HS Chamber Features Peds Clinic
Recently The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce produced a video highlighting the Hot Springs Pediatrics Clinic and Jeremy Porter, MD, and Melanie Newman, APRN. Check it out.
HCI Nominated For Hot Springs Nonprofit Award
Healthy Connections, Inc., has been nominated for Nonprofit of the Year by the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. The award will be announced and presented at the Annual Banquet and Community Awards Ceremony on Jan. 17 at Hot Springs Convention Center.
Healthy Connections was selected as one of the 12 finalists in the Nonprofit category. The other finalists are:
- H.O.E.B.E., the Uzuri Project
- The CALL
- Historic Downtown Hot Springs Farmers Market
- Difference Makers
- The Caring Place
- Ouachita Behavioral Health and Wellness
- Garland County Habitat for Humanity
- Low Key Arts
- Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center
- The Hope Movement
- Samaritan’s Ministries
Healthy Connections is a Mena-based nonprofit organization serving the needs of adults and children throughout West-Central Arkansas. Since its founding in 1988 as a home-visiting program, Healthy Connections has been able to provide much-needed health, dental and social services to families of every lifestyle.”
“We’re driven from the mission that we can provide quality health care to the population in the areas we serve,” said CEO Tony Calandro. “This population is considered underserved for a lot of services – medical, dental and behavioral health. “We allow them to have easy access, affordable access, to quality health care.”
Healthy Connections has two Hot Springs location. The clinic at 102 Chippewa Court (across from National Park Medical Center) is a family medical and dental clinic. The clinic at 3604 Central Ave (across from Texas Roadhouse) is a family medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, podiatry, and behavioral health clinic.
Healthy Connections has also been selected as one of four finalists for the Nonprofit of the Year in the Arkansas Business of the Year Awards. The announcement for this award will be made March 6 in Little Rock.
Healthy Connections has been named one of Arkansas’ Best Places to Work two consecutive years by Arkansas Business.
Visit www.healthy-connections.org for more information.
Schedule Changes in Mena, De Queen
Terri Devlin, MD
Lindy Jumper, APRN
Eric Webb, PA
Carolin Hockersmith, APRN
In order to better serve our patients and families, Healthy Connections is making some changes to its schedule in Mena and De Queen beginning the week of Jan. 14-18..
The Healthy Connections location on Health Park Drive will now be open from 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. APRN Lindy Jumper will see both children and adults on Friday as we expand the schedule at the main location.
The Healthy Connections location on Mena Street will switch to a 7:45 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday schedule.
The Healthy Connections location in De Queen will now be open from 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Pediatrician Terri Devlin, MD, will see pediatrics patients Monday through Thursday. APRN Carolin Hockersmith will see adult patients Wednesday through Friday. Hockersmith will also see sick children on Fridays, but well-child checkups will only be done Monday through Thursday.
The Healthy Connections location at the Ouachita River Health Center at Acorn School remains open 7:45 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Eric Webb, PA, will see patients on Mondays. Jumper will see patients on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
For a complete list of providers and clinic locations and hours, visit www.healthy-connections.org.
January Employees of the Month
Congratulations to our Healthy Connections January Employees of the Month:
- West: Michelle Miller
- East: Katie Boles
Michelle and Katie exemplify the Healthy Connections pillars of Excellence, Compassion
Check out what Michelle’s co-workers had to say about her:
- Michelle is always willing to help me and she never complains about anything. She is very prompt getting reports in and will call if there is a mistake. She is a professional who just happens to be sweet and caring.
- Michelle has never hesitated nor ignored a request for help. She’s more than willing to take on a task that helps manage the time better. She’s truly a team player. She’s always positive and energetic.
And what Katie’s co-workers had to say about her:
- Katie is super knowledgeable in her field. She multitasks very well, and she handles her patients with kindness and compassion, regardless of the situation.
- Work with her for a day and you will know how indispensable she is to her clinic.
Do you know who should be our next Healthy Connections Employees of the Month? Submit your nomination at www.healthy-connections.org/nominate.
Healthy Habits Can Stop Germs
The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flu. The tips and resources below will help you learn about steps you can take to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs.
1. Get Vaccinated
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. There are several flu vaccine options for the 2018-2019 flu season. If you haven’t received your flu shot this season, visit one of our Healthy Connections clinics to make an appointment.
2. Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
3. Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
4. Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses, like
5. Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives
Tips on hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers - It’s a SNAP Toolkit: Handwashing
Hand washing resources from the It’s A SNAP program, aimed at preventing school absenteeism by promoting clean hands. From the School Network for Absenteeism Prevention, a collaborative project of the CDC, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Cleaning Institute.
6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
7. Practice other good health habits.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.