Grace and Joia conducted several projects for the clinic; first, they conducted a sleep study to understand the needs of the participants when it came to sleep education. They also worked with the clinic staff to improve the system for filling prescriptions at the clinic. When a new piece of lab equipment was purchased, Grace and Joia were the first to be trained, later teaching the clinic staff how to use the new equipment. Throughout the entire year they attended clinic as nurse presenters and recruited and trained future volunteers for the clinic. 

As a result of the program:

• Created a sleep hygiene brochure which will be shared with all new residents at the Changed Lives Christian Center and the Foundry Farm
• Recruited 10 short-term student volunteers from UAB School of Nursing, with one volunteer committing to long-term service
• Developed an information guide and instruction rubric for the piccolo medical equipment device
• Helped improve medication refill times from 5-6 hours to only 2-3 hours per refill session
• Created information sheets on how to procure medications for clinic staff and one on how to use new pill counter for clinic patients

The roles and information Joia and Grace developed are now written up to be shared with anyone else that wants to join the clinic team. There is a 2022-23 ASF project anticipated to build upon Grace and Joia’s project, as well, focusing on increasing medication adherence and growing the patient population. 

“If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain” – Emily Dickinson, shared by Joia Pfeiffer

“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg, shared by Grace Menzies