HPC Celebrates Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 10-16

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Kelly KreislerBy Kelly Kreisler, MD, MPH, FAAP, Chief Health Officer and Pediatrician  

Meet your Nurse Practitioners!

At Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) our Nurse Practitioners play key roles. They provide a full range of medical care from pediatric to geriatric and some specialty services. We greatly appreciate their quality of care and service to our patients.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is an RN who begins with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (RN-BSN). He or she then obtains a master’s degree, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or doctoral level, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Nurse practitioners may practice in broad areas including primary care, acute care and specialty care services, practicing either independently or in collaboration with a physician. Your primary care provider may be a nurse practitioner.

What does a Nurse Practitioner do?

Primary Care nurse practitioners see patients in offices or Urgent Care settings, perform routine check-ups and investigate symptoms to diagnose and treat illnesses. Their work varies from wellness visits to managing chronic complex illnesses. They order and interpret lab tests, x-rays and the full range of other diagnostic tests. From your history and test results, they form a treatment plan. Some nurse practitioners perform procedures such as biopsies, suturing of lacerations and fracture care to name a few.

What is the education and training needed to become a Nurse Practitioner?

All nurse practitioners complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and a Master of Science in Nursing (APRN) and/or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Each nurse practitioner has to successfully pass a certification exam to begin practice.

Do Nurse Practitioners specialize, or do they all practice Primary Care?

About three-fourths of nurse practitioners work in Primary Care but there are many other specialties that can be pursued. These include Psychiatry and Mental Health, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health.

At HPC our nurse practitioners play key roles specializing in primary care, psychiatric services and women’s health. We also employ nurse practitioners who are specially trained in medication assisted treatment of substance abuse.

Please take time to thank our Nurse Practitioners for all they do for our patients. Happy Nurse Practitioner Week!

HPC Celebrates Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 10-16

We are so grateful for our NPs at HPC. Thank you Tony Anno, DNP, ACNP-BC, APRN; Eva Clark, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC; Trish Fowler, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Edward Karanja, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; Thao Le, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC; Jennifer Miller, FNP-BC; Jessica Nichols, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC; Inessa Sergeyeva, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC; Leigh Smith, DNP, FNP-C, and Whitney Venegoni, APRN, FNP-C. 

HPC Celebrates Medical Assistants Week Oct. 21-25

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Hannah CarlisleBy Hannah Carlisle, BSN, RN, Clinic Director and Risk Manager

Medical assisting is an allied health profession where health professionals function as members of the healthcare delivery team and perform administrative and clinical assistance. With their unique versatility, medical assistants (MAs) are proving to be the allied health professional of choice for this decade and beyond. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting is one of the Nation’s faster than average growing careers.

Our MAs at Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) are multiskilled health professionals who perform a wide range of administrative and clinical tasks with skill, dedication and loyalty. All the MAs at HPC are cross trained and are an asset to our patients and providers with their vast knowledge of ambulatory care.

They make a substantial contribution to the quality of health by promoting and maintaining collaborative and meaningful interactions between patients and providers while being vital members of the team. MAs are an integral point of contact for patients and relatives when visiting their healthcare provider. A significant part of the MA’s daily routine revolves around supporting the healthcare team and patients by participating in quality, value-based care initiatives.

We have MAs who are our subject matter experts in Pediatrics, Women’s Health and Primary Care working with doctors and nurse practitioners who provide care to infants, children, teens and adults.

We are very thankful for our MAs at HPC:

Carolina Barraza, Tierra Hardaway, Jamie Johnson, Mayra Lemus, Jessica Magallanes, Sandra Marquez, Traci McIntire, Cinthia Salazar and Shamya Starks.

HPC Celebrates Medical Assistants Week Oct. 21-25

May Brings Special Recognition to Nurses and Patient Services Representatives

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By Debbie Sparks, Development and Marketing Manager

National Nurses Week is May 6-12.

In 1993, the American Nurses Association declared May 6-12 as the national week to celebrate and elevate the nursing profession. Each year the celebration ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Florence Nightingale was an English social reformer and statistician and the founder of modern nursing.

This year’s theme for Nurses Week is “Nurses Make the Difference” to honor the varying roles of nurses and the positive impacts they make on our lives.

At HPC we celebrate the important roles that nurses play on the frontlines of the healthcare system. Special thanks to Hannah Carlisle, RN, Nurse Clinic Manager, and Crystal Ohanmu, LPN, for all that they do to support our patients, medical providers, medical assistants and other HPC team members.

Additionally, we would like to thank Mindy Beckwith, BSN, MSN, RN, Clinic Director and Risk/Compliance Officer, for overseeing the nursing department, refining workflows and leading the charge in patient safety.

Thank you, Hannah, Crystal and Mindy, for all of the good work you do to improve patient care at HPC!

Mindy Beckwith Crystal Ohanmu Hannah Carlisle

Patient Services Representatives Day/Receptionist Day is May 8

Since 1991, National Receptionist Day has been celebrated on the second Wednesday of May, this year falling on Wednesday, May 8. HPC would like to take this opportunity to recognize our Patient Services Representatives (PSRs) who fill the role of receptionist and so much more!

According to Mayra Bocanegra, Billing and Patient Services Manager, the PSR staff are the first people who interact with our patients when they walk through the door. They are the face of the clinic. It can be a tough job sometimes, but they are willing to do whatever is needed for our patients.

“We have faced many challenges over the past year, but our awesome team has stuck together,” Mayra says. “We recently implemented a new fee schedule, and everyone did an amazing job in communicating and supporting our patients.”

“My team always demonstrates a willingness to learn and to improve,” she adds. “We are finally fully staffed and have a strong team in place. I am grateful and look forward to working alongside them every day.”

Thank you to our wonderful team of PSRs: Crystal Albarran, Lisa Caldera, Jean Cast-Martin, Diana Flores, Rocio Gonzalez, Iliana Mejia, Karla Nunez, Cely Ortiz, Patricia Ortiz, Maria Pena, PSR Lead, and Ilse Salazar.

The PSRs are part of the Revenue Cycle Management team and work closely with Mayra; Perla Cardenas, Women’s Health Coordinator; Jorge Larriba, Dental Coordinator; Billie Reese-Turner, Director of Billing and Patient Services; Yesenia Salazar, Billing Coordinator; and Diana Zamora, Enrollment Specialist.

PSR Collage

HPC Salutes Staff During National Recognitions

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HPC Salutes Staff During National Recognitions

By Debbie Sparks, Development and Marketing Manager

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 “Empowering Social Workers.”

The need for social workers is great. There are nearly 720,000 social workers in our nation and 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. People are entering the field because the life-affirming services that social workers provide are needed more than ever. Empowered social workers inspire action and lead change.

Thank you to HPC’s Social Workers, Ming Strother, LSCSW, Behavioral Health Clinician, and Jennifer Truman, LSCSW, LCSW, CCTPII, Lead Behavioral Health Clinician, and Pauline Shafer, MSW Practicum Student, University of Kansas.

National Doctor’s Day, Saturday, 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; Kelly Kreisler, MD, MPH, FAAP, Chief Health Officer; Kare Lyche, MD, and Noriko Okahara, DO, MPH, for their hard work and dedication to our patients and the clinic. We appreciate all that you do to support and serve our patients.

March is a great time to show our appreciation for our Dental staff!

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Celebrate

We Have Much to Celebrate at HPC in March!

National Dentist Day, 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 2023 there are approximately 202,300 dentists who are professionally active in the United States. There are approximately 2,100 active dentists in Kansas, of which approximately 280 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, 12 specialties are recognized by the American Dental Association.
  1. Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
  2. Pedodontics
  3. Periodontics
  4. Prosthodontics
  5. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  6. Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
  7. Endodontics
  8. Public Health Dentistry
  9. Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
  10. Dental Anesthesiology
  11. Oral Medicine
  12. Orofacial Pain

Special thanks to our dentist, Nader Rastgoftar, DDS, for providing top notch patient care!

Staff Recognition March 2024

National Dental Assistant Week, March 3-9

“Dental Assistants –100 Years of Supporting Oral Health” is the theme for 2024 and acknowledges the importance of dentistry’s role in health care and the contributions of dental assistants.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2022, there are more than 371,000 dental assistants in the United States. In Kansas, there are approximately 3,000 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, Enid Sierra and Rachell Perez!

Health Partnership earns Community Health Quality Recognition

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By Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing/Outreach

Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) is proud to announce that it has received three Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) Awards from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Care Program. This is a significant accomplishment, and we’re so proud of our staff!

CHQR badges recognize health centers, like HPC, that have made notable quality improvement achievements in the areas of access, quality, health equity, health information technology and COVID-19 public health emergency response for the most recent Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting period.

HRSA 2023 Award HRSA 2023 Award NCQA Practice

Recognition badges received by HPC include:

  • Silver Award Health Center Quality Leader, which is in recognition of ranking among the top 20 percent of health centers nationally for the best overall clinical performance!
  • Advancing HIT for Quality
  • Primary Care Medical Home (PCMH)

We appreciate our team’s commitment to providing quality, primary health care services to the communities we serve. Each team member plays a key role, and when those collective skills, expertise and passion are brought together, our mission is realized. At HPC, we are all about improving health and impacting lives!

HRSA 2023 Award

 

HPC Celebrates Nurse Practitioner Week, Nov. 12-18

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Kelly KreislerPost by Kelly Kreisler, MD, MPH, FAAP, Chief Health Officer and Pediatrician

Meet your Nurse Practitioner!

At Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) our Nurse Practitioners play key roles. They provide a full range of medical care from pediatric to geriatric and some specialty services. We greatly appreciate their quality of care and service to our patients.

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is an RN who begins with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (RN-BSN). He or she then obtains a master’s degree, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or doctoral level, Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Nurse practitioners may practice in broad areas including primary care, acute care and specialty care services, practicing either independently or in collaboration with a physician. Your primary care provider may be a nurse practitioner.

What does a Nurse Practitioner do?

Primary Care nurse practitioners see patients in offices or Urgent Care settings, perform routine check-ups and investigate symptoms to diagnose and treat illnesses. Their work varies from wellness visits to managing chronic complex illnesses. They order and interpret lab tests, x-rays and the full range of other diagnostic tests. From your history and test results, they form a treatment plan. Some nurse practitioners perform procedures such as biopsies, suturing of lacerations and fracture care to name a few.

What is the education and training needed to become a Nurse Practitioner?

All nurse practitioners complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and a Master of Science in Nursing (APRN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. Each nurse practitioner has to successfully pass a certification exam to begin practice.

Do Nurse Practitioners specialize, or do they all practice Primary Care?

About three-fourths of nurse practitioners work in Primary Care but there are many other specialties that can be pursued. These include Psychiatry and Mental Health, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Nurse Midwife and Women’s Health.

At HPC our nurse practitioners play key roles specializing in primary care, psychiatric services and women’s health. We also employ nurse practitioners who are specially trained in medication assisted treatment of substance abuse.

HPC Nurse Practitioners

We are so grateful for our NPs at HPC. Thank you Tony Anno, DNP, ACNP-BC, APRN; Eva Clark, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC; Edward Karanja, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; Thao Le, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC; Jennifer Miller, FNP-BC; Jessica Nichols, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC; Inessa Sergeyeva, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC; Whitney Venegoni, APRN, FNP-C; and Patti West, DNP, APRN.

Please take time to thank our Nurse Practitioners for all they do for our patients. Happy Nurse Practitioner Week!

HPC Celebrates Medical Assistants Week Oct. 16-20

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Mindy BeckwithBy Mindy Beckwith, MSN, RN, Clinic Director and Risk Manager

Medical assisting is an allied health profession where health professionals function as members of the healthcare delivery team and perform administrative and clinical assistance. With their unique versatility, medical assistants (MAs) are proving to be the allied health professional of choice for this decade and beyond. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting is one of the Nation’s faster than average growing careers.

Our MAs at Health Partnership Clinic (HPC) are multiskilled health professionals who perform a wide range of administrative and clinical tasks with skill, dedication and loyalty. All the MAs at HPC are cross trained and are an asset to our patients and providers with their vast knowledge of ambulatory care.

They make a substantial contribution to the quality of health by promoting and maintaining collaborative and meaningful interactions between patients and providers while being vital members of the team. MAs are the first point of contact for patients and relatives when visiting their healthcare provider. A significant part of the MA’s daily routine revolves around supporting the healthcare team and patients by participating in quality, value-based care initiatives.

We have MAs who are our subject matter experts in Pediatrics, Women’s Health and Primary Care working with doctors and nurse practitioners who provide care to infants, children, teens and adults.

We are very thankful for our MAs at HPC:

HPC Celebrates Medical Assistants Week Oct. 16-20

Kimberly Baird, Carolina Barraza, Porche Green, Maria Head, Sandra Marquez, Traci McIntire, Trevia Robertson and Cinthia Salazar

 

May Brings Special Recognitions to the Behavioral Health Team, Nurses and Patient Services Representatives

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CelebrateHPC Salutes Behavioral Health Team

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. According to National Alliance on Mental Illness, (NAMI), millions of Americans face the reality of living with mental illness. During the month of May, HPC joins with NAMI in the national movement to raise awareness about mental health.

Each day at HPC, our Behavioral Health Team works to access the needs of our patients. They work with our medical providers on a treatment plan to address many conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, smoking cessation, weight management and more. Our Behavioral Health Clinicians provide support and education to our patients while fighting to decrease the stigma related to accessing care for mental health.

We would like to take this opportunity to recognize the Behavioral Health Team at HPC for all that they do to improve the lives of our patients.

Thao Le John Smart Christopher Woodward
Special thanks to Thao Le, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner; John Smart, LSCSW, Behavioral Health Clinician; and Christopher Woodward, LMAC, Substance Abuse Specialist. 

National Nurses Week is May 6-12. 

In 1993, the American Nurses Association declared May 6-12 as the national week to celebrate and elevate the nursing profession. Each year the celebration ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Florence Nightingale was an English social reformer and statistician and the founder of modern nursing.

This year’s theme for Nurses Week is “You Make a Difference” to honor the varying roles of nurses and the positive impacts they make on our lives.

At HPC we celebrate the important roles that nurses play on the frontlines of the health care system. Special thanks to Jewel Gleason, LPN, for all that she does to support our patients, medical providers and medical assistants.

Jewel Gleason

Thank you, Jewel, for all of the good work you do to improve patient care at HPC!

Patient Services Representatives Day/Receptionist Day is May 10

Since 1991, National Receptionist Day has been celebrated on the second Wednesday of May, this year falling on Wednesday, May 10. HPC would like to take this opportunity to recognize our Patient Services Representatives (PSRs) who fill the role of receptionist and so much more!

According to Mayra Bocanegra, Billing and Patient Services Manager, the PSR staff are the first people who interact with our patients when they walk through the door. They are the face of the clinic. It can be a tough job sometimes, but they are willing to do whatever is needed for our patients.

“Words cannot express the gratitude I have for our team,” Mayra says. “We have been through so much together, from the COVID-19 pandemic to staffing shortages, and this team has stuck by my side. We have built a very positive, strong team, and I will forever be grateful.

“I would not be where I am today without them,” she adds. “Every single person on our team has made a difference along the way. I hope they know, to be proud of the work they do, the people they are, and the difference they make for HPC. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

Thank you to our wonderful team of PSRs: Crystal Albarran, Acirema Chavez, Jean Cast-Martin, Marlene Guzman, Jorge Larriba, Iliana Mejia, Karla Nunez, Patricia Ortiz, Maria Pena and Yesenia Salazar.

The PSRs are part of the Revenue Cycle Management team and work closely with Mayra Bocanegra, Manager of Billing and Patient Services; Billie Reese-Turner, Director of Billing and Patient Services; and Diana Zamora, Enrollment Specialist.

PSRs

HPC Celebrates Dental Hygienist Week and Administrative Professionals’ Day

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National Dental Hygienist Week, April 9-15

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 associate 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.

Special thanks to HPC’s dental hygienist Christina Cook, RDH, ECP II. Christina also serves as our Dental Outreach Coordinator. She is a dedicated professional and always goes above and beyond for our patients! 

HPC Celebrates Dental Hygienist Week and Administrative Professionals’ Day

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 26. It is a day to recognize the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists and other administrative support professionals.

Shoutout to Sandra Gonzalez, our administrative assistant, at HPC. Sandra supports all the Senior Leadership Team members in addition to coordinating meetings and schedules and assembles Board and Quality Improvement (QI) packets and takes notes for the Board of Directors, QI and Finance Committee monthly meetings and so much more!

We thank Sandra for all she does!