Our society is becoming so fast paced that we want things to be taken care of quickly and look for instant gratification.  That’s why we all, yes, even I’m guilty of it, go through the drive thru to grab dinner on the go instead of cooking at home.  Have you seen the statics now on obesity in America?  Did you know that more than 2/3 of adult Americans are obese or overweight? Or that about a quarter of 2-5 yr. olds and one-third of school-age children (including adolescents) are overweight or obese in the U.S.?  (Ogden et al., 2014)

When I was reading these facts it was quite a shock to me.  Did you know that obesity is considered a medical illness and that it has its own set of issues that follow with it?  Why is it that we don’t take a few minutes out of our day to cook healthy meals at home?  Why is it that we are okay with eating chips or drinking 48 oz. sodas from the gas station and think that it is sufficient for us and our bodies to function properly?  It seems that we as a society have gotten away from eating our fruits and vegetables that have all the natural nutrients our bodies need on a daily basis.

I attended a conference last year that mentioned, if we just ate healthier and ate our recommended fruits and vegetables, our body would get the necessary dopamine and serotonin naturally that we are looking for in medicines now.  I’ve read numerous articles talking about the unhealthy effects of processed foods on us and our immune system.

So I ask you, is it really worth it to you and your family’s wellness and well-being to go through the drive-thru consistently?  Is it worth adding to or creating medical issues?  What we put into our body affects our moods and irritability.  What we do or do not put into our body also affects our overall well-being and how we function.  If we don’t get the essential vitamins, nutrients and proteins we need, it kurplunks, like a car when it doesn’t get its regular oil changes, tune ups, and gas.

So remember, this year as our New Year’s resolution, let’s all try to eat healthier meals!

For more information on a healthy diet, call your HealthNet health center and ask to make a FREE appointment with our dietician, Karen Gough.

Post by Bhumi Bhavsar

Source:  http://frac.org/initiatives/hunger-and-obesity/obesity-in-the-us/

Immunizations are an excellent way to help keep your child healthy.  Children entering kindergarten need to show proof of having received DTaP and MMRV boosters.  These vaccines help protect against whooping cough, measles, and chickenpox.  Likewise, children starting sixth grade need their meningococcal and Tdap vaccines.  The HPV vaccine can also be started at this age; this vaccine protects against cervical cancer.  It’s also a good idea to get a flu shot this fall.  Influenza can be quite serious and keep a child home from school for a week or longer.

Adequate sleep is very important to school success.  Start practicing the school schedule at least a week before school starts.  Generally, this means getting to bed and getting up earlier!  Most school children need nine hours of sleep every night.  And plan on enough time in the mornings for your child to get a good breakfast.  Children who eat breakfast get better grades.

Backpacks can get heavy with school books and cause back pain.  Make sure your child’s backpack fits over fits over both shoulders so the weight is evenly distributed over his back.  Throw in some hand sanitizer and Kleenexes to help ward off those school-time germs.

Most children ride the bus to school.  Find out where and when the bus will be coming.  If possible, greet the bus driver and meet the other children at the bus stop.

Many schools have a dress code.  Make sure your child’s clothes conform to the dress code and that they are comfortable and clean.  Contact the school’s social worker if you need assistance.

Your child’s future depends on a successful school experience.  Is your child is ready for school?  Are his immunizations up-to-date?  Does he have a good sleep schedule?  Are his clothes appropriate?  If your child complains about school or isn’t doing well, talk with his teacher(s) early in the school year.  Yes, school is for learning but it should also be fun and safe!

The car seat clinic took place in the circle drive-up, where two of our BIBs staff, who are certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, helped families learn how to properly install the infant car seat. Because of the language barrier, many Burmese families have a difficult time finding resources, especially when it comes to securing the proper safety restraints for their children.

Also because of the language barrier, the clinics were held by group sessions, so Swhe could translate the instructions to several families at one time. In the first session, we were able to educate, instruct, and give away 12 infant car seats to needy families. And, four seats were given out during the second session.

We even had a family stop by on their way into the health center and ask how they could go about receiving a car seat for their newborn because they did not have the money to purchase one. The staff was able to educate the family on the proper installation and gave them a car seat to take home.

Watching the delight on the families’ faces as they received a much needed resource…and….knowing that their soon-to-be newborn would be properly restrained was priceless!!

These infant car seats were made possible by a grant from the Criminal Justice Institute.

It will be two years at HealthNet for me on July 6th! My how time flies.

Since working here, I have seen 4 health center openings, a National Health Center Week, a couple Better Indy Babies/Healthy Families graduations, and been able to see all of the different aspects of our Homeless Initiative Program.  And, I always feel bad when talking about the health centers in general terms because there are SO MANY services provided within their walls.

Some days, I feel as if it is easy to market this fantastic organization because there are so many things going on all the time.  But, other days, that same reason makes it feel hard because sometimes we just can’t mention EVERYTHING.

This month’s blog theme – OUR HEALTHNET – is an effort to try and mention everything, but at the end of the month, we won’t catch it all.  We had posts from Behavioral Health staff, Health Promotions staff, BIBs/Healthy Families Staff, Homeless Initiative staff, and we will have a few more from the marketing department.  That will leave out:

• Pediatrics
• Family Practice
• Internal Medicine
• OB/GYN and Nurse Midwives
• Foot Care
• X-Ray
• Dental
• Vision
• Social Services
• Family Planning
• School-Based Services
• Financial Planning

And I’m probably still leaving a few departments out.  So, my call to action to you is to subscribe to this blog.  You can either enter your email address in the top right or click here.  But, by subscribing you will be able to stay up to date on all that OUR HEALTHNET has to offer.

Have any specific questions about HealthNet or any of the services provided??
Want to get involved?  Comment below!  I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Having worked with the corrections, work release, addictions, and Veterans populations, I had never heard of HealthNet prior to obtaining my call for an interview for a position I had applied for via IU Health’s website.  I dealt with a population that was court ordered to come see me for services and they felt they had already paid their debt to society, and unable to understand how coming into substance abuse therapy may help connect with family or help with sobriety.

Upon starting my tenure at HealthNet, I noticed how it was just different, in a good way – of course, feeling all together!!  The patients had such positive comments about their respective clinics, providers, and other staff members.  Not only did the patients care about their level of care they received from the centers, but all of the doctors, MAs, nurses, managers, and all other staff are so involved in the care of their patients.  I get the sense it is more than a clinic, rather it can be considered a safe place for a lot of the patients that we serve.  I’ve had numerous patients on numerous occasions mention how they don’t feel comfortable going anywhere else besides any HealthNet clinic for their medical services.  It was so amazing to hear patients talk about having seen the pediatrician when they were younger and how their child or children now see the same pediatrician.

Some patients have no where else to turn but their respective HealthNet clinics for support.  The level of flexibility that is offered between clinics is outstanding.  Patients are able to go to either of the 9 clinics we have in order to get their needs met, whether it be primary care, OB, smoking cessation, dietician, social work resources, behavioral health, pulmonary, podiatry, optometry, dental, psychiatry, etc all services that are provided under one roof.  It is quite breathtaking to be a part of such a powerful, yet caring organization!

We are the one stop shop of primary care and Behavioral Health Services!

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Editor’s note: This month’s theme is “Our HealthNet”!  Our bloggers have taken on this topic and are talking about how it takes a community for us to provide quality health care and support services.  Click here to find out more about our topic this month.

Two of our managers had some great things to say…

Dana Greenwood, RN, is the nurse manager at our Pediatric & Adolescent Care Center, downtown in Methodist Tower:

HealthNet is an organization that is closely connected to our mission. I have never worked with a more supportive team of caregivers, who are here to serve our patients and the communities in which they live. In our pediatrics clinic, the nurses are some of our brightest stars.  They are role models to their peers and spend countless hours providing care to our patients through additional telephonic consultation and follow-up from routinely scheduled appointments.  I am thankful to work with them each and every day!

Working at a community health center is often challenging, but also very rewarding at the same time. Our patients are often very sick and in great need of assistance.  We focus our treatment on the whole person, not just their immediate crisis. What I find most rewarding, is that our patients and their families return to us for care.

Joyce Neal, RN, BSN, is the shift coordinator at our Eastside Health Center, on the Far Eastside at 38^th & Post Rd:

I believe without a doubt that working in a community health center, serving the underserved and special needs population, is one of the most rewarding nursing jobs one could have. We as nurses, have an opportunity to make very difficult circumstances just a bit more bearable by very simple acts. Special thanks to my Nurse Manager René Kougel and my Triage/Charge Nurse Maritza Johnson. YOU GUYS ROCK! 

Are you a nurse in a community health center?  Do you know someone who is a nurse at a community health center?  Share a story or a kind word of thanks in the comments section below!

We collected 3,287 petition signatures!

And now, we are asking for you to help our voices become even stronger! These petitions are being delivered to a few legislators to encourage them to take notice and educate themselves on a topic of need and interest to many when it comes to community health centers!!

To make the petition drive fun for staff and – to provide an incentive for them to go the extra mile to get signatures of support – the team with the most signatures won a pizza party for their entire Health Center staff! That winning team was….drum roll please….

Southwest Health & Dental Center!!!

So now it is YOUR turn… GET UP, GET OUT, AND VOTE!! The primary election is important and a way for you to have a voice and make yourself heard!! Encourage your co-workers to vote, or your friends, or family….maybe your employer would consider hosting a pizza party if 100% of staff voted on May 8^th? Never hurts to ask!

And, who doesn’t like a free lunch simply for doing something good?

Wondering – WHERE EXACTLY DO I GO TO VOTE?
Click here to find the polling place nearest you.

P.S. If you don’t vote, then this guy may yell at you…

flickr photo by Adam Merton

Today is another call out to GET OUT AND VOTE in the Indiana Primary in two weeks.  Tuesday, May 8^th is the date.  If you would like to add it to your Google Calendar, then click the “Google Calendar” button below!

Our health center staff have been spending the last month collecting signatures for our petition to show support for the Health Centers program!  But, another way to make those voices even more effective would be if a congressional staff person is looking through the names and sees names of VOTERS!

flickr photo by KOMUnews

If they see voters’ names on a petition, then they know that there could be the potential to lose votes in the next election if they don’t support health centers!

A quick heads up…this won’t be our last reminder!  But hey, voting is a RIGHT that should be expressed.

Invite a coworker to vote with you.  Or a family member.  Or a friend.  Make it a good experience for everyone, so that it doesn’t feel like a chore!

Have a great Tuesday! See you at the polls in TWO WEEKS!

So you are registered to vote, but let’s add some barriers – Limited access to a car, just moved, and you have a million other things to worry about in May.  The Indy 500 is coming up.  You are training for the mini-marathon.  Your kids are getting done with school.  Okay, elections are furthest from your mind…

And May 8^th? A Tuesday?

And it is only to vote for the Republican Candidate?

You are now thinking – “Come on! I can sit this one out. No big deal!”

But what if you thought about it this way?

Legislators like to keep their jobs.  Hopefully it is because they like to lead our country in a positive direction.  BUT! It is true that everyone likes job security.

Well if a legislator likes to keep his/her job, then they need to gain votes.  At least enough votes to beat the other candidate that they are running against.  So, if a legislator is in office, but they are thinking about the future and getting more votes, then how are they going to do that?

They are probably going to serve the wants and needs of the people who have already voted, first.  So, if you DON’T vote, then will that legislator listen to what you have to say?

flickr photo by mdanys

This is one way that I think about the need for everyone to vote.  Plenty of different people have different reasons to vote.  But what is stated above has always made sense to me on the reason to vote.

You may not feel as if your voice is being heard during elections, but when it comes down to advocating for a cause, specifically funding for the Health Centers program and Medicaid, being a voter MAKES your voice heard.  Legislators pay attention to those who are going to polls, sending in absentee ballots and have the potential to swing elections.

SO GET OUT AND VOTE!

MAY 8^TH is the Indiana Presidential Primary.  If you are not registered to vote, it is just a little too late.  But, don’t get discouraged, if you register to vote now, then you will be good to go once November gets here!

Another way to get your voice heard?  Signing our petition to support health centers and Medicaid!

“Medicaid patients go to ERs more often“

In the article, data from a U.S. National Health Interview Survey showed that 16% of Medicaid beneficiaries had one or more barriers to primary care.  It was also found that 40% of Medicaid patients used the emergency room, as compared to 18% of those with private insurance.

There is no doubt that there are barriers to care for Medicaid patients.  Many of these individuals live in medically underserved areas (to learn how medically underserved areas are determined click here), but basically an MUA means that the ratio of primary care doctors per 1,000 people is very low.

Health Centers as an answer.

In a report, just released this week, by the National Association of Community Health Centers another indicator of the barriers faced by Medicaid patients was shown

..at least 25% of U.S. counties in greatest need do not have a health center.

Community health centers are an answer to the complex problem offered in the article posted by WTHR.  “Health centers are required to be open to all residents regardless of ability to pay or insurance status, target medically underserved areas, offer comprehensive primary care services, and be directed by a local patient-majority governing board.”

Not only do health centers eliminate barriers of access for patients no matter what your insurance status, but they have a proven record of reducing the amount of emergency room visits by Medicaid beneficiaries – “Medicaid beneficiaries relying on health centers for usual care in four states are 19% less likely to use the emergency department for unnecessary visits and 11% less likely to be hospitalized compared to beneficiaries relying on other providers.”
(Cost Effectiveness of Care Provided at Health Centers)

Addressing the problem in Indiana.

As Indiana’s largest federally qualified health center, our health centers are the medical home for over 50,000 Hoosiers.  We have posted about the need for health center expansion – here, here and here – and HealthNet has enjoyed the expansion of three health centers in the past year along with the opening of a new center on the Far Eastside of Indy.  But, as noted above, the need for greater access to health care for all residents is increasing.

Health centers do eliminate barriers for patients who need a source of quality primary care, but they also are one of the most cost effective forms of health care available.

• Health centers’ average cost runs a dollar less per patient per day compared to all physician settings ($1.67 vs. $2.64).
• Health centers save the health care system about $24 billion annually

We need your help..

Health center expansion is essential to reduce these barriers as well as costs on the entire health care system.

So for the next month, we will be collecting petition signatures to show local support for community health centers nationwide.  Each signature counts, and if we collect enough, then we will be able to present the petition along with all of the signatures to our legislators when they are home during the first week in May.

1) Sign the petition.
2) Tweet this – “@WTHRcom #medicaid patients go to ER more often except for those who use community health centers! http://bit.ly/GQ0UUG #SaveCHCs”
3) LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with more updates on our Petition Drive!