Tag Archives: Cherry Health

Good Mental Health Habits for Kids

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Courtesy Cherry Health

By Mandy Dahms, RN, Registered Nurse Care Manager

 

May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Children can have mental health challenges just as adults can. As a matter of fact, over 2 million children in Michigan experience mental health challenges such as ADHD, anxiety and depression. In order to decrease this number, it is very important to provide our children with whatever there is possible to promote good mental health. The following are some simple suggestions to promote the mental health of a child:

  • Make sure that your child gets regular exercise, balanced meals, plenty of sleep and has time for relaxation.
  • Talk about your child’s troubles with them. Let your child know that their concerns are important to you.
  • Be a role model. Talk about your own feelings when possible, apologize, and don’t express anger with violence.
  • Provide your children with unconditional love. The love, security, and acceptance trio are the foundation to children’s good mental health.
  • Praise your children for the little and big things they do for the first time and/or well, encourage them to make the next steps and help them explore and learn about new things.
  • Surround your child with supportive teachers and care takers.
  • Bring fun and playfulness into your routines. Families tend to stick to routines and forget to have fun. If your child seems stressed or overwhelmed by the routine change it up; for example, every Friday night your family goes to the library – change it up and go to a movie, play games or simply find something different to do.

Children can live happy and productive lives that are filled with love, harmony, and great mental health, but it will take us adults to help them in this direction!

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.

What is the 340B Discount Drug Program?

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Photo courtesy Cherry Health

By Brett Gingrich, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy Services at Cherry Health

 

Cherry Health’s Pharmacy is located in Heart of the City Health Center and provides prescription services for all Cherry Health patients, as well as the general public. The pharmacy also provides a 340B discounted pricing program for Cherry Health patients who qualify for the program. The 340B program is funded by manufacturers of medications and is not federally funded. This means the pharmacy can buy medications from these manufacturers at a discounted price vs. other retail pharmacies. The savings are then used in many ways including these below:

  • We give the savings back to the patient through our pharmacy sliding fee program. Patients without insurance or even under-insured patients can buy medications at a more affordable price. This is one way we keep medication costs down, so that our patients can take the medications they need, and therefore increasing access.
  • We also use the 340B savings to increase access to more services. The 340B savings we receive contribute to services such as: patient education, translation, and transportation services along with many others which otherwise may be limited. The 340B program helps make these services sustainable.

The 340B program’s original intent may need clarification, but for Health Centers in Michigan like Cherry Health the program is vital to our patients and the services we provide. The program increases access to affordable medications and furthers Cherry Health’s mission to improve the health and wellness of our patients while encouraging access. So, whether you are insured or not — I encourage you to talk to your Cherry Health primary care physician to see if our Heart of the City Pharmacy is the right fit for you! Delivery services to other select Health Centers are also available.

 

In need of a refill on your prescription? Check out Heart of the City Pharmacy’s Health Mart page here!

 

The Thief of Sight: Glaucoma Development, Diagnoses, and Detection

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By Dr. Dana Reilly, Community Health & Primary Care Optometry Resident at Heart of the City Health Center Vision

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United states. Approximately 3 million people over the age of 40 in the United States have glaucoma, and about half of those people don’t know they have it. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that affects the optic nerve and can result in side vision loss and eventually blindness.
How does glaucoma develop?

Glaucoma develops when the eye cannot drain internal fluid. The eye’s internal drainage system is damaged, and this can cause the eye pressure to increase. This is similar to putting a kink in a garden hose; the water pressure builds up and has nowhere to go. This can then cause damage to the optic nerve, the nerve that is responsible for our side vision and our central vision. Damage to the optic nerve can first cause side vision loss, and eventually even total blindness.

 

What are the symptoms of glaucoma?

Glaucoma has no warning signs! Vision loss can happen over time, and people may not notice these changes until it’s too late. Once side vision loss has occurred, these vision changes can not be changed. We can not cure glaucoma, but we as optometrists can help slow down the disease.

 

What are the risk factors for developing glaucoma?

There are many risk factors for developing glaucoma. They include: Age over 60, a family history of glaucoma, African American, Asian, or Hispanic race, diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure, steroid users, or any previous eye injury.

 

How is glaucoma detected?

Scheduling a comprehensive eye exam with your eye doctor is your first step! A dilated eye exam helps the optometrist fully assess the optic nerve. If the optometrist is suspicious of glaucoma based on the appearance of the optic nerve, there are other tools we can use to determine if there is optic nerve damage. We also check your eye pressure with a technique called Goldmann tonometry. If the eye pressure is high, we might be suspicious of glaucoma. We can also measure the corneal thickness and look at where the cornea meets the fluid-draining structures of the eye. We also might conduct a side vision test to assess if there is any side vision loss. With all of these tests combined, this gives us all of the tools we need to properly diagnose, treat, and manage glaucoma.

 

What are my next steps?

Schedule your eye exam today! Cherry Health provides comprehensive vision services at the Heart of the City Health Center, Montcalm Area Health Center, and Wyoming Community Health Center. Early detection is key with glaucoma. Since there are no early warning signs, it is important to have your eyes fully examined to test for any early signs of glaucoma. As mentioned above, there is no cure for glaucoma, but we can help slow down the disease with eye drops, laser surgery, or other surgical options in later stages of the disease. If you would like to be seen for an eye exam contact us at one of our locations!

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health

You Are Not Your Mental Illness

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Photo courtesy of Cherry Health

By Maram Hekhuis, Outpatient Therapist at Heart of the City Counseling Center

 

Many people either do not recognize or are in denial that they have mental illness, even though mental illnesses are very common and widely spread in our society. This can be due to fear and anxiety about being judged or stigmatized by others, not being prepared to cope with learning that they have a mental illness, or their loved one has a mental illness. Many people fail to recognize that mental illness does not define who you are! You have a diagnosis of mental illness, but you are not your mental illness.

 

You are not schizophrenic, autistic, or depressed. You have diagnosis of schizophrenia, autism, or depression. Having a mental illness does not mean you are robbed of the opportunities to have a quality life such as having a job, being in a relationship, building a family, having safe housing, having access to health care and/or being affiliated with a certain group. It is important to recognize that even though you have a mental illness and some challenges associated with your mental illness symptoms, you still have many strengths and abilities that help you move forward in life to achieve your goals and dreams. There is nothing to be ashamed of for having a mental illness. Having a mental illness is like having a medical problem. It is your body’s way of telling you something is off, and it is time to do something about it by seeking help.

 

Mental illness is treatable! Most people with mental illness continue to function in their daily lives and are able to live a fulfilling life. If you feel you are unable to manage your mental illness, experiencing significant symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in social, work, or other important areas of functioning, then seek professional support. There is nothing to be ashamed of for seeking support. When you get the flu and a high fever for a couple of days, you will seek medical attention, so when you are feeling mentally exhausted and sick, then make sure to seek mental health attention.

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health

Nine Cherry Health Medical Health Centers Receive Patient-Centered Medical Home Status

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Photo courtesy of Cherry Health

By Tiffany Aldrich, Cherry Health

 

Nine Cherry Health medical health centers are part of an elite group that has demonstrated commitment to advancing quality care, as certified by a national leader in health-care accreditation.

 

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has certified the following Cherry Health medical sites as a Patient-Centered Medical Home at Level 3, the highest level possible:

  • Barry Community Health Center
  • Burton Health Center
  • Cherry Street Health Center
  • Heart of the City Health Center Adult Medicine
  • Heart of the City Health Center Durham Clinic
  • Heart of the City Health Center Pediatrics
  • Montcalm Area Health Center
  • Westside Health Center
  • Wyoming Community Health Center

That certification means these medical sites meet rigorous standards of patient-centered care.

 

“We are dedicated to enhancing quality of care at each of our health centers,” said Jodi Pyper, Director of Health Center Programs. “Putting our patients at the center of care allows us to best meet their needs.”

 

The Patient-Centered Medical Home is a primary-care model with high standards of access, teamwork, and technology. Research shows it can improve quality, lower costs, and provide a better experience for both patients and clinicians.

 

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of American health care. Its standards for certifying Patient-Centered Medical Homes follow principles established by the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Osteopathic Association.

 

Reprinted with permission from Cherry Health.