Sheila Leen, a nurse at the Flying Food Group Health Clinic at O'Hare Airport, highlighted the comprehensive healthcare and wellness services provided by Rush College of Nursing to Flying Food Group employees. She emphasized personalized care in her statement to Business Daily.
"The mission of Rush University College of Nursing is to integrate nursing practice, scholarship, and education throughout the diverse communities we serve and to boldly lead health care transformation to ensure health equity across the continuum of care," said Leen, Nurse at O'Hare Airport. "We consider the entire person, which includes past family history, personal history, exposures, and immunizations, and the patient's own goals and resources. These considerations factor into realistic management plans for our patients. We also have consistent access to certified medical interpreting services."
According to Leen, Rush University College of Nursing plays a crucial role in delivering healthcare services through on-site care at a dedicated clinic. "Two nurse practitioners from Rush University College of Nursing staff the FFG clinic. Our faculty APRNs provide clinical training to nurse practitioner students, teach classes at Rush, and also work in other Rush College of Nursing community clinics." The services offered include chronic disease management, urgent care, and preventative screenings, facilitating essential healthcare access directly at the workplace.
Employee feedback indicates that the clinic's services are significantly beneficial. "An employee recently told us that the Rush Flying Food Group clinic was 'the best part of working at Flying Food,'" Leen said. While patient stories remain confidential, she noted improvements in chronic conditions and detection of overlooked infections. "We have certainly improved blood pressures, blood sugars and even identified infections from other nations that people did not realize were causing suffering." The clinic ensures accessibility with medical interpreting services for all employees.
Leen said that Rush College of Nursing hosted a wellness event on April 8 focused on stress management, particularly supporting recently immigrated employees. Organizers were motivated by an increase in stress-related symptoms among workers who had left family behind to start new lives. With mental health experts from its academic health system, the college aims to offer tools for reducing stress and promoting emotional well-being culturally sensitively.
The FFG clinic at Chicago O’Hare International Airport provides comprehensive medical services within the company’s catering facility. Staffed by nurse practitioners from Rush University College of Nursing and supported by nursing students, it addresses both chronic and acute conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and respiratory infections. Preventive services like flu vaccinations and health screenings are also available. Serving approximately 2,000 patient visits annually, the clinic has been instrumental in improving employee health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
According to the Rush website, Sheila Leen is an instructor in the Department of Academic Practice Nursing at Rush University and provides care through the RUSH Flying Food Group and St. Leonard's Ministries Health Clinics.