centers organized by nursing and physician associate faculty members, volunteers, students, and community members. The Commons are spaces that support relationship-building, connect people from diverse backgrounds, and provide resources. We are not a clinic, nor is there a fee-for-service. Unlike many shelters and organizations, we do not require ID cards, and we welcome new visitors each time.
We believe that health is a journey that emphasizes belonging, finds strength in survival, and de-emphasizes the expert model. Our care practice is embedded in transcultural nursing principles. Our mission is to intentionally honor the dignity of all our participants and reduce stereotypes in our healthcare system. There are no experts or hierarchies in place, but a community of people who care. All are welcome, and simple acts of hospitality are at the core of what we do.
Barriers to health affect our local and global communities in deep ways, embedded in historical context and social norms that need to be dismantled to focus on creating a healthier and more peaceful world. Nursing and Physician Assistant members and students from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ led, organized, and participated in the Health Commons in hopes of creating changes in our healthcare system to honor the wisdom of all people as they seek to reduce bias, increase compassion-based care, and discover what it means to be a citizen nurse.
HISTORY OF THE HEALTH COMMONS
The Augsburg Central Health Commons was founded in 1992 (previously called the Nursing Center). The Health Commons has allowed faculty and students from the Nursing Department at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ to become involved in community-based practice. Through the years, Augsburg nurses have met community members who have welcomed their service. In the relationships that have developed, we continue to experience the mutuality of health–when someone grows stronger, that strength helps everyone in the community. Since its opening, the Health Commons has been supported by donations of both time and supplies from people of many backgrounds who want to help. The original partners continue to support the Commons, and we are working with our PA Program to assist in its operation and expand our outreach to help teach students through independent practice and community engagement.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to provide simple supplies and services needed for health, to make connections to new ideas, to link individuals and resources in the community, and to make connections to each other. Our nursing practice at the Health Commons is founded on hospitality and relationship development that lead to transcultural understanding and health benefits for all participants. We are dedicated to building relationships based on mutual benefit and understanding with those who utilize our space.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
The people who come to the Health Commons are from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Everyone is welcome, and all services are provided free of charge. Health concerns might include blood pressure, nutrition, medication, social isolation, minor injuries, or chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Frequently, people with these problems come to the Health Commons for its easy access, supportive environment, and assistance connecting to other healthcare resources.