Fhc summer newsletter-Writer/Editor
- 1. Volume 2, Issue 2 www.myfhc.org Summer 2016 Telemedicine: Expertise in Every Room See page 8 FHC gets quality improvement funds See page 7 Common foot problems in seniors See page 4 Oral Health Expansion at FHC See page 3 Programs You Should Know About See page 2 Get Ready for flu season FHC is now accepting new patients and providing flu shots Prevent the spread of germs-cover coughs and sneezes. An annual flu vac- cination is an important step in staying healthy and keeping others healthy as well. The mobile units are fully equipped medical facilities available to patients of FHC. Can't travel? No worries, call FHC for all of your optometry and dental needs. The mobile units travel to all FHC satellite centers bringing basic primary health care, eye exams and dental exams into your com- munities. Call FHC at 803- 531-6900 for more info on our mobile units. FHC Gets 2 New Mobile Units FHC has two new mobile units - Optometry and Dental. The Economic Impact of FHC At FHC, the goal is to pro- vide cost effective, patient cen- tered care to vulnerable popula- tions. Nationally, two thirds of health center patients are mem- bers of racial and ethnic minori- ties, which places health cen- ters like FHC at the center of the national effort to reduce racial disparities in health care. FHC served over 21,000 patients with a total economic impact of $20,467.202 in 2015. FHC created jobs, tax revenues and savings to the health care system.
- 2. 2 www.myfhc.org FHC also participates in a Medicare Shared Savings Program called Accountable Care Organization (ACOs). An ACO is a group of doctors, hospi- tals, and/or other health care providers working together with Medicare to give you better, more coordinated service and health care. Connecting Kids to Coverage Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) offer free or low-cost health coverage for kids and teens up to age 19. You can apply for and enroll in Medicaid or CHIP any time of year. If you qualify, your coverage can begin immedi- ately. Enroll now. Why wait? Visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-877-KIDS-Now Our Million Hearts Program is designed to identify those who may be at risk for stroke and/or heart disease. The goal of this program is to include preventive strategies into your treat- ment plan that will reduce your risk of having a stroke and/or heart dis- ease. FHC provides Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) to all our Medicare patients, SBIRT is an approach to the delivery of early intervention and treat- ment to people with substance use disor- ders and those at risk of developing these disorders. Dual Eligible, you may qualify for Medicaid benefits upon reaching age 65. We will assist you with applying for Medicaid. If you qualify for Medicaid, you may not have to pay a co- payment/or pay a very small amount for health care. Care Coordination Program will help coor- dinate your appointments with other doctors, specialists, labs, radiology or other testing. A regis- tered nurse will be assigned to you to pro- vide one on one services to talk to you about your symptoms, help you with prescription medication management, and provide you with a Care Plan for managing your condi- tions. We know your time and your health are valuable and we hope that you will consider participating. Please call or stop by one of FHC's satellite offices to learn more about these exciting programs. Programs you should know about
- 3. 3www.myfhc.org Retired educator and administrator at South Carolina State University, Dr. Kenneth D. Mosely, is the new board member at FHC. Mosely is the former Dept., chair of HPE (Health and Physical Education) at SCSU. He received his BS degree in physi- cal education from Morgan State University, MS from Kansas State University, and Ph.d in physical education from Indiana University at Bloomington. Mosely also served on the boards of Orangeburg YMCA, Orangeburg Special Olympics, and the Orangeburg national youth sports pro- gram. Mosely said he is an advocate for healthcare and is con- cerned with one's quality of life and believes one can't have a quality of life without the physical component. Mosely adds that both of his parents received excellent healthcare at FHC and it is his honor to serve on FHC's board. FHC New Board Member, Dr. Kenneth D. Mosely, PED, Cilantay Wilson is the new FNP-C in Holly Hill Cilantay Wilson is the new family nurse practitioner at FHC's Holly Hill center. Ms. Wilson received her MS from Walden University, BS from Chamberland College of Nursing, and ABN, AS from Trident Technical College in Charleston, SC. Ms. Wilson said she is delighted to work with Family Health Centers and enjoys taking care of patients in rural communities. The US Dept. of Health and Human Services has awarded FHC a $525,000.00 grant to increase access to oral health services and improve oral health outcomes. "Oral health is an important part of our overall physical health and well being. The funding awarded will reduce barriers to quality dental care for thousands of individuals in rural communities by bringing new oral health providers to FHC," said Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. Oral Health Expansion at FHC Kudos Congraulations goes out to FHC's account supervisor and project director of the farmers mar- ket- Sylvette Porter! Mrs. Porter received her MBA from Capella University with a 4.0 GPA. Porter has been with FHC 11 years.FHC dental hygenists- Brenda Whitehurst and Tiffany Williams.
- 4. 4 www.myfhc.org The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided FHC with 1 million dollars in funding to enroll eligible children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as part of the Connecting Kids to Coverage campaign. The awards were authorized under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) designed to build on the historic progress already made increasing the number of children who have health coverage. The Connecting Kids to Coverage outreach and enrollment awards will support targeted strategies needed to enroll eligible children who do not have health coverage. FHC pro- vides access to health cov- erage where healthcare is lagging, including among American Indians, children with learning disabilities, children living in rural com- munities, and teens. 1 Million for Connecting Kids to Coverage-Medicaid. Shasonda Amous New Chief Financial Officer Shasonda Amous is the new Chief Financial Officer with Family Health Centers, Inc. Ms. Amous has been with FHC for over 3 years as Purchasing Manager. For more than one year, she served as Interim Chief Financial Officer. She holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Claflin University and a Master of Arts degree in Procurement and Acquisitions Management from Webster University. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Claflin University, and her Associates of Business, Officer Systems Technology from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. In older adults, the foot complaints encountered most often are: • Bunions. A bony growth or misaligned bone at the base of the big toe or sometimes on the small toe. ... • Calluses and corns. ... • Hammertoes. ... • Toenail problems. ... • Foot problems related to diabetes. ... • Foot problems associated with deformities. .. • Heel pain. Call FHC today to schedule an appointment. Common foot problems in seniors FHC's Dr. Byron Jackson examines patient Dr. Jackson, is based at Orangeburg FHC, but sees patients at the following: • Denmark FHC 1st Wed. of every month 8am-5pm • Vance FHC-2nd Tues. every month 8am-5pm • Holly Hill-FHC-3rd Tues. 8am-5pm • St. George-FHC-3rd Wednesday 8am-5-pm
- 5. 5www.myfhc.org AT 107 years young, FHC Patient has no chronic illnesses He credits God, FHC health care for longevity At 107 years young, Clifton Thomas is not resting on his laurels. He spends his days on his motorized wheelchair checking out the neighborhood at his family's home in St. Mathews. He receives health care at Family Health Centers, where the centenarian said he loves the doctors and staff because they care. According to Orangeburg- based Care Coordinator Sharon Harley at FHC, Thomas has no chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. He credits his great health to God and the care he receives at FHC. He says the care and his strong belief in God even gave him back his eyesight. After praying for God to please take him to heaven if he couldn't see anymore, Thomas awoke the next day to see his family and the lush greenery that sur- rounds his modest home. Thomas, who has a senior companion and a loving family, said his checkups at FHC pro- vide him with sufficient health care and the FHC staff makes sure all of his needs are taken care of. His only health issue is arthritis. As to what Thomas eats to stay so trim and in good shape, his daughter exclaims, "pig feet, bologna sandwiches and cere- al!" Thomas chimes in, "I eat vegetables too." Thomas worked as a farm laborer all of his life, finding work anywhere he could to sup- port his family in rural St. Mathews. He said he stayed out of trouble because of the good name of his father. When friends would get in trouble, he was often told to go home because of his good family name. But Thomas said he owes it all to the man above. "Without the Lord, I wouldn't be here, " he said. At FHC, not only are care coordinators available for those in need, but the Million Hearts program is designed to identify those at risk for stroke or heart disease. The program is proac- tive and includes preventive strategies into treatment pro- grams to reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease. In addition, for those individ- uals who want another medical opinion, there's telemedicine at FHC. This means that if a person wants to travel out of town to see a specialist, the visit can take place in front of a computer monitor at any FHC location. FHC strives to understand the health needs of its patients, including those who need SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment to all Medicare patients). SBIRT delivers early intervention and treatment to people with substance use dis- With 107-year-young Clifton Thomas, seated, are, from left, Bridgett McKnight, caretaker; grandson Denver Roach; daughter Odell Thomas, great-grandson Lamont Roach, and daughter Emma Roach. continued on page 7
- 6. 6 www.myfhc.org Black Men Have Highest Rate of Prostate Cancer Cancer is the #1 leading cause of death in South Carolina. Do you know which one? You probably guessed Lung cancer. Am I right? That's wrong. The leading cancers on the list are Breast cancer and Prostate cancer. Remember to get those check-ups. They are important. You are important Prostate Cancer: What Every Man Should Know Prostate can- cer is one of the most common forms of cancer among men. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men resulting in approximately 31,000 deaths each year. Prostate cancer is twice as common among African- American men than it is among men of European (White) descent.. Additionally, African- American men have the world's highest prostate cancer death rate. Prostate cancer is found mainly in older men. As men age, the prostate may get big- ger and block the urethra or bladder. This may cause diffi- culty in urination or can inter- fere with sexual function. The condition is called benign pro- static hyperplasia (BPH), and although it is not cancer, sur- gery may be needed to correct it. The symptoms of benign pro- static hyperplasia or of other problems in the prostate may be similar to symptoms of prostate cancer. (Source: National Cancer Institute) Cause and Prevention Since the actual cause of prostate cancer is unknown, it is currently not possible to pre- vent most cases of this dis- ease. However, men can take steps to protect themselves. By learning to recognize the risk factors and the symptoms associated with this disease and by getting early screening tests, many cases of prostate cancer can be detected and treated before spreading to other areas of the body. Additionally, eating a diet low in fat and high in fruits and veg- etables may help men lower their chances of developing prostate cancer. Risk Factors A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease. The fol- lowing is a list of risk factors for prostate cancer. Remember, many men develop this disease without having any of these risk factors. Likewise, men who have one or more of the risk factors may never develop this disease. • Advancing age • African-American men have higher risk • Most common in men from North America and Northwestern Europe • High Fat Diet • Smoking • Family history of cancer Possible Symptoms When prostate cancer is in its earliest stages there are generally no symptoms present. However, as the cancer expands and begins to spread to other parts of the body, the following may or may not be present. • Weak or interrupted flow of urine. • Frequent urination (espe- cially at night). • Trouble urinating. • Pain or burning during uri- nation. • Blood in the urine or semen. • A pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn't go away. The most common tests used to detect prostate cancer are: • Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) • Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test Diagnosis If the result of the PSA blood test or the DRE indicates a possibility of prostate cancer being present, tests that exam- ine the prostate and blood can be used to detect (find) and diagnose prostate cancer. The earlier prostate cancer is found, the better the chances are that it can be treated. The most common tests are listed below. Additional tests to determine the stage and grade of the can- cer will then be performed. Staging indicates whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Grading the cancer will indicate whether the cancer is fast growing (more likely to spread) or slow growing: Continued on page 7
- 7. 7www.myfhc.org T&D Staff Report Family Health Centers is among the South Carolina groups sharing $1.6 million in federal funds for health cen- ter quality improvements. FHC will receive $10,000 in the area of electronic health record reporters and $65,000 for achieving patient-centered medical home recognition for its service delivery sites. The centers are receiving the funds based on their high levels of performance, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Health centers are evaluat- ed on a set of performance measures emphasizing health outcomes and the value of care delivered,” Health Resources and Services Administration Acting Administrator Jim Macrae said. “These measures provide a balanced, comprehensive look at services to manage conditions among the vulnerable populations served by health centers.” Nationally, more than $100 million was awarded to 1,304 health centers in the United States. FHC gets quality improvement funds • Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) • Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test • Transrectal ultrasound • Biopsy Treatment The choice of treatment depends on several factors: the individual's overall health, age, life expectancy, the grade and stage of the disease, the effects of treatment, and personal pref- erences. Treatments include: • Watchful waiting • Surgery • Radiation therapy • Hormone therapy • Chemotherapy • New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials. Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment. Survival Survival rates for all stages of prostate cancer have improved over the years and at least 89% of men diagnosed can expect to live at least 5 years from the time of their diagnosis and 63% survive 10 years. If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland the 5 year survival is 99%. Prostate Cancer Continued from page 6 The centers are receiving the funds based on their high levels of performance U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. orders and those at risk of developing these disorders. A person may qualify for Medicaid benefits upon reach- ing age 65. FHC will assist with applying. When qualified, a per- son may not have to make a co-payment or he or she may pay a very small amount for health care for the programs available at FHC. FHC also participates in a Medicare Shared Savings Program called Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). An ACO means doctors, hospitals and other health care providers work together with Medicare to give better, more coordinated service and health care. Care coordinators at FHC admit that at 107, Thomas is an anomaly because he doesn't have one or more chronic health problems such as dia- betes, heart disease or hyper- tension. An estimated 90 per- cent of adults over 65 have one or more chronic conditions. However, older adults like Thomas often have complex needs. The Care Coordination Management team at FHC may include physicians, direct-care workers, physical therapists, dentists and others. Care coor- dinators at FHC provide access to essential information about the disease process. For more information on Care Coordination Management, the Million Hearts program and other FHC pro- grams, call 803-531-6900. AT 107 years young continued from page 5
- 8. 8 www.myfhc.org Telemedicine Putting Expertise in Every Room Dr. Kenneth Mosely, new board member at Family Health Centers, Inc., looks over tele- health equipment at FHC in Orangeburg, SC. Telemedicine today uses infor- mation and communication tech- nologies (ICTs) to help address some of our challenges to help overcome geographical obsta- cles. FHC is working with MUSC to provide patients with Telehealth. Telehealth is the delivery of healthcare via computer, tablet and phone. Orangeburg 3310 Magnolia Street Orangeburg, SC 29115 Denmark 1241 Solomon Blatt Blvd Denmark, SC 29042 Fax: (803) 793-6346 Holly Hill 922 Holly Street Holly Hill, SC 29059 Fax: (803) 496-7928 Neeses 7061 Norway Road Neeses, SC 29107 Fax: (803) 263-4097 St. George 401 Ridge Street St. George, SC 29477 Fax: (843) 563-8229 St. Matthews 558 Chestnut Street St. Matthews, SC 29135 Fax: (803) 874-1998 Vance 10278 Old #6 Highway Vance, SC 29163 Fax: (803) 492-9156 Bamberg Bamberg Job Corps 19 Job Corps Avenue Bamberg, SC 29003 Fax-803-245-6310 Dental Mobile Unit 3310 Magnolia Street Orangeburg, SC 29115 Fax-803-531-6907 Optometry Mobile Unit 3310 Magnolia Street Orangeburg, SC 29115 Fax-803-531-6907 Family Health Centers Convenient locations 803-531-6900