Q U A R T E R LY P U B L I C AT I O N O F I N D I A N H E A LT H C A R E R E S O U R C E C E N T E R SUMMER 2012 Annual Teddy Bear Clinic Saturday, September 8 Operationally Speaking By Eddie Hathcoat, IHCRC COO As the Chief Operating Officer of Indian Health Care, I would like to highlight a few of the items featured in this issue of the Healthy Spirit. • I’m excited to announce the rollout of our new “IPC” patient care improvement process. The Improving Patient Care (IPC) model utilizes a team approach to patient care to improve access to care and ensure patients receive high quality services from our staff of health professionals. IPC is about a focus on the patient, improving delivery of care and teamwork. • We certainly want to congratulate and acknowledge our management and staff who will be receiving a Director’s award from the Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service on July 19. Our IHCRC awardees include Deanna Holman for an Area Director’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Emily Bolusky for a Merit Award, Deni Fholer for both a Peer Recognition award and the Area Director’s Customer Service Award Urban, Dr. Shea Bowling for Exceptional Individual Performance – Clinical Award, and IHCRC’s School and Community Gardening Program for the Exceptional Group Performance Health Promotion & Wellness Award. • Please take a moment to read the bios of our newest employees who recently joined the IHCRC clinical team. These new employees include Below: Mental Health Commissioner Terri White is presented with a Pendleton blanket at the Restoring Harmony Pow Wow. Eddie Hathcoat, IHCRC COO Steve Abernathy, PhD – Director of Clinical Training and Clinical Psychologist, Don Miller, LADC – Substance Abuse Counselor, Jamie Johnson, RN, BSN – Public Health Nurse, Chad Stanton – Activity Specialist and Brenda Howell – Dental Assistant. We want to extend a warm welcome to all these new employees and wish them much success at our facility. • Our Health Education and Wellness Department has just completed its first round of annual Summer Wellness Camps for Native youth. We would like to thank all the volunteers and community partners who help make the Continued to page 3 Indian Health Care Hours of Operation Medical services hours Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm Thursday 10:00 am-7:00 pm 1st Wednesday of the month the Medical clinic opens at 1:00 pm (closed in morning for staff meeting). Behavioral Health hours Monday - Wednesday 8:00 am-6:00 pm Thursday 10:00 am-7:00 pm Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm 1st Wednesday of the month the Behavioral Health clinic opens at 1:00 pm (closed in morning for staff meeting). WIC Nutrition hours In this issue of the Healthy Spirit 2012 Dance of the Two Moons Recap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Annual Restoring Harmony Pow Wow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Unknown Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Take Me Out to the Ball Game! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Facebook provides first-of-a-kind service to help prevent suicides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 TV Star Mark Harmon’s Visit to Oklahoma City Indian Clinic is Harmony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 IHCRC Patient Satisfaction Survey Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Oklahoma Prescription Painkiller Use Is Tops in the Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Protect your child from the dangers of heatstroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Changes in Clinical Care are Coming to Indian Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Do you have an infant or young child that’s not receiving the benefits of WIC? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Meet the Cherokee Nation WIC Staff Members at Indian Health Care Resource Center . . . . . . . 33 Dr. Steven Ray Abernathy, Behavioral Health Psychologist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Donald Wayne Miller, LADC – Substance Abuse Counselor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Jamie Johnson, RN, Public Health Nurse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Brenda Howell, Dental Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Chad Stanton, Activity Specialist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Staff at IHCRC to be Recognized for Service with IHS Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Understanding the Symptoms and Implications of Prediabetes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Are Healthy Foods Really More Expensive? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 IHCRC Summer Wellness Camp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Parents: Schedule an oral health exam for your young child today! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Helping to Build a Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit for All . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 What Is Big Brothers Big Sisters Native American Mentoring? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Is Your Child Fully Vaccinated? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Monday - Wednesday; Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm Thursday 10:00 am-6:30 pm 1st Wednesday of the month WIC opens at 1:00 pm (closed in morning for staff meeting). Scheduled appointments To schedule an appointment, call 918-588-1900, press option 1. If you are unable to get your preferred appointment time, please schedule for the first available appointment. Patients may call back and check to see if an opening becomes available that better suits their needs. Same-day/fast track appointment policy When you come to the clinic for a same-day or fast track appointment we will do our best to work you into the schedule based on the following: Sickest people are seen first – Patients are not seen on a first come first seen basis. All walk-in patients are in an order based on the severity of their illness. Provider Availability – A walkin patient will be seen as soon as a provider is available. Due to provider availability not all walk-ins are assured to be seen that day. Oklahoma’s no cost Children’s Health Insurance Program SoonerCare provides free health insurance for Oklahoma children under age 19 who meet financial income eligibility guidelines. You must reapply annually. You may still qualify for SoonerCare as a secondary insurance even if you have private health insurance. SoonerCare Income Guidelines Children under the age of 19 may qualify if family gross income is within the following guidelines: Family Size Monthly Yearly 2 $2,333 $27,991 • Social security numbers for all household members 3 $2,944 $35,317 4 $3,554 $42,643 • Income/employment information 5 $4,165 $49,969 • Current health insurance information (if applicable) 6 $4,775 $57,295 7 $5,386 $64,621 • Name of primary care physician 8 $5,996 $71,947 Information needed to apply: SoonerCare Insurance Benefits Include: • • • • • • • • • • • Basic medical care Prescriptions Emergency room care Routine preventive checkups Immunizations Eyeglasses Dental exams SoonerRide medical transportation Behavioral health care Sports physicals And many more specialty services! Some applicants may even qualify at slightly higher income! You must reapply annually. (Income guidelines effective April 1, 2012.) Let us help you apply! Call 918-588-1900. Ask for SoonerCare 550 S. Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74120 www.ihcrc.org [email protected] CHIPRA/SoonerCare Program You can choose an Indian Health Care provider to be your child’s pediatrician/primary care physician. IHCRC Mission Operationally Speaking | continued The mission of the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, Inc. (IHCRC) is to provide quality, comprehensive health care to Tulsa area Indian people in a culturally sensitive manner that promotes good health, well being and harmony. Vision The vision of IHCRC is to eliminate health disparities, expand innovative family-focused practices and promote an embracing approach to care that strengthens physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness within the Indian community. Health Promotion Goal The long-term health promotion goal of IHCRC is to improve general health status and reduce the incidence and severity of chronic disease by engaging the Indian community in ongoing health promotion, prevention and disease management programs. summer camp program a success. New this year are cultural camps that provide an opportunity for Native youth to learn about their heritage. Camps programs also place a strong emphasis on proper nutrition and physical fitness. • We had a record number of patient satisfaction surveys completed by patients during the month of March. We tripled the number of surveys that are typically turned in by patients. These surveys help the IHCRC staff gain a better understanding and accurate assessment of our services from the patient’s perspective. Overall, I am pleased with the results, which reflect a favorable rating from patients about the job we’re doing. I offer my thanks to all of you who participated in this process. And, I would encourage those of you that didn’t participate to do so next time. • We are very pleased with the successes we had in April with the presentation of the Dance of the Two Moons, our annual fundraiser which raises funds for our pediatric programs. In April, IHCRC staff also assisted the Tulsa Indian Community Advisory Team (TICAT) present the annual Restoring Harmony Pow Wow, which promotes awareness of National Children’s Mental Health Day. I would like to thank TICAT and its members for all of their efforts and contributions to make this year’s Restoring Harmony Pow Wow another big success. Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa Board of Trustees Janice Edmiston, President, Choctaw and Sac & Fox Jim Cameron, Vice President, Cherokee Bob Bitting, Secretary, Cherokee Herbert P. Haschke, Jr., Treasurer Madeline Teague, At-Large Executive Committee member, Cherokee Mary Ann Vassar, At-Large Executive Committee member, Cherokee Jay Anderson, DDS, Choctaw Bobby Jones, Cherokee David D. Moon, DO, Choctaw Goldie Phillips, Comanche Ed Pierce, Citizen Nation Potawatomi 550 S. Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 588-1900 www.ihcrc.org IHCRC SUMMER 2012 3 T A Big Success! he annual Dance of the Two Moons fundraising event was held Saturday, April 21 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. The annual fundraising event for Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa raises money to support IHCRC’s pediatric programs. This last fiscal year 3,966 Native children made 29,064 visits to IHCRC health 4 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 providers! Without the health services provided by IHCRC, many of these children would not have a medical home and might end up in local hospital emergency rooms. The Dance of the Two Moons featured an entertaining and enjoyable evening of activities. The event began with a wine and hors d’oeuvre reception, coupled with the opening of the silent auction. In keeping with a Roaring 20’s theme, guests IHCRC WINTER 2011-2012 3 were entertained with the musical talents of Tulsa’s own The Zuits. The 2012 Dance of the Two Moons Honorees were Dr. Thomas and Stacey McKeon. Dr. McKeon is the President of Tulsa Community College. TCC is a national leader in graduates in the field of healthcare. The McKeons share a strong commitment to our community and to the success and the well-being of our children. IHCRC would like to thank everyone who supported the 2012 Dance of the Two Moons and remind you to mark your calendars for next year’s event to be held April 20, 2013. Left: Native Nations Youth Council Drum Group. Right: Julia Wakeford offered the Lord’s Prayer Invocation in Indian sign language. 2012 Dance of Two Moon Sponsors and Donors HONORARY CHAIRS Delores Titchywy Sumner Dr. Tom and Stacey McKeon BEAR SPONSORS BOARD CHAIRPERSON George Kaiser Family Foundation Muscogee (Creek) Nation Oklahoma City Indian Clinic Public Service Company of Oklahoma St. Francis Health Systems Tulsa Community College EAGLE SPONSORS BUFFALO SPONSORS Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa Tiger Natural Gas Chickasaw Nation Oklahoma City Area Inter-Tribal Health Board Osage Casino Jay Anderson, DDS PREMIER SPONSOR WOLF SPONSORS The Mary K. Chapman Foundation Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Jim and Sharon Ruley TURTLE SPONSORS Dr. Jay and Nancy Anderson Bacone College Jim and Janet Cameron Janice Edmiston and Ceasar Williams Fire Protection Systems Flintco Kauffman and Associates, Inc. Regional Medical Lab Ken Ray Underwood Law Offices Seminole Nation Summit Bank Tahlequah Printing, Co. AUCTION DONORS All Star Sports Complex Dr. Jay Anderson Andolini’s Andy’s Fine Portraits The Apple Tree BA Golf & Athletic Tommy Lee Ball Chris Barrow Holly Becker Best Electric and Hardware Supply Chana Bivens Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bolusky BounceU Boxworks The Brasserie Bruce G. Weber Precious Jewels Mose Carey Joseph Chamberlain Charles Faudree, Inc. Chelsea Gallery Continued to next page IHCRC IHCRC WINTER SUMMER 2011-2012 2012 5 3 2012 Dance of Two Moon Sponsors and Donors | continued from page 5 2012 Dance of Two Moons Honorary Chairs Thomas and Stacey McKeon. 6 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 Cherokee National Historical Society Cherokee Nation WIC CherryBerry on Brookside Chesapeake Energy Choregus Productions Janie Crean Dancing Rabbit Mr. and Mrs. Richard Davis Tammy Davis Kim Doner Angela Drews Eli’s Cheesecake Company Emerald Antiques and Collectibles Mall Eskimo Joe’s Fine Airport Parking Fleet Feet Fuji Gaetano’s Pizzeria and Creamery Garden Deva Judy Gibson Gorfam Marketing, Inc. Shan Goshorn Kristi Gross Lance Gross Jenifer Hamma Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa Eddie Hathcoat Hideaway Pizza Brandi Hines Mr. and Mrs. Skip Iba Iidentity Salon In the Raw Sushi Jamil’s Jobsite Couture Joe Momma’s Just Catering By Orr Juniper Dee Knight Lake Locations, L.L.C. Leticha Kincade LaMode Quality Cleaners Light Opera Oklahoma Lowe’s Lyon’s Indian Store Major League Baseball Players Association Marshall Brewing Mary Murray’s Flowers Mazzios Corporation McNellie’s Group Meigs Jewelry Mr. and Mrs. Reed Melton Miller Swim School Dr. David Moon Native American Art NDN Art Gallery & Frame Stacie Nutt Mr. and Mrs. David Osburn Panera Bread Paschal Tile Nikki Patternson Pei Wei Petty’s Fine Foods Jemal Peyketewa Ed Pierce Opal Price Philbrook Museum Shop Queenie’s Remington Park Carol Rice River Spirit Casino Ruley & Co., Inc. Saks Fifth Avenue Savoy Restaurant Shine Dental, Katie Warlick Sacra, DDS Sideways Silver Dollar City Silver Flame Barbara Shoemake Carmelita Skeeter The Snow Goose Spaghetti Warehouse The Stock Pot LaVerne Stone Stone Mill BBQ and Steakhouse Studio Van G Madeline Teague Sweet Tooth Candy & Gift Co. Theraganics Toni’s Trippets Tulsa Drillers Tulsa Fire Station #5 Tulsa Garden Center Tulsa Runner Tulsa Zoo Friends TW’s-AFAB Uncle Vinny’s NY Pizza Urban Furnishings Valencia Salon and Spa Mary Ann Vassar VIP Services Beverly Vogel Wyndham Tulsa YWCA INDIVIDUAL DONORS Tammra Allen BankersBank Kada Benally Stacy Berg Donna Birkenfeld Ashley Bishop Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Oklahoma Debbie Bohannon Emily Bolusky Richard Bolusky Eric Bolusky Virgil Bowline Reagan Briggs Breanna Brumley Amory Butler Jim Cameron Hope Cates Sue Cavin Central Oklahoma American Indian Health Council, Inc. J.L. Cobble J.D. Colbert Elizabeth Conner Virginia Cox Connie Cronley Tammy Davis Amy DeMoss Terra Denby Gary Dundee Janice Edmiston John Farris Denise Fholer Alison Forsyth Judy Gibson Gary Goss JoAnn Gower Shenay Gregg Charles Grim James Hackler Miranda Hall Jenifer Hamma Eddie Hathcoat Donna Henry David Hicks Debbie Hill Brandi Hines HoganTaylor John Hummingbird Skip Iba James R Childers Architect Jim Kaltenbacher Robert Lawson Becca Leath David Marks Dean Martin Heather McClure Stacy McDonald Belinda McGee Margaret McIntosh Claudia Meiling National Association of Community Health Centers Ken Neal Nichols Landscape Sharla Null Koob Nancy O’Banion Jennifer O’Dell Stephen Patton Jim Perryman Chelsey Polhamus Justin Postier Phyllis Pratt Opal Price Public Service Company Margaret Reeves Ryann Richie Ron Robertson Edward E. Rogers Mary Shaw Sarayl Shumkamolah Ashley Simon Carmelita Skeeter Larry Smith Deanna Storts Summit Bank Tim Szejbach Gabrielle Taylor The Williford Companies Karen Thomas Tiger Natural Gas Tribal Solutions, Inc. Tulsa Community College Jeannie VanVeen Dawanna Wallace Paulette Wamego Kim Watson Sean Weins Jennifer Welch Julie Willis Steve Zenthoefer National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day celebrated in May 2012 Restoring Harmony Pow Wow celebrated children’s mental health O n Saturday, April 28, 2012, the Tulsa Indian Community Advisory Team presented the fifth annual Restoring Harmony Pow Wow. With the support of its presenting sponsor Indian Health Care Resource Center (IHCRC), the Pow Wow is held each year to promote National Children’s Mental Health 8 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 Awareness Day and National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 6 to May 12, 2012). This year’s pow wow was once again held at the West Side YMCA. The day got underway with a mental health awareness hike at 10am led by IHCRC Activity Specialist Kevin Heeney. Continued to page 10 2012 Pow Wow | continued from page 8 Following the walk and throughout the day, youth, elder and mental health speakers gave presentations to emphasize the importance of mental health and its relation to overall wellness. Attendees at the Pow Wow included dancers, singers, volunteers, arts and crafts vendors, exhibitors – and of course the general public. This fun, safe and familyfriendly event featured activities for all ages, including an awareness hike, dance specials to honor our youth and elders, educational and vendor booths and youth speak outs. Terri White, Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and the Substance Abuse Services Department, explained the significance of improving the quality of services to children and families who live with mental illness. The Pow Wow Committee honored Commissioner White with the presentation of a Pendleton blanket. Emcees provide the energy and momentum necessary for a successful pow wow and the arena directors keep the arena in rhythm while taking care of the drums, dancers and other arena activities. We would like to extend a special thank you to each of the following individuals for their part in making this year’s pow wow a memorable event: Kelly Anquoe, Emcee; Hannah Wensmen, Youth Emcee; Fi Davis, Arena Director ; and Gabriel Pelyao, Youth Arena Director. The ceremonial activities got underway in the arena with gourd dancing, led by the Osage Group. In the arena, Red Lands served as Host Northern Drum and KC Bills was Head Singer. Faith Harjo was Head Lady Dancer and Thorpe Sine was Head Man Dancer. The Head Girl Dancer was Cher Satepauhoodle and Thunder Lieb was Head Boy Dancer. The success of the annual Restoring Harmony Pow Wow is due in large part to contributions from and partnerships with Tulsa area tribal and community organizations and agencies. A special thanks to the pow wow staff for their tireless and dedicated commitment to the event. Together we will continue to work with a unified focus on bringing an awareness to children’s mental health issues and to increase access to available mental health and social services. 2012 Pow Wow contest winners Teen Girls – Fancy/Jingle Teen Boys – Straight 1st – Brionna Badoni 1st – Eli Crowels 2nd – Judiki Moses 2nd – Sam West, Jr. 3rd – Heaven Pahsetopah Teen Boys – Traditional/Grass Golden Age Women 1st – Tsakuru Shawnee 1st – Georgia Mae Adson 2nd – Kyle Sine 2nd – Nancy Oosahwe 3rd – Daniel Sack Golden Age Men Teen Girls – Cloth 1st – Jess Oosahwe 1st – Hope Harjo 2nd – Lylli Ott 10 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 11 Unknown Heroes at Indian Health Care By Edward E. Rogers, IHCRC Credentialing Coordinator M Left to right: Karly Fenscke, Karen McAhren and Beth Conner. any of you have seen the promos or actual episodes of ABC’s show What Would You Do? The show stages different hot topic scenarios in public places on issues ranging from obesity, racism, homosexuality where actors play out a scene where perhaps a lawyer is telling a client to lie on the stand or a father disowns a son for being gay 12 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 to see if anyone witnessing the scene will react, step up to the plate and take action on behalf of the “victim.” What would you do if you were enjoying a holiday get together at the lake with family and friends and while you were eating lunch they pulled an unconscious stranger out of the water? There are a large number of people standing around him but no one is taking action. Would you put yourself at risk and get involved? There is only the briefest moment to make that decision. Do I put myself at risk by conducting mouth to mouth resuscitation without a mouthpiece? Do I put myself in jeopardy of being sued if the stranger dies or becomes incapacitated? What if it became clear to you as the innocent bystander that the victim was unresponsive, clearly in serious danger of losing his “I’m so proud of my team. I know what a great job they do here life and you and your friend combined efforts to revive this younger holidaying with you knew adult male; this younger adult stranger. at IHCRC and the pride they Basic Life Support (BLS)? What they did not know at the time take in providing exceptional This exact situation happened was he had been under the water for a services for our patients. It makes to two of IHCRC’s staff over minimum of 10 minutes and possibly the holiday weekend. Karly as much as 20 minutes. Research me even more proud that they Fenscke and Beth Conner are shows that a typical person can stay extend their caring nature and both Diagnostic Imaging staff underwater for between 30 seconds and desire to help others during off members who have received a minute; trained divers can last for 2 BLS training sponsored to 3 minutes; and pearl divers can last hours,” said Karen McAhren, by IHCRC. Recently they for up to around 7 minutes. Experts at Diagnostic Imaging Supervisor. were enjoying a outing in the scene agree that he was likely dead northeast Oklahoma when when he was pulled from the water. this very scenario happened. Although the experience ended An unknown man was pulled from the water and they took in tragedy and ultimately they were unable to save the action without a moment’s hesitation. Their compassion stranger despite all of their efforts, Karly and Beth and humanity took over and they didn’t play out the risks in demonstrated true heroism by getting involved and their minds. They ran down to the edge of the water where trying to unselfishly help their fellow man. They should this man lay and they provided ongoing compressions and be commended for their courage and for their bravery. mouth to mouth resuscitation along with a nurse who joined They are true heroes; they are IHCRC’s heroes. them for over 45 minutes. They tried everything within their Who can help make staying at a healthy weight fun? Find We Can! in your community! http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov A Program of the National Institutes of Health Toll Free: 1 (866) 359-3226 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 13 Take Me Out to the Ball Game! BBQ, Baseball, Family, Friends, Fireworks, Gift Cards and much more! It has become one of the most enjoyed traditions of the employees at Indian Health Care – the annual company picnic. This year, the staff and their families spent a Friday evening in June together at the extraordinary ONEOK field to watch the Tulsa Drillers. It was a great evening starting with a full BBQ buffet and ending with the spectacular Friday Night Fireworks Show. As you can see from the pictures shown here, the staff had a great time! Many of the children were able to enjoy the fun amenities offered for children at the stadium. From the playground to the splash pad, there was never a lack of excitement for the youngest of the guests. If that wasn’t enough, six employees went home with a little extra spending money by winning a drawing for American Express gift cards provided by IHCRC. Above: Deanna Holman. Left: Stacie and Rylie Nutt. 14 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 Right: Matt and Brandi Roberts, Ashley Hodges. Bottom: Campbell Bolusky. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 15 caring is Strong Medicine. The vision of IHCRC is to eliminate health disparities, expand innovative family-focused practices and promote an embracing approach to care that strengthens physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness within the Indian community. HealtH ServiceS Medical Care • Well Child Care Health Education and Wellness Optometry • Dental Care Lab • X-ray • Mammography In-house Pharmacy • WIC Behavioral Health Care Substance Abuse Treatment 16 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 550 S. Peoria Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74120 • 918-588-1900 • ihcrc.org National Suicide Prevention Week is September 9-15 Facebook provides first-of-a-kind service to help prevent suicides Facebook has announced a new service that harnesses the power of social networking and crisis support to help prevent suicides across the nation and Canada. The new service enables Facebook users to report a suicidal comment they see posted by a friend to Facebook using either the Report Suicidal Content link or the report links found throughout the site. The person who posted the suicidal comment will then immediately receive an e-mail from Facebook encouraging them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or to click on a link to begin a confidential chat session with a crisis worker. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or www.suicidepreventionlifeline. org is a toll-free suicide prevention hotline network comprised of 152 local crisis centers. “We’re proud to expand our partnership with Lifeline, and to provide those in crisis with even more options to seek help,” said Facebook’s Chief Security Officer, Joe Sullivan. “The Lifeline’s commitment to suicide prevention has enabled people on Facebook to get fast, meaningful help when they need it most, and we look forward to continuing our work with them to help save lives.” “Facebook and the Lifeline are to be commended for addressing one of this nation’s most tragic public health problems,” said Surgeon General, Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, who serves with Sullivan on the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. “Nearly 100 Americans die by suicide every day – 36,035 lives every year. For every person who is murdered, two die by suicide. These deaths are even more tragic because they are preventable. We have effective treatments to help suicidal individuals regain hope and a desire to live and we know how powerful personal connections and support can be. Therefore we as a nation must do everything we can to reach out to those at risk and provide them the help and hope needed to survive and return to productive lives with their family, friends, and communities.” Crisis center workers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to Facebook users opting to use the chat. The Lifeline currently responds to dozens of people each day who have expressed suicidal thoughts on Facebook. “We have been partnering with Facebook since 2006 to assist at- risk users and are thrilled to launch this new service,” said John Draper, PhD, the Lifeline’s project director. “Although the Lifeline on average handles 70,000 calls per month, we have heard from our Facebook fans and others that there are many people in crisis who don’t feel comfortable picking up the phone. This new service provides a way for them to get the help they need in the way they want it.” The Lifeline is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and administered by Link2Health Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mental Health Association of New York City. The Lifeline provides free and confidential crisis counseling to anyone in need 24/7 and has answered over 3 million calls since its launch in 2005. For more information on this topic please visit the SAMHSA blog at http://blog.samhsa.gov/2011/12/13/ facebook-provides-first-of-a-kindservice-to-help-prevent-suicides. SAMHSA is a public health agency with a mission to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. Edited from a SAMHSA special report for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day IHCRC SUMMER 2012 17 News from IHCRC’s Sister Urban Clinic in OKC TV Star Mark Harmon’s Visit to Oklahoma City Indian Clinic is Harmony By David Toahty, OKCIC CDO and Steve Barse, MEd, OKCIC Community Liaison F or the fourth consecutive year, the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC) hosted television and movie actor Mark Harmon and his celebrity baseball team, the Bombers, at the 12th Annual Mark Harmon Celebrity Weekend. The annual fundraising event was presented by Oklahoma Kidz Charities founder Dr. Michael Wright. Since 2003, Mark Harmon has starred as Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the hit CBS series NCIS. The celebrity weekend event started Friday morning with Harmon and the Bombers touring the OKCIC’s newly acquired 38,000 square foot medical building, located adjacent to the main clinic. The additional building will include the Harmon-y Pediatric Clinic, as well as other clinic services. OKC CEO Robyn Sunday-Allen provided the guests with an update on the progress of “tripling the size” of the Harmon-y Pediatric Clinic. The clinic was named after Mark Harmon for his fundraising efforts that have helped provide quality health care and expand services to 4,000 children annually. The OKCIC guests were treated to three Native songs Reporter interviewing Janice Ballou, Kenwood School teacher and children’s choir director. 18 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 OKCIC Board Member Carolyn Maxwell, Mark Harmon and OKCIC Board Member John Daugherty. performed by the Kenwood School Cherokee Singers, led by teacher Janice Ballou. The children invited Harmon and the Bombers to join them in a song and then presented Harmon with a handmade Cherokee basket. Several United Keetoowah Cherokee members made the journey from northeast Oklahoma to welcome Harmon. Later that evening the fundraising began with bowling followed by silent and live auctions. During the auctions, the room became lively and the bidding was very competitive when guests competed for auction items that included Toby Keith nationwide concert packages, Oklahoma City Thunder floor tickets and luxury box seats to see a Dallas Cowboys football game. The next day followed with a Saturday afternoon baseball game where the Bombers faced Dr. Wright’s Oklahoma Sports Science and Orthopedics (OSSO) Outlaws. This year’s Bombers included Coach Chuck Olsen, Frank Marshall, Peter Dubrawski, John Sciarra, Steve Klausen, Don Manning, Barry Axelrod, Steve Klosterman, Wally Joyner, Deacon Nausler, Rick Sutcliffe, Scott Wedman, Rusty Van Dam, Jim Ryan, Mickey Hatcher and Jim Peterson. The Mark Harmon Celebrity Weekend benefits the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic and Anna’s House Foundation, a faith-based, nonprofit organization that works to develop foster homes in Oklahoma County. To learn more about the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic visit its website: okcic.com; or “Like” us at Facebook.com/ okcindianclinic or follow us on Twitter.com/okcindianclinic. Mark Harmon with Kenwood School Cherokee singers. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 19 Teddy Bear Clinic 550 S. Peoria Ave 10 am-12 noon Saturday September 8 First 125 children get a free teddy bear! What is a teddy bear clinic? Children bring their teddy bear, favorite stuffed animal or doll to get a well-bear check-up and see how everything in the clinic works. Don't worry if you forget your bear, we will have one for you. Numerous activities for the children and great door prizes for the parents. Call 918-382-1206 for more information. IHCRC Patient Satisfaction Survey Results I By: Edward E. Rogers, IHCRC Credentialing Coordinator ndian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC) takes an active interest in the quality of care and the delivery of services that’s provided at our facility. With process changes occurring regularly, we survey patients twice a year to gauge the level of patient satisfaction on issues ranging from wait time to satisfaction with our hours of operation. We want to provide transparency for our patients and funders and therefore we routinely publish the findings from these surveys. Throughout the month of March, we conducted patient satisfaction surveys throughout the clinic asking patients their opinion of how we’re doing. During that time period we received 641 completed surveys. The breakdown of the results follows. Of the 641 IHCRC patients who responded to the survey, 65.4% were women and 34.5% were men. Of those, over 52% have been a patient at IHCRC for over five years. A total of 73% of respondents had a scheduled appointment, 16.5% were walk-in patients and 10% of respondents were visiting IHCRC only to pick up a prescription. Patients completing the surveys were seeking services in the following departments the day they completed the survey: 39% from Behavioral Health, 5% from Dental, 13% from Health Education and Wellness, 32% from the Medical Department including Adult, Pediatrics, Lab and Diagnostic Imaging services, 5.5% from Optometry and 5.5% from Pharmacy. Over 39% of respondents indicated they had visited IHCRC two to five times within the past twelve months and 28% had been to our facility more than 10 times during the same time period; 85.5% of respondents indicated IHCRC is their Primary Care Provider (PCP). A total of 47% of respondents indicated their wait time between the scheduled appointment time and actually seeing the provider was less than 15 minutes and 26% responded with a wait time of 15 to 30 minutes. When asked if it is easy to get an appointment at IHCRC, 29% of patients indicated “Always,” and 40% indicated “Usually.” A total of 95% of respondents indicated the hours of operation at IHCRC are convenient for them; 95.5% felt comfortable talking to staff about their problems; 95.6% specified they felt the staff are interested in their problems and treat them with respect; and 96% stated they would recommend IHCRC‘s providers and services to their friends and family members. A total of 53% of respondents gave IHCRC an overall rating of “Excellent” and 39% rated services at IHCRC as “Good.” We would like to thank IHCRC’s Patient Billing staff for all of their hard work in getting the survey response rate up from an average of 210 respondents per quarter to a record 641 responses. This represents a 305% increase over any previous survey results. And, we certainly want to thank all of the patients who participated in the surveying process. We value your feedback and we will factor in all applicable feedback when making future changes and improvements, when feasible. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 21 September: National Recovery Month Oklahoma Prescription Painkiller Use Is Tops in the Nation Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Oklahoma ranks near the top of the list in several categories of substance abuse and addiction, bringing to light a problem that state and national authorities say is too often overlooked by the public. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Oklahoma is the No. 1 state in the nation for the percentage of persons aged 12 and older who use prescription painkillers for non-medical purposes. Oklahoma ranks among the top 10 states for prescription painkiller sales and overdose deaths. In addition to prescription drugs, Oklahomans battle addictions to methamphetamine, alcohol and other dangerous substances. Oklahoma tops all states for non-medical use of painkillers. A federal survey determined that 8.1 percent of Oklahomans age 12 and older used painkillers for nonmedical reasons during in 2009. The national average was 4.8 percent. Oklahoma’s rate was considerably higher than those of surrounding states; next in line were New Mexico and Colorado, both 5.7 percent. Oklahoma is ninth in the nation for total prescription painkiller sales Oklahoma has the ninth highest sales of prescription painkillers in the United States with 9.2 kilograms of medication sold for every 10,000 Oklahomans in 2010. Florida has the highest sales, with 12.6 kilograms of prescription painkillers sold for every 10,000 Floridians. The national average is 7.1 kilograms. According to SAMHSA, the top 10 states with the highest percentage of persons age 12 and older who use painkillers for non-medical purposes are as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Oklahoma – 8.1 % Oregon – 6.8 % Rhode Island – 6.1 % Washington – 6.1 % Arizona – 6.0 % Kentucky – 6.0 % Nevada – 5.9 % New Hampshire – 5.9 % West Virginia – 5.9 % Idaho – 5.8 % Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 22 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 A Response to the Epidemic of Prescription Drug Abuse The Office National Drug Control Policy seeks to foster healthy individuals and safe communities by leading the nation’s effort to reduce drug use and its consequences. Prescription drugs are the second-most abused category of drugs in the United States, following marijuana. When taken as directed for legitimate medical purposes, prescription drugs are safe and effective. However, they are just as dangerous and deadly as illegal drugs when used for non-medical reasons. Because prescription drugs are legal, they are easily accessible, often from a home medicine cabinet. Further, some individuals who abuse prescription drugs, particularly teens, believe these substances are safer than illicit drugs because they are prescribed by a healthcare professional. According to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health among people age 12 or older who reported using pain relievers non-medically in the past year, 70 percent got the drugs from a friend or relative (either for free, purchased, or by theft). Another 18 percent reported getting the drug from one doctor. Only about 5 percent reported obtaining pain relievers from a drug dealer or other stranger, and less than half of one-percent bought the drugs on the Internet. Among those who said they obtained pain relievers free from a friend or relative, 80 percent reported that the friend or relative had obtained the drugs from just one doctor. It is important for prescription drugs to be disposed of properly and not left where they can be easily diverted and abused. Groups at Greatest Risk Certain groups are more likely to abuse or overdose on prescription painkillers: • Many more men than women die of overdoses from prescription painkillers. • Middle-aged adults have the highest Classes of Prescription Drugs • People in rural counties are about two times as likely to overdose on prescription painkillers as people in big cities. The most commonly misused prescription drugs fall into three classes: • Opioids include oxycodone (Percocet, Tylox, OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab) and methadone (Dolophine). prescription painkiller overdose rates. • Whites and American Indian or Alaska Natives are more likely to overdose on prescription painkillers. • About 1 in 10 American Indian or Alaska Natives age 12 or older used prescription painkillers for nonmedical reasons in the past year, compared to 1 in 20 whites and 1 in 30 blacks. Top 10 states for prescription painkiller sales (kilograms per 10,000 population): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Florida – 12.6 kg Nevada – 11.8 kg Tennessee – 11.8 kg Oregon – 11.6 kg Delaware – 10.2 kg Maine – 9.8 kg Alabama – 9.7 kg West Virginia – 9.4 kg Oklahoma – 9.2 kg Washington – 9.2 kg Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • Central nervous system (CNS) depressants include butalbital (Fiorinal/Fioricet), diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax). • Stimulants include methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine/ dextroamphetamine (Adderall). Prescription Drug Abuse Fast Facts • Among 12th graders, pharmaceutical drugs used non-medically are six of the ten most used substances. • From 1998 to 2008, the proportion of all substance abuse treatment admissions age 12 or older who reported any pain reliever abuse increased more than fourfold. • Prescription painkillers are considered a major contributor to the total number of drug deaths. In 2007, Continued to page 25 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 23 National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) English and Spanish samhsa.gov/treatment 24 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 September: National Recovery Month Oklahoma Prescription Painkiller | continued from page 23 for example, nearly 28,000 Americans died from unintentional drug poisoning, and of these, nearly 12,000 involved prescription pain relievers. • Nearly one-third (29 percent) of people age 12 or older who used illicit drugs for the first time in the past year began by using prescription drugs non-medically. • According to a 2008 Department of Defense survey, about one in nine active-duty service members (11 percent) reported past-month prescription drug misuse. about the same as the number of first-time marijuana users. • The estimated number of emergency department visits linked to non-medical use of prescription pain relievers nearly doubled between 2004 and 2009. • Approximately two million adults age 50 and older (2.1 percent of adults in that age range) used prescription-type drugs nonmedically in the past year. • In 2009, the number of firsttime, non-medical users of psychotherapeutics (prescription opioid pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives, and stimulants) was • Substance abuse treatment admissions for individuals age 50 or older nearly doubled from 1992 to 2008, climbing from 6.6 percent of all admissions to 12.2 percent. Recovery Defined Nationally, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) has worked with the behavioral health field to develop a working definition of recovery that captures the essential, common experiences of those recovering from mental and substance use disorders, along with 10 guiding principles that support recovery. One of the key events that led to the current working definition of recovery was a 2010 meeting of behavioral health leaders, including mental health consumers and people in addiction recovery, who developed a draft definition and principles of recovery to reflect common elements of the recovery experience for those with mental/substance use disorders. The current working definition and principles of recovery are as follows: Recovery from Mental and Substance Use Disorders A process of change through which individuals work to improve their own health and wellbeing, live a selfdirected life, and strive to achieve their full potential. Through the Recovery Support Strategic Initiative, SAMHSA has delineated four major dimensions that are essential to a life in recovery: • Health: overcoming or managing one’s disease(s) as well as living in a physically and emotionally healthy way; • Home: a stable and safe place to live; • Purpose: meaningful daily activities, such as a job, school, volunteerism, family caretaking, or creative endeavors, and the independence, income and resources to participate in society; and • Community: relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love and hope. 10 Guiding Principles that Support Recovery • Recovery is person-driven. • Recovery occurs via many pathways. • Recovery is holistic. • Recovery is supported by peers and allies. • Recovery is supported through relationships and social networks. • Recovery is culturally based and influenced. • Recovery is supported by addressing trauma. • Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibility. • Recovery is based on respect. • Recovery emerges from hope. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 25 CHILDREN IN CARS Heatstroke Prevention Tips For Parents and Caregivers Keeping Kids SAFETY TIPS Safe Parents and caregivers are urged to take steps to remember not to leave children in vehicles. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration review of child hyperthermia cases noted that a majority of the fatalities occurred due to a change in the driver’s routine. Protect your child from the dangers of heatstroke z Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front to back – before walking away. Source: The National Highwayyour Trafficchild Safetyoff Administration (NHTSA) If you are dropping at childcare, and z normally it’s your spouse or partner who drops them off, have your spouse or partner call you to make the drop went according Yousure live by your daily routine and it to plan. Ask childcare zhelps youyour get things done.provider Be extra to What you need to know call you if your child does not show up for • Vehicles heat up quickly – even with childcare. careful, though, if you have to change a window rolled down two inches, remind yourself is in the vehicle, such as: writing zany Do partthings of thatto routine. This is morethat a child if the outside temperature is in the yourself a note and putting the note where you will see it when you leave the likely to happen when you, your low 80s Fahrenheit, the temperature vehicle; placing your purse, briefcase or something else you need in the back spouse/partner, or caregiver who helps inside a vehicle can reach deadly seat so that you will have to check the back seat when you leave the vehicle; with your children, forgets that a levels as in only 10 minutes. or keeping an object in the car seat, such a stuffed toy. When the child is childbuckled is in thein, back seat.the Thisobject can and place where •the driver will notice it when he and or she is Children’s bodies overheat easily, doesleaving happenthe when you break a wellvehicle. infants and children under four years established routine. age are among at greatest if the Never leave infants or young childrenofunattended in athose vehicle—even z riskisfor heat-related illness. windows are partly open or the engine running and the air conditioning is Disasters Happen Quickly on. • Children’s bodies absorb more heat Don’t let children play in an unattended vehicle is not a zAt other times, you are on your way on avehicle. hot day Teach than anthem adult.aAlso, play children are less able to lower their home andarea. realize you need to stop in at sweating. When a Always doors and trunksbody and heat keepbykeys out of children’s reach. If store andlock pickvehicle up one or two things body cannot sweat enough, the a child is missing, check the vehicle first, including the trunk. for dinner. So, you leave your child body temperature rises rapidly. In unattended, thinking, “I’ll just run into fact, when left in a hot vehicle, a the store for a minute,” which is illegal Additional Resources: young child’s body temperature may in many states. Even cool temperatures increase three to five times as fast 60s canHighway cause the Traffic temperature to Administration National Safety zin the an adult. High body temperatures rise www.nhtsa.dot.gov/keepingkidsafe well above 110° Fahrenheit inside can cause permanent injury or even car. The inside temperature Francisco University, can Department of Geosciences zyourSan death. rise www.ggweather.com/heat/index.htm almost 20 degrees within the first Safe Kids - www.safekids.org Dangers of Extreme Heat z10 minutes. Some children die in hot cars after Kids and Cars - www.kidsandcars.org z • Symptoms of heatstroke: Warning climbing into an unlocked vehicle signs vary but may include: red, hot, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia - www.chop.edu z without an adult’s knowledge. Once in and moist or dry skin, no sweating, the vehicle, they may become confused a strong rapid pulse or a slow by the door opening mechanism or weak pulse, a throbbing headache, trapped in the trunk, and unable to get dizziness, nausea, confusion, being out before heatstroke occurs. grouchy or acting strangely. zthe • If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call the police. If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible. Cool the child rapidly. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Prevention Tips • Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle. • Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area. • Never leave infants or children in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are partially open. • Make a habit of looking in the vehicle – front and back – before locking the door and walking away. • If you are dropping your child off at childcare, and normally it’s your spouse or partner who drops them off, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure the drop went according to plan. • Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child does not show up for childcare. • Always lock vehicle doors and trunks and keep keys out of children’s reach. If a child is missing, check the vehicle first, including the trunk. • Do things to remind yourself that a child is in the vehicle, such as: - Writing yourself a note and putting the note where you will see it when you leave the vehicle; - Placing your purse, briefcase or something else you need in the back seat so that you will have to check the back seat when you leave the vehicle; or - Keeping an object in the car seat, such as a stuffed toy. When the child is buckled in, place the object where the driver will notice it when he or she is leaving the vehicle. If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call the police. If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 27 Improving Patient Care at Indian Health Care Resource Center Changes in Clinical Care are Coming to Indian Health Care By Dr. Shea Bowling, IHCRC Pediatrician IHCRC has joined several other Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities to implement a new health care improvement process called IPC. This is a whole new way to look at the way health care is delivered to patients. IPC stands for “Improving Patient Care.” The principles of IPC encourage health facilities and providers to look at how we are doing through the eyes of our patients. The goal 28 HCRC SPRING 2012 is to provide better patient care everyday – to continuously improve with a patient-focused perspective. Through this change in the way we provide health care, we hope to improve access to appointments, decrease time in the clinic waiting for care, improve continuity (seeing the same provider each time you come in) of care, and become more efficient in the way we deliver care. At IHCRC, the Pediatrics Department is leading the effort to implement IPC. We have begun to measure how long it takes from the time you check-in at the clinic to the time you see your provider. Additionally, we are measuring how quickly you can get an appointment when you need it and if you get to see the provider you requested. These are small steps to become more patient focused. One of my favorite parts of IPC is “doing today’s work today.” This means when patients come to the clinic with a need, we will do everything we can to meet that need today. The next big step in implementation will be to improve access for appointments. To accomplish this, we will ask patients to call one month before they need a non-urgent appointment. If you have an urgent appointment, our goal is to get you in for an appointment that day. This is a very big step and we are very excited. We, of course, will be collecting data to see how the changes are working. Next on the implementation list are patient surveys. We want to improve the care we provide. We will need help from our patients to know how we need to get better. What changes could we make to improve your experience here at IHCRC? Please be looking for these in the coming months and share your ideas. Once we have collected enough data, we will start to display PDSA projects. PDSA are part of the IPC way of thinking. We look at what needs to be improved and we plan (P) what to do, then we do (D) what we think will work, then study (S) the change to see if it worked or not, lastly we act (A) change the way we do things or try again because nothing improved. Lastly, IPC will be rolled out to the other areas of the clinic once the nuts and bolts have been worked out in Pediatrics. For our patients, hopefully you will begin to see improvements in your ability to schedule an appointment when you need it and have less wait time. Shea Bowling, MD Pediatrician Dr. Shea Bowling, is known for her commitment to her patients and providing the best in healthcare, Dr. Bowling has served as the Medical Director for the University of Oklahoma’s Pediatric Clinic at the Schusterman Center in Tulsa. Dr. Bowling first came to IHCRC in May 2003 as staff pediatrician. Previously, she had worked at the Claremore Indian Hospital and the W. W. Hastings Indian Hospital in Tahlequah. She received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1999. While attending OU, Dr. Bowling received the Daniel C. Plunkett award in Pediatrics, an IHS Health Professional Scholarship, and was nationally recognized with the Humanism in Medicine award. In June 2012, Dr. Bowling received an IHS Oklahoma City Area Director’s Exceptional Individual Performance - Clinical award. Previously she has received a Crimson Apple Teaching Award from the University of Oklahoma, and an Urban Merit award and the Rookie of the Year award both from the Indian Health Service. She is a charter member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Kim Watson, APRN-CNP A Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Kim Watson earned a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Oklahoma in 2011. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Tulsa in May 2007, where she graduated on the President’s Honor Roll and Cum Laude. Ms. Watson is licensed through the Oklahoma Board of Nursing and is certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support. She is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the Sigma Theta Tau – Honor Society of Nursing. Previous to joining IHCRC, Ms. Watson was on staff at the Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis in Tulsa where she held the positions of Clinical Nurse III, Charge Nurse and Nurse Technician. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 29 WIC services at Indian Health Care Resource Center Do you have an infant or young child who is not receiving the benefits of WIC? By Edward E. Rogers, IHCRC Credentialing Coordinator If not, find out what you may be missing. Who in today’s economy couldn’t benefit from a package of nutritional foods valued at near a $100 per month for each of their children under the age of five? Interested? You and your family may qualify for the services provided by the WIC personnel working for the Cherokee Nation Women, Infants and 30 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 Children (WIC) program at Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC), located at 6th Street and Peoria Avenue. The Cherokee WIC employees are supervised by Margie Hembree, WIC Clinic Supervisor, who offices in Tahlequah. The WIC staff at IHCRC include Barbara Coppock, Dee Knight, Rebecca Nagy and Rosemary WhiteWater. The WIC program provides assistance for program categories that include infants and children under five years of age, women who are pregnant, six months postpartum or breastfeeding who are determined to be at nutritional risk by the WIC staff during the WIC assessment appointment. The WIC program provides nutritional support to eligible individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity or nationality. The healthy food benefits of the WIC program are available for all kinds of families: married and single parents, working or not working. If you are a father, mother, grandparent, foster parent or other legal guardian of a child under five, you can apply for WIC for the child. WIC is a nutrition program that provides nutrition and health education, healthy foods and breastfeeding education to eligible women, infants and children. “It never ceases to amaze me how many clients are surprised that they qualify for our services,” comments Rebecca Nagy. The food benefits participants receive from WIC are loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Card or eWIC. The eWIC card gives participants flexibility to purchase allowed foods as they need them versus the old paper voucher method of purchasing all of the foods on the paper food instrument. Continued to page 32 How to qualify for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program at Indian Health Care Resource Center Applicants for the WIC program need to provide identification and proof of income and residency. If an applicant currently receives SNAP, SoonerCare, Food Distribution Program or TANF assistance, the family members are automatically income eligible. Participants must have a nutritional need, be a child less than five years of age, be a pregnant or breastfeeding mother or have been pregnant within the past six months and have a family income less than the WIC guidelines listed below. Make a WIC appointment by calling (918) 382-1290, (918) 382-1291, (918) 382-1293 or (918) 382-1295. Walk-ins are always welcome. 550 S. Peoria, Tulsa, OK 74120 www.ihcrc.org Oklahoma WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines for 2012 Family Size Annual Income Monthly Income Twice Monthly Biweekly Weekly Income 1 $20,665 $1,723 $ 862 $ 795 $ 398 2 27,991 2,333 1,167 1,077 539 3 35,317 2,944 1,472 1,359 680 4 42,643 3,554 1,777 1,641 821 5 49,969 4,165 2,083 1,922 961 6 57,295 4,775 2,388 2,204 1,102 7 64,621 5,386 2,693 2,486 1,243 8 71,947 5,996 2,998 2,768 1,384 9 79,273 6,607 3,304 3,049 1,525 10 86,599 7,217 3,609 3,331 1,666 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 31 IHCRC Wellness Calendar Discovering Diabetes Wednesdays 2-4 pm. Classes are held at IHCRC main clinic Wellness Kitchen, 550 S. Peoria Avenue, Tulsa. Please pre-register by calling 918-382-2222. Classes are taught by IHCRC Wellness staff members Karen Rodgers, RD/LD, Diabetes Dietitian, Gabrielle Taylor RD/LD, Diabetes Dietitian, and Stacy Berg, LPC, Diabetes Case Manager. We will present information and hands-on activities for any patient that wants to learn about pre-diabetes, risk factors for diabetes, or learning how to manage life with diabetes. Discovering Diabetes Class Wednesday, July 11, 18, 25, 2-4 pm; Wednesday, August 8, 15, 22, 29, 2-4 pm Type 2 Diabetes Discussion Group - Thursday, July 5, 12, 19, 26, 10-11 am; Thurs, August 2,9,16,23,30, 10-11 am Cooking Classes Cooking classes are held at IHCRC main clinic Wellness Kitchen, 550 S. Peoria Avenue, Tulsa. Please preregister by calling 918-382-2222. Adult Heart Healthy Cooking – Friday, July 20, 11 am-12 noon; Wednesday, Aug 22, 11 am-12 noon The Case For Breakfast Thursday, July 12, 1-2 pm Farmers’ Market Tour Thursday, July 19, 4-5 pm Focus On Fiber -Tuesday, August 7, 1-2 pm Super Foods For A Super You Thursday, August 16, 1-2 pm Kid’s Cooking 101 A great opportunity for kids and parents to learn the basics of cooking safely and properly while preparing great tasting healthy snacks and dishes. Please pre-register by calling 918-382-2222. Fridays, July 27, 4-5 pm August 31, 4-5 pm 32 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 Cherokee Nation WIC program | continued from page 30 Each qualifying participant is assigned a food package based on USDA guidelines per age group of the child. “A primary objective of WIC’s emphasis on healthier foods is an attempt to eliminate iron deficiencies which directly leads to anemia. Although it has been reduced in recent years, a significant percentage of children are anemic due to the lack of proper nutrition in their diet. WIC participants have an opportunity through our program to reduce that risk and improve their overall health,” Dee Knight explains. These purchases must be made at an authorized WIC grocer. A WIC food packages for women and children include specific foods that are packed with essential nutrients, lower in fat and sugar, and higher in fiber. Food packages for women and children include milk, cheese, eggs, juice, dried beans and peas, peanut butter, whole grain foods such as 100% whole wheat bread, oatmeal, whole wheat and soft corn tortillas, and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. Applicants for the WIC program need to provide identification and proof of income and residency. If an applicant currently receives SNAP, SoonerCare, Food Distribution Program or TANF assistance, the family members are automatically income eligible. Participants must have a nutritional need, be a child less than five years of age, be a pregnant or breastfeeding mother or have been pregnant within the past six months and have a family income less than the WIC guidelines listed on page 31. A Short History of the WIC Program Source: USDA Economic Research Service The origins of WIC date back to the 1960s when the researchers began to recognize that many low-income Americans were suffering from malnutrition. Various studies identified hunger as a major problem in this country and events such as the Poor Peoples’ March on Washington DC, and the CBS documentary “Hunger in America” helped to publicize the problem. In 1969, the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health was convened with the intention of focusing national attention and resources on the problem of malnutrition and hunger due to poverty. Among the recommendations stated in the conference report was that special attention be given to the nutritional needs of low-income pregnant women and preschool children (White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health, 1970). On September 26, 1972, WIC was formally authorized by an amendment to the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Left to Right: Rosemary WhiteWater, Dee Knight, Rebecca Nagy and Barbara Coppock. Meet the Cherokee Nation WIC staff members at Indian Health Care Resource Center Barbara Coppock (Cherokee) A former restaurateur, Barbara Coppock has worked for the Cherokee Nation WIC Program for 12 years and says she’s enjoyed every minute of it because she likes to see people help themselves by participating in the WIC program. Dee Knight (Cherokee) When you pass by the WIC office of Dee Knight, you usually see and hear the sounds of happy children playing with the vintage toys that Dee has a passion for. Nutrition is most important, but the importance of play and imagination is another important aspect of a child’s early years. Coming with a background in education and nutrition, Dee is qualified to give some advice on positive ways to nourish and love a child. WIC staff attends quarterly trainings as continuing education to keep current on policies, nutrition and breastfeeding information to teach to their participants. Rebecca Nagy (Muscogee Creek) Rebecca Nagy is a knowledgeable resource for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) with the Cherokee Nation. She provides breastfeeding and nutrition education to mothers (new and experienced) and their children. She’s been with the Cherokee Nation since November 2010. Rebecca is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in nutrition. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Oklahoma. She enjoys seeing parents use the nutrition information and tools that they get from WIC staff and apply it to how they teach their children about healthy foods. “I love hearing kids talk about their favorite foods and how excited parents get telling me that their kids are eating healthier foods by choice and not coercion! I also love educating new moms about the benefits of breastfeeding and providing support throughout their breastfeeding experience,” says Rebecca. Rosemary WhiteWater (Kickapoo Sioux) Rosemary WhiteWater is a Cherokee Nation WIC staff member and has been with this program for the past 16 years. Originally from Shawnee, Oklahoma, she currently resides in Tulsa. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 33 The Who and What That’s Making News at Indian Health Care Resource Center THE PULSE OF IHCRC By Edward Rogers, IHCRC Credentialing Coordinator The IHCRC Board of Trustees, senior management and staff welcome all five of these new employees to our care team and extend our support to them as we work together to provide the very best quality health care to Tulsa area Indian people. Caring is strong medicine. Dr. Steven Ray Abernathy Behavioral Health Psychologist Steven Ray Abernathy, Ph.D. (Cherokee) joined Indian Health Care’s Behavioral Health Department as the Director of Clinical Training and staff psychologist on June 4, 2012. Dr. Abernathy comes to IHCRC from the Apalachicola Forest Youth Camp in Bristol, Florida where he served as the Clinical Services Director and Chief Psychologist in a juvenile competency program. He also maintained a private practice in psychology during this same time period. Previously Dr. Abernathy has worked as the Clinical Director and Forensic Psychologist for a medium security prison in Atlanta, Georgia, a Consulting Neuropsychologist for a Gero-psychiatric facility in Miami, Oklahoma and was the founder and owner of a private practice specializing in clinical, school and forensic psychology in Grove, Oklahoma. Dr. Abernathy earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from the Oklahoma State University (Native American program). He earned a Master of Science degree in Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University; and he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Arkansas. Dr. Abernathy has served as Adjunct Professor at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma State University and the Northeastern Oklahoma State University. Previously, he worked as a biostatistician and as health programs 34 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 director for the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, and authored the document “Special Report to Congress: Barriers to Health Care for Indians in the Oklahoma Service Area” at the request of the Indian Health Service. Dr. Abernathy is a Viet Nam war veteran, honorably discharged as a Sergeant (E-5) from the USMC in 1974. Dr. Abernathy is married to his wife of 25 years, Melissa (Chickasaw), and has two adult children and two grandchildren. Donald Wayne Miller (Cherokee) LADC – Substance Abuse Counselor Donald Wayne Miller, LADC (under supervision) joined Indian Health Care’s Behavioral Health Department as a substance abuse counselor on April 16, 2012. Mr. Miller comes to IHCRC from the Keetowah Cherokee Treatment Center and Family & Children Services of Tulsa where he served as a substance abuse therapist. He also serves as Pastor for the Lewis Avenue Free Will Baptist Church in Tulsa. Jamie Johnson, RN (Cherokee) Public Health Nurse Jamie Johnson, RN joined Indian Health Care’s Medical Department as a public health nurse on March 5, 2012. Recently IHCRC management created a new RN Case Manager position and filled it with one of the existing public health nurses, Dayna Goines, RN which created this vacancy. Ms. Johnson comes to IHCRC from the Robinson Medical Resource Group in Tulsa where she contracted her services and worked on a per diem basis primarily in the labor and delivery units throughout Oklahoma. She also worked nursery and post-partum as well. In this position she provided quality nursing care to patients Mr. Miller has extensive experience in Chemical Dependency Group Therapy, Individual Counseling, Pastoral Family Counseling, Pre-Marital Counseling and Bereavement Counseling. Mr. Miller earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Operations Management from Northeastern State University; he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Leadership Ministries from Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College; and he earned a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern Nazarene University. Mr. Miller is a member of the PSI CHI International Honor Society. including intervention, documentation, medication administration, fetal monitoring and evaluation. On a contractual basis, Ms. Johnson has previously worked at Integris Clinton Regional and Mayes County Medical Center. Per diem locations included OSU Medical Center, Integris Grove General Medical Center, St. Johns Owasso, Bailey Medical Center and Tahlequah City Hospital. Previously, Ms. Johnson worked for Cherokee Nation Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah, Oklahoma where she provided nursing services in Labor and Delivery, the Newborn Nursery and for postpartum patients. Ms. Johnson earned an Associate’s degree in Applied Science degree in Nursing from Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville. Continued to next page IHCRC SUMMER 2012 35 IHCRC General Calendar Nurturing Families Talks Held every first and third Wednesday of the month at IHCRC at 1 pm in the middle room of the Jim Cameron Event Center. • Wednesday, July 18, 2012, “Hope Pregnancy Center Services,” presented by Valeska Littlefield, Director of Hope Pregnancy Center. • Wednesday, August 1, 2012, “Birth Control Methods,” presented by Yvette Abbott, Health Educator, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland. • Wednesday, August 15, 2012, “Getting the Most Out of Your Dollar,” presented by Susan Dudley, IHCRC Maternal & Early Childhood Case Manager. • Wednesday, September 5, 2012, “Parents As Teachers,” presented by Chris Miracle, Lead Parent Educator, CAP. • Wednesday, September 19, 2012, “Breast Feeding,” presented by Karen Stockwell, Lactation Consultant, Hillcrest. • • Wednesday, October 3, 2012, “Tulsa Works Program,” presented by Sabrina Ware, Tulsa Works Coordinator, Goodwill Industries of Tulsa. Wednesday, October 17, 2012, “Nurturing Families Halloween Carnival”. 36 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 The Who and What | continued from page 35 Brenda Howell (Creek) Dental Assistant Brenda Howell joined Indian Health Care’s dental team as a dental assistant on May 3, 2012. She comes to IHCRC from the Tulsa dental offices of Dr. Barnum where she worked as a dental assistant and supervisor. Previously she has worked for Oklahoma Smiles Dental Center as a dental assistant and for Prague Dental located in Prague, Oklahoma where she also worked as a dental assistant. Ms. Howell is a graduate of Platt College where she earned a Dental Assistant Certification. She had the distinction of graduating as a member of the Director’s Honor Roll and also receiving a Key 95 Attendance Club for perfect attendance. Chad Stanton (Choctaw) Activity Specialist Chad Stanton (Choctaw) joined Indian Health Care’s Health Education and Wellness Department as an activity specialist on April 2, 2012. Mr. Stanton has over 12 years of professional health promotion, fitness and wellness experience. He comes to IHCRC from Tulsa Community College where he served most recently as the Fitness Center Manager and previously as the Fitness Center Specialist and as a member of the adjunct faculty. Mr. Stanton successfully completed a health and wellness internship at East Central University where he also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Counseling. He obtained an Associate’s degree in Arts from Carl Albert State College. Staff at IHCRC to be recognized for service with IHS awards By: Edward E. Rogers, Credentialing Coordinator The Oklahoma City Indian Health Service (IHS)Area Director’s Awards Ceremony will be held July 19, 2012 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. These annual awards are given as a means to honor and recognize Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service, Tribal and Urban (I/T/U) employees whose outstanding performances and hard work have improved the health and quality of life of American Indian and Alaska Native people. The Oklahoma City Indian Health Service Area includes all the I/T/U facilities within Oklahoma, Kansas and part of Texas. Judy Gibson, Indian Health Care CFO, has served on the IHS awards planning committee for several years. “I enjoy being a part of a group that facilitates recognition for staff members from all facilities throughout the OKC service area who have gone above and beyond in their work performances, regardless of their roles. It’s a very meaningful way to show appreciation to these individuals who work so hard throughout the year. There are so many worthy, deserving nominees, I hate that we are unable to recognize them all,” said Judy. Indian Health Care’s staff makes every effort to provide quality services and exceptional care for the Native American population in the Tulsa and surrounding areas. Judy explained “IHCRC is proud that our staff has historically made a good showing at this event. We have a great team and we believe they deserve to be recognized for all they do.” This year is no exception. We are very proud to announce the following staff members who will receive recognition at this year’s ceremony: Jennie Howard, Courtney Barkley and the late Steve Eberle) Congratulations to all of the IHCRC staff who were nominated and to those who will receive awards in July. Good job! Well done. Below: Judy Gibson, Indian Health Care CFO. • Deni Fholer, LMSW, Medical Case Manager – Area Director’s Individual Excellence in Customer Service Award and Peer Recognition award • Emily Bolusky, Public Relations Manager – Merit Award • Shea Bowling, MD, Pediatrician – Exceptional Individual Performance – Clinical award • Deanna Holman, CPA, Accounting Supervisor – Area Director’s Lifetime Achievement Award • IHCRC’s School & Community Gardening Program - Exceptional Group Performance Award Health Promotion & Wellness Award (Group members: Nancy O’Banion, Kevin Heeney, Tim Shadlow, IHCRC SUMMER 2012 37 Understanding the Symptoms and Implications of Prediabetes By Kay Meek, RD/LD, IHCRC Dietitian Prediabetes is when a person’s blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a physician to diagnose the condition as diabetes. The condition used to be called borderline diabetes. Most people with prediabetes don’t have symptoms, but they have a high risk of eventually developing diabetes and may have some problems from diabetes already. However, there is good news. People who have prediabetes have the opportunity to improve their health and delay – or even prevent diabetes. Healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy foods, being physically active and losing a modest amount of weight can bring sugar levels back to normal. Symptoms People with prediabetes often do not have symptoms, so it’s important to follow the screening guidelines for people at risk. People diagnosed with diabetes often have symptoms such as frequent urination and excessive thirst, lack of energy, weight loss, constant hunger and blurred vision. Causes The exact cause of prediabetes is unknown, although family history, excess abdominal fat and inactivity 38 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 seem to be important factors in the development of prediabetes. What is clear is that people who have prediabetes aren’t processing sugar (glucose) properly anymore. This causes sugar to build up in the bloodstream instead of doing its normal job of fueling the cells that make up muscles and other tissues. Most of the glucose in your body comes from the foods you eat that contain carbohydrates. Any food that Studies show that most people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years if they don’t make some lifestyle changes. eat, insulin enters your bloodstream from your pancreas. Insulin acts like a key that unlocks the doors that allow sugar to enter your cells. When you have prediabetes, the balance between glucose and insulin has been thrown off. Instead of fueling your cells, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. The pancreas may not be able to produce enough insulin after a meal to “clear” the incoming glucose from the blood. Or cells may be insulin resistant. When cells are insulin resistant, they won’t allow the insulin to escort glucose from the bloodstream to them. Too much glucose in the blood is also called high blood sugar or hyperglycemia. Risk Factors Those who should be regularly screened for prediabetes include overweight adults age 45 and older and those under age 45 who are overweight and who have one or more of the following risk factors: • They are physically inactive. contains carbohydrates can affect your blood sugar levels, not just sweets. During digestion, sugar enters your bloodstream and with the help of insulin is then absorbed into the body’s cells to give them energy. When you • They have had previous high blood glucose levels. • They have a family history of diabetes. • They are members of high risk ethnic populations (including Asian Americans, African-Americans, Latinos and American Indians). • They have had gestational diabetes or have given birth to a baby weighting more than 9 pounds. • They have elevated blood pressure. • They have an HDL cholesterol level (the “good” cholesterol) of 35 mg/dl or lower and/or a triglyceride level of 250mg/dl or higher. • They have polycystic ovary syndrome. Prediabetes usually occurs in adults who are middle-aged or older. But a worrisome increase in the number of children and teenagers who are overweight has led to an increase in the condition among younger people. Children who are overweight and have two of the following risk factors should be screened: children be screened beginning at age 10 or at the onset of puberty. If the test is normal, they should be screened again in two years. • They have a family history of type 2 diabetes. Complications • They are a member of a highrisk population (including Asian Americans, African-Americans, Latinos and American Indians). • They show signs of insulin resistance, including acanthosis nigricans (velvety brownish-gray skin patches that are often on the neck or in skin folds). The American Diabetes Association recommends that high-risk Studies show that most people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years if they don’t make some lifestyle changes. They also have a higher risk of developing heart disease. Type 2 diabetes complications include: heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and amputations. Continued to next page IHCRC SUMMER 2012 39 IHCRC Wellness Calendar continued Understanding Prediabetes | continued from page 39 Heart Savers Do you have diabetes? To learn more about how to become a participant in the Heart Savers Program for Type II Diabetes, call Stacy Berg, CVD Case Manager at 918-382-2228. Tobacco Cessation IHCRC main clinic Wellness Kitchen, 550 S. Peoria. The IHCRC Health and Wellness Department offers a six-week smoking cessation class. We ask participants to attend all six sessions. Interested participants are eligible to receive Chantix® nicotine replacement therapy patches if they attend at least four of the six sessions. IHCRC will see patients on a one-on-one basis as well, if schedule permits. Contact the Wellness Department at 918-382-2222 for more information. Fit Kids Healthy Futures Camps July 16-20 Grades 1-4 July 23-27 Grades 5-8 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Preparing Native kids to live strong and healthy futures! Our goal is to teach kids how to make the healthy choice the easy choice. These camps will offer a combination of fitness, circuit training, sports, experiential learning, traditional Indian games, garden and nutrition lessons, and more! There’s something fun for everyone. Each group will also take a special field trip as well. Location: Clinton Middle School, 2224 West 41st Street, Tulsa. Call Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa at 918-382-2219 or 382-2218 for questions. Tests and Diagnosis Blood tests are commonly used to determine if you have diabetes or prediabetes. A blood test called glycated hemoglobin (A1c) indicates your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. It works by measuring the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. The higher your blood sugar levels, the more hemoglobin you’ll have with sugar attached. An A1c level between 5.7 and 6.4 is considered prediabetes. Treatment Prediabetes should not be ignored. If you have prediabetes, healthy lifestyle choices can help you bring your blood sugar level back to normal or at least keep it from rising toward the levels seen in type 2 diabetes. If prediabetes does become type 2 diabetes, these lifestyle changes – nutrition, activity, weight loss and blood pressure control – build the platform for managing diabetes for life: • Eat healthy foods. Choose foods low in fat and calories and high in fiber. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Variety can help you achieve your goals without giving up taste or nutrition. • Get more physical activity. Find 40 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 an activity you enjoy doing and aim for 30 to 60 minutes a day 5 days a week. It’s okay to break up your activity into smaller sessions throughout the day. • Lose some weight. Losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Focus on permanent changes to your eating and activity habits. Motivate yourself by remembering the benefits of weight loss, such as a healthier heart, more energy and improved self-esteem. • Take medications as needed. Ask your doctor about medications you should be taking including those to control cholesterol and high blood pressure. Prevention Healthy lifestyle choices can help you prevent prediabetes and its progression to type 2 diabetes – even if diabetes runs in your family. You can lower your risk of developing diabetes by making changes in your lifestyle. Ask your doctor if you should be screened for prediabetes. Your doctor might refer you to a dietitian to help you make healthy lifestyle changes. You may find more information at www.diabetes.org or contact Kay Meek, RD/LD at (918) 382-2226 or [email protected]. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 41 Are Healthy Foods Really More Expensive? It Depends on How You Measure the Price Published by the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-96) May 2012 Most Americans consume diets that fall short of the recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010. A common perception is that diets consistent with the recommendations are not affordable. This perception may be influenced by studies that found many healthy foods to cost more per calorie than less healthy foods. This is one way, but not the only way, to measure the cost of a healthy diet. 42 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 For a balanced assessment, this study compares the prices of healthy and less healthy foods using three price measures: the price per calorie, per edible gram, and per average portion. Study authors Andrea Carlson and Elizabeth Frazão also calculated the daily cost of meeting the food group recommendations on the ChooseMyPlate.gov website. For this study healthy foods were defined as food items that contain an amount of a food in at least one of the major food groups (vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and protein foods) and contain only moderate amounts of saturated fats, added sugars and sodium. What Were the Major Findings of the Study? The study found that the type of measure used to rate the price of food items has a large effect on which foods are more expensive: • Foods low in calories for a given weight appear to have a higher price when the price is measured per calorie. For example, vegetables and fruits, which are low in calories, tend to be a relatively expensive way to purchase food energy. • Conversely, less healthy foods (or “moderation foods”) – especially those high in saturated fat and added sugar – tend to be high in calories and to have a low price per calorie. • When measured on the basis of edible weight or average portion size, grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy foods are less expensive than most protein foods and foods high in saturated fat, added sugars, and/or sodium. Cost of Meeting Dietary Recommendations None of the metrics discussed above provide information on how much it would cost to meet Federal dietary recommendations. So the researchers translated the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010) into more consumerfriendly recommendations about the types and amounts of foods to consume. For the study, price per cup or ounce equivalent was used to esti¬mate the cost of meeting the food group recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. This metric provides a guide to consumers and policymakers on the range of prices consumers might face in meeting each of the food group recommendations. In summary, the study provides important information for understanding the cost of using healthy versus less healthy foods to fully meet dietary recommendations. For example, an average portion of potato chips might be cheaper than an average portion of baked potato, but if it takes two average portions of potato chips to make up a cup equivalent of starchy vegetables, then the baked potato might be a cheaper way to meet the recommendation. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 43 The Fit Kids Healthy Futures Camp will take place IHCRC is offering another great year of summer camps for Native children in grades 1-8. A new addition to the program in 2012 was “Native Cultural Camp.” This camp was developed at the request of parents who want their children to learn more about their Indian heritage at our camps. At Native Cultural Camp, the children learned how to play stickball through instruction provided by the Cherokee Nation. They also learned to make moccasins and listened to a traditional storyteller. The highlight of the week was a set of field trips to the Cherokee Nation, the Creek Nation and the Osage Nation. Campers learned about the history and culture of the three tribes. Campers attended the Wellness Adventures Camp at the Tulsa Public Schools HelmZar Challenge Course. Campers enjoyed the team building games and activities and learned about diabetes prevention and nutrition. The high elements are the favorite part of camp, in which campers are allowed to choose their level of challenge. When asked about 44 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 their favorite part, campers always say, “The zip line was the best part!” Broken Arrow Indian Education program requested IHCRC to bring our camps to Haskell Middle School for two sessions. The campers learned to make stickball sticks from the Cherokee Nation staff. Campers also participated in physical fitness activities, experiential learning games and traditional Indian games. in late July. These camps focus on physical activity, nutrition, diabetes prevention, games and activities. The youth will also learn about growing plants and gardening, learning how to grow healthy food. Campers at all camps receive healthy lunches and snacks. Summer camps are provided at no cost to Native American children in the Tulsa area through the support of IHCRC and generous donors. Below: Broken Arrow Youth Camp. Broken Arrow Camp where kids made sticks with which to play stickball. Kayaking at Spring Lake in Sand Springs during Wellness Adventures Camp. Native Cultural Camp where kids learned the game of stickball and other traditional Indian ways. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 45 Health & Wellness Classes Classes below are held at the IHCRC Wellness Kitchen, 550 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa. Please pre-register by calling 918-382-2222. Classes limited to clinic patients ages 18 and over with the exception of Kid’s Cooking 101 where kids are welcome. Class registrations left by voicemail will not be accepted. July The Case For Breakfast* Thursday, July 12 1-2 pm Farmers’ Market Tour and Adult Heart Healthy Cooking Tour – Thursday, July 19 Class – Friday, July 20 Kid’s Cooking 101 Friday, July 27 4-5 pm Discovering Diabetes Class Wednesday, July 11, 18, 25 2-4 pm Type 2 Diabetes Discussion Group Thursday, July 5, 12, 19, 26 10-11 am 4-5 pm 11 am-12 noon August Focus On Fiber Tuesday, Aug. 7 1-2 pm Super Foods For A Super You* Thursday, Aug. 16 1-2 pm Adult Heart Healthy Cooking Wednesday, Aug. 22 Kid’s Cooking 101 Friday, Aug. 31 4-5 pm Discovering Diabetes Class Wednesday, Aug. 8, 15, 22, 29 2-4 pm Type 2 Diabetes Discussion Group Thursday, Aug. 2,9,16, 23, 30 11 am-12 noon 10-11 am *Please do not register for this class if you previously attended, which will allow others to attend. 42 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 Parents: Schedule an oral health exam for your young child today! Dr. Arthur Holleman with patient. The IHCRC Dental Department encourages Native American parents to schedule an appointment for an oral health exam for their children. Children as young a one year old can be seen. All children and adults are encouraged to get an oral health exam every six months. The Indian Health Care pediatric oral health program places priority on providing preventive and corrective oral health care to prevent disease and reduce tooth loss. The prevention of tooth and gum problems is emphasized by promoting regular check-ups at the clinic before problems develop. At each pediatric oral health screening session, a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) will clean and examine the patient’s teeth for caries, gum disease and any pediatric developmental issues. The dental hygienist and dentist will conduct a dental hygiene plan of care (assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation and evaluation). The dentist will discuss with the child and the parent any corrective procedure that may be needed and why. When treatment needs are identified, an appointment will be scheduled for the child with an IHCRC dentist. Dr. Arthur Holleman, IHCRC Dental Director, explains, “Early intervention is important to prevent and manage Early Childhood Caries (ECC, also known as early childhood tooth decay). ECC is the most common chronic disease of childhood and can lead not only to pain and loss of teeth but it also affects Continued to page 56 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 47 Minority Health Community Partner Profile Helping to Build a Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit for All F or more than 100 years in Tulsa the YMCA has been implementing and conducting programs that teach the four core values of respect, honesty, caring and responsibility to YMCA members and program participants. These values are reflected in the youth 48 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 programs offered at YMCA locations this summer. Youth programs vary from location to location, making for a good variety of selections for families and kids alike. Two of the YMCA locations – the W.L. Hutcherson Family Branch and the Westside YMCA are within the zip codes that are supported by Indian Health Care’s Office of Minority Health (OMH) grant. Via a contract with the YMCA, IHCRC provides OMH grant funds to help support the summer programming offered at these two locations. Lamar Brown, Executive Director of the YMCA W.L. Hutcherson Family Branch, said the programs offered this summer place a strong emphasis on youth and teens. Some of the programs offered at the YMCA Hutcherson branch include a youth basketball program, swim lessons, family time activities and canoeing and additional activities from which they can choose. The 13-17 year old campers attend the Counselors in Training Camp, which is a 9-week program involving shadowing counselors, learning about different jobs at the YMCA, performing Fort Gibson Lake where campers participate in activities similar to those at Day Camp, providing them with a varied choice of activities from which to choose. One of the greatest attributes of the camp is a scholarship program to ensure that no child is turned away Respect. Honesty. Caring. Responsibility. a Youth Leadership Program. The Youth Leadership Program is held by Friends of Greenwood for Tulsa Master’s International. This eight-week program teaches life skills such as public speaking and job interview preparation to youth ages 10-16. The Hutcherson branch is not offering summer camps this year, however they are raising money for their Strong Kids campaign to provide scholarships for summer camp next year. Summer camps will be a main component of youth activities offered by the Westside YMCA branch. The Westside branch offers two different summer camps – the Westside Day Camp and the Takatoka Residence Camp. The Westside day camp is open to youth ages 5-17 and takes place over a 14-week period. The campers are placed into one of two camps, depending on their age. The 5-12 year olds attend a traditional day camp and are given a daily schedule of activities consisting of archery, swimming, fishing, teambuilding activities and preparing campers for the workforce. The Westside YMCA branch is unique in that it has various outdoor facilities that the campers can use to enhance their learning experiences including a lake, a ropes course, a zip line, volleyball courts, archery space and more. Specialty camps are also available for campers with specific areas of interest. Last year, the Westside branch held an Iron Chef Camp and the participants visited the IHCRC kitchen, a local food pantry and local restaurants to be educated on food safety and preparation. This summer one of the specialty camps is a basketball camp, which will kick off with the Tulsa Shock basketball team making a visit to the Westside YMCA, followed by the kids making a trip to see a Tulsa Shock basketball game. These events will hopefully inspire the campers to work hard to achieve their dreams. Camp Takatoka is an overnight camp held on property next to due to inability to pay. The Strong Kids Campaign, which is funded by donations from local companies, YMCA staff and community members, provided $150,000 last year alone in scholarship funds to help children attend the Westside Day Camp and Camp Takatoka. Westside Day Camp Director Nicole Thompson states that one of the most rewarding outcomes of the camp is the story of one child who was having difficulty with learning and behavior in school when he entered camp. He started attending the YMCA summer camp and afterschool program and after working one on one with members of the YMCA he was able to get back into a regular second grade class, his behavior problems had resolved, and he had a positive shift in his mentality. Ms. Thompson is passionate about her job at the YMCA and strongly supports the YMCA mission with programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 49 I WILL NOT BE PART OF THE GENERATION XXL At Indian Health Care Resource Center we are committed to make sure our children are strong and healthy. Children can easily gain too much weight, and run the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease at a young age. Our team of health educators can help you and your family make healthy lifestyle choices, so everyone is strong and healthy! For information about our youth wellness programs, call2012 918-382-2217 or 918-382-2220. 50please IHCRC SUMMER 550 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa, OK 74120. What Is Big Brothers Big Sisters Native American Mentoring? By Brian Carr, Recruiter, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma For at least 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has focused on the belief that all children are capable of being successful and prospering in life. As the nation’s biggest volunteer and donor backed coaching community, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) strives to help children meet their potential. This goal is obtained through matching adult mentors and kids, aged six to eighteen, in neighborhoods around the nation. It creates constructive relationships that have enduring and immediate impacts on the young people’s lives. BBBS vision is for all kids to attain success in life while it hopes to supply kids dealing with difficulties with long lasting and powerful, one-on-one relationships, which can alter their lives for the better. By joining up with guardians/parents, volunteers and other people in the neighborhood, the center is responsible for every kid in its program. With a community of supporters, partners and donors Big Brothers Big Sisters is located in all fifty states. Big Brothers Big Sisters focuses on the kids, whom are the neediest including those dealing with parental incarceration, growing up in poverty and residing in single parent households. To begin the whole process, the center starts with searching for an excellent match between a Little and a Big. Big Brothers Big Sisters manages various unique programs to assist in fulfilling the requirements of areas facing difficulties. These programs assist in concentrating the work with partners and contributors in prospecting new Bigs, support communities affected by conditions like military deployment or parental incarceration, and fulfill the requirements of typically underserved areas. Native American Mentoring Project Big Brothers Big Sisters understands how essential it is for Native American kids to have good role models in their lives. Volunteers who realize their conditions assist them so that they can look forward to a more optimistic future. This is primarily the reason why the center has developed the Big Brothers Big Sisters Native American Mentoring Project in order to sponsor and motivate a higher number of Native American kids and adults to get involved. The program is managed under the assistance of American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) Advisors and elders, area organizations and AIAN BBBS board members to help ensure programmatic methods are self-sufficient, ideal and culturally appropriate. Big Brothers Big Sisters one-on-one matches are the driving force behind generating influence on kids. A Big Brothers Big Sisters match is meticulously implemented and kept to the strictest specifications. An agency staff aims for matches that are not only suitable and dependable to every kid’s requirements, but also beneficial and developed to last. The whole matching process, from the preliminary screening to the ultimate pairing, is made feasible through monetary assistance from donors. It also offers continuous assistance and guidance not only to the Big and to the Little, but to each of their family as well. Training, as well as guidance, is provided to help guarantee that the match is functioning for everybody concerned. Source: http://www.bbbs.org/ Native_American_Mentoring IHCRC SUMMER 2012 51 August is National Immunization Awareness Month School Starts Soon – Is Your Child Fully Vaccinated? Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention In August, and throughout the year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourage parents to make sure that children of all ages receive all their vaccinations on time. Keeping up-to-date with immunizations is one of the most important things parents can do to ensure their children’s long-term health – as well as the health of friends, classmates and others in the community. Because children are particularly vulnerable to infection, most vaccines are given during the first five to six years of life. Some immunizations are recommended throughout adolescent and adult years. country in 2010. Twenty-six deaths were reported – 22 of these deaths in the U.S were in children younger than one year old. From January 1 to May 20, 2011, there were 118 cases of measles reported in the United States – more than any year since 1996. Measles comes into the United States from countries where the disease still circulates, including many European countries. Measles spreads easily and it can be serious, causing hospitalization and even death. Young children are at highest risk for serious complications from measles. Avoiding vaccinepreventable diseases It’s true that some vaccinepreventable diseases have become very rare thanks to vaccines. However, outbreaks still happen. For example, preliminary data from the CDC showed more than 21,000 cases of “whooping cough” (pertussis) in this FIGURE 1: Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 0 through 6 years—United States, 2012 (for those who fall behind or start late, see the catch-up schedule [Figure 3]) Vaccine ▼ Age ► Birth Hep B Hepatitis B1 1 month 2 months 4 months 6 months HepB 9 months 12 months 15 months RV RV2 DTaP DTaP DTaP Haemophilus influenzae type b Hib Hib Hib Hib Pneumococcal5 PCV PCV PCV PCV Inactivated poliovirus6 IPV IPV Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis3 4 19–23 months 2–3 years 4–6 years HepB RV Rotavirus2 18 months Influenza7 Measles, mumps, rubella8 Varicella9 Hepatitis A10 Meningococcal11 DTaP see footnote3 4 Range of recommended ages for all children DTaP PPSV IPV IPV Range of recommended ages for certain high-risk groups Influenza (Yearly) MMR see footnote8 MMR Varicella see footnote9 Varicella Dose 110 MCV4 — see footnote 11 HepA Series Range of recommended ages for all children and certain highrisk groups This schedule includes recommendations in effect as of December 23, 2011. Any dose not administered at the recommended age should be administered at a subsequent visit, when indicated and feasible. The use of a combination vaccine generally is preferred over separate injections of its equivalent component vaccines. Vaccination providers should consult the relevant Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) statement for detailed recommendations, available online at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/acip-list.htm. Clinically significant adverse events that SUMMER followIHCRC vaccination should be 2012 reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) online (http://www.vaers.hhs.gov) or by telephone (800-822-7967). 52 1. 7. Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine. (Minimum age: birth) At birth: • Administer monovalent HepB vaccine to all newborns before hospital discharge. Influenza vaccines. (Minimum age: 6 months for trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine [TIV]; 2 years for live, attenuated influenza vaccine [LAIV]) • For most healthy children aged 2 years and older, either LAIV or TIV may be Required Immunizations for Oklahoma School Children As you help your kids get ready for school, make sure they are fully vaccinated. Web tools from CDC can help parents and doctors keep children up-to-date with the vaccines they need and protected from serious diseases. All children entering kindergarten through the 12th grade in Oklahoma are required to have: • 2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine • 2 or 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine (adolescents 11 through 15 years of age can receive a two-dose series) • 4 or 5 doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine • 3 or 4 doses of polio vaccine • 2 doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine Children birth to age six During the early years of life, children are recommended to get vaccines to protect them from 14 diseases that can be serious, even life-threatening. Parents who choose not to vaccinate their own children increase the risk of disease not only for their children, but also for other children and adults throughout the entire community. For example, vulnerable newborns too young to have received the maximum protection from the recommended doses of vaccines or people with weakened immune systems such as some people with cancer and transplant recipients are also at higher risk of disease. Flu vaccines are recommended for kids in pre-school and elementary school to help keep them healthy. In fact, all children six months and older should get flu vaccines. Getting all of your children vaccinated – as well as other family members and caregivers – also can help protect infants younger than six months old. Ask your family doctor • 1 dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or nurse about getting flu shots or the nasal spray to protect them against flu. Parents can find out what vaccines their children need and when the doses should be given by reviewing the nationally recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule at: cdc.gov/ vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/child.html Children and teens age 7 to 18 years Older children need vaccines, too! Of course, everyone older than six months of age is recommended to receive a yearly flu vaccination, and older children are no exception! It’s important to know that flu can be serious, even for healthy young people. So older kids should get at least one flu shot every year. As kids get older, they are more at risk for catching diseases, like meningococcal meningitis, so they need protection that vaccines provide. The recommended immunization schedule is regularly updated to include new vaccines and reflect current research. So, it has probably changed since your child was first immunized. Specific vaccines, like human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV), are recommended to be given during the preteen (11-12) years and teen (13-18) years. If kids don’t get these vaccines on time, they should get caught up as soon as possible. For other diseases, like whooping cough, the protection from vaccine doses received in childhood wears off over time. That’s why 11- and 12-year-olds are also recommended to get the booster shot called Tdap. Teens – and adults, too – who have not gotten Tdap should get this booster as soon as possible. Tdap is a version of the DTaP vaccine given to infants and young children. CDC provides an immunization schedule for people ages 7 through 18 years for parents and doctors to protect children and teens from vaccine-preventable disease; follow this link to view the schedule: cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/ easy-to-read/preteen-teen.html FIGURE 2: Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 7 through 18 years—United States, 2012 (for those who fall behind or start late, see the schedule below and the catch-up schedule [Figure 3]) Vaccine ▼ Age ► 7–10 years 11–12 years 13–18 years 1 dose (if indicated) 1 dose 1 dose (if indicated) Human papillomavirus2 see footnote2 3 doses Complete 3-dose series Meningococcal See footnote3 Dose 1 Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis1 3 See footnote 5 Pneumococcal5 Hepatitis A6 Booster at 16 years old Influenza (yearly) Influenza 4 Complete 2-dose series Hepatitis B7 Complete 3-dose series Inactivated poliovirus8 Complete 3-dose series Measles, mumps, rubella9 2-dose series Complete 2-Dose Series Varicella10 Complete 2-dose series Range of recommended ages for all children Range of recommended ages for catch-up immunization Range of recommended ages for certain high-risk groups This schedule includes recommendations in effect as of December 23, 2011. Any dose not administered at the recommended age should be administered at a subsequent visit, when indicated and feasible. The use of a combination vaccine generally is preferred over separate injections of its equivalent component vaccines. Vaccination providers should consult the relevant Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) statement for detailed recommendations, available online at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/ IHCRConline SUMMER 2012 pubs/acip-list.htm. Clinically significant adverse events that follow vaccination should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) (http://www. vaers.hhs.gov) or by telephone (800-822-7967). 1. Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. • For children aged 6 months through 8 years: 53 10 tips Nutrition Education Series smart shopping for veggies and fruits 10 tips for affordable vegetables and fruits It is possible to fit vegetables and fruits into any budget. Making nutritious choices does not have to hurt your wallet. Getting enough of these foods promotes health and can reduce your risk of certain diseases. There are many low-cost ways to meet your fruit and vegetable needs. 1 celebrate the season Use fresh vegetables and fruits that are in season. They are easy to get, have more flavor, and are usually less expensive. Your local farmer’s market is a great source of seasonal produce. 2 7 stick to your list 8 Plan out your meals ahead of time and make a grocery list. You will save money by buying only what you need. Don’t shop when you’re hungry. Shopping after eating will make it easier to pass on the tempting snack foods. You’ll have more of your food budget for vegetables and fruits. 4 try canned or frozen Compare the price and the number of servings from fresh, canned, and frozen forms of the same veggie or fruit. Canned and frozen items may be less expensive than fresh. For canned items, choose fruit canned in 100% fruit juice and vegetables with “low sodium” or “no salt added” on the label. 5 For fresh vegetables or fruits you use often, a large size bag is the better buy. Canned or frozen fruits or vegetables can be bought in large quantitites when they are on sale, since they last much longer. why pay full price? Check the local newspaper, online, and at the store for sales, coupons, and specials that will cut food costs. Often, you can get more for less by visiting larger grocery stores (discount grocers if available). 3 6 buy small amounts frequently Some fresh vegetables and fruits don’t last long. Buy small amounts more often to ensure you can eat the foods without throwing any away. buy in bulk when items are on sale store brands = savings Opt for store brands when possible. You will get the same or similar product for a cheaper price. If your grocery store has a membership card, sign up for even more savings. keep it simple Buy vegetables and fruits in their simplest form. Pre-cut, pre-washed, ready-to-eat, and processed foods are convenient, but often cost much more than when purchased in their basic forms. 9 plant your own Start a garden—in the yard or a pot on the deck—for fresh, inexpensive, flavorful additions to meals. Herbs, cucumbers, peppers, or tomatoes are good options for beginners. Browse through a local library or online for more information on starting a garden. 10 plan and cook smart Prepare and freeze vegetable soups, stews, or other dishes in advance. This saves time and money. Add leftover vegetables to casseroles or blend them to make soup. Overripe fruit is great for smoothies or baking. DG TipSheet No. 9 June 2011 United States Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion 54 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 Go to www.ChooseMyPlate.gov for more information. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records The Indian Health Service has long been a pioneer in using computer technology to capture clinical and public health data. The Indian Health Service (IHS) clinical information system used by medical staff to manage health records is called the Resource and Patient Management System (RPMS). Its development began nearly 30 years ago. The Patient Care Component of RPMS was launched in 1984. The RPMS Electronic Health Record (EHR) graphical user interface represents the next phase of clinical software development for the IHS. The IHS Electronic Health Record is intended to help providers manage all aspects of patient care electronically, by providing a full range of functions for data retrieval to support patient review, encounter and follow-up. By moving data retrieval and documentation activities to the electronic environment, patient care activities and access to the record are able to occur simultaneously at multiple locations without dependence on availability of a paper chart. Meaningful Use The goal of meaningful use of EHRs is to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of care. Meaningful use of EHRs can improve health care processes through the use of software applications that provide secure access to health information for both patients and providers, the ability to document patient care services, clinical decision support, performance reporting and exchange of information with other providers of care. Meaningful use of EHRs will help clinicians make better decisions and avoid preventable errors. Systems such as these help avoid preventable errors and allow for making better and more consistent decisions. The vision which drives the achievement of meaningful use of EHR is one in which patients are fully engaged in their healthcare, providers have real-time access to all medical information and tools to help ensure the quality and safety of the care provided. EHRs also can facilitate improved access and elimination of health care disparities. The intent of meaningful use is to use EHR technology to: • Improve quality, safety and efficiency of health care to reduce health disparities • Engage patients and their families in their health care • Improve coordination of care • Improve population and public health • Maintain privacy and security of patient information The Indian Health Service has become the first federal agency to have its health information system certified for meaningful use based upon criteria established by the Department of Health and Human Services. The IHS RPMS is a comprehensive health information system that supports the patient care and public health mission of IHS. The IHS provides health care to a service population of 2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who reside in 35 states. The RPMS EHR is operational at over 280 IHS, tribal and urban Indian health care facilities nationwide. IHCRC SUMMER 2012 55 IHCRC General Calendar Schedule an Oral Exam | continued from page 47 IHCRC Clinic closings Monthly Staff Training – Closed the first Wednesday morning of every month; clinic opens at 1:00 pm on the first Wednesday of the month. Native Nations Youth Council Monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month. Dinner meeting is held with the Tulsa Indian Community Advisory Team from 6-7 pm. Drum Group Practice from 7-8 pm. Meetings are held at the IHCRC Satellite Office, 1630 S. Main St. For more information call Tamara Newcomb at 918-382-2205 or send an email to [email protected]. Teddy Bear Clinic IHCRC, 550 S. Peoria. Mark your calendars for the 2012 IHCRC Teddy Bear Clinic on Saturday, September 8 from 10 am-12 noon. Call 918-382-1206 for more information. 56 IHCRC SUMMER 2012 self-esteem, speech development, nutrition and school attendance. “Over 50 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native children between ages two to five years old have ECC. Here at IHCRC, we recommend scheduling a dental appointment for your child soon after their first teeth erupt. At this visit the dentist will check for any disturbances in development and discuss proper oral hygiene and diet for your child. The goal is to avoid early childhood tooth decay by stressing prevention as early as possible.” Prevention and diagnosis services provided by the dental hygienist include dental screening (routine oral health exam, including taking and interpreting oral digital x-rays) and conducting an oral health assessment of carries, baby bottle tooth decay, developmental eruption patterns and any periodontal disease. During your child’s visit to the dental clinic at IHCRC, the dental hygienist will conduct teeth cleaning and removal of plaque, calculus and stains from the surfaces of the teeth. Application of dental sealants, fluoride and tooth polishing can also be performed as a preventive measure to control the future accretion of plaque and tartar. Patient education on oral hygiene will be provided on brushing and flossing techniques, a review of healthy nutritional guidelines and sports safety. Oral health education includes the promotion of sound nutritional habits to avoid excessive consumption of sugared beverages and foods. Comprehensive health services offered at no cost to you Medical Care By working closely together with our medical staff, you can improve your quality of life, prevent potential health problems, manage chronic health conditions and reduce health risks. Women’s health care includes prenatal care, family planning and mammography. Lab, X-ray and Mammography An in-house lab, x-ray and mammography department supports the delivery of comprehensive health care. Health Education and Wellness Free health promotion and disease prevention classes and individual counseling sessions provide helpful information about nutrition, cooking, exercise, diabetes, heart disease, smoking and various other topics. Optometry Routine eye exams help individuals living with diabetes preserve their eyesight. Optometry services include vision testing and eyeglass prescriptions. Dental Care Preventive and restorative dental services are provided by our team of dentists and a registered dental hygienist. Behavioral Health Care A professional staff of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and a developmental specialist provides comprehensive mental health care, including pediatric developmental screenings and individual, group and family counseling. Chemical Dependency Treatment Outpatient substance abuse and alcohol treatment includes group and individual counseling and supportive counseling for family members affected by a parent or spouse’s substance abuse. Pharmacy Our pharmacy provides medications and counseling for prescriptions written by clinic physicians. Two drive-thru lanes help streamline the process. A pharmacy phone line is available for prescription refills. WIC Nutrition Program Participants in the Cherokee Nation WIC (Women, Infants and Children) supplemental nutrition program receive nutrition education and free food instruments to purchase nutritious foods. Patient Transportation Free transportation is available if you need help getting to our health center. 550 South Peoria Avenue, Tulsa OK 74120 – 918-588-1900 – www.ihcrc.org 550 S. Peoria Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74120 If you would like to be removed from our mailing list, contact Emily Bolusky at 918-382-1206 or [email protected] 918-588-1900 • www.ihcrc.org The George Kaiser Family Foundation Salutes the Maternal and Early Childhood programs of Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa We are proud to support Indian Health Care’s Maternal and Early Childhood programs through a $90,000 Annual Grant The George Kaiser Family Foundation invites the community to make a donation to IHCRC of Tulsa in support of its Maternal and Early Childhood program. To make a donation to IHCRC or for more information, please contact Emily Bolusky, IHCRC Public Relations Manager at 918-382-1206 or by email at [email protected]
© Copyright 2024