Celebrating National Health Center Week

Every August, Healthy Connections is excited as we celebrate National Health Center Week, a time of reflection, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to our mission of providing exceptional healthcare services to the central and western Arkansas communities. This year holds special significance for us as we commemorate our 25th anniversary of serving patients throughout the state.

Unveiling 25 Years of Compassionate Care

For a quarter of a century, Healthy Connections has been dedicated to delivering comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health services that address the diverse healthcare needs of our patients. What started as a vision has grown into a cornerstone of accessible and patient-centered care, touching the lives of countless individuals and families in Arkansas.

Since our inception, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable healthcare to everyone who walks through our doors. Our team of skilled healthcare professionals is united by a shared passion for making a positive impact on the health and well-being of our communities. Whether it’s a routine check-up, dental care, behavioral health support, or community outreach, we are here to serve you with compassion and excellence.

National Health Center Week: August 6-12

National Health Center Week, observed from August 6-12, is a time to celebrate the vital role that community health centers play in fostering healthier communities and increasing access to care for all. At Healthy Connections, it’s an opportunity to express our gratitude to our patients, staff, and partners who have contributed to our success over the years.

During this special week, we invite you to join us in celebrating our 25th anniversary. It’s not just a time to look back at our accomplishments; it’s also a time to look forward to the future of healthcare in Arkansas.

Join the Celebration: How You Can Participate

  • Come Celebrate with Us: Healthy Connections staff will be participating in the Samaritan Fields and Friends Event in De Queen on Aug. 11, and the Hot Springs Community Resource Fair on Aug. 12. Stop by, say hello, pick up some swag, and learn about the vital role we play in our communities.
  • Schedule an Appointment: If you’re in need of medical, dental, or behavioral health services, we encourage you to reach out and schedule an appointment. Call us at 888-710-8220 to secure your spot and experience the care that has earned us the trust of our communities for 25 years.
  • Spread the Word: Help us raise awareness about National Health Center Week and our 25th anniversary by sharing our story on social media. Use the hashtag #HealthyConnections25 to join the conversation and inspire others to prioritize their health.
  • Support Accessible Healthcare: Consider making a contribution to our mission of providing accessible healthcare to all. Your support enables us to continue offering vital services to those who need them most.
  • As we celebrate National Health Center Week and mark our 25th anniversary, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our patients, staff, partners, and supporters. Your dedication and trust have been instrumental in our journey, and we look forward to many more years of serving the wonderful communities of central and western Arkansas.

Join us in this celebration of health, community, and compassion. Together, we can create a healthier and brighter future for all.

For appointments and inquiries, please call 888-710-8220.

 

Celebrating 25 Years of Care

A Quarter-Century of Care

 

In health care, gaps are described as disparities in healthcare access, needs, and medical services when comparing different populations. It may fall along racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic lines. And that is where we thrive.

For more than a quarter-century, Healthy Connections has filled those gaps with high-quality healthcare, dental, behavioral health, and social services. We are a Mena-based nonprofit organization serving the needs of children and adults throughout Central and Western Arkansas. Since our founding in 1998, Healthy Connections has been able to provide much-needed services to families of every lifestyle.

It started from humble beginnings. Based on a community need assessment, Healthy Connections was formed as a home-visiting program to work with new and expectant mothers. This program would provide education, encouragement, education, and resources to ensure these new moms got their babies off to a great start in life.

As needs grew, so did Healthy Connections. First came Western Arkansas Total Community Health, or W.A.T.C.H. as it was known. It grew to a second location in Mount Ida and then to a location at Acorn Schools. De Queen and Hot Springs followed as services were needed.

Today, Healthy Connections is a thriving and growing organization with clinics and services available all over Arkansas. The footprint stretches as far north as Russellville, as far west as Sheridan, as far south as De Queen, and to our home base in Mena.

“We’re driven by the mission that we can provide quality health care to the population in the areas we serve. That is a population that has been neglected in the past,” said Healthy Connections CEO Tony Calandro. “This population is considered underserved for a lot of services – medical, dental, and behavioral health. We allow them to have easy access, affordable access, to quality health care.”

Healthy Connections providers treat thousands of patients each year who either have no insurance or not have enough insurance to cover essential health, dental, and behavioral health services.

Healthy Connections has become a lot of things to the communities it serves, including primary care providers, dentists, pediatricians, therapists, specialists, and community service workers. But mostly it remains a place the community can receive quality care.

At Healthy Connections, we use our Three Pillars to guide our actions each day.

Community

Community comes first as it is the most visible aspect of the three pillars. We want to serve our communities, but we also want to be part of them. That means high school football Friday nights and local performances downtown. It means community events and positively representing our communities.

Compassion

No one knows what anyone else has been through or is going through. Our employees strive to show compassion to everyone who walks through the doors of our clinics. This means assisting in whatever way possible to ensure that everyone is welcome and comfortable when they visit us.

Excellence

We want to be known as an excellent provider. We want to see five-star reviews from our patients after they visit. It is the expectation that we will provide the highest quality, excellent care to everyone who walks through the doors.

Healthy Connections accepts Medicaid, including ArKids 1st, Medicare, and most forms of health and dental insurance. However, no person will be turned away for lack of insurance. Qualified families will be charged according to their total family income and the total number of persons living in the household. This sliding-fee scale allows many to receive treatment who otherwise would not have been able to afford it.

Celebrating Phyllis Cuningham

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.

2022 Employee Awards

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

Game Changer Award

Cunningham Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Healthy Connections, Inc., is proud to announce the winner of the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award is Phyllis Cunningham.

Cunningham is the Director of Nursing for Healthy Connections, Inc., and has been with the organization since 2009. She is set to retire in 2023.

“Several years ago we began recognizing those members of the Healthy Connections team who have dedicated their efforts to the improvement and advancement of our company. Phyllis is an advocate for Healthy Connections and delivers our Mission and Vision on a daily basis,” said Tony Calandro, CEO of Healthy Connections. “She has been an inspiration to others and helped to shape Healthy Connections.”

See the complete list of 2022 Healthy Connections award winners at: www.healthy-connections.org/awards22.

Singleton Wins Distinguished Leadership Award

Healthy Connections, Inc., is proud to announce the winner of the 2022 Distinguished Leadership Award is Susan Singleton.

Singleton is the Chief Financial Officer of Healthy Connections and joined the organization in 2019. Since then, she has been heavily involved in many areas and has proven to be a prominent leader.

“Susan is someone who has made an impact from the start and continues to make and influence every day,” said Tony Calandro, CEO of Healthy Connections. “She has stepped in where assistance and help is needed and provided guidance and direction for staff, managers, and the entire company. She has been instrumental in the continued development of Healthy Connections.”

See the complete list of 2022 Healthy Connections award winners at: www.healthy-connections.org/awards22.