The USF Health College of Nursing has made history by collaborating with Port Tampa Bay to establish the world's first on-site, nurse-managed clinic at a port. The college will operate the Port of Tampa Seafarers Center Clinic, which will provide essential health care services to thousands of seafarers who visit the port each year, as well as to the maritime community and its workers.
Seafarers, who are international maritime workers aboard cargo and cruise ships, often face challenges in accessing reliable health care due to their extended time at sea. The clinic will offer routine primary care, treatment for common acute and chronic health issues, point-of-care tests, DOT physicals, and immunizations for seafarers and Port Tampa Bay employees.
Additionally, the clinic will serve as a valuable training site for nursing students, where they will learn from expert faculty how to identify and integrate social determinants of health into patient care plans. This groundbreaking initiative aims to improve the health and well-being of seafarers and the maritime community while providing unique learning opportunities for future nurses.