Evolve Behavioral Health Services
Healthy Connections
My Kids Pediatric Clinic

CALL US: 888.710.8220

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Evolve Behavioral Health Services
Healthy Connections
My Kids Pediatric Clinic

CALL US: 888.710.8220

May Employees of the Month

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 Finalist For Community Service

Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote. We’re excited to announce that The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce has now named Healthy Connections a finalist for Organization of the Year.

The 2021 Community Service Awards will be presented at a ceremony at Oaklawn Park on Thursday, May 5. In addition to Organization of the Year, awards will be presented for Woman of the Year, Man of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Small Business of the Year, and Large Business of the Year.

The Organization of the Year Finalists are:

  • The CALL in Garland & Hot Spring Counties
  • Abilities Unlimited of Hot Springs
  • Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center
  • Healthy Connections
  • High Impact Movement
  • Cutwell 4 Kids
  • Oaklawn Center on Aging
  • Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic
  • National Park College

Healthy Connections Recognized by HRSA

Healthy Connections, Inc. is being recognized for its quality improvements during the past year.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has named Healthy Connections a recipient of five of its Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) awards. These awards are presented for showing notable quality improvement in areas of access, quality, health equity, and health information technology. In addition, Covid-19 awards were also introduced to recognize health centers’ contributions to the public health emergency response.

Healthy Connections was recognized as:

  • Access Enhancer. Health Centers that increase the total number of patients they serve and the number of patients who receive at least one comprehensive service (mental health, substance abuse, vision, dental, and/or enabling) by at least 5 percent.
  • Health Disparities Reducer. Health Centers that meet or exceed Healthy People (HP) goals in the areas of low birth weight, hypertension, or uncontrolled diabetes for at least one racial/ethnic minority group, and demonstrate at least a 10 percent improvement in areas of low birth weight, hypertension, or uncontrolled diabetes for at least one racial/ethnic group.
  • Advancing HIT for Quality. Recognizes Health Centers that meet all criteria to optimize HIT services that advance telehealth, patient engagement, interoperability, and collection of social determinants of health to increase access to care and advance quality of care.
  • Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). Recognizes health centers with PCHM recognition in one or more delivery sites.
  • Covid-19 Testing. Recognizes health centers that tested more than 50 percent of their 2020 reported UDS patient populations from April 10, 2020, to July 2, 2021, and have a response rate of at least 50 percent to the weekly Health Center Covid-19 Survey.

Healthy Connections is a Mena-based Community Health Network with locations throughout southwest and central Arkansas. Since its founding as a home-visiting program in 1998, Healthy Connections has been able to provide much-needed health, dental, behavioral health, and social services to families of every lifestyle. Services include primary care/family medicine, specialty services including cardiology, podiatry, and women’s health, My Kids Pediatric Clinic, Evolve Behavioral Health Services and Medication Management, Health For Life Clinic, Healthy Families Arkansas Polk, and Garland counties, and more.

Learn more about Healthy Connections at www.healthy-connections.org.

Schedule Your Flu Shot Today

 

Protect your loved ones.
Get the flu shot.

 

Get Vaccinated

2021 Flu ShotsBecause of the Covid-19 pandemic, reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses like seasonal influenza (flu) are more important than ever. Vaccination against both the flu and Covid-19 is essential to meet our community’s public health needs, to prevent further disease spread, and to protect vulnerable populations like the elderly, the immunocompromised, and people not yet old enough to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

Healthy Connections Community Health Network clinic locations are now offering the flu vaccine.  Call 888-710-8220 or visit www.healthy-connections.org/appointment to schedule.

Your flu shot may be done at no cost to you. If you are insured through the Affordable Care Act, Medicare Part B, or most other health insurance plans, you should be able to get your flu shot for free. However, before you go, remember that you may still have to pay for your office visit, depending on your coverage. Healthy Connections’ sliding-fee patients may receive their flu shot for as low as $25.

The flu vaccine and the Covid-19 vaccine can be given on the same day at the same appointment. Let us know if you are interested in receiving both and we can do that.

CALL 888-710-8220 FOR FLU SHOT APPOINTMENTS
REQUEST A FLU SHOT APPOINTMENT ONLINE

Where can I get a flu vaccine?

Flu vaccines are available at all Healthy Connections clinics in Arkansas. Visit www.healthy-connections.org/locations to find the clinic closest to you. 

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Flu News

Why should people get vaccinated against the flu?

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children.

How do flu vaccines work?

Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Traditional flu vaccines (called “trivalent” vaccines) are made to protect against three flu viruses; an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus. There are also flu vaccines made to protect against four flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines). These vaccines protect against the same viruses as the trivalent vaccine and an additional B virus.

Who should get vaccinated this season?

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get an influenza (flu) vaccine every season with rare exceptions. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has made this recommendation since the 2010-11 influenza season.

Vaccination to prevent flu is particularly important for people who are at high risk of developing serious flu complications.

 

When should I get vaccinated?

You should get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begin spreading in your community since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu. Make plans to get vaccinated early in fall, before flu season begins. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.

Children who need two doses of vaccine to be protected should start the vaccination process sooner because the two doses must be given at least four weeks apart.

Why do I need a flu vaccine every year?

A flu vaccine is needed every season for two reasons. First, the body’s immune response from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccine is needed for optimal protection. Second, because flu viruses are constantly changing, the formulation of the flu vaccine is reviewed each year and updated as needed to keep up with changing flu viruses. For the best protection, everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated annually.

Does the flu vaccine work right away?

No. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. That’s why it’s better to get vaccinated by the end of October before the flu season really gets underway.

 

Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Available

NOW AVAILABLE

Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for Covid-19

Monoclonal Antibody TreatmentHealthy Connections Community Health Network is now offering Regeneron (Monoclonal Antibody Treatment) for patients who believe they have been exposed to Covid-19 (Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2). This treatment is successful in many patients who are considered high risk for severe Covid-19, including hospitalization or death.

Regeneron can be administered by intravenous infusion or subcutaneous injection. 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 both intravenously and subcutaneously at the following locations:

Additionally, Healthy Connections is now administering Regneron subcutaneously at the following locations:

The Healthy Connections team will administer monoclonal antibodies with a one-time intravenous (IV) infusion or subcutaneous injection in some cases. 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. Subcutaneous injection is recommended for patients who have been exposed to Covid-19 or for whom the intravenous infusion is not otherwise feasible.

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.

Monoclonal antibodies are synthetic versions of the body’s natural line of defense against severe infection — a therapy designed to send reinforcements for the immune system. The antibody treatment is meant for Covid-19 patients early in their infection and who are at high risk of getting even sicker, nipping infections in the bud before it puts people in the hospital. It can be used for breakthrough Covid-19 cases as well, regardless of symptoms. If a person has tested positive within the past 10 days, and they are at risk for getting sicker — like older patients, patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or obesity — the treatment is available.

How it works

The Healthy Connections team will administer monoclonal antibodies with a one-time intravenous (IV) infusion or subcutaneous injection in some cases. 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.

If you have tested positive for Covid-19, call us at 479-437-3300 to see if this treatment may be available to you.

FAQ
What are monoclonal antibodies?

Monoclonal antibodies are just like your body’s antibodies but are selected for their strong ability to resist the virus. They are produced like medication and help your body fight illness. In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization to permit monoclonal antibodies as a treatment option for Covid-19.

How are antibodies made?

Antibodies are proteins made by your body’s immune system that fight off infections, including infections caused by viruses. Your body can remember how to make antibodies if you are exposed to the same germ again.

How does monoclonal antibody treatment work?

After entering your body, monoclonal antibodies look for and attach to the spike protein that sticks out of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

When monoclonal antibodies attach to the spike protein, they can block the virus’s ability to enter cells — and slow down the infection.

Who is not eligible for this treatment?

Patients are not eligible for this treatment if they:

  • Have been hospitalized due to Covid-19
  • Require oxygen therapy due to Covid-19
  • Require an increase in baseline oxygen flow rate due to Covid-19 (and in those on chronic oxygen therapy due to underlying non-Vodi-19 related comorbidity)
  • Have had symptoms for more than 10 days
  • Weigh less than 88 pounds
What is the cost to patients?

In most cases, Monoclonal Antibody Treatment is done at no cost to patients. Healthy Connections will collect patient’s date of birth and social security number in order to bill this treatment to Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

How to find out if you qualify and to receive monoclonal antibodies treatment

Potential patients can find out if they qualify by speaking to their Healthy Connections provider. Patients can also call 479-437-3300.

CLINICS OFFERING MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT

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Get Your Covid-19 Booster at Healthy Connections

It’s pretty pleasing when someone boosts your morale. It might give you a confidence boost. If your battery dies, you might need a boost. A spacecraft needs boost-er rockets to lift off. Here’s an opportunity to boost your chances of getting the most severe Covid-19 symptoms.

Covid-19 Booster Shots are here and available at Healthy Connections Community Health Network Primary Care Clinics. We are stocked up on the Moderna Covid-19 booster shots. And the CDC says you can get this booster, even if you took Pfizer for your initial doses. You can also get this Covid-19 booster shot (or your 1st or 2nd dose) on the same day you get your flu shot (By the way, it’s time to get your flu shot.

The Moderna booster is ½ the dosage of the initial vaccine and can be given six months after the initial vaccination. Please check our website for a list of conditions that qualify for booster shots.

The CDC recommends the following people get a Covid-19 booster shot:

  • 65 years and older, and residents in long-term care settings
  • 18 years and older, should receive a booster shot of a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their COVID-19 vaccine primary series
  • 50–64 years old with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of a Pfizer-BioNTech’s or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their COVID-19 vaccine primary series
  • 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their COVID-19 vaccine primary series, based on their benefits and risks.
  • 18-64 years who are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their COVID-19 vaccine primary series, based on their benefits and risks.

Call us at 888-710-8220 to schedule appointments or visit www.gettestedfree.com for all our Covid-19 information.