February is American Heart Month

Wael S. Mourad, MD, MHCM, FAAFP

Wael S. Mourad, MD, MHCM, FAAFP
Chief Health Officer

By Wael S. Mourad, MD, MHCM, FAAFP, Chief Health Officer and Family Physician

February is designated as American Heart Month to spotlight cardiovascular health and raise awareness about heart disease. To help prevent heart disease and increase understanding of its effects, Health Partnership Clinic is proudly participating in American Heart Month. Clinic staff will bring awareness by wearing red on Wear Red Day on Friday, Feb. 4.

Heart Disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease.

There are many types of heart disease. The most common type is coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD occurs when the arteries supplying blood to the heart narrow or harden from the buildup of plaque. This can lead to a decrease in the flow of blood to your heart muscle. CAD can cause chest pain called angina or lead to a heart attack.

National Wear Red DayCertain medical conditions and lifestyle choices can put people at a higher risk of heart disease including:

  • High blood pressure
  • High blood cholesterol
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Overweight and obesity
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Physical inactivity
  • Excessive alcohol use

Your risk is increased if:

  • you are a woman over age 55.
  • You are a man over age 45.
  • Your father or brother had heart disease before age 55.
  • Your mother or sister had heart disease before age 65.

The good news is that cardiac events are largely preventable with education and lifestyle changes.

There are several things you can do to protect your heart:

  • Follow a healthy diet
  • Engage in physical activity (the recommendation for adults is 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise)
  • Lose weight
  • Reduce blood sugar
  • Stop smoking

For more information about heart disease, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm

HPC Celebrates 30 Years of Health and Hope

Amy Falk

Amy Falk, CEO

Thirty years ago, Johnson County adults—who were uninsured and needed acute and chronic disease care—typically accessed care through emergency rooms. This type of episodic care created a financial drain on both patients and hospitals and more importantly, did not provide continuous and comprehensive care. Hospital and community leaders banded together and opened Health Partnership of Johnson County in 1992 to fill that gap. This “free” primary care clinic provided limited adult acute and chronic disease care with volunteer providers and staff.

Over the last 30 years, the clinic, which is now known as Health Partnership Clinic (HPC), has continued to grow to meet the changing needs of Johnson County and the surrounding area. The clinic has provided an estimated 390,000 patient visits since opening its doors.

Click here for a snapshot of Health Partnership’s Milestones over the last 30 years!

  • Health Partnership Clinic - Celebrating 30 YearsIn 2012, the clinic received Federally Qualified Health Center designation opening the door to offer pediatric and adult medicine and dental services on a sliding fee discount in Olathe, Kan.
  • In addition, the Paola clinic opened—serving Miami County, and the clinic’s dental outreach program began.
  • In 2013, the clinic launched its behavioral health services, in 2015, this model of care was expanded to Franklin County and in 2016, the Shawnee Mission Clinic on the campus of AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, opened.
  • Since then, the clinic launched a school-based clinic at Merriam Park Elementary School in Merriam, Kan. and in 2021 relocated services to Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kan. It also provides Substance Abuse and Medication-Assisted Treatment Services.
  • During the intervening years, the clinic has added staff and services to continue to meet the needs of the communities it serves. HPC is ranked among the top 20 percent of health centers nationally for best overall clinical performance (2021).

HPC is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in Johnson, Miami and Franklin Counties

As the only federally qualified health center in Johnson, Miami and Franklin Counties, we are proud to provide quality, affordable and accessible health care to the uninsured, those underinsured and individuals with insurance. Many residents have received care at one of our clinic sites over the years, and they have seen many changes in staff, structure and services. We thank all those for trusting HPC to provide care for the last 30 years, and we look forward to serving and expanding services well into the future.

This milestone is one that has not been easily reached over the years. The dedicated efforts of staff, volunteers, providers and by the Board of Directors laying plans to keep HPC a viable, growing entity in the future will ensure our success. We hope our patients, staff and community take the opportunity to remember the past struggles and successes, celebrate where we are now, but look forward to the future with bright optimism on what we are about to achieve.

The 30th Celebration Committee

The clinic has formed a 30th Celebration Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing and Outreach. Committee members include Carolina Barraza, MA-Shawnee Mission; Maureen Caro, APRN, FNP-C, Medical Provider; Christina Cook, Dental Hygienist; JoJo Delgado, PSR-Ottawa; Judy Janes, Volunteer; Andrea Madrigal, MA-Olathe; Darren Odum, Board Member, Billie Reese-Turner, Billing/Patient Services, Director; Debbie Sparks, Development/Marketing, Manager; and Tom Wilhauk, Executive Assistant.

The clinic will celebrate throughout the year. Plans include its annual Opening Doors fundraising luncheon event in April, staff activities including t-shirts, a time capsule, coloring and video essay contests for school partners and a community open house in August.

To learn more, visit us at hpcks.org/HPC30.

Uninsured care at HPC amounts to more than $3 million. Will you help?

HPC Annual AppealAt Health Partnership Clinic, our doors are always open to those who need quality, affordable and accessible health care.

In the midst of a global pandemic, more and more area residents, who are without insurance, are accessing our medical, dental and behavioral health services. In fact, 80 percent of our patients at the Olathe location are uninsured.

This fall we opened a new school-based health clinic at Shawnee Mission West High School. In just four clinic days, 30 students, including two homeless teens, received lifesaving health care—from school physicals to immunizations to flu tests. Nearly 50 percent of the students were uninsured.

We are ever present in the lives of our patients and their families. However, to continue our mission, we need additional funding from our community. The much-needed financial support will help offset the increasing cost of uninsured care, which amounts to more than $3 million.

To provide immediate support of our patients, please give a gift today and visit us at

https://hpcks.org/give-back/

And to all those who have donated, a huge thank you! Your support is helping thousands of children and adults receive critical primary and preventative medical, dental and behavioral health care.

Happy Holidays from Health Partnership Clinic!

Health Partnership Clinic: Happy Holidays 2021 Health Partnership Clinic: Happy Holidays 2021

During the holiday season, we pause to reflect on the many challenges we faced in 2021 and the opportunities to provide health and wellness to thousands of individuals in Johnson, Franklin and Miami counties. To our patients…we are so grateful that you chose us for your health care needs and it is an honor to serve you and your family. To our partners and supporters, thank you for helping to ensure we live our mission to provide quality, affordable and accessible health care now and into the future. And to our staff, thank you for your dedication, perseverance and passion of being ever present for our patients.

From everyone at Health Partnership Clinic, we wish you a very Happy Holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Health Partnership Clinic: Happy Holidays 2021 Health Partnership Clinic: Happy Holidays 2021

HPC will observe the following holiday schedule:

Closed Friday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve)
Closed Saturday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day)

Closed Friday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve)
Closed Saturday, Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day)

Health Partnership Clinic: Happy Holidays 2021 Health Partnership Clinic: Happy Holidays 2021

Happy Thanksgiving from Health Partnership Clinic!

2021 Happy Thanksgiving from Health Partnership Clinic!Happy Thanksgiving! In the season of giving thanks, we would like to express our appreciation to you for entrusting your family’s health care needs to us. Serving you is our pleasure.

To observe the Thanksgiving holiday, we will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25 and 26. We will reopen on Monday, Nov. 29.

For a full listing of our holiday hours, please visit our Contact page.

May you enjoy good health, good food and peace in your heart this Thanksgiving season!

Health Partnership’s Nurse Practitioner shares valuable insight and resources about hunger and homelessness.

Whitney VenegoniBy Whitney Venegoni, APRN, FNP-C, Family Nurse Practitioner at Health Partnership Clinic/Mobile Integrated Healthcare Team

November 13-21, 2021 marks National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. The goal of this week is to bring attention to hunger and homelessness, focus on ways to make a difference in your community and work to increase participation and engagement. The timing of Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week is important as many of us are focusing on what we are thankful for and what we can do to help others. Here in Olathe and surrounding areas, we are also approaching the colder weather and harsher conditions for those without stable housing.

For more information about HPC’s services for those experiencing homelessness, download our brochure: (English | Spanish)

When we think of homelessness, we often think of people living on the streets.

Many might not realize that we have homeless families right here in our neighborhoods. Some of our homeless do live on the streets, in the woods and other areas in our town facing the elements every day. Others might have a roof over their heads tonight, but they might be sleeping on the floor doubled up with other families, they might not know where they will be sleeping tomorrow, and they might not know where their next meal is coming from. Our local schools have children and families that face food insecurities and unstable housing. When you don’t know where you will sleep tonight or where your next meal will come from, things like school, work and health care all become so much more difficult.

Hunger and HomelessnessAs part of the Mobile Integrated Healthcare Team, we have the opportunity to support patients in any way possible. We are able to meet people where they are, whether that’s outside, at the home of someone they are doubled up with, or one of our community partner sites. Many times, things like transportation, housing and food are barriers, and when food and shelter are not stable, things like routine labs, medications and follow up appointments are not a priority. Ensuring our basic needs are met and stable going forward allows us to focus on our overall health and avoid illness and injury. Our services are provided to Olathe residents at no cost.

To schedule an appointment with the Mobile Integrated Healthcare Team, call 913-334-8228.

In addition to my work with the Integrated Healthcare Team, I see patients at Health Partnership Clinic in Olathe. We are the designated medical home in Johnson County for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This means our health services—medical, dental and behavioral health—are available free of charge to those who qualify. This service also extends to unsheltered people in Franklin and Miami Counties.

To schedule an appointment to establish a medical home, call 913-648-2266.

Community Resources Abound

Hunger and HomelessnessThere are so many excellent partners in our community working everyday to feed those who are hungry and to house those who are experiencing homelessness. We have several community partners that work hard to help adults, children and families at risk. There are resources out there to help prevent homelessness and hunger as well and to get families help before they are without a home and experiencing food insecurity.

If you are struggling with hunger, there are several partners in our area that can help. To find a food pantry near you, visit https://www.foodpantries.org/st/kansas. There are several mobile food drops in our area, as well as food pantries that can be visited every month. One family could access food pantry services six times per month.

For those experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness, there is help in our community!

There is also a Hotline for the Homeless: 816-474-4599

The Hotline for the Homeless is a free referral telephone service. Men, women and families who call the Hotline are directed to actual shelter housing when available space is known.

There are so many wonderful ways to get involved!

Check out the following to donate your time or help support these wonderful organizations:

Clinic Now Accepting Appointments for Marketplace Enrollment

Diana ZamoraBy Diana Zamora, Enrollment Specialist and Certified Application Counselor for Health Partnership Clinic

The Health Insurance Marketplace (also known as the “Marketplace” or “exchange”) opens Monday, Nov. 1 and will close on Saturday, Jan. 15. 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 Monday, Nov. 1-Saturday, 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.

HPC to Celebrate Medical Assistants Week Oct. 18-22

CelebrateBy Debbie Sparks, Development and Marketing Manager

Medical assisting is an allied health profession whose practitioners’ function as members of the health care delivery team and perform administrative and clinical procedures. With their unique versatility, medical assistants (MA) are proving to be the allied health professional of choice for this decade and beyond. Medical assisting is one of the nation’s careers growing much faster than average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

According to Sharon Trongaard, Clinic Director and Risk and Compliance Officer, “Medical Assistants deserve enormous appreciation as they are the backbone of our health care clinic.” Some of their tasks and talents include putting patients at ease, helping them navigate the health system, performing testing and documenting care, as well as collaborating with providers to improve patient care. At HPC the MAs “shepherd” the providers to ensure clinics run smoothly.

Sharon notes, “we have MAs who are our subject matter experts in Pediatrics, Women’s Health, Diabetic Clinic, Medication-Assisted Treatment and Referral Coordination. Another key role filled by a MA is our Vaccination Coordinator, who has played a key role in providing COVID vaccinations to our community.

Medical Assistants Week October 18-22, 2021 We are very grateful for our medical assistants at HPC:
Carolina Barraza, Alicia Jimenez, Mayra Lemus, NRCMA, Andrea Madrigal, Tracie McIntire, Teresa Najera, NRCMA, Tracie Ostermeier, RMA, Abby Rose, Alexis Sanchez, Taylor Sanders, RMA, and MA Extern Jessica Magallanes.

Health Partnership Clinic plans Open House/Ribbon Cutting at Shawnee Mission West High School

By Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing/Outreach

Students attending Shawnee Mission School District are now able to access Health Partnership Clinic’s newest clinic, located inside Shawnee Mission West High School, Overland Park, Kan. The clinic, which is open on Thursdays, provides medical and behavioral health services. Dental services will be offered in the near future. The new school-based clinic opened in early September 2021.

An open house and ribbon cutting is planned for Thursday, Oct. 7 at 8 a.m., with a short program at 8:15 a.m. Attendance is limited to the first 40 to rsvp at 913-433-7592 or hpcrsvp@hpcks.org. Attendees will learn more about the new clinic, take tours and enjoy door prizes and ‘grab and go’ snacks.

Recovery Roads: Walk the path, take constant inventory, keep pace.

Christopher WoodwardBy Christopher W. Woodward, LAC, Substance Abuse Specialist

September is National Recovery Month. The aim of this month is to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and celebrate the people who recover.

I was talking to one of our client’s this morning over the telehealth application, and the client was about to turn the calendar on a year sober. First let me celebrate all the hard work that it takes to gain that level of sober living. Knowing where you want to go is easy, taking the steps to get there is where the difficulty is.

Not one of us truly enjoys change. Some of us endure it and some fight and push against it as hard as we can until the point of exhaustion. To gain a year without any substances as the client has—is no small thing. The client noted that he/she was very excited about this new year of being sober. The client had been resilient, was on the short end of relationship, money, housing and in jail for a good portion of the previous year. The client had persevered down the road and met his/her goal, now it was time to set a new goal. Hopefully the following strategies can help in making these new goals no matter the length of your recovery.

Walk the Path

Many times, when clients get to this point, the point of being a year sober and clean, part of me wants to say, “It gets harder from here.” Or “Now the tough work starts.” Most people will take that as a negative however, my point is that we have established positive patterns, changed in our lives our motives and in our methods.

Now we must keep doing it. Now we have to make that daily commitment and find new changes, deeper changes to solidify the recovery process. Long term recovery sometimes can feel like a false peak. Sometimes we think we have climbed the mountain, completed the task, only to get to the top and see that there is a valley and another mountain in our way to get to the actual mountain peak that we wanted to climb in the first place. That is where our resilient nature is our best friend.

We exhale, we sometimes swear, we can complain, we can survey the next steps and then we keep walking.

Take Constant Inventory

National Recovery MonthOccasionally we need to look around and consider the people, the places and our efforts. When we ask ourselves about the people that we are walking with, do they have the same goal in mind? Are they willing to take the next peak or are they satisfied with sitting here in the sun?

Finding people who push us and the pace, can help us get over the next hill and find the energy to build consistent gains. Another inventory we need to take is what are the places that we are walking in to? Am I triggered by my environment at work or at home? What does my social medial intake look like? Am I using it as a positive to push my recovery or am I slowly allowing negativity back into my thoughts and being activated by the situations of others? Also ask, do we need to make some changes in our daily efforts?

Walking in the cool of the day might be a welcome change to toiling in the sun to gain a few more steps, knowing that rest sometimes is better than pushing ourselves to the limit. Sometimes balancing our efforts with rest can make all the difference in the world.

Keep the Pace

Remember the tortoise and the hare? The hare jumps out of the gate quick and ahead of the race. The hare moves though the turns and down the path with reckless abandon, confident that the win is just around the next corner. He builds a lead and then finds himself distracted with his own speed and meaning to embarrass the tortoise took a nap on the path. Eventually losing sight of the end goal. He was caught sleeping and did not have the speed to overtake the lumbering tortoise.

The tortoise, however, was up for the challenge. He is the one if you read Aesop’s version who challenged the hare to the race. The tortoise found his pace, a pace that he could maintain for the entire race. He went about his business knowing that he would end the race. He passed the hare asleep on the road and built such a lead that the speed of the hare could not overtake him.

The tortoise made the finish line the most important part of the race. Hopefully, if we find our pace, we can do the same.

If we walk the path, take constant inventory and keep our pace we can find ourselves climbing each hill of our recovery and overall life in a successful manner. The way that we walk the path of recovery is sometimes as important as the daily goals that we have for our recovery. Remember it is not always about where we came from, it is more about where we are going that defines our life.