Tag: Blog

Riders with a cause

Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) and Methodist Healthcare System (MHS), once again, have teamed up to form team MHvsMS to participate in the Bike MS: Valero Ride to the River on October 11 & 12. This marks the seventh consecutive year MHvsMS has participated in the signature fundraising event benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.

Since their formation, MHvsMS has made great strides: in 2008, the team was made up of 20 riders and brought in $402. Last year, the team doubled in size with 57 riders raising more than $58,000. On Thursday, June 19, the team came together for their official kickoff party. Representatives from the San Antonio chapter of the National MS Society were on hand to answer questions and team captain, Barry Blackman, motivated guests with tips and tricks to guarantee a successful ride.

The sale of vintage team t-shirts and uniforms also helped to kick start the team’s fundraising by bringing in $120 toward the team fundraising goal of $50,000.

MS has no cure. There are more than 2.3 million people worldwide affected by MS. It is a disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The symptoms can be unpredictable and often debilitating. Together we can offer support, fund research and help find a cure. Will you help us reach this milestone? Your gift will make a lasting difference to the people who must battle MS everyday of their lives. Donate to MHvsMS or join the team and show your support for the fight against MS. 

By Rev. Mickey McCandless,
Director of Spiritual Care & Church Connections

June 12-14, 2014 was the last time the Rio Grande Annual Conference and the Southwest Texas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church met in their annual regional conference. Corpus Christi was host to the historic ending of these two conferences that are unifying into the Rio Texas Annual Conference to more effectively make up The United Methodist Church in South Texas.

There were elections of leaders for the new conference, the finalization of the first budget, and affirmation of the mission "to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World."

Delegates to the General Conference in 2016 were also elected at the June conference. We took time to begin planning for ways to implement our new conference and district structure. We celebrated the life of clergy leaders who were retiring, remembered those who had died during the previous year, and celebrated the commissioning and ordination of persons into the full time servant leadership ministry of the Church.

A new day is dawning for United Methodists in South Texas. We look forward with excitement, anxiety, questions, passion and faith to new opportunities to touch people and nurture faith and faith communities.

June is National Men’s Health Month

At Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM), we believe in a holistic approach to health care to encompass the mind, body and spirit. This model is truly embraced by the clients we serve through our medical, dental, behavioral health and family wellness services.

As we prepare to celebrate fathers this weekend, it is a time to reflect on the health and wellness of all the treasured men in our lives.

The week preceding Father’s Day is commonly observed as Men’s Health Week, part of “Men’s Health Month,” which was signed into law by former President Clinton in 1994. MHM uses this time of the year to highlight the need for awareness of men’s health issues, the importance of prevention, education about how to make healthy lifestyle changes and a focus on family—the reasons why health and wellness is important.

Statistics from Menshealthmonth.org are alarming:

• 1 in 2 men will develop cancer in their lifetime
• Men live five years less than women on average
• Men make half as many preventive visits to physicians as women
• Men are more likely to be uninsured than women

Prevention is key. Review the checkups and screenings guidelines provided by Menshealthmonth.org for helpful information that you can easily share with the men you hold dear in your life. Use this easy list to encourage your man to take action for his health.

MHM offers many options for men who want to improve their overall wellbeing. Our medical services include screenings and preventive care, such as vaccinations and wellness exams. Our dentistry team offers comprehensive, first-class dental care in a patient-centered environment. Our behavioral health services provide counseling and support services for men and/or families in need of additional assistance. Family Wellness programs offer basketball leagues for fitness, parenting classes for fathers and hands-on nutrition programs that teach healthy eating. With a full suite of healthcare services, the men of MHM’s programs and services have the tools they need to stay healthy and teach healthy living to others.

For more information about MHM or any of our programs or services, contact info@mhm.org.

By Kathi Hecht, Dental Operations Manager

Dentistry has evolved in many ways. Today, patients can achieve more aesthetic looking dental work with less pain in record time. Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) believes that the least served and underserved in our communities deserve the same access to quick, painless and quality dental care. Our goal is to help create beautiful, healthy smiles, which in turn will improve the overall health of our patients.

Since 1999, the dental team at MHM’s Wesley Health & Wellness Center (WHWC) has been using a new Cad-cam technology to create crowns in our on-site dental lab. It’s called Cerec. Cad-cam dentistry, which has been regarded as the future of dentistry, relies on digital imaging to determine the specifications of the crown rather than traditional dental impressions. This innovative process eliminates the need for patients to endure the sometimes unpleasant process of collecting impressions.

“As an added benefit, the Cerec crowns contain no metal which improves their aesthetics and are quite sturdy,” explains Dr. Phillip Brown, Dental Director. The digital image is prepared and a dental technician designs the crown using a computer. When the technician is satisfied with the design, a porcelain block is placed on a milling unit and the crown is cut. The technician will stain and glaze the crown before it goes into the oven to complete the process. Each dental technician completed specialized training to be able to use the revolutionary Cerec System.

The Cerec System not only improves the look of the crowns being produced, it is also fast! Through Cerec, it is possible for dental patients to receive quality dental treatment, including a new crown, in record time. “The one thing I find fascinating about using this system is how fast I can make a crown. Literally, if time permitted, a patient can come in for their dental appointment to have a single crown made and have it placed in their mouth faster than ever before,” shared Cynthia Ortegon, Dental Laboratory Technician Assistant. Today, at the WHWC Dental Laboratory, nearly 180 crowns go through this process each month.

The dental team is committed to patient satisfaction. Our ultimate goal as a health care provider of dental services is to fix existing dental issues, provide education to prevent further issues and help our patients feel more confident about one of their most important assets—their smile. The Cerec System helps us do this!

Pictured left to right, WHWC Dental Laboratory Team: Richard H., Dental Laboratory Technician – Removables; Carlos G., Dental Laboratory Technician; Cynthia O., Dental Laboratory Technician Assistant; Perry S., Dental Laboratory Supervisor; Karin H., Dental Laboratory Technician; and Yuridia A., Dental Laboratory Model Technician.

In preparation for the American Lung Association’s (ALA) 2014 Fight for Air 5K Run/Walk, team members from Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ (MHM) School Based Health Centers (SBHC), alongside Krueger Elementary and Marion Elementary staff and faculty, held a penny drive to promote awareness of asthma and lung disease and to support the Bulldogs for Better Breathing – MHM’s official team at the event. In addition to the $2,500 contributed by MHM as a bronze sponsor for the Fight for Air 5K, over $800 was raised by the team during the two-week drive—which included a penny drive supported by the students at each school campus. As congratulations, the winning classrooms from both campuses will receive ice cream on behalf of Communities in Schools and the SBHC will present the top fundraising class with a trophy.

On April 26, 2014 – in what marks the SBHC’s 5^th consecutive year participating in the ALA 5K – all 47 members of the Bulldogs for Better Breathing team took to the track at SeaWorld® San Antonio. The team enjoyed an early breakfast before departing by charter bus to the theme park. Each family member received an MHM backpack filled with snacks, a pedometer, and educational health information and gift items to keep them on target during their trek. Many of the families took advantage of the additional events taking place in connection with the ALA 5K, including a free health fair and massages. It was fun-filled day for team members and their families alike.

Each year, both MHM team members and members of the communities in which we serve look forward to MHM-sponsored events such as the ALA Fight for Air 5K. “These opportunities provide us with a chance to connect with our patients and community members in a meaningful way. It’s a way for us to walk the talk—literally,” explains Wanda Thiele, Bulldogs team captain.

MHM would like to extend a special thank you to the following volunteers who helped to make this year’s team effort a success:

• Wanda T., team captain and event organizer, for her leadership and enthusiasm for this event.
• Alicia H., co-captain, for her help to make the event flow more smoothly, assistance with the penny drive, and organizing the families during the event.
• Sonia F. and Cynthia M., volunteers (front office), for contacting families and helping to prepare team backpacks and t-shirts.
• Debra I. and Victor R., volunteers, for registering families and helping on the day of the event.
• Jae K., volunteer, for her photography and the team’s #1 fundraiser.
• Rhonda S., volunteer, for picking up the food for the event and ensuring the team was nourished.

To view the Bulldogs for Better Breathing team page or to donate to the team, click here.

About the Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ School Based Health Centers

The School Based Health Centers are a mission of the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. and provide pediatric primary healthcare and dental services and counseling and case management to children enrolled in the Marion and Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School Districts, as well as their siblings up to age 21.

At Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM), we believe our team members are the heart of our organization. As a way to say ‘thank you’ to our team members and their loved ones for their dedication to our mission of “Serving Humanity to Honor God,” MHM hosts an annual Family Day event where team members can relax in the sun, relish in festivities, and meet and mingle with the extended MHM family. This year, over 660 team members and their families gathered for this popular annual event.

Each team member uses their unique talents, skills and expertise to achieve our organizational goals. MHM’s Family Day is one way we show our appreciation to our team members and their families. “MHM’s success occurs because of the work being done by our hardworking team members. The MHM Family Day is a sign of thankfulness for the work team members do on behalf of MHM’s mission. We hope this small gesture of appreciation captures our gratitude for the loyalty and support provided to MHM by our team members and their loved ones,” explains Kevin C. Moriarty, President & CEO of MHM.

MHM’s Family Day has been a longstanding tradition for the organization; as it has grown, so too has its extended family. This year we decided to move the fun-filled day to a venue that is as exciting as we are – Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Texas.

MHMers and their guests enjoyed lunch together at the Picnic Grove where a few lucky attendees left with some great door prizes, including a grand prize that provided free admission tickets to visit the park again. The day was spent enjoying the variety of attractions the park has to offer from roller coasters to and entertaining shows, to the midway games and water park. A spectacular fireworks show topped off a long day of family fun.

With the 2014 MHM Family Day behind us, we look forward to an even bigger family of MHMers in 2015!

The Family Wellness Programs at MHM’s Wesley Health & Wellness Center (WHWC) help to uphold MHM’s holistic approach to healthcare by providing recreation and enrichment classes such as Baila2Fitness and Line Dancing, as well as offering nutrition education through healthy eating classes provided by a Nutrition Services team.

April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month. As such, cardboard kids sightings are occurring all over San Antonio—grocery stores, churches, schools, and there are 300 at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center (WHWC). Each cardboard kid has a name. Each cardboard kid tells a story. Each cardboard kid represents one of the 5,846 child victims that was abused or neglected in Bexar County in 2013.

The cardboard kids campaign by ChildSafe, an MHM funded partner, is designed to promote awareness of child abuse and neglect. The organization hopes to encourage conversations about how the community can work together to protect our children.

“I was happy to bring cardboard kids to WHWC. It provides a great learning opportunity for our clients and team members. Education and awareness make a difference!” shared Teresa Alejandro, Family Wellness Programs Coordinator.

Over 80 locations around the city are hosting cardboard kids. Please visit WHWC throughout the month of April to learn the stories of these children.

To learn more about the ChildSafe Cardboard Kids campaign, visit www.childsafe-sa.org/cardboardkidsSA/.

The TAPPestry Conference is an annual event comprised of teachers, school administrators, parents and professionals who work with special needs children. The conference provides an opportunity for awareness, education, networking and collaboration among attendees to support families with special needs children. In addition to keynote speakers and break out sessions, the conference offers an exhibit area where attendees can interact one-on-one with community partners.

Lisa Gutierrez and Aida Ortiz with MHM’s Parenting Programs, participated as exhibitors at the 2014 TAPPestry Conference. They recruited parents from the event for their Meld Special Parenting Support Groups by sharing the benefits with the parents and their children. In addition, Lisa and Aida networked with over 40 area agencies that provide similar support to special needs families. “The highlight of the event was the networking with other agencies because we are able to bring the information we learned at the conference back to the parents in our groups,” shared Lisa.

VITA San Antonio is a collaboration of public and private entities dedicated to family and individual financial self-sufficiency. The focal point for this effort is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program.

The volunteer-based program is comprised of a coalition of local institutions and non-profit organizations who support the program in its mission. The primary goal of VITA is to increase the financial stability of working individuals and families in San Antonio and Bexar county.

VITA’s mobile unit made a two-day appearance at MHM’s Wesley Health & Wellness Center to provide free income tax assistance to taxpayers who make $60,000 or less annually. In addition to free tax assistance, VITA volunteers help ensure taxpayers claim important credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit.

Studies have shown that resources that enhance the quality of life can have a significant influence on health outcomes. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services also cites language/literacy and access to educational, economical, and job opportunities as examples of social determinates of health. “That is why this collaboration with VITA San Antonio makes so much sense for MHM” shares Erinn Copeland-Whitby, Interim Manager of Family Wellness at MHM. Through this partnership, MHM is able to provide a venue in which residents may receive financial education and awareness which, in turn, can have a significant impact on their overall health.

Myra Medrano, LBSW, was recently named the recipient of the 2014 Lisa P. Nisbet Social Work Leadership Award given by Methodist Healthcare System and Methodist Healthcare Ministries during National Social Work Appreciation Month.  Sincerity, compassion and strong spiritual values are just a few characteristics used to describe Myra by those who work alongside her each day. She counsels and provides community resources to the clients she sees each day. Myra never gives up looking for options to help her clients succeed. She provides hope for her clients while inspiring them to be accountable for their goals. In addition, she lovingly supports them during each step of their personal journey. “Myra embodies a work ethic that truly represents the heart of social work as well as the Core Values of MHM. We are blessed to have her on our team!” explains Jorge Luna, Social Work Supervisor at MHM.

Myra has served at MHM for more than three years as a Social Worker Case Manager at the Wesley Health & Wellness Center, but her clients know her by much more than her job description—to them, she is a teacher, a mentor and a friend. Myra worked with one mother who was broken in spirit, in need of medical attention and the means to support her three children. A Hurricane Katrina evacuee, life had been hard for this young woman. Myra swept this client up into her loving care and began the diligent process of helping her gain access to resources necessary to change her life. Today, this mother is a college student and has been promoted to manager in her full-time position at a local restaurant.