We’re excited to announce our December 2020 Healthy Connections Community Health Network employees of the month:
West: Peggy Vines
East: Sarah Jennings
Each month we ask for employees to be nominated for this award for their exemplification of the Healthy Connections Three Pillars: Excellence, Compassion, and Community. These pillars are considered heavily when choosing winners.
As winners, Peggy and Sarah are winners of a $50 gift card or one day off work.
Peggy is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) at Healthy Connections Mt. Ida (Montgomery County Community Clinic). Her co-workers had this to say about her:
- “Peggy is a very hard worker and always goes the extra step to take care of our patients.”
- “Peggy has a positive attitude and a very approachable demeanor. She has wonderful customer service skills and takes great care in communicating with co-workers and her patients.”
Sarah is a licensed practical nurse (LPN) with the Little Rock Franklin and Health For Life Clinic (Little Rock Midtown) locations. Her co-workers had this to say about her:
- “Sarah has been a true asset to HCI at both the Little Rock Midtown and LR Franklin clinics. She has a wonderful rapport with the patients – making them all feel like a priority and setting them at ease.”
- “Sarah greets each person with a smile and asks how they are doing. She is always willing to help – filling in at other clinics whenever asked and taking on additional tasks without complaint. Sarah is a joy to work with and I am happy to have her as a part of my team.”
Congratulations to both Peggy and Sarah.
Do you know who should be our next to be recognized? Nominate by visiting www.healthy-connections.org/nominate.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Healthy Connections, Inc., has canceled the annual dental sealant program in Mena.
Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. In previous years, Healthy Connections, Inc., has recognized this by offering dental sealants to elementary school students in Polk County. Oral cancer screenings were also offered to area high school students. This program has been offered each year since 2002.
“Our dental sealant program has been a big event for Healthy Connections each February. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer the program this year due to Covid-19 restrictions. We hope to resume this valuable service for our community in 2021,” said Tony Calandro, CEO Healthy Connections, Inc.
The program has been done with the assistance of the Healthy Connections staff and dental hygienist students from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.
Dental sealants are a plastic material that is placed by dental professionals on the chewing surfaces of permanent back teeth to prevent cavities. The sealant provides a physical barrier that prevents cavity-causing bacteria from attacking the surface of the tooth. The thinner, weaker enamel in the deep grooves of the chewing surface of the tooth cause this area to be prone to tooth decay. Left untreated, tooth decay can eventually lead to pain, poor dental and physical health, and tooth loss.
Dental sealants on permanent molars reduce the risk of cavities by 80 percent.
This experience is often the child’s first trip to the dentist so the Healthy Connections’ team blocks off a full day of regular patient care and engages help from the entire staff to provide a fun atmosphere where the children are taught the proper techniques in brushing and the benefits of oral health habits. By increasing dental health and hygiene, the child’s overall health outlook is enhanced and improved. Healthy Connections’ dental sealant program reflects our mission and vision to promote health and wellness for our children and families in the Western Arkansas area.
Check out www.healthy-connections.org/teeth/ for more information on our dental clinics in Mena and Hot Springs.
