September means the start of fall, but these employees stood tall to become our September Shining STAR Employees of the Month. Congratulations to our winners:
(DRUMROLL)
WEST: Jarred harley
EAST: eric luster
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, Jarred and Eric are winners of a $50 gift card.
Jarred is based in Mena and works in Information Technology services throughout the Community Health Network. Eric is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with Evolve Behavioral Health. He sees patients at Little Rock Midtown, West Central Health Clinic, and Malvern.
- Jarred in his time here has shown a great willingness to. He has lined out many processes in order to strengthen the network excellence. Whenever someone has an issue, he will research it to his best in order to solve their problem. Due to his persistence in solving issues it helps everyone else do their jobs for the patients.
- Eric is always ready to see patients and makes sure they are well taken care of. He recently started seeing patients in Malvern and is passionate in what he does.
- .Jarred jumps in and helps wherever he is needed. I have seen him jump over on Fridays and help unload trucks. He is very kind and always looking to help.
- Eric has a positive attitude and looks on the bright side of each day. He is definitely a friendly person who patients love to see. Eric shows excellence and compassion in everything he does.
- Jarred has been a huge help this month in making changes to the phone system. He always has a good attitude even if plans change and he has to make modifications to the previous changes, he is always willing to help.
Congratulations to both Jarred and Eric.
Thanks again this month to everyone who nominated an employee. There were a lot of great nominations. Do you know who should be our next employees to be recognized? You can nominate them by visiting https://www.healthy-connections.org/nominate.
Healthy Connections has received a grant to increase awareness of Covid-19 services through Community Health Workers.
Healthy Connections will hire five Community Health Workers stationed in and around the communities of Little Rock, Hot Springs, Russellville, Texarkana, and Mena. These community health representatives will provide critical services to communities disproportionately impacted by public health threats, including Covid-19.
Community Health Workers will interact with members of the communities in which they will serve. Other responsibilities will include:
- Provide education on COVID-19 prevention, testing, vaccination, and support services
- Maintain a log of activities and complete regular reports in order to meet grant objectives
- Serve as an member of Healthy Connections Covid-19 operations team, providing strategy input and feedback
- Attend community testing and vaccination events to provide outreach and support
- Refer community members to services, resources, and information based on their stated needs
- Build and maintain relationships with community members and organizational partners
- Assist with Covid-19 care Support Services including outreach, deliveries, and referrals
The five positions will be for one year. The communities will include:
- Little Rock, including Benton, Bryant, North Little Rock and other surrounding communities.
- Hot Springs, including Hot Springs Village, Malvern, Bismarck, Magnet Cove, and other surrounding communities.
- Russellville, including Dardanelle and other surrounding communities
- Texarkana, including surrounding communities
- Mena, including De Queen, Mt. Ida, Nashville, and other surrounding communities.
If interested, please visit the Healthy Connections careers page at https://healthy-connections.org/careers to learn more and apply.
We know getting sick doesn’t take a holiday. That’s why Healthy Connections is offering appointments at some clinics on Monday, July 4. Call us at 888-710-8220 for appointments. Come see us at:
- Mena – 7:45a-3p
- Hot Springs Chippewa – 7:45a-3p
- Malvern – 7:45a-3p
- Arkadelphia – 7:45a-3p
- Little Rock Midtown – 7:45a-3p
- De Queen – 7:45a-6p
Clinics at Mount Ida, Bryant, Hot Springs Central, and Hot Springs McAuley will be closed.
Find a location at https://healthy-connections.org/locations.
Healthy Connections is excited to announce its May 2022 Shining STAR employees of the month:
WEST: Paula bradley
EAST: kenzie martin
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, Paula and Kenzie are winners of a $50 gift card.
Paula works as the administrative assistant for Healthy Connections and is based at the Mena clinic. She was also heavily involved in the planning for 2022 Admin Days for employee training. Kenzie is a Behavioral Health Patient Care Coordinator and works at the Evolve Behavioral Health clinic at Hot Springs McAuley.
- Paula always goes above and beyond to help in any way she can. Paula worked very hard on getting everything together for the fashion show for admin day. She went above and beyond to make sure it was appropriate for the dress code but fun for everyone to enjoy.
- Paula has a very positive and professional attitude and has been an amazing addition from day 1. She is always willing to take on projects to help us better serve our patients and co-workers.
- Kenzie gives 100 percent every day she is here, from answering every phone call, taskman, or patient questions. And she is extremely dependent and loyal as a co-worker. We could NOT function without her!
- Kenzie is a hard worker and is very compassionate with her work and for the patients, we endure. She strives to be better at everything she does.
- Kenzie is a hard worker and is always willing to help. She is dependable and very good at her job. I often find myself not having to follow-up to see if something is taken care of because she has already taken care of it and let me know.
Congratulations to both Paula and Kenzie.
Thanks again this month to everyone who nominated an employee. There were a lot of great nominations. Do you know who should be our next employees to be recognized? You can nominate them by visiting https://www.healthy-connections.org/nominate.
Healthy Connections Community Health Network and Evolve Behavioral Health and Medication Management is helping celebrate this year’s Social Work Month in March with the theme “The Time is Right for Social Work” to highlight how social workers have enriched our society for more than a century and how their services continue be needed today.
The annual Social Work Month campaign is a time to show our appreciation for and to inform public, policymakers, and legislators about the services social workers provide in an array of sectors, including our community health centers.
There are almost 720,000 professional social workers in our nation, but that number is expected to rise to more than 800,000 by 2030, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. Social workers have helped drive significant, positive changes in our nation. Social workers such as social reformer Jane Addams, former Labor Secretary Frances Perkins, and civil rights leaders Dorothy Height, Whitney Young and Ida B. Wells have pushed for voting rights, equal rights, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and other programs.
Social workers touch millions of lives each day and it is likely a social worker at some time will assist you, a family member, or a friend. For example, are you a student who needs athletic shoes to participate in sports, but your parents can’t afford to buy them? Talk to your school social worker. They can help you find the resources you need. Do you want a better relationship with your spouse, partner, children, or parents? A social worker can help you forge stronger connections.
Are you living with depression, anxiety, or a substance use disorder? A social worker can help you overcome them and thrive. At Evolve, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) provide individual family, and group mental-health therapy in our communities.
Visit www.evolvebhs.com to learn more about our social workers and the services they provide.
Due to supply shortages, Healthy Connections Community Health Network is now instituting some new policies related to Covid-19 testing and Monoclonal Antibody Treatment.
Covid-19 rapid testing is no longer available. All tests will now get sent to the lab and you will receive results in 2-5 days. This testing will continue to be done at no cost to patients and can be done at all Healthy Connections clinic locations. Visit www.gettestedfree.com for more information.
Healthy Connections is now offering only the infusion option for Monoclonal Antibody Treatment. Patients MUST HAVE A POSITIVE COVID-19 TEST in order to be eligible. The Covid-19 home test is not sufficient for this. Call 888-710-8220 to get a qualifying Covid-19 test.. This treatment is successful in many patients who are considered high risk for severe Covid-19, including hospitalization or death.
Due to changes from the government and insurance companies, we are now only able to offer a cash price for Regeneron infusions. The cash price is $400 and must be paid before the services are received. It can be paid by cash or credit card. This applies to all patients, including insured, uninsured, and sliding-fee scale.
Patients should call our hotline at 479-437-3300 for more information. Referrals are being accepted from any provider, even if you are currently outside of the Healthy Connections Community Health Network.
Healthy Connections will be administering Regeneron at the following locations:
The Healthy Connections team will administer monoclonal antibodies with a one-time intravenous (IV) infusion. The IV infusion involves placing a needle in a vein and gradually sending the medicine through the IV and into the body. The infusion takes between 20 and 50 minutes. After the IV is removed, patients must wait at least one more hour so health care workers can watch for side effects or negative reactions. Intravenous infusion is recommended for patients who have tested positive for Covid-19.
This is not a substitution for the Covid-19 vaccination. Call 888-710-8220 to schedule vaccination appointments at your nearest Healthy Connections Community Health Network location. Patients can learn more and schedule appointments by speaking to their Healthy Connections provider by calling our hotline at 479-437-3300. More information can be found at https://healthy-connections.org/monoclonal.
Covid-19 vaccines and boosters will still be given at all Healthy Connections primary care locations. Call 888-710-8220 for information and appointments.
