Established in 1994, the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District (SCUCISD) Hall of Honor was created to honor those who, by example or direct involvement, help enrich the lives of the district’s children. The 2011-2012 Commitment to Excellence Awards and Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony took place last Monday, May 8, at the Schertz Civic Center Ballroom.
This year’s group of inductees included MHM’s very own, Jeannette (Jae) Kight. Jae was inducted into the SCUCISD Hall of Honor as a Distinguished Community Member for her work with the MHM School Based Health Center program.
Jae joined the MHM team in 2001 as a Nurse Practitioner with the MHM School Based Health Center program. The District Health Services Nurses stated, “ Jae is awesome and couldn’t think of another person that deserves it more.” Jae is active in the community, and works very closely with school nurses throughout the district.
Congratulations Jae, on this special recognition! You are truly a great community member and exemplify MHM’s mission of, “Serving Humanity to Honor God.”
Last week, team members at the MHM Corporate Office celebrated Fiesta with the first annual MHM In Old San Antonio (MIOSA). Thanks to team member contributions, an assortment of Fiesta-inspired dishes were available to choose from. Winners were selected for Best Fiesta Hat, Best Fiesta Medal Collection, and Most Fiesta Spirit, with recognition going to:
Maggie Vasquez (Human Resources) – Best Fiesta Hat
Linda Lopez (Administration) – Best Fiesta Medal Collection
Marilyn Stanton-White (Clinic and Behavioral Health Services) – Most Fiesta Spirit
Thank you to Maggie Vasquez, for organizing this festivity. We look forward to building the tradition of MIOSA!
To close out the month of March, the Nutrition & Health Education department hosted the 2nd annual Team Member Appreciation Luncheon. The luncheon, held at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center and the Bishop Ernest T. Dixon Jr. Clinic, was organized as a way to show thanks to the MHM team for their individual contributions to our mission of, "Serving Humanity to Honor God."
National Nutrition Month was also observed as part of the celebration. "Get Your Plate in Shape," the 2012 National Nutrition Month theme, was integrated into all facets of the luncheon as way to promote awareness of the My Plate principles. My Plate promotes calorie balance through portion control and physical activity, increased intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and low-fat dairy, and a decreased intake of fat, sugar and sodium. These principles were echoed throughout the luncheon with the use of My Plate table placemats and t-shirts provided by the Nutrition & Health Education department. As an added treat, luncheon attendees were served by members of the MHM Executive Staff – sporting chef hats and all!
Attendees reveled at the life-sized shrimp tree display prepared by Chef Joe, along with the assortment of Latin-inspired menu items. Chef Joe's mango salsa, Mahi Mahi Vera Cruz and bread pudding received top accolades. "Since the luncheon was held on a Friday during lent, the biggest challenge for the Nutrition & Health Education team was deciding on menu items that would satisfy the masses," explains Kalli Lindsey, RD, Health Educator. Ultimately, the team decided on a Latin-inspired theme to build interest and selected many of the recipes from Cocinando para Latinos con Diabetes, written by Olga V. Fuste, MS, RD, and published by the American Diabetes Association.
The luncheon concluded with the distribution of door to prizes to four lucky winners. The winners walked away with an edible fresh fruit bouquet served in an Easter basket. National Nutrition Month tote bags, notebooks, and fruit and vegetable-shaped pens were awarded as prizes to six children enrolled in the Wesley Health & Wellness Center afterschool program for their My Plate-themed art contest entries.
A big thank you goes out to the Nutrition & Health Education department for putting so much thought into the planning and organization of the luncheon, and a special thank you to members of the MHM Executive Staff for volunteering as servers. All in attendance enjoyed the time and efforts put into the event, and look forward to next year's celebration!
Since inception, MHM has provided nearly $500 million in healthcare services through our clinics and programs, as well as through our partnerships. MHM is proud to partner with organizations that share our mission and organizational objective of delivering healthcare and social services to the least served in the South Texas region. By strengthening other organizations' capacity to provide services, we achieve our overarching goal of increasing access to care.
MHM welcomed the UTHSCSA chapter of Frontera de Salud (Border of Health), a program of the UTHSCSA's Center for Humanities and Ethics, as a funded partner in 2008 to address the health profession shortage in South Texas. Frontera de Salud, or Frontera, is a service organization founded in 1998 and is staffed by medical, nursing and allied health students committed to bringing primary healthcare to the underserved population.
In the past two years alone, the UTHSCSA chapter of Frontera served over 3,400 clients in Laredo and Corpus Christi/Robstown – two of the most impoverished regions in the nation, along with underserved areas of San Antonio. Members of Frontera actively participate in health fairs and community visits. These visits are often the only opportunity many of these citizens have to obtain health care. Services trips are scheduled on a regular basis to provide students and faculty in the program a chance to learn to treat diverse populations and consider the unique social context of care in South Texas. Services include health screenings, flu vaccines and school physicals.
This experience is mutually beneficial as students become stewards of the medical profession, and commence partnerships with healthcare professionals as illustrated in these excerpt taken from the UTHSCSA Frontera chapter blog:
"We traveled with eight medical and nursing students to Corpus Christi yesterday to participate in a community health fair. We provided health screenings, health education, HIV screenings/education, and were able to connect patients with providers in the community. Not only were we able to make an impact in the community but it was also a wonderful learning experience for the students. Every student was able to rotate through each station and even had the opportunity to work with a local Family Medicine doctor who provided guidance and advice regarding local resources for the patients for long-term follow-up care."
Frontera leads the way among UTHSCSA student health service organizations, particularly with regard to its focus on the interdisciplinary health care team as the Frontera coalition of students and faculty represent a variety of disciplines to include medical, nursing, pharmacy programs and physician assistant students.
To date, MHM has contributed over $105,000 in funding to the UTHSCA chapter of Frontera de Salud to address the health profession shortage and continue their efforts of delivering healthcare to the medically underserved population of South Texas.
To learn more about the UTHSCSA chapter of Frontera de Salud visit their website or find them on Facebook.
We are closing out National Social Work Month with a special Day in the Life interview with MHM Behavioral Health & Social Work Supervisor, Annette Ledezma.
Thank you, Annette, for your hard work and dedication to the mission of, "Serving Humanity to Honor God."
MHM’s Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) was recently named an accredited diabetes education program by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE). AADE is a multidisciplinary association of healthcare professionals dedicated to integrating self-management as a key outcome in the care of people with diabetes and related chronic conditions. This accreditation will help to allow for increased access to critical diabetes education services for residents in and around San Antonio. Currently, there are only two other programs in the San Antonio area that hold accreditation from the AADE.
Diabetes education is a collaborative process through which people with, or at risk for diabetes, gain the knowledge and skills needed to modify behavior and successfully self-manage the disease and its related conditions. This instruction is provided by a team of diabetes educators with creditials ranging from Licensed Dieticians to Registered Nurses.
Health Education program manager, Juan Martinez, MSN, RN, is confident this accreditation will promote self-empowerment and awareness among the participants of the program. “To be eligible for AADE’s accreditation program, our program must adhere to the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Training as set forth by the American Diabetes Association (ADA). This requirement, in turn, guarantees program participants are receiving standardized curriculum that can be continued should the need for relocation take place,” explains Juan. “This accreditition is especially meaningful given our diabetes educators team is celebrating National Nutrition Month this month.”
DSME, made available through MHM’s Nutrition & Health Education department, is offered at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center (WHWC) on San Antonio’s South Side year-round. The program is also available to San Antonio’s East Side community through the Bishop Ernest T. Dixon Jr. Clinic.
For more information about MHM’s DSME, contact the WHWC at (210) 922-6922 or the Bishop Ernest T. Dixon Jr. Clinic at (210) 527-1505.
Team MH vs. MS stepped out on Saturday, March 3, 2012 to join in the fight against multiple sclerosis (MS) at the 2012 Walk MS. The annual walk is the signature fundraising event for the National MS Society.
Money raised as part of the Walk MS event will aid the National MS Society's global efforts in MS research and treatment with a focus on stopping the progression of the disease and restoring the function that has been lost all, in an effort to ending the disease.
With Maria Hernandez serving as team captain, team MH vs. MS completed the walk held at the AT&T Center. Team MH vs. MS recruited 48 members and raised nearly $500 for the cause. MHM proudly sponsors the walk annually as a way to support the National MS Society, and matches every dollar raised by the team.
The walk may be over, but the fight isn't! There is still time to contribute to the team total. To make a donation to team MH vs. MS, click here.* The deadline to submit donations is Monday, April 2, 2012.
March is National Social Work Month. For 2012, the month of March is dedicated to the Social Work profession with the theme of, "Social Work Matters."
As part of this celebration, MHM and Methodist Healthcare would like to present you with the second installment of our weekly series of Social Work, "Myths vs. Facts."
Myth:
Social workers only enable families to continue to use the "system."
Fact:
Social workers believe that is is important to EMPOWER and educate patients and families to feel confident. To best support the patients and families, we believe that it is important to first recognize their needs, strengths, and abilities.
Myth:
Once a social worker has the degree, no ongoing education is required.
Fact:
Social workers complete at least 30 hours of continuing education units every two years, including six hours of ethics. Also, they continue to leanr abou the new and changing programs available to their clients.
Do you have any questions about the Social Work profession? Share them here (by posting a comment below)! We are happy to address any misconceptions, curiosities or thoughts you have about Social Work.
The Bulldogs for Better Breathing team, organized by the MHM School Based Health Center (SBHC), participated in the 2012 Fight for Air Run/Walk that took place on Saturday, February 11 at SeaWorld San Antonio. Hosted by the American Lung Association, this event is designed to raise money for lung research and education.
MHM sponsors the annual walk as a way to support the American Lung Association in their efforts to improve lung health and prevent lung disease. As an added convenience to participants, the SBHC provided a bus to transport families to the SeaWorld event. Despite less-than-ideal weather conditions, the team recruited sixty-four participants. Backpacks with asthma information were provided to the walkers along with games, snacks and water. The Bulldogs for Better Breathing team completed the 5k walk and visited health fair booths setup along the way.
The SBHC team was able to raise $1,175.78 from the Penny Drive held at the two primary campuses in Marion. With the pennies collected, they sponsored the Avila family. Without this sponsorship, this family of eight, would not have be able to participate in the Walk or benefit from all the park has to offer. This marks the family’s first visit to the theme park together.
For the ride home, bus goers enjoyed boxed lunches with juice as they wound down from the excitement of the day. Overall, the Bulldogs for Better Breathing raised a total of $1,505.78 for the cause.
March is National Social Work Month. For 2012, the month of March is dedicated to the Social Work profession with the theme of, "Social Work Matters."
As part of this celebration, MHM and Methodist Healthcare would like to present you with the second installment of our weekly series of Social Work, "Myths vs. Facts."
Myth:
Social workers only listen to peoople talk about their feelings; their "work" is not tangible or quantitative.
Fact:
Approximately 60% of mental health professional providing services are clinical social workers. At least two years after completing their master's degree, a social worker may obtain 100 hours of intense supervision and pass another licensure exam in order to become a LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). LCSW is the highest level of education that a social work can receive, other than a doctorate degree in social work which is used for teaching at the college/master's level.
Fact:
Social workers address peoples feelings and so much more! Social workers provide practical and compassionate guidance to individuals, families, and communities confronting and resolving a variety of dilemmas. Social workers can also work as administrators, policymakers and researchers.
Do you have any questions about the Social Work profession? Share them here (by posting a comment below)! We are happy to address any misconceptions, curiosities or thoughts you have about Social Work.
Since inception, MHM has provided nearly $500 million in healthcare services through our clinics and programs, as well as through our partnerships. MHM is proud to partner with organizations that share our mission and organizational objective of delivering healthcare and social services to the least served in the South Texas region. By strengthening other organizations' capacity to provide services, we achieve our overarching goal of increasing access to care.
SACDC provides a wide range of dental services utilizing a corps of volunteer dental professionals. Through this, they offer Haven for Hope residents and the surrounding community dental exams, cleanings, restorative dentistry, extractions, surgery and prosthodontics. Oral health education is provided to further empower patients and support improved oral health.
In late 2010, SACDC requested that the Dental School rotate dental students to its facility to provide primary dental care to patients as a means to supplement the care provided by the private sector volunteer corps of dentists who contribute their services. These rotations also help to enhance students’ clinical knowledge and skills in delivering primary dental care to the homeless population and underserved. In 2011, MHM funded the conversion of the existing dental radiology system to a digital system at SACDC to facilitate UTHSCSA-DS dental student training rotations, also reducing x-ray exposure to patients by 90%.
As a likely ally in health care, the UTHSCSA-DS became a MHM funded partner in 2002. Founded in 1970, the Dental School is a place where students, faculty and staff come together to share knowledge and skills. The mission of the Dental School is the acquisition, dissemination and use of knowledge toward the enhancement of oral health. This mission is addressed through six interrelated action components: education; research; patient care; community service; faculty and staff; and infrastructure.
In 2011, the Dental School added the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program allowing for dental care at SACDC in the form of extractions, root canals and other more complicated procedures to patients of the clinic.
Along with direct services provided to patients in need – who, most likely, without these types of programs and clinics may not have received care – this partnership has also instilled a sense of civic responsibility in the caregivers of such services. This is evident through a testimonial offered by a Dental School student after completion of work at SACDC:
"I got to know a patient yesterday, and we became very close after just a cleaning! She was one of the most grateful patients I have ever been blessed to work on. She made me feel like I made a difference and it was one of those moments where I love what I do (dentistry). I came to understand her plans for the future, and about her life on campus. As we hugged goodbye, I was wishing that I would somehow see her again, and I hope that I will. For some reason, I know I will never forget her face…just when we were getting used to the swing of things and appreciating this clinic, it is time to leave. I’m grateful to have this experience…"
MHM continues to fund this partnership for SACDC to continue to provide dental care for those who have little to no resources as well as for Direct Dental Services and Training of UTHSCSA-DS students at SACDC. It is estimated that dental students/residents will provide 2,000 dental visits of SACDC's anticipated 38,000 dental visits in 2012.
Both agencies are committed to addressing MHM’s goal of access to dental care for the underserved with the added impact of training a troop of dental students to sustain the effort.
March is National Social Work Month. For 2012, the month of March is dedicated to the Social Work profession with the theme of, "Social Work Matters."
As part of this celebration, MHM and Methodist Healthcare would like to present you with the second installment of our weekly series of Social Work, "Myths vs. Facts."
Myth:
Most social workers work for Child Protective Services (CPS) and their job is to remove children from their homes and to break up families.
Fact:
Approxiamately 20% of the social workers in the U.S. practice in hospitals and about 12% practice in medial clinics; this includes about 111,000 social workers. There are currently over 70 social workers in the Methodist Healthcare System and MHM in San Antonio who hold at least a master's degree.
Myth:
Social workers complete Medicaid applications and hand out meal coupons.
Fact:
Health care social workers provide direct services to clients, impart information, make community referrals, screen and assess clients, assist in discharge planning, provide mental health services, and interven in crisis situations most often in their area of practice.
Do you have any questions about the Social Work profession? Share them here (by posting a comment below)! We are happy to address any misconceptions, curiosities or thoughts you have about Social Work.
Jaime Wesolowski is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. A healthcare executive with three decades of leadership experience, Jaime is responsible for the overall governance and direction of Methodist Healthcare Ministries. Jaime earned his Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from Xavier University, and his Bachelor’s of Science from Indiana University in Healthcare Administration. As a cancer survivor, Jaime is a staunch supporter of the American Cancer Society. He serves as Chair of the American Cancer Society’s South Texas Area board of directors and he was appointed as Chair to the recently created South Region Advisory Cabinet, covering eight states from Arizona through Alabama. Jaime believes his personal experience as a cancer survivor has given him more defined insight and compassion to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families.
