DW Admin – Page 28 – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Case studies in diabetes management

DW Admin on June 8, 2016

By Anne N. Connor, director of community grants

In 2015, two Methodist Healthcare Ministries funded partners, the Gateway Community Health Center in Laredo and the Texas A&M Health Science Center – Coastal Bend Health Education Center, did remarkably well at controlling HbA1c levels in diabetic patients.

The term HbA1c refers to glycated haemoglobin. It develops when haemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body, joins with glucose in the blood, becoming 'glycated.' By measuring glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), clinicians are able to get an overall picture of what our average blood sugar levels have been over a period of weeks/months. For people with diabetes, this is important, since the higher the HbA1c the greater the risk of developing diabetes-related complications.

Both partners did well at controlling HbA1c in their adult diabetic patients. The rate of uncontrolled HbA1c in Gateway patients was 7%, and the Coastal Bend Health Education Center had a rate of 16.7 %, both better than the Medicaid 90th percentile.

graph

When asked what made them successful, both organizations attributed it to the following components:

	Gateway Community Health Center: Leveraging long-term relationships	Coastal Bend Health Education: Consistency and support
Integration	Diabetes programs were integrated into medical practice.	A multi-disciplinary diabetes education care team for diabetics included: a physician medical director, registered nurses, certified diabetes educator, registered dietitians and community health workers.
Supportive Intervention	Nutritional assessment and counseling: a 10-week diabetes self-management course included weekly outreach by phone to answer questions, and provided support and reminders. Bi-weekly support sessions provided group problem-solving and a buddy system.	A consistent patient-focused approach promoted lifestyle changes, diabetes self-management and social support. This included regular diabetes self-management education classes in English and Spanish, as well as monthly support groups and refresher trainings based on patient needs (i.e. glucometer training). Additionally, a three-part nutritional education course covered topics from food shopping to cooking to eating out.
Trusted Relationships	The community health workers that worked with patients and conducted the diabetes self-management courses had been with Gateway for over 10 years. This experience allowed staff to develop a rapport with patients and anticipate their needs.	Community health workers were integrated into the community and facilitated patient access to support services. They followed up on patient progress and made home visits when the patients were identified as high risk with cultural and linguistic barriers. Community health workers enhanced the quality and cultural competence of program service delivery by serving as advocates.
Clinical Knowledge	Careful, systematic monitoring of HbA1c at regular intervals helped move diabetics through different levels of support based on test results.	All diabetic patients received a follow-up appointment every three months that monitored the progress of their treatment plan. Biometrics were obtained (HbA1c, blood pressure, random blood glucose, weight, BMI and percent of body fat) so patients could see changes in their health. This monitoring also allowed patients with urgent needs (such as a very high HbA1c) to be referred to medical providers for one-on-one crisis care.
Patient Convenience	A one-stop shop model made it convenient for patients to access wrap-around services. Diabetic testing supplies were also provided year-round at low cost.	Diabetes self-management education classes were offered in the day and in the evening at convenient locations around the region.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries awards $25.1 million in health care grants

DW Admin on May 25, 2016

More than 80 grantees funded across South Texas

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., a San Antonio-based not-for-profit organization that funds health care services to low-income families and the uninsured, will award $25.1 million in community grants to more than 80 agencies to assist hundreds of thousands throughout its 74-county service area. View 2016 funded partners.

Given annually, these grants are rooted in partnerships that support access to care, integrated delivery systems and patient-centered models. In partnership with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), safety-net clinics, counseling services and regional community projects, Methodist Healthcare Ministries' goal is to create measurable impact at the community and regional levels to further establish health care networks. Awards are based on five core areas of giving: Primary & Preventive Care, Dental Services, Regionalization & Community Engagement, Social Services & Behavioral Health and Health Care Professional Shortages.

"Over time, we've refined our decisions in grant-making to an outcomes-based approach to ensure that our clients' needs are met, especially in rural areas where access to health care is limited," said Methodist Healthcare Ministries' President & CEO, Kevin C. Moriarty. "In my 20-year tenure, I've seen Methodist Healthcare Ministries' progression and advancement and it's exciting to think of all we could do into the future."

Funding is allocated to nearly 140 grant programs to deepen collaborative efforts, incentivize quality health outcomes, leverage and strengthen health care delivery systems and promote sustainable systems change.

The single largest area of giving this year is to Social Services & Behavioral Health. Nearly $10 million will be awarded to support integrated health care programs to include the systematic integration of behavioral health and social services. Funding to support Primary & Preventive Care is the second largest area with awards totaling $7.4 million.

Two San Antonio-based FQHCs, CentroMed and CommuniCare Health Centers, will receive the largest awards locally. CentroMed will receive $2.4 million for services in Bexar County.

"We are pleased to once again partner with Methodist Healthcare Ministries," said Dr. Ernesto Gomez, president & CEO at CentroMed. "This funding support will enable us to provide health care services to more patients, in particular, working families that may be uninsured, children with special needs, homeless families and victims of family violence."

CommuniCare Health Centers will also receive more than $2 million to serve patients who have limited access to psychiatric services.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries provides funding and/or works in partnership with 19 of the 22 FQHCs located in its service area. "The collaboration with our FQHC partners is essential to reaching underserved communities, particularly in rural communities where access to care, most especially access to behavioral health services, is severely limited," said Moriarty. "They play a critical role in helping us achieve our mission of creating access to quality care for all, regardless of ability to pay."

Methodist Healthcare Ministries strategically seeks partnerships that align with its mission and services and support its objectives. Methodist Healthcare Ministries' board of directors oversees the selection of funded partners and requests are considered on an annual basis by invitation only; unsolicited proposals are not accepted.

Since being founded, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has invested more than $230 million in grant-making to improve community health care in its 74-county service area which makes up 29 percent of Texas counties.

In addition to grant-making, Methodist Healthcare Ministries also operates two San Antonio-based primary health care clinics, and School Based Health Centers in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City and Marion Independent School Districts. The clinics address the needs of the uninsured and low-income families by providing services at no cost or on a sliding scale fee. The direct services Methodist Healthcare Ministries provides are a cornerstone of its charitable mission of creating access to care.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries' mission also includes its one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System – the largest healthcare system in South Texas. This creates a unique avenue to ensure the Methodist Healthcare System continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all, and revenue to Methodist Healthcare Ministries for its programs and services.

About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. The mission of the organization is "Serving Humanity to Honor God" by improving the physical, mental and spiritual health of those least served in the Rio Texas Conference area of The United Methodist Church. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries Receives 2015 Constant Contact All Star Award

DW Admin on May 20, 2016

Recognized for achievements using online marketing tools to drive success.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. has been named a 2015 All Star Award winner by Constant Contact®, Inc., the trusted marketing advisor to hundreds of thousands of small organizations worldwide. The annual award recognizes the most successful 10 percent of Constant Contact's customer base, based on their significant achievements leveraging online marketing tools to engage their customer base and drive results for their organization.

"We're happy to be recognized by Constant Contact for achieving strong marketing results and engaging with our readers," said Jessica Muñoz, director of communications at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. "Constant Contact's tools have helped us better manage relationships with our clients, patients, funded partners and other audience members, and we plan to continue the open line of communication in the year ahead."

Small businesses and nonprofits using Constant Contact's online marketing tools were eligible for this award. Criteria used to select this year's All Stars included:

• Level of engagement with email campaigns
• Open, bounce, and click-through rates
• Use of social sharing features
• Use of mailing list sign-up tools
• Use of reporting tools

"At Constant Contact, we aim to help small businesses become marketers so they can do even more business. Our All Stars are leading the way, showing us the difference online marketing can make for a small business or nonprofit. It's truly inspiring," said John Orlando, chief marketing officer at Constant Contact. "We're thrilled to recognize Methodist Healthcare Ministries for their commendable achievements in 2015 with this All Star Award."

To receive the latest Methodist Healthcare Ministries news (general news, upcoming events, research and policy publications, Sí Texas Project news, School Based Health Center updates, etc.), please subscribe to our mailing list.

About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.
Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. The mission of the organization is "Serving Humanity to Honor God" by improving the physical, mental and spiritual health of those least served in the Rio Texas Conference area of The United Methodist Church. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest health care system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed.

About Constant Contact®, Inc.
Constant Contact, an Endurance International Group company and a leader in email marketing since 1995, provides hundreds of thousands of small businesses around the world with the online marketing tools, resources, and personalized coaching they need to grow their business.

A Beautiful Mind art event raises awareness for mental health

DW Admin on May 13, 2016

On May 7, during National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. teamed up with longtime funded partners the Bexar County Health Collaborative and the San Antonio Clubhouse for a mental health focused art event, A Beautiful Mind.

The unique art experience combined expressive art, discussion, and testimonies to facilitate a dialogue on mental health realities and stigma in Bexar County.

Artists of various backgrounds exhibited work that interpreted what it's like living with mental health struggles – to bridge the gap and create a connection with audience members. High school students from the Henry Ford Academy Alameda School for Art + Design also supported by participating as contributing artists. More than 120 people were in attendance, all encouraged to take action by getting involved and raising awareness.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries President & CEO, Kevin C. Moriarty sat down with Focus South Texas to speak about A Beautiful Mind and mental health awareness.

The event was the idea of high school senior Jazymn Frederick, a student at the Henry Ford Academy. Frederick teamed up with the Bexar County Health Collaborative in an effort to create an avenue to talk openly about mental health. "Art is a way to clear my mind," said Frederick, who fought with depression and anxiety.

Jazmyn Frederick expresses how art is a form of healing.

The Bexar County Health Collaborative – an organization focused on improving the health status of the community through collaborative means – took the lead on this event because of the connection with its Young Minds Matter program, which focuses on advocating, educating, and reducing stigma on youth mental health issues. A Beautiful Mind was held at the Crossroads Campus of the San Antonio Clubhouse – a local non-profit dedicated to providing individuals with mental health struggles the opportunity to live, work, and learn as an included member of society in a stigma free environment.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to support both organizations: the Bexar County Health Collaborative, which became a funded partner in 2007 and has since been awarded more than $790,000; and the San Antonio Clubhouse, partner since 2005 and awarded more than $2 million since then to aid in its efforts.

One out of every five people lives with a form of mental illness. Methodist Healthcare Ministries, in support of this critical issue, has invested approximately $8,500 in integrated behavioral health and social services in 2016. In addition, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has contributed $500,000 annually since 2001 to the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute – a non-profit that supports the implementation of policies and programs that help Texans obtain effective, efficient mental health care, and an organization of which Methodist Healthcare Ministries President & CEO, Kevin C. Moriarty, is a founding board member.

Seventy percent of the proceeds of A Beautiful Mind went to the Young Minds Matter program. If you missed the event, there is still a chance to support Mental Health Awareness Month in May and purchase the art online at https://squareup.com/store/healthcollaborative/. Purchases will help further the mission of the Young Minds Matter project and the artists that dedicated their time and talent to A Beautiful Mind.

San Antonio-Area Child Poverty – Historical and Current Policies Mean Wide Disparities across Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Location

DW Admin on May 11, 2016

State of Texas Children 2016: Race and Equity in San Antonio Report finds wide-ranging racial and ethnic disparities in children's health, education and financial security that demand common sense policy solutions.

Video: Watch the report release event online.
Photos: View photos from the event.

SAN ANTONIO – Historical and current policies have created and maintained unequal opportunities and large disparities in child poverty across race, ethnicity and gender, according to State of Texas Children 2016: Race and Equity in San Antonio, a new report released by the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP). For example, because people of color were historically denied access to high-opportunity neighborhoods, certain families consequently experienced poor living conditions, fewer services, and less economic mobility. Although no longer in legal practice, similar policies have had cumulative effects in the economic and educational benefits and disadvantages that can be passed on from generation to generation.

These policies and practices may be from San Antonio's past, but they still have a profound effect on the present. Notably, almost 130,000 children in Bexar County live in poverty. Of those children, 103,000 are Latino, 11,000 are Black, 13,000 are White and 1,000 are Asian. But the proportion of children affected by poverty within each group tells a different story. In Bexar County, poverty rates for Latino (32 percent) and Black children (32 percent) are nearly three times higher than they are for White or Asian children. Today, nearly one of every three Hispanic and Black children in Bexar County lives in poverty.

Read the 2016 San Antonio Report.

"This is unacceptable," said San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor, who spoke at the report release event today in front of over 300 community members. "We have to do better and be better for our children, our communities and our entire city. My goal is to connect every San Antonian, no matter their age, gender or ethnicity, to opportunities for prosperity. One way we are hoping to fill the gaps is through the My Brother's Keeper initiative, which focuses on improving the life outcomes of our young men of color. From educating our smallest citizens, to providing job training for adults, to caring for our aging seniors, we must work together to ensure that every citizen becomes a resource and not a responsibility."

Read the 2016 State of Texas Children Race & Equity Report

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and Kevin C. Moriarty, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., also made remarks at the event, which was co-sponsored by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., Voices for Children of San Antonio, the Intercultural Development Research Association, and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

According to the report, with more than half a million kids living in the San Antonio metro area, the future of children in San Antonio will help determine the future of Texas. Additionally, by 2050, the Texas child population is projected to look very much like San Antonio today. Finding creative solutions to closing the educational, health and financial gaps between San Antonio kids from different backgrounds will require intentionally breaking down any obstacles to certain groups of children reaching their full potential and can be a model for the rest of the state.

Key findings include:
• White children in Bexar County are more likely to live in low-poverty areas while the majority of Latino children tend to live in moderate-to-high-poverty areas. High-poverty areas tend to have fewer public and private resources, which means Latino children are more likely than White children to experience segregated and under-resourced schools, unequal opportunity for job-training programs, and more.
• Nearly one of every four women (90,000+) in Bexar County between the ages of 15 and 44 lacks health insurance. The likelihood of being uninsured as a woman of childbearing age differs based on race and ethnicity, with Hispanic women being nearly three times as likely and Black women twice as likely, to be uninsured. Lack of coverage is related to delayed or inconsistent care should a woman become pregnant.
• An estimated 25.6 percent of children (or 120,470 children) in Bexar County are food-insecure, meaning they lack consistent access to enough food for a healthy diet. Hungry children have a harder time focusing in school and are more likely to have social and behavioral problems.

Key policy recommendations:
• Collect more data that is broken down by race and ethnicity.
• Create partnerships between schools, workforce development programs and businesses to promote pathways out of poverty and better support for families.
• Increase access to affordable health insurance for underserved families and women of reproductive age.
• Expand access to school-based child nutrition programs, such as afterschool meals, summer nutrition and school breakfast.

"As one of the fastest-growing areas in the country, the future of the San Antonio area and our state depend on the health, education and financial security of all our children—across gender, neighborhood, income, race and ethnicity," said CPPP Executive Director Ann Beeson. "Looking deep into the data, we found that too many children in San Antonio today continue to face tremendous barriers to opportunity because of the color of their skin."

The State of San Antonio Children 2016 report is part of the State of Texas Children 2016 statewide report. Both reports are part of the Kids Count project, a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Check out the Kids Count Data Center for extensive child well-being data for each of Texas' 254 counties and seven largest metropolitan areas. Visit datacenter.kidscount.org.

This research was funded by Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

A few words from your Wesley Nurse: Sun Safety

DW Admin on May 5, 2016

By Rhonda Hunnicutt, RN, Wesley Nurse

We always need sunscreen! According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, daily use of sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15 (but higher is better) reduces the risk of skin cancers by as much as 40-50 percent. Again, some of my favorite nursing words to pass along … prevention and avoidance.

The damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation is cumulative and can occur whenever our skin is exposed to damaging rays. Most of us are at an age where the sun damage that occurred to our skin previously now has the risk of manifesting as some type of skin cancer. Even people with darker pigmentation can still develop skin cancers. Though I try to avoid being in the sun without protection like the plague, in my younger days I would ride horses or play outside all day, and of course, my fair skin would burn.

I have been lucky that I've only had a basal cell carcinoma (cancer). Sadly I've known friends and family members who have battled the skin cancer melanoma – some successfully, and some not. A family friend of mine was diagnosed with melanoma, and by the grace of God, she is still with us today. My grandmother had melanoma that spread, and she eventually lost her battle with cancer.

When I worked with an oncologist, we had a patient who was an avid tanning bed enthusiast. She had melanoma and was undergoing radiation/chemotherapy but amazingly did not plan to stop tanning. Now some might cringe a bit, but I want to educate as many as I can on the dangers of UV damage … avoid tanning beds! Or as some refer to them, 'tanning coffins.' It is not a theory; it's been proven that tanning beds increase your risk of cancer. Each year, over 400,000 new cases of skin cancer are linked to indoor tanning. The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists UV-emitting tanning devices as carcinogenic to humans.

Recently, there has been some backlash or criticism on using self-tanners. Though I haven't found any research to substantiate the claims, I did find some interesting information. There is a 'sun-tanning' pill on the market containing a chemical compound called 'canthaxanthin' that can contribute to liver damage and is not approved by the FDA. Also, suntan mists can be unsafe and can be inhaled if precautions are not followed. The most common self-tanners contain an FDA-approved chemical called dihydroxyacetone, which reacts with cells on the skin's surface to create the illusion of a suntan. Some contain sunscreen but only last a limited time – two to three hours usually. Bottom line – tanning in the sun or using self-tanner does not provide sun protection so always use sunscreen.

Please visit www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts to learn about skin cancer, tanning, UV radiation, and more.

Until next time, be well and be blessed.

Rhonda Hunnicutt, RN, is a Wesley Nurse with Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Wesley Nurse program is a faith-based, holistic health and wellness program committed to serving the least-served through education, health promotion and collaboration with individuals and communities to achieve improved wellness through self-empowerment. Learn more at www.mhm.org/programs/health-ministries.

Remembering our smallest citizens during Child Abuse Prevention Month

DW Admin on April 25, 2016

On April 5, a cadre of advocates, elected officials, health care providers and volunteers came together to plant nearly 5,000 blue pinwheels on the rolling green lawn at Methodist Healthcare Ministries' corporate headquarters in San Antonio in observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

The memorial preceded an assembly which brought together leaders and decision-makers in San Antonio to discuss how to prevent child abuse and neglect in our community. As I listened to the speakers talk about the 4,941 confirmed victims of child abuse in Bexar County last year, my eyes were drawn to the blue and silver pinwheels, glittering under the sun and spinning thanks to the breeze blowing that morning. Standing among the sea of pinwheels conjured memories of my high school graduation. There were 705 students in my graduating class. I thought about the class photo we took that day, and how I had never seen so many people in one place; it was a tidal wave of caps and gowns. But standing before all the pinwheels now made all the faces in the photo seem like drops in a bucket. I would have to multiply the number of students graduating with me seven times to equal the number of confirmed child abuse victims in just Bexar County alone last year. What's worse, is those are just the confirmed cases of abuse, the number is likely much higher when the number of cases that are not reported is factored in.

Since 2007, Bexar County has been one of five counties in Texas with the highest number of confirmed victims of abuse. In fact, in the years 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2012 Bexar County held the top spot for the number of confirmed victims of abuse as reported by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, beating out Harris County where the child population is at least double that of Bexar County.

To say child abuse is a problem in our community is a gross understatement. However, the number of confirmed victims in Bexar County has steadily declined in the last four years, in large part due to a concerted community effort to prevent and stop the cycle of child abuse.

Organizations like ChildSafe have done an incredible service to the community by raising awareness and creating a sense of urgency for advocacy through its Cardboard Kids initiative. And, agencies like Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc. strive to break the cycle of violence and strengthen families. Methodist Healthcare Ministries is proud to support both these organizations with funding to sustain their programs and services. In fact, this year, Methodist Healthcare Ministries will invest nearly $10 million in mental and behavioral health programs that offer children, youth and adults access to counseling and other support services.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries also operates programs designed to help parents and guardians become more confident and competent leaders within their families. Last year, the organization served more than 30,000 individuals in its Parenting Programs. Many of the programs' participants self-report having been involved with Child Protective Services. In fact, over 66 percent of the parents who have graduated from Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Nurturing Parenting Program® are in high need or "in crisis" as they are enrolled in the program by way of Child Protective Services referral, incarcerated and about to re-integrate with their families, and/or receiving mental health substance abuse treatment. These numbers speak only for the participants in programming offered by Methodist Healthcare Ministries, they do not include the individuals served through agencies that have received community grants for programs and services they operate. But, these numbers speak to the continued need for parenting support which is a key element in preventing child abuse.

As National Child Abuse Prevention month draws to an end and one-by-one we take up the pinwheels planted as a memorial to the abused children in our community, we at Methodist Healthcare Ministries remain committed to do all the good we can for all the families who rely on the programs and services we provide and support to keep them safe and healthy. And, to continue raising awareness in our community so our smallest and most vulnerable members are protected from harm.

A few words from your Wesley Nurse: Zika Virus

DW Admin on April 20, 2016

By Rhonda Hunnicutt, RN, Wesley Nurse

I don't think anyone would argue what beautiful weather we had this spring. I've lived in and traveled to different areas of the country and the world, and the proud Texan in me thinks there's nothing more beautiful than our own Texas bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and other wildflowers blooming in all of God's majesty. The spring flowers have faded now, and in their place are those pesky little mosquitos.

Last year brought light to a species of mosquitoes and the frightening advent of the Zika virus, moving out of Africa and Southeast Asia towards South and Central America. It is important to note that although there have been small numbers of the Aedes mosquitos detected in southern states, there are currently no locally acquired vector-borne cases in the U.S. And the same mosquitoes that carry Zika, also carry the dengue and chikungunya viruses that we've heard about in past years. There are cases of Zika that have been diagnosed in the U.S. but have occurred from a person traveling to one of the areas previously mentioned and re-entering the country.

What we know about Zika is still evolving, but what we do know is that there has been a surge of microcephaly – a condition in which a baby's head is abnormally small due to abnormal brain development – in infants born to mothers who live or traveled in the aforementioned areas. There have also been cases in the U.S. linked to sexual transmission. New information also indicates that there may be a connection between contracting Zika and Guillan-Barre syndrome, a rare illness affecting a person's nervous system.

Zika is spread as the female Aedes mosquito bites an infected person, then goes on to bite another person where it is believed the virus is thereby transferred. These mosquitoes are aggressive, biting at all hours of the day. They like ankles and elbows, especially during the day. As with most things, simple steps can reduce or eliminate risks from biting insects. Prevention and avoidance are important. With our previous blessed rainfall, standing water is a bountiful breeding ground for mosquitos. Remember to empty containers of standing water frequently, even small ones. Pet water dishes, flower pot trays, old tires or other objects in the yard are favorite places for mosquitoes to lay eggs. Using an insect repellent is imperative in preventing mosquito bites, just make sure to read and follow the directions carefully and reapply as recommended. If you will be using both sunscreen and an insect repellent, apply the sunscreen first.

I encourage everyone to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website; there is a wealth of information available on the Zika virus: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html. Zika has been around in other countries since 1947, so the fact that we're just now seeing cases closer to home is surprising. The more we read and learn, the better we're equipped to deal with this virus. Until next time, be well and be blessed.

2016 Fiesta Medal Announced

DW Admin on April 19, 2016

Fiesta is now underway! Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is proud to introduce our exclusive 2016 Fiesta medal.

As an organization that has been headquartered in San Antonio for more than 20 years, Fiesta is a grand celebration that is important to us, as well as the longstanding tradition of Fiesta medals.

Last year, Methodist Healthcare Ministries opened a competition for its more than 350 employees to design the organization's 2016 Fiesta medal. The winning medal, chosen by team members, was designed by Federal Grants and Programs Assistant Mae Barajas.

"Fiesta is a colorful and lively time, and designing this medal gave me the chance to express how proud I am of my city," said Barajas. "I wanted to incorporate San Antonio's artistic landmarks and to reflect how Methodist Healthcare Ministries is a huge part of our city's prosperity."

The medals were given as a gift to employees and community partners making its way through the 74 South Texas counties Methodist Healthcare Ministries operates programs out of.

While the medals are not up for sale, keep an eye out on our social media pages this week for a chance to win a medal to add to your collection!

Facebook: @mhmstx
Twitter: @mhmstx
Instagram: @mhmstx
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/methodist-healthcare-ministries

Methodist Healthcare Ministries would like to wish everyone a healthy, happy 2016 Fiesta season!

Reducing patient no-shows through health care technology

DW Admin on April 18, 2016

By Jane Hevezi, grants specialist

Many clinics that Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. supports through community grants share the common problem of patient missed appointments and no-shows and are searching for solutions. In alignment with Methodist Healthcare Ministries' strategy to increase access to care, an innovative solution was implemented in Bandera, Texas by one of our funded partners, the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic, addressing this very issue and empowering patients to engage in their health care.

The clinic's executive director, Bruce Hanks, was determined to find a solution to the chronic no-show problem since many patients face issues such as transportation limitations and are unable to keep an appointment or need to reschedule. He adapted a technological solution – a mobile patient engagement app called CareMessage that has the ability to send appointment reminders via text, send surveys, collect data from any patient population, manage prescriptions, engage patients in chronic disease management, and support patients outside of the clinic with automated health education programs that are bilingual.

"We needed a way to increase patient engagement while improving patient outcomes," said Hanks. "We used CareMessage to send text message reminders to patients, which came in handy not only for appointments but other notifications too – like reminding patients to bring in their medications, or to drink extra water if it was a hotter than normal that day."

Through CareMessage, the clinic significantly reduced the number of no-shows by using the mobile appointment reminder system, which positively impacted the health of patients and increased access to care. In 2014 before CareMessage, the clinic had an almost 30 percent no-show rate. With the use of CareMessage, the number of no-shows reduced by approximately 70 percent in 2015.

Another byproduct of the new technology was the reduction of medical costs. Hanks explained, "If we can see more patients and fewer appointments are missed, then our cost-per-patient visit goes down."

To further address the problem, the clinic has worked to update patient phone numbers at each appointment to ensure they can be reached.

"The most important thing I learned after implementing this software was that folks who were the ones showing up the least were the ones who are the most chronically ill," said Hanks. "I took those statistics to heart and am glad we made changes."

To learn more about the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic, visit www.nagelclinic.org. For more on Methodist Healthcare Ministries' grant-making, click here.

The Arthur Nagel Community Clinic joined Methodist Healthcare Ministries' family of funded partners in 2009. The Clinic provides free primary, preventive, mental and dental health care services to the underserved residents of Bandera County. To date, Methodist Healthcare Ministries has provided more than $462,875 in funding to support the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic.

Wesley Nurses Present at Church Health Center’s Westberg Symposium

DW Admin on April 14, 2016

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. recently supported the Church Health Center's 30th annual Westberg Symposium, which exhibited two poster presentations by Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Wesley Nurses. Faith-based community nurses from all over the country convened in Chicago April 7-10 to cover areas such as theology, clinical pastoral education and whole person health care.

"We're proud to have taken part in the Westberg Symposium," said Jennifer Knoulton, director of nursing at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. "At Methodist Healthcare Ministries, we have adopted a faith-based community nursing approach to health ministry, carried out through our Wesley Nurse Program, which now spans 80 sites throughout South Texas."

Knoulton co-presented at the pre-conference session with a colleague from the Church Health Center. She spoke on the importance of helping faith community nurses incorporate asset-based community development (ABCD) into their practice, a strategy for sustainable community-driven development concerned with how to link micro-assets to the macro-environment. The premise of ABCD is that communities can drive the development process themselves by identifying existing, but often unrecognized assets, and thereby responding to and creating local economic opportunity. ABCD builds on the assets that are already found in the community and mobilizes individuals, associations, and institutions to come together to build on their assets, not concentrate on their needs, to begin to use what is already in the community. View presentation.

Wesley Nurses Cynthia Bishop, RN, BSN, MACM, and Angela Gonzalez, RN presented on preceptor-guided preparation for Wesley Nurse faith community nurses. They discussed that the Wesley Nurse program began using the faith community nurse model almost 20 years ago and that Wesley Nurses have shown great fortitude as they have adapted to ongoing changes in this specialized profession. Their poster presentation reflected the development of a preceptor-guided orientation tool that incorporates the competencies outlined in the American Nurses Association's Scope and Standards of Practice. View presentation.

Wesley Nurse Patricia Cisneros, RN, BSN demonstrated how the faith community nurse can advocate, facilitate, and coordinate resources for the least-served and bring awareness to rally the support of other nonprofits to assist in humanitarian relief. Her presentation, Finding A Way: Laredo Humanitarian Relief Team, discussed how the efforts of asset-based community development (ABCD) helped an ecumenical set of community partners show persistence despite not getting help from local officials to collaborate to provide humanitarian relief for travelers in a mass migration of women and children fleeing violence in their country. View presentation.

The Westberg Symposium focused on the ways faith-based community nurses make their mission more resilient through continuing to explore relationships between faith and health in their lives and ministries.

"From a primary care perspective, faith-based nurses like our Wesley Nurses, are instrumental in connecting people, congregations and community members to health and wellness," said Knoulton.

According to the Church Health Center – a faith-based nonprofit that provides affordable health care to working uninsured people – resilience in faith community nursing sustains belief in a better way of caring for people. Whether the need is for basic health education for a new diagnosis, or advocacy and support during a major life transition, faith community nurses foster strength in members of the faith community or the wider community.

To learn more about the Westberg Symposium, visit http://www.churchhealthcenter.org/westberg2016. To learn more about the Wesley Nurse program, visit http://www.mhm.org/programs/health-ministries.

Child Abuse Prevention Assembly Convened Community Leaders

DW Admin on April 5, 2016

In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. hosted a Child Abuse Prevention Assembly Tuesday to bring together leaders and decision-makers in San Antonio to discuss how to prevent child abuse and neglect in our community. To raise awareness, Methodist Healthcare Ministries planted 4,941 pinwheels in front of their corporate headquarters in the medical center to represent each confirmed victim of child abuse last year in Bexar County.

"This is a critical issue that must remain top of mind," expressed Kevin C. Moriarty, president & CEO at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. "We as safety net providers, community leaders, advocates, health care professionals, philanthropists and elected officials must look for solutions to stop the number of victims from growing in our community."

Several San Antonio child abuse prevention experts were in attendance at this invite-only event, including Methodist Children's Hospital doctors and nurses, and representatives from local nonprofit agencies. Notable presenters included: Methodist Healthcare Ministries President & CEO Kevin C. Moriarty; ChildSafe President & CEO Kim Abernethy; Bexar County Children's Court Associate Judge Rich Garcia; City of San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus, Methodist Children's Hospital Medical Director Dr. Sebrina Perkins, CPS Regional Director Erica Bañuelos and State Senator Jose Menendez.

"I look at those pinwheels and I hear that number, the almost 5,000 children – which is the confirmed number, although everyone here knows that's a greater number than what's reported – we need to do whatever we can to prevent even just one child from abuse," said Senator Jose Menendez. "I was thinking about the birth of my children, and being in the waiting room feeling so much anticipation and hope. Somehow along the way, you sometimes forget that feeling of excitement and nervousness of that brand new baby. Regardless of what stage of life they are in, we need to always treasure our children that way."

The pinwheels were planted to symbolize childhood, innocence and prosperity. They represent the hope that together we can help the kids in our community enjoy a safe, happy and healthy childhood.

Reports about abuse can be made to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400 or www.dfps.state.tx.us or to a law enforcement agency. Additional information can be found at www.childwelfare.gov. To learn more about Methodist Healthcare Ministries' parenting programs, visit http://www.mhm.org/programs/family-wellness or call 800-959-6673.