When asked to provide free Covid-19 testing to as many people as possible, Healthy Connections went on a tour of pop-up sites around the state. The result has been more than 2,000 free Covid-19 tests given in 10 different Arkansas counties.
The Healthy Connections Free Covid-19 testing popup tour began on May 21 in De Queen. Since then, the testing tour has held 15 events that included Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village, Little Rock, Benton, Mena, Malvern, Arkadelphia, Nashville, Glenwood, Mount Ida, and Gurdon. The next scheduled event is July 8 at The Centre at Forest Lakes in Hot Springs.
Covid-19 testing is also being done at every Healthy Connections clinic. Copays are being waived for Covid-19 testing done in the clinic. Call 888-710-8220 to schedule appointments. The complete schedule and all testing information can be found at www.GetTestedFree.com.
Healthy Connections is also making Covid-19 testing available to any business that wants their employees tested. This will be done at the company site and will be free for both the company and its employees. Visit www.healthy-connections.org/testus to request testing.
The pop-up testing sites are set up as drive-through events. Patients don’t even get out of their vehicles. Patients report this new Covid-19 test is much easier and less painful than other tests previously given. No insurance information is collected and patients are through the testing area and on their way in just a few minutes. Results from these tests are being received on average in five to seven days.
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.
Healthy Connections, Inc., is delivering on its promise to mass test the state of Arkansas, testing more than 1,000 people in the first two weeks of free Covid-19 testing.
Healthy Connections scheduled a series of pop-up testing sites and has tested anyone regardless of symptoms for free. Cities tested so far have included De Queen, Malvern, Hot Springs, Hot Springs Village, Little Rock, Benton, Arkadelphia, and Gurdon. The testing tour continues next week with stops in Mena, De Queen for a second time, and Nashville. See the complete schedule at www.GetTestedFree.com.
“We were asked to increase COVID-19 testing for Arkansans and are proud to have been able to provide this much-needed service to people throughout Arkansas,” said Tony Calandro, CEO of Healthy Connections, Inc. “By taking these tests on the road, we have been able to reach areas where access to testing is not as readily available.”
The testing tour began on May 21 with a stop in De Queen. The most patients tested in a single day was 415 in Hot Springs Village on May 29.
These tests done at pop-up testing sites are in addition to the hundreds of tests performed by Healthy Connections in its clinics throughout west and central Arkansas.
The testing sites are set up as drive-through events. Patients don’t even get out of their vehicles. Patients report this new Covid-19 test is much easier and less painful than other tests previously given. No insurance information is collected and patients are through the testing area and on their way in just a few minutes.
Results from these tests are being received on average in five to seven days.
Do you want to partner with Healthy Connections to bring the testing bus to your business or your hometown? Call us at 888-710-8220.
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.
The Healthy Connections community health network is open and seeing patients both in the clinic and via telehealth, allowing patients to stay in contact with their providers. These services include evaluation and testing for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms.
This includes primary care, dental (emergency procedures now, full services May 18), behavioral health, and all specialties. This also includes surgical procedures related to gynecology, podiatry, and cardiology.
Call (888) 710-8220 for appointments. Healthy Connections, a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center, has clinic locations in Mena, Hot Springs, Little Rock, Malvern, Arkadelphia, Mount Ida, and De Queen. These clinics see patients for primary care/family medicine, including pediatrics-focused clinics in Hot Springs and De Queen. Find a location at www.healthy-connections.org/locations.
COVID-19 testing is no longer limited to high-risk patients only. If you are sick with respiratory symptoms, we can evaluate and test you for COVID-19. If you want to be tested, we will test you. Note that test results are being returned from the lab in an average of 24 to 72 hours.
Call (888) 710-8220 or make a Healthy Connections TeleHealth appointment at www.healthy-connections.org/telehealth. Many insurances are now covering this testing and waiving copays.
Any person who enters a Healthy Connections clinic will be screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
Healthy Connections specialties, including gynecology, podiatry, and cardiology have resumed full services, including surgeries. Patients having surgery will need to be tested for COVID-19 within 48 hours of their scheduled appointment time.
Healthy Connections also offers dental services in Hot Springs and Mena. These clinics are currently doing only emergency procedures (anything not considered routine such as check-ups and cleanings). Full dental services are expected to resume on May 18. Call (888) 710-8220 for info.
Additionally, Evolve Behavioral Health and Medication Management is also seeing patients both in the clinic and via telehealth at Healthy Connections locations in Mena, Hot Springs, Malvern, and Arkadelphia. Learn more about Evolve at www.evolvebhs.com.
Healthy Connections and Evolve 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 have to switch their primary care provider to Healthy Connections before you can be seen.
Learn more about Healthy Connections at www.healthy-connections.org.
Community Health Centers of Arkansas CEO LaShannon Spencer wrote a guest column this week in Arkansas Democrat-Gazette / ArkansasOnline.com . Community Health Centers, like Healthy Connections, Inc., are doing everything we can to fight COVID-19, but we must survive and thrive after this crisis. We’re appreciative of what Congress has provided thus far, but Community Health Centers need much more help from Washington, D.C.
Click the link below to read the column in its entirety. Click here to learn more about Healthy Connections.
Congress must aid health centers
LASHANNON SPENCER
SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
When the novel coronavirus hit Arkansas, community health centers rose to the challenge, immediately shifting our business model. Unlike some private providers restricting who they see, we’re proud that we test residents for COVID-19 while taking special precautions to still meet the traditional health-care needs of our loyal patients.
“I have seen several families who were just so grateful that they were being seen. We have had families tell us that they were turned away elsewhere,” reports Dr. Rebekah Beyers, a pediatrician for Community Clinic in Springdale. “One mother told us she trusted that we would not tell her to come in unless we thought it was important and that we would help to keep them safe. Trust from our patients is one of the best things we could hope for.”
Many don’t realize the reach and value of community health centers in Arkansas. Without us, the state’s general health and the economy would suffer.
The 11 members of the Community Health Centers of Arkansas offer COVID-19 testing sites across the state at more than 60 of our clinics—from Siloam Springs to Eudora and from De Queen to Corning.
Without a dependable source from the state or federal governments for personal protective equipment (often referred to as PPE), we’ve scoured hardware stores and asked community partners to help ensure our staff and the public are adequately protected. We’ve kept our clinics open with special screenings in tents or drive-up evaluations to limit access.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE COLUMN
The Health For Life Clinic and Healthy Connections are joining forces on Monday, Feb. 24 in Little Rock.
The Health For Life Clinic and Dr. Terry Jefferson will bring their entire array of services to Healthy Connections while continuing to practice at 1100 N. University Avenue #260. This includes Medication Assisted Therapy (MAT), HIV/STD testing and care, PrEP, and more. This clinic site will join the list of Healthy Connections locations across west and central Arkansas.
“For the last 20 years, I’ve always been a solo practitioner. I’m excited to be a part of Healthy Connections. I’ve been very impressed with their organization. But for us, it’s going to be business as usual at the clinic,” Dr. Jefferson said.
Appointments for the Health For Life Clinic by Healthy Connections can be made by calling (888) 710-8220 or (501) 603-0003. Patients can also request appointments online at www.healthy-connections.org/appointment.
“Dr. Jefferson brings a wealth of knowledge to Healthy Connections and we’re excited to have him as part of our team,” said Healthy Connections CEO Tony Calandro. “As we continue to expand our services, the Health For Life Clinic fits perfectly within our mission.”
Healthy Connections is a Mena-based nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center with locations from De Queen to Little Rock. The Health For Life Clinic By Healthy Connections will be the second Little Rock-based clinic for Healthy Connections, joining the Little Rock Franklin clinic.
Healthy Connections, a Mena-based nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serves the needs of children and adults by providing much-needed health, dental and social services to families of every lifestyle. Thousands of patients are treated each year who have no insurance or not enough insurance to cover essential health and dental services.
Healthy Connections accepts Medicaid, ARKids 1st, Medicare and most other health insurance. There is also a sliding-fee scale for patients without insurance. Those who qualify based on the total income of everyone living in the household can be seen for a much-reduced rate.
The Health For Life Clinic by Healthy Connections will also include current services added to the location, starting with Behavioral Health in the coming months. Dr. Jefferson also brings new services to Healthy Connections for the first time, including MAT Therapy and PReP Therapy
Dr. Jefferson has more than 20 years of experience providing high-quality care for a variety of diseases and conditions. He was at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS epidemic from its early days. And as the opiate epidemic has continued to get worse, he began a Medically Assisted Treatment program with a program that utilizes both Suboxone and behavioral health counseling.
“We accept insurance for Medical Assisted Therapy, and many of the other clinics in this area are cash only,” Jefferson said. “
Other specialties include Erectile Dysfunction and Testosterone/estrogen Replacement.
Learn more at www.healthy-connections.org.
