LCMS serves the community through a variety of programs and services.
Projects/Programs initiated or supported by LCMS:
LCMS has had a long history of community involvement. Listed below are just a few of these community projects/programs.
- Lincoln Family Practice Residency Program
LCMS members were instrumental in establishing our local Family Practice Residency Program
- Community Blood Bank
In the 1980’s LCMS members realized the need for a local blood source and established the Community Blood Bank of the Lancaster County Medical Society. Eventually this organization was dissolved and merged with a National Organization and now is called Nebraska Blood Bank.
- Medical Advisory Committee for the Lincoln Public Schools [LPS]
This committee is still in place for LPS. They have 4-5 local physicians who provide guidance on school medical protocols.
- School-Community Intervention Program (SCIP)
This program, designed to create an intervention process for drugs and alcohol abuse in schools was started with the support of LCMS physicians. The program is still active in all Lincoln area schools.
- Community Health Endowment of Lincoln
LCMS members served on the board to help establish this endowment from sale of Lincoln General Hospital. This endowment has had a significant impact on our community. The bylaws allow only the funding of health related programs and projects in Lancaster County.
- Establishment of People’s Health Center
This was a very comprehensive collaboration and took almost a year of meetings to submit an application to the Federal Government for consideration. It was accepted and in September 2003-Peoples Health Center, now known as Bluestem Health was established. Currently there are 5 Bluestem locations across the city. They receive federal funds to serve the uninsured and underinsured on a sliding fee. They also serve a large number of Medicaid patients, which is helpful as access to new Medicaid patients remain limited.
- Indoor Smoke Free Ordinance
LCMS established a committee of physicians to promote an ordinance that would protect citizens from the health hazards of second hand smoke. The committee contacted the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department leadership, who then established a city wide collaboration. After a great deal of education and testifying before the City Council and County Commissioners, Lincoln successfully passed the Clean Air Ordinance that prohibited smoking in public areas. Several years later LCMS worked with NMA to help establish this throughout the State of Nebraska.
- EMS, Inc.- Independent Medical Oversight for pre-hospital care in Lancaster County
This was the replacement for the Medical Advisory Board to provide medical oversight and direction for our pre-hospital providers. This remains active today.
- AED Community Coalition
In collaboration with the hospitals and various community organizations LCMS helped raised money to place AED’s throughout the community in public areas. AED’s were place in all high schools, middle schools, government buildings and a variety of human services organizations. LCMS Foundation helped fund this project.
- Minority Health
This program was a community coalition funded by a grant from the State Minority Health Division. LMCS received money for medications and translation. This allowed us to establish an interpretation service for our offices.
- COVID-19 Community Coalition
LCMS staff and members worked closely with other community health care partners to address the COVID-19 pandemic. This included assisting with mass vaccination clinics and community awareness campaigns.
