Volume 6, Issue 5

The Pulse of Corporate

Beth Wrobel, CEO
HealthLinc improves its communities
“You are as welcome as the flowers in May.” – Charles Macklin, 1825
by expanding access to exceptional
This fantastic sentiment exemplifies just how we want our patients to feel when they health care.
come to one of our clinics. We welcome ALL who need our services and expertise.
This is a fundamental purpose of community health centers, to ensure that
comprehensive health care is available to all regardless of income or insurance status.
A second, very important purpose for community health centers is to address the
public health challenges that many of our patients and communities face today.

Understanding what that means, what resources are available to fulfill these purposes,
and how to deliver on them is what the 2019 HealthLinc Annual Conference “Back to
Basics” is all about. This year’s theme says it all. We will learn from leaders on both
the national and state level about current health issues and our role and
responsibilities towards meeting them.

On the national level, we will hear from Dr. Don Weaver, Senior Advisor, Clinical
Workforce (National Association of Community Health Centers) and on the state level
MAY 2019
from Dr. Melissa Collier, Chief Medical Officer with Indiana State Department of Health
(ISDH).

Effective military units have both great leaders and fearless soldiers. We will use
members of our own fighting forces to highlight the many fronts upon which we are
currently battling the most pressing health care issues.

To be ready for future campaigns, Pat Marshall , President of SynerChange Chicago will
present on leadership and moderate team building exercises.

And as is customary for the annual conference, there will be honors, awards, and a few
prizes!

Very soon, it will be time for you to “enlist” for this year’s conference. Look for the
email that will announce registration for the conference and your “marching orders” to
ensure you get the most from this great day.

In the meantime, carry on!

-Beth
Publisher: Carrie Kuck, Marketing & Public Relations Manager
Editor: Jodie Wexelberg, Public Relations Coordinator
 Welcome to Our Newest Lincs!
Say hello as you see them around the sites.

Beatriz Gutierrez Cheryl Steinhofer Omar Rodriguez Joy Hollingsworth Madelynn Frump Sarah Turner
Medical Assistant Medical Assistant Medical Assistant Assistant Site Outreach Intern Program Assistant
Michigan City Centennial Centennial Manager Corporate Corporate
Southeast & IUSB

Mimi Salgado Maria Anaya Yuli Sosa Damjan Aleksovski Karen Siroky Sarah Wallace
Medical Assistant Medical Assistant Medical Assistant Referral Coordinator Care Team Nurse Outreach and Enrollment
East Chicago East Chicago Southeast & IUSB Valparaiso Southeast Representative
Corporate

Arasely Navarro Tempy Jackson Ruth Zylstra Maria Trinidad Margaret Johnson
Medical Assistant Patient Services Patient Services Medical Assistant Medical Assistant
Centennial Representative Representative Mishawaka Supervisor
IUSB Mishawaka Southeast & IUSB

If you are interested in exploring other job opportunities at HealthLinc, or if you know someone who would be a great addition
to our team, check out our Careers page.

Job Opportunities

Remember — if you refer someone who ends up hired, you may be eligible for the Employee Recruitment Bonus!
 Tooth Time: Everything You Need to Know about Oral Health
Dr. John Avila
Dentist

Last month we talked about dental care during pregnancy. To review, it is safe and recommended. Continue to send us your refer-
rals, and thank you.
This month finds us deep into Spring. Beautiful flowers, grass growing, trees budding … and lots of pollen! Many patients (and us)
start taking seasonal allergy medications, OTC and by prescription. I noticed that most of the widely-used medications list dry
mouth, or xerostomia, as a common occurrence.
This becomes a matter of concern because reduced salivary flow can have several negative effects. Saliva rinses tooth surfaces and
buffers acidic conditions with gamma globulin A dimers that fight infection. Less saliva can promote opposite conditions such as;
more acid, more bacteria, more food stuck on tooth surfaces—especially in the vulnerable areas along the gumline.
Steroid use, including the popular and effective steroid nasal sprays, can also lead to oral thrush, an infection in the mouth caused by
Candida funguses.
Halitosis (bad breath) is promoted by the build-up of bacteria and material on the tongue and in the corners of the oral cavity, as
well as, food left between the teeth.
Patients with dentures may have trouble with retention (keeping them in place), leading to sores, difficulty eating and speaking, and
even a more generalized stomatitis (inflammation of the mouth).
So what can we do to educate and help patients who are experiencing xerostomia (dry mouth), whether or not they are taking these
medications?
The first advice is to stay hydrated. Sip more water, not pop! People normally need more hydration BEFORE they feel thirsty. Spe-
cial chewing gum or saliva substitute products are easily found in the dental care areas in most pharmacies and big box stores.
The next step is to maintain or begin good oral hygiene practices. The ADA recommends brushing twice a day, but dental healthcare
workers won’t object if you ramp that up to three! Use dental floss daily, or use one of the excellent and effective water jet cleaners.
A fluoride rinse helps keep the surface of the teeth more resistant to mineral loss and the decay this can lead to. Fluoride gel for
home application is available by prescription if needed.
Encourage your patients to schedule an appointment for a complete examination or to keep their scheduled visits. This helps pre-
vent any dental and oral problems that might keep someone from enjoying this Spring. Let’s work together to keep our patients
smiling!

DO YOU, OR A HEALTHLINC CO-WORKER YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATE IN A

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION?

We want to highlight all the fantastic community work that our HealthLinc
staff takes part in.

Send information on your community involvement to Jodie Wexelberg at

[email protected]
 MAY UPDATE
7 benefits of outdoor activity

Did you know that just looking at pictures of nature can lower your
blood pressure and reduce stress? So it’s no surprise that actually
spending time outside has tremendous advantages, too. Here are
seven ways that outdoor activity can help your mind and body.

Why can’t I stop worrying?

May is Mental Health Awareness month, so there’s no better time to

understand the signs of anxiety disorders. Take a look at the article
here to learn how to put common worries to rest and find out when a
talk therapist might be able to help.

Can you spot the signs of sun damage?

More time outside means more exposure to harmful rays. Check out
this article to learn how to examine your body for skin cancer and
recognize the warning signs for moles and skin lesions that should be
checked by a doctor.

myStrength Wellness App is Coming to HealthLinc

MHS, one of our managed care entities has a new app, myStrength, a self-guided wellness app
for mental and behavioral health. We have access to this for our MHS patients and because we
are an MHS provider, our employees will have access to it as well. A series of trainings are being
planned to introduce this at an all-staff meeting, culminating in a session at the Annual Confer-
ence to train on how to start introducing it to our MHS patients.
The myStrength app is based in clinical models like cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and
commitment therapy, positive psychology, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing—proven
interventions that have helped millions improve and sustain health and well-being.
The myStrength app adjusts each day and with every interaction. Preferences and goals, current
emotional and motivational states, ongoing life events are all captured. Sophisticated machine
learning algorithms create individualized myStrength experiences which include interactive pro-
grams, in-the-moment coping tools, inspirational resources and community support.
 The Pulse of Human Resources
Tara Leonard
Human Resource Manager

The Countdown Has Begun...Are You on Track?

Your annual health evaluations are just a few months away. It’s time to meet your goal!
Why is it important to meet your Personal Health Goal?
We have implemented a wellness program that rewards you for meeting your Personal Health Goal.
Do you know your Personal Health Score and Goal?
Your personal health score and goal is located in your test results packet and on the website at www.myinteractivehealth.com. The
Score and Goal provide detailed information regarding scoring criteria. If you have questions regarding your results or misplaced your
results please call Interactive Health at (800) 840-6100
Did you participate in the 6 Month Re-Check?
If you participated in the Re-Check, remember that only your prior year’s Health Score and Goal count for the upcoming annual
health evaluation.
It’s not too late!
• Share your results with your physician so he or she can suggest steps you can take to improve your health!
• Participate in a health coaching course. Coaching is free and confidential. To schedule, call Interactive Health at (800) 840-6100.
Save the date!
Our company health evaluations will begin in a few months; stay tuned for dates and locations.

East Chicago gets a face lift as it prepares for the May 2nd Open House
 Mental Health First Aid
Cara Jones
Integrated Behavioral Health Program Manager

“Mental Health First Aid gives people the skills

to help someone who is developing a mental
health problem or experiencing a mental health
crisis, just as First Aid helps you assist an individ-
ual having a heart attack until professionals ar-
rive. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you
learn risk factors and warning signs for mental
health and addiction concerns, strategies for how
to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situ-
ations, and where to turn for help.
The course also teaches about recov-
ery and resiliency – the belief that individuals
experiencing these challenges can and do get
better and use their strengths to stay well. The
evidence behind the program demonstrates that
it builds mental health literacy, helping the par-
ticipants to identify, understand, and respond to
signs of mental illness. In a country where nearly
one in five adults lives with a mental illness, this
type of training is beneficial for everyone.”
So far at HealthLinc, 44 people on our staff have
completed the training. The training is 8 hours
long and upon completion participants receive a
Mental Health First Aid Certificate, which is ac-
tive for 3 years.
 The Pulse of Corporate
Paula Armour
Director of Administrative Support

REMINDERS AND UPDATES:

1. Saturday hours for the Call Center began on April 6, 2019
2. If you are the last staff member to leave your department:
• Make sure lights are turned off in your area.
• Make sure coffee pots and burners are in the off position. (This applies during office hours as well—
especially when the pot is nearly empty. If burners are left on, the coffee will burn away.)
• If there is no one in surrounding offices, please turn off lights in the offices and the hallways.
• If you are the last one in the restrooms for the day, turn off the lights.
• When you leave the building, check to make sure doors close securely behind you.
These steps will help us be good stewards of our office environment and assist in keeping the buildings secure.

Super-Users for Intergy

Dr. Carl Toren, Chief Medical Officer
Jenny Williamson, Intergy Clinical Coordinator

Like most medical organizations, HealthLinc uses Electronic Health Records (EHR) to ensure that patient personal health infor-
mation is easily accessible to providers and other medical personnel when needed and at the same time highly secure. This tech-
nology is constantly changing and being updated to maximize its potential. To stay on top of this, HealthLinc has created a Super-
User group.
The Super-User group meets monthly and is asked to advise and approve any changes or improvements that are made to the EHR
(Electronic Health Records). The current meetings are focused on creating the updated training that is being planned for the rest of
the providers. Meet the HealthLinc Super-Users:
Mishawaka—Dr. Katherine Lisoni, Erica Garrett, Certified Nurse Midwife
East Chicago—Lillia Bonilla, Family Nurse Practitioner
Valparaiso—Kari Evans, Family Nurse Practitioner
Valparaiso/Porter Starke—Dr. Amanda Matthews
Michigan City—Melissa Wilson, Family Nurse Practitioner
Knox—Nikkole Chambers, Family Nurse Practitioner
Centennial/Southeast—Dr. Michael Kozak
 ACS Update
Josh Kellems, Health Systems Manager
American Cancer Society

Skin cancer is the most common cancer with more than 2 million people developing skin cancer each year. Most skin
cancers are the direct result of exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) light rays in sunlight. Studies have also linked artificial
sources of UV rays, like tanning beds, to skin cancer.

Sun safety is important all year, not just in the summer. In fact, everyone is exposed to UV radiation while driving in
their vehicles or sitting by a window at work. UV radiation is present even on cloudy days, when the sun doesn’t seem
to be out. No one can completely avoid the sun! The negative effects of UV radiation build up over a person’s life-
time. Melanoma on the chest, back and legs has been linked to frequent sunburns, especially in childhood. Although
people with fair skin are more likely to get skin cancer, there are incidences of melanoma in all races and ethnicities.

There is no sure way to prevent melanoma, however, you can reduce your risk by protecting yourself from the sun’s
harmful rays. Start by avoiding the sun when UV rays are strongest, generally between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and stay
sun smart by remembering to Slip! Slop! Slap! And Wrap! Slip on a shirt or cover up with protective clothing when
out in the sun. Slop on sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours.
Slap on a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, neck and ears. Wrap sunglasses around your eyes, because UV
rays can also damage your eyes.
You don’t need x-rays or blood tests to find skin cancer early, just your eyes and a mirror. If you have skin cancer,
finding it early – when it’s small and before it has spread – gives you the best chance of having it treated successfully.
Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to discuss any skin changes.

CONGRATULATIONS!

If you have received an award in your com-

munity, at school, or somewhere else,
please share with us!
Send a picture and information to Carrie at
[email protected].

Congratulations on 5 years with HealthLinc,

Melissa Wilson!
 The Pulse of Finance
Joan Bondi
Chief Financial Officer

RED BAR GREEN BAR

I.T. HUMOR
 April Outreach Events
Southeast Open House—April 2

Centennial Open House—April 4

 April Outreach Events
Knox: Senior Fair—April 5

Knox: Bags of Hope—April 6

East Chicago Parks & Recreation Department

Arbor Day Celebration—April 26
HEALTHLINC OUTREACH IN ACTION
 Volunteer Time Off
Joleen Hall
Human Resources Assistant

Alicia Mejia, a medical assistant at East Chicago participated in the East Chicago Bi-Annual Career Fair. She registered
representatives from different companies, provided attendees with identification, meal tickets and information about the
fair. She even took a picture with Anthony Copeland, the mayor of East Chicago!

Happy Anniversary!
15 Year—Lauren McKim
11 Years—Jenaia McKnight, April Chaja
7 Years—Maria Rodriguez
6 Years—Gupreet Nagra, Erica Wagner
5 Years—Eleather Baker, Jane Burton, Sarah Feeler, Gina Fredenburg, Yolanda Nuno,
Terence Twiss, Judith Zimmerman
4 Years—Alma Carrillo, Rachelle Dickson, Sommer Lax
3 Years—April Currier, Shaneka Markos
CELEBRATE 2 Years—Brittany Owens

Happy Birthday!

Georgia Beardsworth Kari Evans Christina Mitchell Maria Rodriguez

Jane Burton Sarah Feeler Melissa Mitchell Christina Serrano
April Chaja Shanika Flowers Sandra Morton Hope Smith
Broxton Davis Colleen Gollogly Gabriela Ortega Joan Stanley
Domonique Diggins Christine Hawkins Ashley Powell Heather Trembly
Brian Ellmann Janet Marsh Brenda Riley Tabitha Ward
Jocelyn Estrella Lauren McKim Dr. Michael Roach Chris Young
 The Pulse of Pharmacy
Lynn Thoma
Director of Pharmacy

HealthLinc focuses on Chronic Care Management

HealthLinc chose to focus on Chronic Care Management as a service line for our patients to improve patient outcomes and
satisfaction. Additionally, Chronic Care Management is a billable service. HealthLinc targeted patients with Medicare and two or
more chronic conditions. Initially, we tried to focus on patients with uncontrolled diabetes. However, we realized that since our
uncontrolled population was so small, it would be beneficial to widen our focus to include patients with other chronic conditions,
such as, hypertension, obesity, coronary artery disease, ischemic vascular disease, depression, etc. The purpose of Chronic Care
Management is to provide care management services, including medication management, transitions of care, and continuity of
care for patients with Medicare and two or more chronic conditions. Furthermore, utilizing a Lean Daily Improvement project
helped to get the process started, monitor it along the way, and identify areas for improvement.
Our first step was to identify the patients that were eligible. Then, offer enrollment to the CCM program to those eligible pa-
tients. Of those patients that received enrollment information, we tracked the number of patients that consented to participate
in the program.
Monthly calls to patients 7-10 days post-appointment began -
Calls were first attempted weekly at different times of day (i.e. morning, noon, and early evening). However, it was quickly
determined monthly CCM calls were a better approach. Patients were asked for a preferred day and call time, so now
they receive a 20-minute CCM call monthly.
If patients do not answer three calls in two consecutive months, they are made an inactive CCM patient and sent a letter to
remind them of their enrollment in the program and are encouraged to contact their care manager.
A success story from one of our care managers –
“The CCM program, in my opinion, has been very successful with participating patients. In one particularly successful example, 3
interventions were made in one phone call. This patient stated that she stopped taking her maintenance inhaler (Advair Diskus)
because it became too expensive. We were able to get this medication through our 340B program and she was able to restart the
medication. She was also using the inhaler twice daily rather than once daily. We contacted the provider to suggest once daily
dosing or increase to Advair diskus 500/50. On the same call, we learned the patient was not testing her blood glucose because
she had an “error-3” message and thought the meter was broken. We were able to troubleshoot the meter and found out the
error message was because she was using a previously used strip and the patient was able to continue testing as prescribed.”
Advice to others –
First and foremost- make sure that staff fully understands the process and their respective roles and workflows. If there is no
clear understanding of expectations, then you are going to have holes in the process where eligible patients are overlooked for
participation. Communication is key. Front staff should communicate with staff involved in direct patient care to identify pa-
tients that are eligible for the program, and to educate patients about the program at the time of their appointment.
We learned a lot about the process through trial and error, primarily what worked best for our clinic and flow. It is best to have a
streamlined process on how to identify eligible patients and the process for enrolling them in place before starting CCM .
Be flexible. Our original plan to call the participating patients every week for five minutes wasn’t working. So, we changed our
plan to make calls once monthly for 20 minutes, which seems to work well for most patients.
Lastly, the care plan piece was tricky to implement, so make sure to review your EHR’s capabilities and have a plan in place that
addresses all of the care plan requirements.
Please contact Aleksandra Papadimitriou MHA, LDIF or Lynn Thoma, PharmD, BCACP, BC ADM, CDE, LDE with questions.
 Information for Our Patients

Lyft and 2-1-1 Partner to Provide Free Rides to

Mental Health/Addictions Appointment

Anyone who displays a current or past problem with substance use and is not insured by Medicaid or HIP is eligible for
a ride. If an individual is a minor they will be required to have a guardian ride along. This program also provides rides
home for guardians and/or caregivers if requested.

How to request a ride:

• Dial 2-1-1. It is an automated system and will prompt callers to press 2 to continue in English or press 3 to continue
in Spanish. For other languages, they are directed to dial 2 and request a translator later in the call.
• Once the language has been selected, the following message will be played: “If you are calling for information about
substance use treatment or transportation to and from treatment please press 9.” The caller will then press 9 and
be directed to speak with a trained Lyft Community Navigator.

Additional helpful information:

Can you request a ride on behalf of the client?
Yes. However, IN211 will require the following information: First and last name, pick-up and drop-off locations, and a
phone number for drivers to communicate with passengers if they are unable to locate them.
Is the client’s information protected?

Lyft drivers will only have access to the first name of the passenger, and the pick-up and drop-off location. A phone num-
ber is provided to the driver, but it is a randomized and hidden number. Drivers lose access to all past rides once they are
completed.

Is there a guarantee of a ride?

In partnership with the FSSA and Lyft, Indiana 211 can schedule COST FREE rides to and from substance use treatment
and certified recovery support programs. Any individual who displays a current or past issue with substance abuse and is
not insured by Medicaid or HIP is eligible for a ride. Indiana 211 verifies eligibility for all Lyft transportation requests.
Indiana 211 monitors all trips and all calls are recorded for quality purposes. Indiana 211 reserves the right to deny re-
quests from those who provide misinformation or misuse the program in any way. Funding is limited and we cannot
guarantee services are available in every area of the state.
 GET READY FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL
HEALTHLINC CONFERENCE
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Dr. Donald L. Weaver

Senior Advisor, Clinical Workforce
National Association of Community Health Centers

Dr. Melissa Collier

Chief Medical Officer
Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH)
PLATOON CAPTAIN
Conference EMCEE

Mike Mutka
Chief Executive Officer, Straightaway Pat Marshall
Chief Innovation Officer, Relias President
SynerChange, Chicago

2019 HealthLinc Heroes & Mary Beth Witcher “Patient Advocate” Award
HOW TO NOMINATE
If you know a co-worker who deserves to be named a HealthLinc Hero or is worthy of the Mary Beth Witcher “Patient Advo-
cate” Award, you can nominate them through the conference website on the HealthLinc Hub or click on the links below.
I can’t wait to meet this year’s class of honorees!
HEALTHLINC HERO NOMINATION FORM (Provider)
HEALTHLINC HERO NOMINATION FORM (Non-provider)
MARY BETH WITCHER “PATIENT ADVOCATE” AWARD
 I.T. says….Be on the Lookout!
How to identify a phishing email.
HealthLinc computers are under constant attack from malicious emails. We have systems that protect us from these emails, the
final line of defense is YOU. Below is an email that bypassed our system’s protection and ended up in Beth’s inbox.

Like all good phishing and spam emails, it looks authentic but how do you know for sure?
Ask yourself “Am I expecting this email?” A lot of the time spoof or phishing email appears to come from the CEO or other promi-
nent figures in the company asking for checks to be printed or a report to be forwarded. This report may contain all employee
details. Ask yourself, “Am I expecting this email? Is this normal procedure?”
Hover (but do not click) on links and email addresses. Check the links and email addresses within the email by hovering your
mouse pointer over them. The real address will appear. For example, the link may say www.amazon.com, but the actual address
it is linking to is ww1.tp.biz.jp. DO NOT CLICK ON THESE LINKS.

Be safe rather than Sorry! Call the HealthLinc I.T. department if you have any concerns about emails going to or apparently com-
ing from your email address. Dial Help (Ext 4357) from any HealthLinc extension and a member of the team will be happy to as-
sist. If the email you are calling about is malicious, response times are critical.