Save time and money!

A trip to a primary doctor first for preventative care and non-emergencies may assist with avoiding a trip to an emergency room or urgent care to save you money. In fact, if everybody did this, we would save about $67 billion annually. [1] Primary doctors have many of the same resources to request medical tests as doctors of the emergency room. In addition, you gain a more personalized experience within a shorter time frame. Less time is spent explaining your medical background to a primary physician, leaving more time to focus on your present health concerns.

Get Specialist Referrals & Recommendations

We can think of the primary doctor’s office as a hotspot where we can go to get treated or connected to a specialist, via a referral or recommendation. If the doctor believes specific care and attention is necessary, they may assist you with finding a specialist. This courtesy is helpful as the doctor’s office most often has established a working relationship with the specialist to whom they’re referring you to, and you don’t have the burden of searching for specialists your own. In 2009, “Patient complaints that lead to the most referrals are related to vision (21 percent), gynecological (18 percent), gastrointestinal (18 percent), orthopedic (16 percent), dermatological (15 percent), and cardiovascular (15 percent).” [2]

Keep track of Medical Records

A primary doctor maintains a medical folder just for you! This comes in handy when trying to remember the details of past diagnosis’, test results, procedures, and immunizations. More importantly, you and your doctor can monitor your health throughout the years. Many offices, including HealthNet, have online systems that allow patient access to medical records, lab results, and medicine/prescription records.

Build A Long-Lasting Relationships

As time progresses, you may feel more comfortable consulting with your doctor. Whether it be that your finger feels weird or experiencing intermittent heart palpitations, you can feel free to bring up both minor and major concerns at primary care appointments.

As you go through life, having someone on your side to help advocate for you is beneficial. Make the most of the process by researching the best doctor for you. Check out our Find a Provider database here at HealthNet for updated information and biographies of our amazing primary doctors.

[1] https://www.primarycareprogress.org/primary-care-case/ [2] https://www.3mhisinsideangle.com/blog-post/specialist-referral-primary-care-providers-information-need/

Posted by: Akiliah Walker, Marketing and Communications Intern

To make an appointment with HealthNet Dental please call 317-957-2450. To learn more visit www.indyhealthnet.org.

Posted by: Emily Jump, Marketing and Communications Intern

My name is Katie Kauffman and I am the Social Worker for PACC.

When asked to write this blog post, I was coming out of a tough week (as many of us face in our work) and hopefully can shed some light on the impact not only we as medical providers have, but also the impact our patients have on us.

I have been working as a social worker for over 12 years and have spent at least half of that time here at HealthNet in one capacity or another. I have the privilege now to provide care and support to our most vulnerable population, pediatrics and adolescents at PACC.

In my work we face varying degrees of needs and situations with our patients.  One of the many wonderful things about HealthNet is we often see people from birth, at the start of a new and exciting time in a family’s life, to the toughest of days. Among the increased needs of our patients, the increased caseloads we carry as social workers, the most important part of what I do every day, is stopping and listening.  Coming to this organization every day and checking in with patients, assisting them with referrals to community resources for the most basic of needs, to sharing a laugh or a struggle with a co-worker is a most humbling experience and one I never take for granted.

Often times the term “social worker” leaves many wondering what that title or role involves. Unfortunately, with that role comes the tough part of my job, the part that no one enjoys. My number one priority is to always be an advocate for my patient. My patients are helpless, innocent children and ensuring their safety and that their basic needs are met is always a focus of mine. Providing resources and connecting patients with outside agencies is a big part of what I do. A number of community agencies we have close working relationships with include, Catholic Charities, The YMCA, and Indiana Legal Services, to name just a few. I also work closely with Department of Children Services and have often been called to court to speak on behalf and advocate for our patient’s needs.

At the core of what we do is care. We also strive to understand where our patients are coming from and providing empathy for the road they are traveling, at whatever stage of life they are in.

Our patients face change and unpredictability on a daily basis. We as medical caregivers and providers at HealthNet can be the one stability for them. That is something I strive to be for the people I serve.

Post by Katie Kauffman

Many people are familiar with the “classic” signs of a heart attack: sudden, crushing chest pain that may feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest, and pain that radiates down your left arm. However, some people may not know that women can experience slightly different heart attack symptoms, too.

Although women can feel severe chest pain or left arm pain or tightness during a heart attack, they may also or instead experience some different symptoms, including:

• A feeling of fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It may be constant, or it may be on and off
• Pain in your jaw, arm, neck, back or stomach
• Feeling short of breath. You may feel short of breath with chest pain, or without chest pain
• Having cold sweat on your body
• Feeling nauseated (sick at your stomach) or vomiting (throwing up)
• Lightheadedness
• Feeling extremely tired
• Fainting

Of these symptoms, the most common ones for women to feel (other than chest pain) are “shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain” (source: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/WarningSignsofaHeartAttack/Heart-Attack-Symptoms-in-Women_UCM_436448_Article.jsp#.VssbaHT2a71).

Sometimes, it might feel too scary to admit to yourself that something serious could be happening. You might try to tell yourself, “I’m just tired” or “I bet it’s just the flu.” However, if you’re a woman and you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, or if a woman in your life is experiencing these symptoms,  especially if you have any history of heart disease, please go the hospital or call 911 right away! During a heart attack, delays in treatment can cause more of your heart muscle to become injured or die. This heart muscle damage or death can cause even more serious health problems. Taking heart attack symptoms seriously is very important for both women and men.

If you’d like more information about heart disease or heart attack, please ask your HealthNet staff or provider for handouts or other information.

Post by Kate Buckley

1. Stick to a schedule.  Try going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, even on weekends.  This will help control your body’s internal clock.  Continuing the schedule through the weekend will help you stay on track through the week.
2. Avoid naps.  They may help you through the day, but this could be causing you to not feel sleepy at night.
3. Use lights to manage your circadian rhythms.  These rhythms are your sleep and wake cycles.  Expose yourself to sunlight in the morning to help yourself wake up.  You could try avoiding bright light in the evenings; such as your smart phone, iPad, or tablet.  These screens are bright enough to reduce your melatonin.  Melatonin is a hormone in your body that helps you fall asleep.
4. Exercise is key!  Exercising can help wear your body down so you can be tired at night.
5. Have a relaxing bedtime routine.  Repeating the same relaxing steps before bed can reduce stress, anxiety, or excitement as you’re trying to fall asleep.  If you choose reading, try to read a book instead of something on a screen.
6. Evaluate the room.  Take a look at your bedroom.  Are there a lot of sounds?  Is there a lot of light? Is your mattress comfortable?  Is your pillow too soft?  All of these things could be affecting your sleep.   You might need to purchase darker curtains, a fan, or even ear plugs!

Derived from The National Sleep Foundation.
https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-tools-tips/healthy-sleep-tips

Indoor

• If a gym membership is too expensive or not a good fit,  there are other places for you to get in some extra steps.  For example, take a friend with you to the mall or a grocery store.  Buying a pedometer (a step counter) might help to keep you moving.  Remember: 2,000 steps is about 1 mile.  Having a friend walk with you can help time pass a little more quickly and you won’t think of it as exercise!
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Look out for sales or coupons for hand weight or resistance (stretch) bands. Once you buy them, you can lift weights or stretch while watching TV or a movie. Stretching can improve your flexibility and increase blood flow to your muscles.
• This may be a great time for you to get involved in your community or at work. See if there are any indoor sports leagues available. Some offer sports such as volleyball, basketball, or soccer.
• Make a rule of not turning on the TV until a certain time. During this time, you could complete some household chores like sweeping, mopping, or doing laundry. All of these things keep you on your feet and your heart pumping!

Outdoor

• You can: rake leaves, visit a pumpkin patch or apple orchard, create an outdoor scavenger hunt, or shovel snow.
• Your pet may be feeling as stuck inside as you are. Head outside for a walk. While you’re walking, think creatively and take pictures of your surroundings.

Staying active during the colder months may not be the easiest thing to do, but it can certainly be done with a little creativity and motivation! Have fun this winter!

Source:
WebMD - http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/quick-tips-staying-active-in-cold-weather-get-started

Now is the time to start getting back to a normal sleep routine. Between sleepovers, camp, and other summer activities, your kids might not have a sleep routine. Having a good sleep routine is important for kids and teens in school to not only keep them healthy and re-energize them, but to help them pay attention in class (1).

Check out the tips below to help get your child’s sleep cycle ready for school!

• Turn off the TV. According to the Sleep Foundation, television and computer use before bedtime can hinder quality sleep (2).

• Set a bedtime. If you child has been staying up too late, set a new bedtime. It may be hard for your body to adjust right away, so start with small changes, such as 15 minutes earlier each day.

• Stop sleeping in on weekends. For most of us, it’s easy to sleep in on the weekend, but it can throw off your normal sleep schedule.

• Get the right amount of hours. School-age children between 7-12 years old are recommended to get 10-11 hours of sleep per day. Children and teens 12-18 years old should get between 8-9 hours. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep (3).

• Be a good role model. Set an example of good sleep habits for your child. If they see that good sleep habits are important to you, it might be easier to get them into a good sleep schedule!

There is always a stigma based around everything, however a lot of times that stigma affects the person more than the actual disease itself.  We often focus on the disease rather than helping out the person.  What does that mean you ask?  If you discover someone you know, love, or care about has been infected with HIV/AIDS virus, what would you do?  Would you create distance between yourself and that person, or would you support them in getting the help they need? Many times, family do not understand how HIV/AIDS work and when they create distance between themselves and their loved one it makes it a lot harder for them to get the help they need.

What is HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus , a blood born virus.  HIV is a virus that causes AIDS, and AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV.  AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

How do you get HIV?
The virus is spread from person to person through blood and unprotected sex, sharing of body fluids; such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk.  The virus can be passed by sharing needles and syringes for people who use drugs.  Using drugs is an important factor in spreading HIV, as drugs and alcohol lower a person’s ability to make decisions and create risk factors for HIV to be spread (2).  In 2001, 30% of Americans had the HIV virus under control, and about 2/3 of that 30% who were diagnosed were no longer in care (3).

What happens when you get HIV?
Our body has white blood cells, also known as CD4 Cells or T cells, which help to keep our immune system strong. Once you are exposed to HIV, the virus has to get into the blood. It then attacks the CD4 Cells and begins repeating and breaks it down. The virus will move onto another healthy CD4 Cell and do the same thing, eventually lowering our immune system’s ability to protect itself.  Once the count of CD4 Cells get below 200, someone is then considered to have AIDS (4).

How does medicine help?
There is medicine for people with HIV/AIDS and if all medicines (usually 3) are taken daily, then that person has a greater chance of leading a “normal” life.   With HIV/AIDS medicine, if you start taking it for a while and then stop for whatever reason, you have to then be started on a new group of medicines, as the old medicine will no longer be effective. No one dies of AIDS, rather they die of pneumonia, cold, flu, etc. as the body can’t protect itself any more.

How can I protect myself against HIV?
You can protect yourself against HIV by limiting the number of sexual partners you have, always using a condom, and never sharing needles.You should also get tested for HIV.

HealthNet’s Family Planning Title X Program offers confidential HIV testing. For more information, click here or call 317-957-2970.

1. https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-hiv-and-aids-us
2. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/behavior/substanceuse.html 
3. http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns
4. http://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/how-hiv-affects-the-body

Post by Bhumi Bhavsar

Copyright: ‘http://www.123rf.com/profile_kreinick / 123RF Stock Photo

According to the Guttmacher Institute, “some 62% of all women of reproductive age are currently using a contraceptive method.” While the pill is one of the most popular forms of birth control, there are many other choices that can be used to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

As with most medicines, there are some risks to using different types of birth control, however there are also many benefits! Many hormonal methods can help with menstrual bleeding and pain, as well as acne. Each type of birth control is different, and may not be the right choice for everyone.

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) are birth control methods that can last multiple years and are easy to use. Unlike sterilization, LARCs are reversible and can be removed at any time if a woman wants to get pregnant. The most common types of LARCs are:

• Nexplanon
• Intrauterine device (IUD)

Nexplanon is a small flexible rod that is placed in the arm by a health care provider. This method can last up to 3 years and prevents pregnancy more than 99% of the time. An IUD is a small device placed inside the uterus by a health care provider. Depending on which type of IUD a woman chooses, it can prevent pregnancy anywhere from 3-10 years. Unlike the pill, neither of these options require you to do anything once they are placed. However, neither of these options protect against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI).

Other popular forms of birth control, that are not long acting are:

• Depo-Provera Shot
• Pills
• Patches
• Vaginal Rings.

The Depo-Provera Shot is a shot that a woman gets at her health center every 3 months. You must get the shot every 3 months to prevent pregnancy. When done correctly, the shot prevents pregnancy more than 97-99% of the time. Birth control pills are taken once a day by mouth. The patch is placed on the body and changed weekly. The vaginal ring is placed by you in your vagina and changed monthly. All of these methods prevent pregnancy 92-99%. Unlike Nexplanon and IUD, these methods require work from the user. If used incorrectly or irregularly, they aren’t as effective in preventing pregnancy. None of these methods protects against STIs.

Condoms are the only type of birth control methods that protect against STIs. They prevent pregnancy 85-98% of the time. Any time you have sex without using a birth control method, you can get pregnant. This is true even if you just had a baby, are breastfeeding or do not have regular periods. If you do not want to be pregnant right now, choose the method that best works for you.

To learn more about birth control options, make an appointment at a HealthNet location near you.

Why did you become a social worker?
I chose to become a social worker because I wanted to have a career where I could make a difference in the lives of individuals and families who are socially and/or economically challenged.  As a social worker, I connect clients to the resources and referrals that will best serve their needs, and help them to become self-sufficient. Social work also enables me to give clients the support that they are in need of, which often gives clients a greater sense of empowerment and the motivation they need to make a positive change in their lives. When I look back, I realize that I was destined to be a social worker. It was a part of me all along, and my calling from God. Once I choose to walk into my calling, everything fell in line.

What can you assist families or individuals with?
The social work team assists families, individuals, children and elderly adults with a variety of resources and referral sources that will best serve their needs. Some of these include, but are not limited to the following:

• food pantries
• homeless and domestic violence shelters
• utility assistance, clothing and furniture
• childcare
• elderly resources
• medication assistance
• Marketplace insurance
• High School Equivalency classes

We also refer pregnant women or new moms to HealthNet’s Healthy Families Program who can assist them with car seats, cribs, baby clothes, supplies and support. The social work team also assists clients with transportation for doctor appointments through our cab and bus ticket program. We also utilize and promote other HealthNet programs, such as our Medical-Legal Partnership and Best Father Program.

What is the most satisfying part of your job?
The most satisfying part of my job is when clients follow through and utilize the resources and referrals sources that I provide them with. Another very satisfying part of my job is when I have clients who for no special reason at all ask to see me just so they can talk for a few minutes and thank me for the help and support I have showed them.

To learn more about HealthNet Social Work department, visit www.indyhealthnet.org.