July Employees of the Month

Healthy Connections is excited to announce its July 2021 Shining STAR employees of the month:

WEST: LINDY JUMPER

EAST: DREW DAVIS

Each month across the Healthy Connections Community Health Network, exemplary employees are nominated for this award for representing our Three Pillars: Excellence, Compassion, and Community. These pillars are considered heavily when choosing winners.

As winners of this Shining STAR award, Lindy and Drew are winners of a $50 gift card.

Lindy is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) at the Mena clinic.

  • “Lindy is very kind and understanding to her patients. She is excellent at what she does and goes above and beyond. She is very good at answering any questions and is one step ahead.”
  • “Very nice and friendly. will do anything for anyone and works hard to do whatever she can for her patients. “

Drew is a patient care coordinator in Hot Springs.

  • “Drew has went above the call of duty to help make sure the Chippewa front desk is being taken care.”
  • “Drew always has a good attitude and is very helpful. She is always open to helping out when needed. “
  • “She always steps up and fills in at anytime when she is needed at any clinic.”

Congratulations to both Lindy and Drew.

Do you know who should be our next to be recognized? Nominate by visiting https://www.healthy-connections.org/nominate.

Covid-19 Tests, Vaccine Pop-Up Events in Malvern, Hot Springs, De Queen

In response to the Delta Variant of Covid-19 in our area, Healthy Connections is taking its testing and vaccination program on the road for three pop-up stops in August.

Non-profit Healthy Connections will offer Covid-19 testing and vaccinations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

  • Monday, August 2: Healthy Connections Malvern, 900 Martin Luther King Blvd., Malvern
  • Tuesday, August 3: Healthy Connections Hot Springs Central, 3604 Central Ave., Hot Springs
  • Wednesday, August 4: Healthy Connections De Queen, 1206 W. Collin Raye Dr., De Queen

At these events, Healthy Connections staff will collect insurance information from patients. But the result will be both services being offered at no cost to patients. The test is the “simple test” that does not require a deep penetration of the nostrils for testing. Results from this test will be available in 3 to 5 days.

Learn more about Healthy Connections and the Covid-19 testing and vaccination program at www.gettestedfree.com.

As of July 28, the Arkansas Department of Health is reporting more than 15,000 active cases and more than 1,000 hospitalizations in the state of Arkansas.

Healthy Connections Community Health Network clinics are also testing and giving vaccinations. In addition to the “free” test, clinics also offer the Covid-19 Rapid Test. This is done for $60 (cash or credit card only) and results are available in as little as 15 minutes. Insurance is not filed on rapid tests. The regular (free) test and Covid-19 vaccines are also available at clinic locations. Call 888-710-8220 for appointments.

Last summer, Healthy Connections took its testing pop-ups to communities across southwest and central Arkansas. More than 5,000 tests were done at these pop-up events.

The Healthy Connections Community Health Network includes the primary care/family medicine clinics of Healthy Connections, Healthy Connections Specialty, Evolve Behavioral Health and Medication Management, and Health For Life Clinic.

Healthy Connections clinics are open, safe, healthy, and here for the communities they serve. The Healthy Connections community health network is a federally qualified health center (FQHC). Healthy Connections and Evolve Behavioral Health both accept Medicaid, ARKids 1st, Medicare, and most private health insurance. There is also a sliding fee scale for patients without health insurance who qualify. Medicaid patients may be required to switch their primary care provider to Healthy Connections before they can be seen. Learn more about Healthy Connections at www.healthy-connections.org.

Third Clinic Now Open in Hot Springs

Healthy Connections Community Health Network is excited to announce we are openiDng a third Hot Springs clinic to better serve our patients.

The new clinic will open on Monday, July 26. It will be located at 208 McAuley Ct. – Suite B, on the campus of Arkansas Center for Surgical Excellence. This new location will become our new home for Cardiology, Podiatry, and Evolve Behavioral Health Services and Medication Management.

This new location will be in addition to the two clinics currently being used in Hot Springs. The Hot Springs Central clinic at 3604 Central Ave., will continue to be the home for Primary Care/Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Women’s Health, and more. The Hot Springs Chippewa clinic at 1723 Malvern Ave., will continue to be the home for dental and primary care/family medicine.

Keep checking www.healthy-connections.org/hotsprings for the latest updates on the move. We’ll give you an exact date as soon as we know for certain when that will be.

The newly renovated space on McAuley Court will give Healthy Connections additional space to ensure the quality care and comfort of our patients. Making the move to McAuley court will be podiatrist Dr. Richard Bennett.

Also at McAuley Court will be the entire staff of Evolve, which treats patients for behavioral health through individual, group, and family therapy, in addition to medication management. Providers moving to McAuley include Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Nicole Meggers, Heath Larner, and Tosha Honey, along with Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Sakinah Shaw.

All of our other providers will remain at their current location.

If you have questions or aren’t sure where to find your provider, please call us at 888-710-8220 and we’ll double-check to make sure you’re going to the right place.

 

Covid-19 Vaccine Available

The Healthy Connections Community Health Network now has the Covid-19 vaccine. We will be distributing it based on the needs in the communities we serve. If you need to be vaccinated, please visit www.healthy-connections.org/vaccine. There you can join our community-based waitlist. When demand gets high enough, we will schedule vaccine appointments based on this waitlist.

Or you can call 888-710-8220 to either join the waitlist or get more information.

 

Memorial Day Appointments Available

As a part of our mission to make healthcare more accessible, most Healthy Connections Community Health Network clinic locations will be open on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021.

The following clinics will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.:

Clinics closed on Memorial Day:

Call 888-710-8220 for appointments.

Mental Health Just As Important

Remember: your mental health is equally important as your physical health!!

Have you ever needed a mental break or stress reliever, but didn’t know what to do? Here are some of our favorite ways to calm our minds and de-stress!.

Digital Detox

Spending hours scrolling through social media can be detrimental to our mental health, even if we don’t realize it. Take a break from the mindless scrolling for the evening or day.

Practice mindfulness

Becoming more mindful allows us to become aware of where we are and what we’re doing, without becoming overwhelmed. Find a quiet spot where you can sit alone for just a few minutes. Follow the sensation of your breath as it goes in and out. When you notice your mind has begun to wander, return your attention to your breathing.

Gratitude

It’s easy to go throughout the day focusing on the negatives rather than the positives. At the end of the day or week, reflect on the highs and positives you experienced. Keep a journal to write them in, or simply think about them as you drift off to sleep.

Self-care

Take a hot bath, go for a walk, cook your favorite dinner, or simply go outside for some fresh air. Be sure you are taking time to relax and nourish your mind.

Evolve Behavioral Health and Medication Management offers individual (adults and children), family, and group counseling at locations in Little Rock, Malvern, Arkadelphia, Hot Springs, Mount Ida, and Mena. Call 800-409-6250 for appointments. Visit www.evolvebhs.com for more information.