Archive for category: HPC News

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

Bundle up and join the fun! Health Partnership Clinic’s second annual Snowflake Streak is coming up on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the Olathe Community Center and Stagecoach Park.

I’m thrilled to share that we’ve already raised more than $40,000 to support quality, affordable health care for those in need — and there’s still time to get involved!

This holiday season, consider giving the gift of health by joining a team, starting a team, or donating to support one. Walkers and teams can earn fun prizes for fundraising and showing their community spirit. Plus, customized Snowflake Streak hats and scarves are now available for purchase—with all proceeds directly benefiting our patients.

Learn more, donate, or grab your gear today at hpcks.org/snowflake or contact Nikki Balden at nbalden@hpcks.org or 913-433-7592. Together, we can make this year’s Streak the brightest yet!

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

Personal hygiene begins and ends with our hands

Healthy hands are happy hands! One of the simplest and most effective ways to stay well is by keeping our hands clean. Frequent handwashing helps stop viruses and bacteria from spreading—right alongside covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when you’re under the weather.

At Health Partnership Clinic, we make hand hygiene a top priority to protect both patients and staff. At home, the same rule applies—clean hands keep everyone healthier. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers practical guidance on when and how to wash your hands properly.

Remember, handwashing is one of the best defenses against illnesses like COVID-19, flu, RSV and the common cold. In fact, the CDC reports that washing hands can prevent one in three diarrhea-related illnesses and one in five respiratory infections.

How Germs Spread

Germs can spread easily when we touch our faces, prepare food, or handle shared objects. You can pick up and pass along germs when you:

• Touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands!
• Prepare or eat food with unwashed hands!
• Touch contaminated surfaces or objects
• Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into your hands and then touch others or shared items

Did you know… A sneeze can travel up to 200 miles per hour and release about 40,000 droplets into the air!

When to Wash Your Hands

Keep yourself and your loved ones healthy by washing your hands often—especially:

• Before, during and after preparing food
• Before eating
• Before and after caring for someone who’s sick
• Before and after treating a wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning a child who’s used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching animals or handling pet food
• After touching garbage

Fun fact: The CDC found that only 31 percent of men and 65 percent of women wash their hands after using a public restroom. Yikes—let’s do better!

Also, wash your hands after being in public places where you touch shared surfaces (like door handles, shopping carts, or checkout screens) and before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way

Clean hands help stop germs from spreading—at home, at work and throughout our communities.

Follow these simple steps:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap and apply soap.
2. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.
3. Scrub for at least 20 seconds—hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice if you need a timer!
4. Rinse well under clean, running water.
5. Dry with a clean towel or air dry.

If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60 percent alcohol). Always supervise young children—swallowing sanitizer can be dangerous.

Make It a Family Habit

Good habits start young! Get the whole family involved in handwashing. HPC has created fun, easy-to-follow handwashing tip sheets for kids—perfect for home or the classroom.

Together, we can make healthy hands a habit—this week and all year long.

By Diana Zamora, Enrollment Specialist and Certified Application Counselor at Health Partnership Clinic

The Health Insurance Marketplace (also known as the “Marketplace” or “exchange”) opens Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 and will close Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. The Marketplace provides health plan shopping and enrollment services through websites, call centers and in-person help.

At Health Partnership Clinic, we offer free, in-person help with the health insurance application.

Open enrollment is from Saturday, Nov. 1-Thursday, Jan. 15.

We are now scheduling appointments by calling 913-730-3653. A certified application counselor is available to help you in English or Spanish.

When you apply for individual and family coverage through the Marketplace, you’ll provide income and household information.

You’ll find out if you qualify for:

• Premium tax credits and other savings that make insurance more affordable
• Coverage through the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in your state

We’re here to help you renew your health insurance or explore your options! Call us today at 913-730-3653. To learn more, visit this page.

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

Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) is proud to announce that Dr. Tiffany Swanson has joined our leadership team as Chief Health Officer (CHO). In this new role, Dr. Swanson will help guide clinical initiatives, support our providers and advance our mission as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) committed to accessible, high-quality health care.

A Kansas City native, Dr. Swanson brings both clinical expertise and visionary leadership to HPC. She will serve as an OBGYN provider at our Olathe Clinic, caring for women’s health patients, while also shaping programs that improve the overall health and well-being of our communities.

Reflecting on her new role, Dr. Swanson shared:
“I’m passionate about caring for underserved populations and am dedicated to delivering high-quality, evidence-based care. I’m grateful for the opportunity to advocate for health equity and to contribute to efforts that improve access and outcomes for all patients.”

A Strong Foundation in Women’s Health and Community Care

Before joining HPC, Dr. Swanson served as an OBGYN physician and Medical Director of Women’s Health at Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center in Kansas City, Mo. During her tenure, she worked closely with local hospitals to strengthen communication and improve patient handoffs. She also focused on connecting patients with vital community resources, addressing challenges such as transportation, food insecurity and behavioral health needs.

Her leadership extended inside the clinic as well. She streamlined the process for pregnant patients to obtain Medicaid, helped establish a doula program and launched an innovative group prenatal care model, ensuring more families had the support and education needed for healthier pregnancies and births.

Clinical Expertise and Dedication to Patients

In practice since 2021, Dr. Swanson’s clinical skills span the full spectrum of women’s health, including:

• Preconception counseling
• Prenatal and postnatal care
• Management of postpartum mood disorders
• Contraception and infertility care
• Preventive screenings and outpatient gynecologic procedures
• Treatment of urinary incontinence and menopausal symptoms

Her ability to provide compassionate, evidence-based care makes her a trusted partner for patients at every stage of life.

Education and Leadership

Dr. Swanson earned her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry with a minor in Business from the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Kansas City, Mo. During residency, she distinguished herself as Chief Academic Resident, later receiving honors such as the Alvin Brooks Bridge Builder’s Award (2024) and the Leadership in Medical Education Award.

She is board certified by the American Osteopathic Association and has contributed extensively to research, publications and professional presentations. She is also a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, a distinction held by only about 30 providers in the state of Kansas, reflecting her deep commitment and expertise in helping patients manage and treat menopausal symptoms. Her dedication to education and mentorship continues to shape the next generation of health care professionals.

Outside the Clinic

Beyond her professional life, Dr. Swanson enjoys time with her husband and their two children in Kansas City, Mo. Together, they love exploring local parks and restaurants and proudly cheer on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Looking Ahead

With her passion for health equity, her leadership experience and her unwavering commitment to patients, Dr. Swanson is poised to make a lasting impact at HPC. We are honored to welcome her as CHO and excited for the future under her guidance.