Consider that:

• $25 assists patients with emergency medical needs such as medications, food, shelter or transportation to and from medical offices.
• $50 helps children ages 6 months through 5 years receive a brand new book at every well-child check-up through HealthNet’s Reach Out and Read Literacy Program.
• $75 helps provide interview clothing and bus passes for at-risk, first-time fathers learning to care for their families through HealthNet’s Best Father Program.
• $100 gives HealthNet the ability to use your donation for the programs and people that need it most urgently.
• $500 helps provide services through the Healthy Families Program that teach and encourage the skills that make a family work.
• $1,000 provides tuition for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training and CNA certification for a Homeless Initiative Program client.

Last year, HealthNet served more than 59,286 individuals in the Indianapolis area. With your help, we can do even more in 2016.

Any gift, large or small, will make a difference in our ability to put our patients’ needs first as we provide the very highest standard of care in a community-based environment.

Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation online.

As the holiday season approaches, many of us are busy making lists of last minute ingredients we need to get for Thanksgiving dinner and preparing for the holidays. But imagine if instead of making a list of ingredients for your famous Thanksgiving pie, you were trying to find a way to buy the medicine for your sick child. For hundreds of Indianapolis residents, this is an everyday occurrence.

We are so grateful for all of our donors who donate to us each year, and hope you will consider joining them. Whether your gift is large or small, every penny makes a difference in the lives of our patients.

• $__ Any amount will help us raise $150,000 by December 31, 2013 to add 5 much-needed exam rooms and a procedure room for Women’s Health Services at HealthNet West Health Center.
• $25 provides patients with emergency medical needs such as medications, food, shelter, or transportation to and from medical offices.
• $50 helps build literacy by providing books, volunteer readers and child-friendly waiting areas for HealthNet’s Reach Out and Reach Program. Children ages 6 months to 5 years receive a brand new, age appropriate book at each well-child visit.
• $100 gives HealthNet the ability to use your donation for the programs and people who need it most urgently. What a wonderful way to reach out to others with the gifts of hope!
• $500 helps provide services through our Better Indy Babies & Healthy Families Programs that teach and encourage the skills that make a family work.
• $1000 provides tuition for a Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) training and certification for someone in the Homeless Initiative Program.

You can put your gift to work even faster by giving online now by clicking here. To donate by phone, please call 317-957-2018. To donate by check, please send to HealthNet, Inc. Attn: Kay Johnson, 3403 E. Raymond St., Indianapolis, IN 46203.

On behalf of us all here at HealthNet, thank you for your generosity and continuous support. 

Did you know that 5.3 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s? In honor of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, HealthNet Behavioral Health Provider, Bhumi Bhavsar, discusses the importance of caregivers as well as dealing with a family member suffering from dementia.

http://www.alz.org/

What is Alzheimer’s? 

Dementia has a group of symptoms:  most prominent is difficulty with memory, along with problems in one of the following areas as well: cognitive functioning, including language, attention, problem solving, spatial skills, judgment, planning, or organization.  There are many causes of dementia, some causes can be irreversible, which means if the cause of dementia is found, than the person can return to normal functioning.  However, most causes of dementia are not reversible and can be progressive over time.  One of the most common causes of dementia is Alzheimer’s, which accounts for about 70-80% of dementia cases.  November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.  But do we all know what that means?  It is a disease related to loss of one’s memory, thinking, and behavior.  Over time it is a disease that gets worse.  There are various stages of Alzheimer’s, which accompanies with it a set of symptoms at each progressive stage.  Click here for more information on symptoms at each stage.

Do you know someone who has Alzheimer’s or are a caregiver?

It is a particularly sad disease to see your loved ones suffering from this.  A young person once told me how it is hard for them to see their loved one in such a manner, as it makes them sad knowing they will never have the same conversations they once used to.  I recall during my undergraduate years, working on a unit with people having dementia and Alzheimer’s – it pulled at my heart strings daily. Every time I saw family coming to visit their loved ones and they didn’t recognize them or would hit them and be mean to them, it was hard.  Family would share how their loved one was once so accomplished or had so many skills.

If you are a caregiver of someone that has Alzheimer’s, it is very important to take some time out to take care of yourself as well in the process.  You may be experiencing a lot of emotions yourself, ranging anywhere from guilt, anger, frustration, and depression.  Make sure you ask your loved one’s doctor, social worker, etc all the questions you need to ask.  There are support groups out there to get the necessary emotional support for yourself as well.

If you’d like to make an appointment to speak with a Behavioral Health Provider, or for more information, please visit www.indyhealthnet.org. 

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we decided to debunk the most common myths about mammograms.

1. Mammograms are only necessary once you turn 40.
   False! If your family has a history of breast cancer, talk to your doctor. Your doctor might recommend that you have a mammogram done earlier than you expected.
2. I check myself regularly and have never found a lump. I don’t need a mammogram.
   Just because you don’t feel anything, doesn’t mean that nothing is there. While it is common that a woman might find a lump if she has breast cancer, this isn’t always the case. You can’t be sure unless you get checked.
3. If a mammogram comes out abnormal, it’s a death sentence.
   We can’t say disagree enough! Early detection saves lives and the sooner you find out, the more you can do to fight!
4. Mammograms are painful.
   Although there is some discomfort associated with mammograms, the exam doesn’t take very long and the discomfort is gone after the exam is finished. It’s a small price to pay to know your status.

At HealthNet, providing life-saving mammogram screenings is vital to ensuring our patients are getting the best care possible – regardless of their ability to pay.

To find a HealthNet location near you, click here. If you’d like to schedule a mammogram, or learn more, please call us at 317-957-2000 or visit us online at www.indyhealthnet.org.

Just $25 provides coverage for an Indianapolis woman in need of a mammogram. Click here to help.

Each drive is different…Whether it is an office chili cook-off, a coat drive, or a collection of monetary donations, it is exciting to so many creative groups helping out others during the holiday season.

The IU Health  Affinity groups had their own idea for a Holiday Helpings drive that, fortunately and gratefully, we were the beneficiary.  This drive was different, not in the way the donations were collected but in the way they were given.

When we went to pick up the donated items, the expectation was to drop by, load up and express our great thanks for these groups’ continued support for the 3rd year in a row.  However, when we arrived, the Affinity groups had a different plan in mind.

We were warmly greeted, asked to speak to the Affinity groups about our Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs (the specific programs that benefited from the drive), and then we had the opportunity to talk with many of the group members.

This experience went above
and beyond!

The groups’ willingness to learn more about these programs gave a sense of partnership, rather than just giving and receiving.

We appreciate EVERYTHING that the IU Health Affinity groups did for the Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs this year.  We are very grateful for the generosity shown, and the willingness to go beyond giving donations and wanting to learn more about how their donations will help!

It’s NOT Too Late! You can still hold a Holiday Helpings Drive!!

The needs are still great. Many holiday assistance programs have exhausted their resources – yet families in our programs still have needs.

Whether it’s the quick donation of a gift card or asking everyone who comes to your house for a holiday dinner to bring warm gloves for the homeless, you can learn why a Holiday Helpings Drive is vital to furthering the HealthNet mission and what is on our Holiday Wish List!

All of our BIBs & Healthy Families participants along with the homeless individuals served by our Homeless Initiative Program will need help beyond just the holiday season.  You can contact us about running your own drive by calling – 317-781-4918, every little bit helps!

This dry heat and lack of humidity keep temperatures up, and we unfortunately have heard of a couple cases where the heat has caused major harm and even death to children.

Just this past Saturday, a 4-month-old girl passed away after being left alone in a car, and the same day a 16-month-old girl was rushed to the hospital after her mother left her alone for an hour in a car that turned out to be at an estimated 124 degrees on the inside.

Since it is Give A Care About Kids month here on our GiveACareIndy blog, I think it is only right to address and inform about these situations.

A recent article done online at IndyStar.com talked about how quickly your car can heat up on an 80 degree day.  Check out the picture below:

photo attributed to Stephen J. Beard

There are many factors that go into how quickly your car can heat up, but this chart is still startling.

In just 10 minutes… your car can reach 99 degrees on an 80 degree day.

In 20 minutes… you are looking at almost 110 degrees inside of your car.

Here is a short video as well to give you a visual on just how hot your car can get on a NORMAL temperatured day:

The temperatures hear in Indy will drop.  We all know it can’t stay like this forever, but even as temperatures cool down, your car can just as easily heat up.  Make sure to take a look before you leave! The two cases that happened over the weekend DEFINITELY are the exception, but I’m sure this thought has been in the back of many parents’ minds:

I’m just running in and out. Tommy can look after his little sister for a few minutes.

Heat is a powerful thing.  Make sure you take the proper precautions and keep your children safe.

Share this post with parents that you know! The statistics are startling when you think about it.

As 2011 draws to a close, we wanted to share a letter from HealthNet President/CEO Booker Thomas that appeared in yesterday’s e-newsletter:

Dear Friends of HealthNet,

Every year, hundreds of individuals make donations that help HealthNet fulfill its mission of caring for the community. We hope you will join them and make a gift to HealthNet this holiday season.

Consider that:

• $50 helps School-based Services provide students with a personal care hygiene kit filled with items they may not have at home.
• $100 provides 2 weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy for a patient without insurance through Health Promotions.
• $200 helps a family struggling with a rent or mortgage payment through Social Services.
• $200 provides breast health education and outreach to inner-city neighborhoods in Indianapolis through Mammogram Assistance.
• $500 helps provide services through the Healthy Families Programthat teach and encourage the skills that make a family work. In an area where poverty heightens the normal stresses of parenting and making ends meet, families need a variety of support just to keep it together.
• $1000 provides tuition for Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training and certification for someone in the Homeless Initiative Program.

Any gift, large or small, will make a difference in our ability to put our patients’ needs first as we provide the very highest standard of care in a community-based environment. 
Please click here to make a donation online.

 I also invite you to enjoy the online edition of HealthNet’s 2010-2011 Annual Report. In this easy-to-read format, you can learn more about the expansion, innovation and growth HealthNet has experienced in the past year, as well as read some amazing stories from our patients and clients.

 On behalf of the entire HealthNet family, I thank you in advance and wish you the very best for a happy, healthy 2012!

Booker Thomas, MHA

President/CEO

HealthNet, Inc.

_______________________________________________

Sign up to stay up-to-date on HealthNet happenings in 2012!

Each drive is different…Whether it is an office bake sale, a canned food drive, or a collection of monetary donations, it is fun to see the creativity of groups in accomplishing the goal of helping out others during the holiday season.

The IU Health Women’s and Minority Affinity groups had their own idea for a Holiday Helpings drive that, fortunately and gratefully, we were the beneficiary.  This drive was different, not in the way the donations were collected but in the way they were given.

When we went to pick up the donated items, the expectation was to drop by, load up and express our great thanks for these groups’ continued support for the 2^nd year in a row.  However, when we arrived, the Affinity groups had a different plan in mind.

We were warmly greeted, asked to speak to the Affinity groups about our Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs (the specific programs that benefitted from the drive), and then we had the opportunity to mingle and talk with many of the group members.

This experience went above
and beyond!

flickr photo by stevendepolo

The groups’ willingness to learn more about these programs gave a sense of partnership, a two-way road, rather than just giving and receiving.

One woman from the group even expressed to us just how important the Homeless Initiative Program (HIP) was to her personally. She had been touched by HIP’s efforts to help her own family member out of homelessness.

Another group member was glad to hear stories from our staff.  So much so, that she decided to give Better Indy Babies the proceeds from a Holiday Fundraising Party she had recently held with a group of friends.

We appreciate EVERYTHING that the IU Health Women’s and Minority Affinity groups did for the Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs this year.  We are very grateful for the generosity shown, and the willingness to go beyond giving donations and wanting to learn more about how their donations will help!

You can still hold a Holiday Helpings Drive!!

You can learn why a Holiday Helpings Drive is vital to furthering the HealthNet mission or what is on our Holiday Wish List!  With warm weather lingering, the cold is still to come.  All of our BIBs & Healthy Families participants along with the homeless individuals served by our Homeless Initiative Program will need help beyond just the holiday season.  You can contact us about running your own drive by calling – 317-781-4918, every little bit helps!

This week we ventured over to collect dozens and dozens of NEW toys, stuffed animals, books and MUCH MORE! They had even collected donations and had a bake sale to raise additional funds for our families being served by HealthNet’s Better Indy Babies and Healthy Families programs. They raised over $700 that will go into an emergency fund so our case workers can provide food, clothing, heating assistance, and even those last minute Christmas items for a child who otherwise would not be getting anything.

When I contacted them over at BIBs/HF…here was their response….

“Wow, that is great!!!  We have been scraping the barrel
to try to get things at the last minute for families.
This is such great news!” -Denise Kaspar

“We have so many patients that were turned away from United Christmas Service and all the other resources have met their deadline. So donations like these are some family’s last resort. I already have 15 referrals for today and many, many phone calls.  I am going to load the cart up in my truck and I will be over very soon. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!  I just love the magic of Christmas” – Benita Mullins

MANY, MANY THANKS to the staff at Regenstrief Institute – you truly made a difference in the life of a child this holiday season!!

There is still time to help!!

You can learn why a Holiday Helpings Drive is vital to furthering the HealthNet mission or what is on our Holiday Wish List!  With warm weather lingering, the cold is still to come.  All of our BIBs & Healthy Families participants along with the homeless individuals served by our Homeless Initiative Program will need help beyond just the holiday season.  You can contact us about running your own drive by calling – 317-781-4918, every little bit helps!

At a time when health centers are seeing ever increasing demand for their services in rural and urban communities across the country, we are grateful that Congress has responded with this bipartisan bill which begins to address that need!
– Tom Van Coverden, President & CEO of NACHC.

Congress passed the
2012 Omnibus Appropriations Act!

But what is even more exciting than them actually passing it, is that the Health Centers Program will be funded at $2.78 billion!  Totaling an increase of $200 million.

With only 12 days left until 2012, this is great news to hear.  Not only will all current federal funding be kept for current health centers, but the funding increase will allow greater access to health care for more than 1.5 million additional Americans.

Outside look of NEW Barrington... set to open - March 2012

An interesting tidbit from NACHC’s press release – An estimated 60 million Americans — many of whom have health insurance — do not have access to primary medical care because of a shortage of providers in their communities.

HealthNet has benefitted from federal funding in the past, as we have been able to open doors to a new Southwest Health & Dental Center, a new People’s Health & Dental Center, and our Eastside Health Center, as well as build a new Barrington set to open early in 2012.

This maintaining of federal funding ensures us the ability to continue to provide primary and preventative care to Hoosiers in Marion County and look to the future of possible expansion into areas where health care is still a need.  As said above and in NACHC’s statement, many citizens HAVE health insurance but are simply UNABLE to access care.

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Grassroots advocacy DOES WORK, even with a down economy and political tension in the air. 
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Enjoy your holiday season, but be sure to join us in picking up where we left off once we turn the corner into 2012 and an electoral year!