HIV Testing day. June 27. Annual health awareness concept for banner, poster, card and background design.
On June 27 each year, we observe National HIV Testing Day, a day to emphasize and encourage HIV testing in our communities.
The theme for this year’s NHTD is “Take The Test and Take the Next Step.” Get tested to check your status and be in the know. From there, you can take steps to be good to go. Find the HIV testing option that works best for you via your Healthy Connections provider.
HIV FAQ
What is HIV? HIV is a virus that attacks the human immune system. There is no cure for HIV. Unlike some other viruses, such as the common cold, HIV cannot be cleared from the body. However, there are treatments available. Talk to your Healthy Connections provider and see below for more information.
What is the difference between HIV and AIDS? Being HIV positive is not the same as having AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV is a virus that kills CD4 T-cells in the body. Over time, if so many CD4 T-cells are killed that the body has a reduced ability to fight infection, HIV can advance to AIDS.
How is HIV transmitted? HIV is transmitted through contact with certain body fluids, such as semen, vaginal or anal fluids, breast milk, and blood. Contact with these body fluids can occur during unprotected sex or when sharing needles or other items with body fluids on them. Mothers can pass the HIV virus to their babies during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. You CAN NOT transmit HIV through contact with sweat, tears, saliva, bath or pool water, or by sharing dishes or drinking glasses, hugging or shaking hands.
Do you have HIV? In 2019, an estimated 1 in 8 people living with HIV in the United States did not know they had it. Everyone ages 13 through 64 should get tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime. Even if you are in a monogamous relationship, you should find out for sure whether you or your partner has HIV. Healthy Connections offers HIV and STD testing and treatment. Call 888-710-8220 for appointments or learn more at https://healthy-connections.org/stdhiv.
How can I lower my risk? PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) can stop HIV from taking hold and spreading throughout your body. It is highly effective for preventing HIV if used as prescribed. Daily PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90 percent. Among people who inject drugs, it reduces the risk by more than 70 percent. The risk of getting HIV from sex can even be lower if you combine PrEP with condoms and other prevention methods. Call 888-710-8220 for appointments or learn more about PrEP by visiting https://healthy-connections.org/prep.
Healthy Connections’ Sarah Thomas and Ann Calandro participated in the 2023 Go Red For Women Health Expo and Luncheon on May 10 in Benton.
Ann Calandro, Director of Pharmacy Services, and Sarah Thomas, Community Relations Specialist, at the Go Red For Women event.
This year’s theme was “Be the Beat For Someone You Love.”
The event spotlights the fight against heart disease and stroke and celebrates the passion and power of women in their fight against these silent and deadly diseases. More than 44 percent of women ages 20 and over are living with some form of cardiovascular disease which remains the leading cause of death in women.
Thomas is part of the 2023 Circle of Red, which makes commitments annually to support the Go Red For Women movement and serve as an ambassador for the cause.
The American Heart Association is committed to advancing its mission to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Together, we can encourage women to make life-saving lifestyle choices and learn how their family history plays a role in their ongoing health. Education and action can save mothers, best friends, and sisters everywhere. For more information on becoming a Circle of Red member, contact carmen.parks@heart.org.
Congratulations to our Healthy Connections Shining STAR Employees of the Month for March:
(DRUMROLL)
WEST: DEVIN GAGE
EAST: KIM BROWN
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, Devin and Kim are winners of a $50 gift card to the HC Hub Company Store.
Devin is a Registered Nurse at the Mena clinic. He joined Healthy Connections in 2019. Kim is a Patient Care Coordinator at the Little Rock Midtown clinic. She joined Healthy Connections in 2022. In their nominations, this is some of what their co-workers said about them:
- “Devin is great with the patients. He also is wonderful at training others. He has a lot of patience.”
- “Kim is kindhearted, calm, and respectful. When patients come in or even call, she does anything she can to help them the best she can.”
- “Devin is very helpful and patient. He ensures that the patients are taken care of. He takes the time to speak to them and answer all the questions that they ask.”
- “When it comes to helping patients Kim goes above and beyond. She takes her time and will not end a call until the issue has been resolved. She shows care with dealing with the patients and is very empathetic to their situations.”
Congratulations to both Devin and Kim.
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.
Congratulations to our February 2023 Healthy Connections Employees of the Month:
(DRUMROLL)
WEST: gena esser
EAST: jasmine brown
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, Gena and Jasmine are winners of a $50 gift card to the HC Hub Company Store.
Gena is a Medical Assistant at the Mena clinic and has worked for Healthy Connections for more than a year. Jasmine has only worked for Healthy Connections a short time but is already making her mark as a patient care coordinator at the Little Rock Midtown clinic. Check out these amazing comments left by their coworkers when nominating them for this award:
- “Gena has never failed to jump in and help wherever she can. She is the definition of a team player. She also keeps a smile on her face while helping. As a patient and coworker, I couldn’t be happier to be on a team with her.”
- “Jasmine went above and beyond to help get a [form] signed for a patient that needed records to submit to insurance for a surgical procedure. She was so kind and could hear the smile on her face over the phone. What a great team player and example for others.”
- “Gena is always helping the other nurses before anyone even asks. She is so good with the patients. She hustles no matter what she is doing.”
- “Jasmine goes out of her way to make sure each and every patient is taken care of in a timely manner. She is very attentive when it comes to doing things the right way and most definitely has all three pillars.”
Congratulations to both Gena and Jasmine.
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, Inc., held a special event on Tuesday to celebrate the retirement of Director of Nursing Phyllis Cunningham.
She has spent the past 14 years with Healthy Connections and the past 32 years in nursing. She has been an amazing leader to us all and we wish her the best in the next chapter of her life.
“Kindness is so critical to our success and to making our workplace happy. I love Maya Angelou’s quote: ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ I’ve always tried to live by that,” Cunningham said. “I don’t know that I bring a lot of skill but I do try to bring that. Being kind and loving people and caring about people makes all of our work every day so much easier.”
Cunningham has been a part of tremendous growth for Healthy Connections in her 14 years with the organization. When she started, Healthy Connections had just two clinics – Mena and Mt. Ida. There are now 13 clinics in nine communities stretched from Little Rock to De Queen.
“From the staff and everyone at Healthy Connections, we want to let Phyllis know how much we appreciate you,” said Tony Calandro, CEO of Healthy Connections, Inc. “I think everyone is aware of how large we have gotten and Phyllis has gone along with the paces the entire time. In everything we have done, she has stepped up.”
Cunningham is known for her sense of humor and sayings that bring smiles to the faces of her co-workers. One of her favorites is, “We choose our attitude every single day.”
“This has been a great place. There are so many opportunities here,” Cunningham said.
Thanks, Phyllis for all you’ve done for our patients, co-workers, and communities.
Healthy Connections Community Health Network is excited to announce our 2022 Employee Award winners.
These employees exemplified our three pillars of Community, Compassion, and Excellence throughout the year. Check back each day as we announce the winners in all 10 categories.
Rookies of the Year
- Linda Lee, Assistant Director of Nursing
- Tyrontala Walker, Medical Assistant at the Malvern Teeter Plaza Clinic
- Eric Luster, APRN PMHNP, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner based at the Little Rock Midtown, West Central Health Clinic, and Malvern Teeter Plaza clinic.
Customer Service Award
- Tracey Price, Dental, Mena
- Grace Hill, Patient Care Coordinator, Little Rock Midtown
Rising Star Award
- Christi Martin, Patient Care Coordinator, Mena
- Erica Manley, Lead in Medical Records in Mena
- Kim Carson, Lead Patient Care Coordinator at Mena
- Allie Anderson, 340B coordinator
Support Staff Super Star Award
- Andrea Pilcher, Lead Nurse at Hot Springs Central/My Kids Pediatric Clinic
- Misty Morris, Medical Assistant at Little Rock Midtown clinic
- Krystal Lenard, Referral Coordinator, remote
- Connie Case, Lab Manager in Mena
Game Changer Award
- Tina Allison, Director of Ancillary Services
- Janet Dean, Human Resources Generalist, Mena
- Chris Masters, Network Administrator, Mena
Monday, December 19 – Behind the Scenes Hero Award
- Debbie Welch, Billing Clerk, Remote
- Amanda Dunn, Accounting Manager, Remote
- Misty Surber, Program Manager Healthy Families Arkansas Polk and Garland Counties.
Providers of the Year
- Melanie Newman, APRN, Hot Springs Central and My Kids Pediatric Clinic
- Terri Barrada, APRN, Mena
Distinguished Leadership Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Employee of the Year
2022 Healthy Connections Employee Award Winners
