Archive for category: HPC News

By Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing/Outreach at Health Partnership Clinic

Health Partnership Welcomes New Family Nurse Practitioner to Mobile Integrated Health Team

A patient-first attitude has driven Leigh C. Smith’s interest as a healthcare provider since her earliest years. With her mother a nurse and her grandfather a physician, the empathy bug was quick to follow. As a teenager watching her family’s experiences with illness, she saw the need for advocacy, someone whose job was to double-check how medications and bandages were administered.

Leigh’s New Role

Leigh’s new role helps Health Partnership Clinic expand the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) team, a program that partners with the Olathe Fire Department and Olathe Health/The University of Kansas Health System to serve Olathe patients challenged to come to a clinic for care or who even live unhoused. Some might see the team as a health care version of “Meals on Wheels.”

Leigh is committed to meeting patients “where they are,” whether literally or figuratively. Having done so previously at other local facilities—and with HPC expanding its in-the-field MIH program to five days a week from three—the transition allows her to continue the work she feels she was always meant to do: helping local uninsured or underserved populations. Some patients may not speak English or haven’t experienced health care routinely or at all.

In providing on-the-spot services, Leigh first addresses the patients’ health care “to-do” list such as vaccinations, bloodwork or taking vital signs. Prioritizing patients’ needs then creates the trust to segue into deeper issues like poorly managed diabetes. Such care also paves the way for repeat or in-clinic visits to enhance the patients’ healthcare journey.

She says, “I approach all patient interactions on their terms first to gain their trust and help improve their overall health.”

Education

Leigh received a Doctor of Nursing Practice (FNP) from the University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City, Kan., and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences, Kansas City, Mo. She is a licensed advanced registered nurse practitioner in Kansas and Missouri, a certified pediatric nurse and is BLS certified through the American Heart Association.

Personal

Leigh and her husband live in Olathe, sharing acreage with three dogs, two cats, pigs and chickens. An avid reader, she completes about 150 books annually.

Leigh staffs our Mobile Integrated Health Team and sees patients at our Olathe Clinic.

By Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing/Outreach at Health Partnership Clinic

The fourth of July holiday is often filled with lots of family fun including activities such as pool parties, barbecues, outdoor games and fireworks.

Amid the holiday festivities parents may overlook important safety precautions. By keeping a few key Fourth of July safety tips in mind, parents can help keep children safe while still enjoying the holiday fun.

Leave the Fireworks to the Experts

The National Safety Council (NSC) advises everyone to stay away from all consumer fireworks and to only enjoy fireworks at a public display conducted by professionals.

A new report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) finds a significant upward trend in fireworks-related injuries. Between 2006 and 2021, injuries with fireworks climbed 25 percent in the U.S., according to CPSC estimates. Fireworks can result in burns, scars, disfigurement and even death. In 2022, there were an estimated 10,200 fireworks-related injuries. Seventy-five percent of those injuries occurred during the one month surrounding the July 4^th holiday.

Every year, sparklers can be found in the hands of children along parade routes and at festivals, but they are a lot more dangerous than people think. Many parents don’t realize that they burn at about 2,000 degrees-hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing and many children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet.

• Families should attend community fireworks displays run by trained professionals rather than using fireworks at home.
• Be sure to stay at least 500 feet away from the show.

Be Vigilant About Water Safety

Another common fourth of July activity is swimming in pools and lakes. It is important to remember to never leave children unattended around bodies of water. According to the NSC, drowning increased by 28 percent among children ages one to four in 2022 compared to 2019. For children ages five to 14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes. About 4,000 people die from drowning in the United States each year. That is an average of 11 drownings per day.

• Children should always be monitored while in the water. Adults should take turns watching the children in 15-30-minute intervals.
• Sign your children up for age-appropriate swimming lessons, but keep in mind even with swimming lessons children should still be monitored closely.
• Never use floatation devices or water wings when swimming or teaching your child to swim.
• Learn CPR and rescue techniques.
• Establish and communicate clear rules for the pool such as:
  • Do not push or jump on others, no diving or running, etc.
• Children should always wear life jackets while on a boat, personal watercraft and in open bodies of water.
• Never consume alcohol when operating a boat, and always make sure everyone is wearing U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
• Sunblock, hydration and supervision are all essential water safety precautions that help keep the day fun and safe.

Barbecue Grill Safety

Nothing beats a barbecue with friends and family.  Just remember these tips to keep everyone safe.

• Create a barbecue only zone. Children and pets should not come within three feet of the barbecue grill once it is turned on. Remind your children that the barbecue is just like the stove, it gets extremely hot, and they can be burned. Keep pets contained away from the grill while it is in use.
• Grill in a well-ventilated area, away from your house and deck. Every year grills and smokers cause thousands of fires, hundreds of injuries and deaths and millions of dollars in damage.
• Be prepared for an emergency by keeping a fire extinguisher and a spray bottle of water nearby.
• Use long handled barbecue utensils to keep the chef safe.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using grills.

Protect Your Skin and Avoid Dehydration

• Limit your sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and wear broad-spectrum sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 30 which will protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. Reapply sunscreen often.
• If you are swimming, you should reapply sunscreen hourly or at least every two hours.
• Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid drinking beverages that are caffeinated or contain alcohol.
• Dress appropriately and wear a hat.
• During hot weather, watch for signs of heat stroke-hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; rapid shallow breathing. If it’s suspected someone is suffering from heat stroke:
  • Call 9-1-1 and move the person to a cooler place.
  • Quickly cool the body by applying cool, wet towels to the skin (or misting it with water) and fanning the person
  • Watch for signs of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying down.

Our clinic will be closed on Thursday, July 4, 2024, in observance of Independence Day.
To schedule an appointment or learn more, call 913-648-2266.

By Jessica L. Nichols, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC at Health Partnership Clinic

Convenient for those unexpected illnesses and injuries

Health Partnership Clinic knows that illnesses and injuries can come up quickly. For your convenience, we offer walk-in pediatric care at the Olathe clinic, 407 S. Clairborne Rd., Olathe, Kan., Monday-Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to Noon. The clinic serves children and adolescents under 18 years old.

Consider using the Pediatric Walk-In Clinic if your child has a symptom listed below that started recently and is of a non-severe nature. The clinic is open to Health Partnership Clinic patients and the community.

• Common cough or cold
• Fever
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Rash
• Pinkeye
• Minor injuries
• Ear pain
• Sore throat
• Wheezing or acute asthma
• Possible urinary tract infection
• Sinus infection
• Well child exam

The clinic accepts commercial insurance and KanCare/Medicaid. Discounted medical care is also available to eligible patients.

When to make an appointment instead

Note that not all visits are appropriate for walk-in. If your child has ongoing symptoms such as stomachaches and headaches, requires newborn or ER follow-up or has special or complex health care needs, please call for an appointment at 913-648-2266 so we can schedule an appropriate amount of time to address those needs. For concussion injury, please go to your nearest ER. To make an appointment, call 913-648-2266.

By Thao Le, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Health Partnership Clinic

Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebrates the cultural contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. It also provides the opportunity to bring attention to some of the unique struggles that Asian-Americans face – including mental health stigma.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (n.d.), among the Asian Americans with a diagnosable mental health disorder, only 28 percent utilized mental health services. The lack of mental health treatment among AAPIs can be attributed to mental health stigma. Mental health stigma is the negative perception or discriminatory attitudes that others have about mental illness and is unfortunately, common among AAPIs.

Causes of Mental Health Stigma

• “Model-minority” – one of the greatest causes of mental health stigma among Asian-Americans is culture. The term “model-minority” is a stereotype in which Asian-Americans are perceived as successful and the minority group in which other minorities should take after. Under the model-minority myth, Asian-Americans are often described as “smart,” “hard-working” and “overachiever.”The thing is these characteristics don’t sound so bad, do they? Even though the term “model-minority” may sound like a positive thing, it’s extremely harmful because not everyone fits into this narrow box. Not everyone considers themselves, “smart,” or “hardworking” and because they don’t fit into this box, this can lead to feelings of inadequacy, lack of individuality and lack of bicultural sense of self. Because of this pressure of being the “model minority,” Asian-Americans may feel reluctant to admit that they have a problem.
• Stoicism – Stoicism is the belief that one should endure pleasure or pain without showing emotion. This is a common ideology among Chinese migrants, whose practice of stoicism helped them to overcome economic hardship and discrimination to achieve success. The “I can suffer through anything” mentality is another characteristic that again, doesn’t sound like such a bad thing, right? Stoicism is actually perceived as positive trait in Chinese culture, but again this further perpetuates the idea of suffering in silence and that the display of emotions is a sign of weakness.
• Cultural and parental expectations – In especially first-generation Asian-Americans, there can be both external and internal pressure to achieve success because of the struggles and sacrifices their parents made to provide them with opportunity. This, as well as limited career options, can be a significant source of stress.

Success is so focal within AAPI culture that they may neglect their own mental health to achieve it. Asian-Americans may also neglect their own health while caring for others. Children are often expected to care for their younger siblings and elders. Family members may feel reluctant to share their struggles because of how it will affect their individual and family reputations, further promoting the culture of silent suffering.

The Impact of Stigma and Prevalence of Mental Health Illnesses

• Trauma among first-generation immigrants which gets passed down to future generations. This is known as inter-generational trauma. For example, a grandfather who was forced to flee his war-ravaged home country may have learned to cope by hiding his emotions. Because of this, he is emotionally distant with his children and his children’s children, which causes them to behave this way, leading to generations of emotional distance and suppression of feelings.
• Major depressive episodes increased from 10 to 13.6 percent in AAPI youth ages 12-17, 8.9 to 10.1 percent in young adults 18-25, and three (3.2) to five percent in the 26-49 age range between 2015 and 2018, according to Mental Health America.
• Anxiety that develops from stress and the pressure to succeed.
• Substance use, including binge drinking, smoking (cigarettes and marijuana), illicit drug use and prescription pain reliever misuse, is more frequent among AAPI adults with mental illnesses.
• Serious mental illness (SMI) rose from 2.9 percent (47,000) to 5.6 percent (136,000) in AAPI people ages 18-25 between 2008 and 2018, according to Mental Health America.
• Suicide is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans aged 20-24 years, responsible for about 33 percent of deaths in that age bracket, according to Mental Health America.

Barriers

Despite the prevalence of mental illness among AAPIs, they are three times less likely than other Americans to seek mental health treatment according to Anxiety and Depression Association of America. This can be attributed to lack of:

• English fluency – According to Health and Human Services, in the United States, a total of 30.9 percent of Asian Americans are not fluent in English and in 2019, 73.5 percent of Asian Americans spoke a language other than English at home.
• Preferred providers – According to the AAMC, in 2018, only 17.1 percent of physicians were Asian. In a study on health barriers in 13 Asian American communities in Maryland, participants explained that many Asian-Americans perceive Asian physicians as more “understanding, knowledgeable, culturally sensitive, and can communicate in their native language. As a result, the lack of accessibility and availability of Asian physicians may discourage AAPIs to seek treatment.
• Available resources/services.
• Culturally appropriate intervention models – AAPIs may prefer complementary alternative medicine (CAM) (e.g., herbal remedies, acupuncture, meditation). In a study on health barriers, 75 percent of participants had used CAM in the past year.
• Understanding of mental illness.
• Understanding of Western medicine or a different kind of understanding of mental illness – Asian Americans may perceive mental illness as bad karma, yin/yang imbalance, or disturbed flow of energy.
• Interpretation services.
• Assistance – Elderly may not want to bother their working children for assistance, and they may not even want to take off work for an appointment.
• Health insurance.

Breaking the stigma

As providers, we can break the stigma by:

• Training in cultural responsiveness
• Providing culturally sensitive treatment
• Tailoring treatment to individual needs
• Awareness on mental health stigma among AAPIs
• Administration of depression/anxiety screenings at primary care clinics
• Having CAM available
• Extending telehealth services
• Extending translation services

As a community member, you can break the stigma by:

• Raising awareness
• Supporting one another
• Minimizing shame
• Empowering each other
• Educating yourself and others
• Talking openly about mental health

Health Partnership Clinic offers therapy services, psychiatric medication management and substance use services with translation services upon request. To schedule an appointment or for more details, call 913-730-3664. Therapy Services are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.