Chronic disease is a leading cause of death in the Panhandle, and one in three adults is living with at least one disease. To combat this problem, the Panhandle Public Health District offers a comprehensive program called Living Well, which empowers individuals to manage their health conditions. In addition to a comprehensive referral system, the Panhandle Public Health District also has two Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Master Trainers who provide training and scalable implementation of the Living Well CDSMP.
Healthy Families program
The Healthy Families program in the Panhandle Public Health District is an initiative that seeks to reduce child and family abuse and promote healthy behaviors. To achieve this goal, the Healthy Families program aims to improve child and family well-being by offering preventive health services and early screening. In addition, dental services are offered by trained hygienists through school-based clinics and community-based clinics. The program also includes education and prevention programs.
The Healthy Families program was developed as part of the Healthy Communities Initiative. The program was a direct response to a recent opioid epidemic, where nearly one in two deaths are caused by substance use. A strong referral system is provided to help people understand their options and take steps to manage their chronic conditions. Additionally, the district is home to two Certified Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) Master Trainers, who help scale the program and provide regular training.
In addition to these community programs, the Panhandle Health District also offers services to support healthy living in the community. Through its Home Health program, health professionals deliver medical services right to the comfort of the home. This makes the transition to nursing homes safer and easier for everyone. In addition, the program provides wound care and VAC wound therapy. The Nurse-Family Partnership program matches first-time moms with nurse practitioners in Benewah County, Shootene County, and Bonner. The nurse-family partnership program also provides education and support to the families.
Early Preventa ve Screening for diseases
The state of Texas offers a number of programs for screening newborns. Newborn screening is important because it can detect problems that are not immediately apparent. The Texas department of State Health Services offers resources for newborn screenings and follow-up testing. Detecting conditions at an early stage can help prevent permanent damage to organs and brains. However, many state-funded programs cannot offer this service to residents in the Panhandle.
The Panhandle Public Health District, an initiative that aims to promote healthy lifestyles throughout the region, began work in 2018. The program was launched in 2018, and additional funding was provided through three sources. The organization assessed regional status and capacity for change. Early preventa ve screening for diseases was not available in the Panhandle. PPHD contracted with the Hazelden Be y Ford Foundation to complete regional Behavioral Health Integra on in Medical Care Assessments at eight sites.
Maternal and Child Health
A comprehensive report, “Maternal and Child Health in the Panhandles: Findings from a Statewide Needs Assessment,” was recently released by the Center for Maternal and Infant Health (CMH) at West Virginia University. The report draws on multiple data sources to provide a holistic health assessment of the Eastern Panhandle. Focus areas of the report include chronic disease self-management, lung cancer incidence among women, and the link between environment and behavior.
Before Hurricane Michael hit, data on birth outcomes were similar between Florida’s Panhandle and surrounding counties. Racial composition, gestational age, and pre-pregnancy BMI were similar. However, the percentage of women receiving WIC was lower than before the hurricane. Also, maternal education status changed, and fewer women were in the middle educational category. These changes do not mean that the hurricane had no impact on the region.
Opioid epidemic
The opioid epidemic has caused many people to turn to a life of substance abuse. One out of every two deaths in the Panhandle is a result of a chronic disease. For this reason, the Panhandle Public Health District offers a program called Living Well. Through this program, people can take control of their own health and wellness. The district has a robust referral system, and two Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) Master Trainers to scale this program.
In the Eastern Panhandle, where deaths from overdoses are common, the number of overdose deaths is even greater. The county coroner’s office reported that there are 12 overdose deaths in Kootenai County alone since July. One of these cases was a poly substance overdose, which means that the deceased had more than one drug in their system at the time of death, including opioids. Another county, Benewah County, has had two overdose deaths this year. In Boundary County, there is one accidental overdose, and the coroner’s office in Bonner County reports one.
The community is trying to balance public health priorities as the epidemic continues to spread across the state. In Martinsburg, the Drug Education Program and High School have been running remotely during the opioid epidemic. The Crossroads Church, which has a presence in Martinsburg, started streaming its services online for former drug users. Former users would gather and pray to God for their sobriety. In 2011, Horton struck a pedestrian and then fled the scene. Deputies caught up with him and arrested him.
While a vaccine for the coronavirus has been developed, efforts to control the opioid epidemic have not been as effective. Since the drug was discovered in the Panhandle, Lambert began to notice the epidemic in her community. Lambert believes that efforts to protect people from one epidemic put them at risk of a new epidemic. A treatment program that focuses on the human connection is crucial to recovery. Mutual support and accountability have been vital parts of sobriety for years.
Lead poisoning
When children are exposed to lead in the environment, their brains and nervous systems are more susceptible to its negative effects. The blood levels of lead in children reach their highest concentrations between the ages of 12 and 36 months. Medicaid-eligible children must be tested for lead poisoning every twelve months, as well as every 24 months and 36 to 72 months of age. More frequent testing may be necessary if the child has an increased risk factor. While lead poisoning is not curable, there are ways to reduce blood lead levels and prevent future exposure.
Children who live in homes built before 1978 are at higher risk for lead poisoning than children in newer homes. This is particularly true for younger children. Lead can affect the development of children and even cause a coma. Children with high levels of lead in their bodies can develop a variety of physical conditions, including a reduced IQ, learning disabilities, and developmental delays. Lead poisoning is considered a housing-related disease, so most exposures for young children occur in homes built before 1978. Although lead was banned from residential paints in 1978, lead was still present in gasoline for many years, and the panhandle is not immune to the threat.
Children who are exposed to lead do not always show signs of sickness. These symptoms may take weeks or months to manifest, and they may even come and go. They may also suffer from abdominal pain, vomiting, muscle weakness, and coma, resulting from high blood lead levels. In addition, children can get lead from eating peeling paint chips, chewing on toys, and drinking water from older water pipes. It is very important for parents to keep their children safe and educated about lead exposure.
Jeannette Phillips and the Lexington Center for Recovery
When four local mothers decided to tackle the problem of inadequate medical care in their area, they established the Jeannette J. Phillips Health Center. Today, HRHCare serves the area at 30 sites. Jeannette Phillips played a pivotal role in the organization’s founding and currently serves as executive vice president for community development. She is the only one of the four founding mothers who remains active today. Her vision for the center is clear.
Jeannette J. Phillips Health Center
The founding members of Hudson River Healthcare in 1975, four local mothers, came together to address the lack of medical care in their community. Jeannette J. Phillips played an integral role in the establishment of the center, serving as outreach director and board chair. The center today is a hub for community health care services, serving more than 225,000 people each year. Today, Hudson River Health Care is one of the state’s largest community health network.
The hospital’s name reflects the mission of the health center. Originally, the facility was named for Reverend Jeannette J. Phillips, the first president of the HRHCare Board of Directors. Today, the center has 27 locations throughout New York. Dr. Phillips is a family medicine physician who is board certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. She also specializes in sports medicine.
A resolution and a proclamation sponsored by Hudson River Health Care’s executive committee recognizing Phillips’ contributions to the community were introduced at the event. Both Assemblymember Sandra Galef and State Senator Jen Metzger spoke on the floor of their respective houses. Deputy Mayor Kathie Talbot was a co-sponsor of the resolution, which is expected to become law in 2017.
Office-based outpatient medication assisted treatment
The Lexington Center for Recovery offers office-based outpatient medication assisted treatment for opioid addiction. Using methadone dosing and counseling, the Lexington Center for Recovery treats individuals with opioid addiction. The Lexington Center is a licensed and accredited substance abuse treatment center. Located in New York, it provides comprehensive care to patients. This program is part of a larger network of providers and hospitals.
CASACs
CASACs at Peekskill Health Center are people in recovery who practice addiction and mental health medicine. They include CRPA-P, addiction and substance abuse counselor, and family nurse practitioner. In addition, these people have extensive experience in the medical field, including working in primary care, obstetrics, and advanced practice midwifery. The health center’s CASACs are highly skilled in assisting clients to overcome barriers to recovery.
Founding Mothers
The founding Mothers of Peekskill Area Health Center were Reverend Jeannette Phillips, Pearl Woods and Mary Woods. The center opened on July 1, 1975, and has provided affordable healthcare to the community ever since. The women’s efforts made the facility the first health center in the area. The Center now has 27 clinics serving patients throughout the state of New York. These mothers are a tribute to the hard work and dedication of those who helped make Peekskill Area Health Center possible.
Jeanette Phillips is a community icon in Peekskill. She is the Executive Vice President of HRHCare’s Community Development Department, an Associate Minister in the Park Street African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and involved with numerous community-based organizations in the area. In honor of her achievements, the health center was renamed Jeanette Phillips Health Center in 2015.
The founding mother group began in 1975, when four African American women saw the need for medical services in their community. Today, their efforts have resulted in a network of 28 Federally Qualified Health Centers and more than 175,000 patients in diverse communities in lower New York State. The founding Mothers’ work is an inspiration to community health centers nationwide. And they continue to lead by example through their continued efforts to focus on health equity as a human right.
