Archive for category: HPC News

National Dental Hygienist Week, April 10-16

Each year in April we recognize the contribution of dental hygienists and their focus on maintaining good oral health practices which impacts overall health. There are more than 200,000 dental hygienists in the United States. In Kansas, there are more than 2,000 dental hygienists.

Dental hygienists provide oral care under a dentist’s supervision. They clean patients’ teeth and examine their mouths for signs of damage, gingivitis and other diseases. Hygienists teach patients how to maintain good oral health.

The education of dental hygienists typically includes prerequisite courses prior to obtaining either a dental hygiene certificate or associates degree, which is typically a three-year program. Dental hygienists may go on to obtain a Bachelor of Science or Master of Science in Dental Hygiene.

In Kansas, dental hygienists may obtain an Extended Care Permit (level one, two or three) which allows them to practice under indirect supervision in settings like schools or nursing homes.

Thank you to HPC’s dental hygienist Christina Cook for her hard work and dedication to our patients! Christina always goes above and beyond and is a true team player.

National Administrative Professionals’ Day

National Administrative Professionals’ Day, also known as Secretaries Day or Admin Day, is observed on the Wednesday of the last full week of April each year. This year it is celebrated on Wednesday, April 27. It is a day to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists and other administrative support professionals.

Shout-out to Tom Wilhauk, our executive assistant at HPC. Tom supports all the Senior Leadership Team members in addition to coordinating meetings and schedules, supports the Policy Committee and HR functions, and takes notes for the Board of Directors and Quality Improvement Committee monthly meetings and so much more! We thank and salute Tom for all he does!

During the month of March we have much to celebrate at HPC!

National Social Work Month

March is Social Work Month and is a time to acknowledge the work that this profession has contributed to our society and across the globe. This year’s theme is “The Time is Right for Social Work”.

The need for social workers is great. There are nearly 720,000 social workers in our nation. There are more than 4,700 social workers in the state of Kansas. That number is expected to grow by 12 percent by the end of the decade, making social work one of the fastest growing professions in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Social workers have been an integral part of our nation for decades. Social workers played key roles in the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements and pushed for social programs we now take for granted, including the minimum wage, a 40-hour work week, Social Security and Medicare. The time is always right for social work. However, more people are entering the field because the life-affirming services that social workers provide are needed more than ever.

This is especially true as our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, economic inequality, global warming and other crises. The United States is also experiencing one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression. Social workers are on the front lines, helping people overcome these crises. That is why the theme for Social Work Month 2022 is “The Time is Right for Social Work.”

At HPC, we salute our social worker, John Smart, LSCSW!

National Dental Assistant Week, March 6-12

“Dental Assistants – Passionate About Our Patients, Dedicated to Our Profession” is the theme for 2022 and acknowledges the growing importance of dentistry’s role in health care and the responsibilities of dental assistants.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2020, there are more than 330,000 dental assistants in the United States. In Kansas, there are approximately 2,800 dental assistants.

Dental assistants wear many hats in a dental clinic! They greet patients, review medical histories, take X-rays, perform dental charting during the dentist exam, assist the dentist chairside during procedures, polish teeth, review post-operative instructions and schedule patients.

In Kansas, dental assistants are not required to be certified. However, The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is the nationally recognized certification organization for dental assistants. Certification is a source of pride for dental assistants and provides professional advantage and potentially greater earning power.

Thank you to our HPC dental assistants Stephanie Rojas and Diana Ortiz Vargas!

National Dentist Day, Sunday, March 6

National Dentist Day was created as a day to say thank you and show your appreciation for your dentist. It is celebrated annually on March 6.

Do you know?

• As of 2021 there are approximately 201,900 dentists who are professionally active in the United States. There are approximately 1,600 active dentists in Kansas, of which more than 200 are specialists.
• The education and training of dentists typically includes four years of college, four years of dental school and two to three years of residency training if a specialty is chosen.
• There are two different but equivalent degrees dentists may earn: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).
• In the United States, nine specialties are recognized by the American Dental Association.
• Orthodontics
• Dentofacial orthopedics
• Pediatric dentistry
• Periodontics
• Prosthodontics
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery
• Oral and maxillofacial pathology
• Endodontics
• Public health dentistry
• Oral and maxillofacial radiology

Special thanks to our dentist, Nader Rastgoftar, DDS, for providing top notch patient care and serving as a leader on the Senior Leadership Team.

National Doctor’s Day, Wednesday, March 30

National Doctor’s Day is celebrated on March 30 annually in the United States to honor physicians for the work they do for their patients in their communities and for society.

• There are over a million physicians in the United States.
• The education and training of physicians typically includes four years of college, four years of medical school, three to five years of residency training in the chosen specialty and one to three years of additional training for sub-specialists.
• There are two different but equivalent degrees doctors can earn: Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).
• The training years are difficult with long work hours of often 80 hours per week, low pay and many overnight shifts in the hospital. In addition, the highest levels of professionalism, conduct and ethics are expected of doctors.
• Areas of practice include the primary care specialties such as family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. Other specialties include surgery, obstetrics and gynecology and psychiatry. There are well over 100 specialties and sub-specialties in the United States.
• The specialty that sees the most patients during office visits is family medicine.

Thank you to our HPC physicians: Emily M. Bush, MD, Cheri El-Halawany, MD, FAAP, Kare Lyche, MD, Ahmed Maher, MD, Wael S. Mourad, MD, MHCM, FAAFP, and Noriko Okahara, DO, MPH, for their hard work and dedication to the clinic. We appreciate all that you do to support and serve our patients.

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.

Certain 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

At 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.