Tag: Myers Clinic

Inspiration Stems from Barbour County for Myers Clinic’s New Paintings

Inspiration Stems from Barbour County for Myers Clinic's New Paintings

Barbour County’s Myers Clinic, located in Philippi, is bringing a new sense of familiarity and comfort to its patients. The waiting area of the clinic will now be decorated with artwork done by Barbour County native, Leah Seaman. The artist chose five locations that were special to her and carefully captured each scene through vibrant acrylic paint on an 11×14 canvas.

We sat down with Leah to learn more about her artistic background and how her hometown spawned inspiration for the art project.

1. First of all, tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? What are you studying at school?

I’m 21 years old and currently a senior at Marietta College in Ohio. I’m a double major in communication studies and studio art with a minor in leadership studies. I actually grew up in Barbour County in a little community called Chestnut Ridge. It’s a smaller community based within Barbour County that has a really unique collection of people. There are deep roots established in this community, so you have generations among generations of families that still live here with ancestors who came from the Civil War era.

2. When did you start getting into art? How did this hobby evolve?

Around eighth grade, I had no idea what to ask for at Christmas, so like any good child I asked for an art set and my parents got me a book and a set and my competitive nature pushed me to try to draw the things in the book – and it just kind of grew from there.

But pretty soon in high school I had a family of a former classmate reach out to me and asked me to do a drawing of their family. That first initial job, I think, was the first time I thought ‘there’s something here’.

So, I would say since eighth grade/freshmen year I have really been cultivating my craft, but I never really started to take it seriously until I studied abroad in Florence, Italy two years ago. It was there that I discovered that art is what brings me a lot of joy and fulfillment in life. From there, I really started taking my art seriously.

3. How did you get involved to do this project for Barbour Community Health Association?

Around the time COVID-19 hit, I contacted BCHA about the art project because I was looking for something different to do with my art. And so the conversations just started from there and we eventually came up with this idea. BCHA gave me a lot of free range on this project, which I really appreciated.

Myers Clinic Staff showing off Leah’s paintings.

4. Why did you choose to focus on Barbour County locations?

The purpose of the project was just to kind of show that there is a really gorgeous side to this community. Historically, Chestnut Ridge had sometimes faced some prejudice and difficulty. So, I really wanted to show that the Chestnut Ridge community is absolutely stunning and show some of the positive sides to the area and display some of the scenes we see on a daily basis. It was really cool to give that kind of representation, especially since a lot of people from this community go to the Myers Clinic, so I’m hoping people will recognize some of the scenes that I’ve painted and become relaxed because going to the doctor’s office can be kind of stressful.

5. What was your inspiration for each piece?

Each painting is of a scene from an area in the Chestnut Ridge community that is either special to me or my family, friends, or neighbors.

The painting entitled “Scenic Overlook from Chestnut Ridge Road” is of a vibrant sunset and is a popular spot for anyone who travels through Chestnut Ridge.

Another well-known spot in the community is the Welch Cemetery – the painting entitled “Scenic Overlook from Welch Cemetery”. You can actually see across Barbour County from this hill and many have family members who have been buried in this cemetery. It’s also my dad’s favorite spot.

The schoolhouse painting I did is called “The Old Croston Schoolhouse” – this school used to be the schoolhouse for all the Chestnut Ridge kids before schools integrated. Now, it’s this really old, beautiful, tattered building with a lot of history. I’m really hoping Chestnut Ridgers recognize this painting.

The farm painting, “Sickler Farm”, is of the Sickler Farm, which is owned by a couple that distributes a lot of their produce out to the community. So, I got permission from them to paint their property and some of the cows in the pasture.

For the “Arden River” painting, I wanted to add more autumn colors into the project. So, I thought I’d paint this because a lot of the Chestnut Ridge community enjoys going down to that part of the river to swim. My mom kind of pushed me to paint this more in fall colors just because all of my other paintings were very green.

6. What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on illustrating my first children’s book, so that’s very exciting. I’m also selling prints for any of the five paintings at Myers Clinic in three sizes: 8×10, 11×14, 16×20.

If you’re interested in Leah’s art, connect with h er via her social media pages: Facebook at Artabella or on Instagram at @Artabella_Gallery.

Telehealth Appointments – What You Need to Know

Telehealth Appointments – What You Need to Know

Like many health clinics across the nation, Barbour Community Health Association has begun offering telehealth services to its patients. Through virtual doctor visits, patients are given the option to converse with their provider about medical concerns via video chat or phone. These services allow patients to still feel connected to providers while practicing social distancing and staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We sat down with Jennifer Burner, MHA, PA-C, Clinical Director, Director of Quality Improvement & Risk Management, to find out more about telemedicine and how useful the resource is during these unprecedented times.

 

Q: What is telehealth?

A: Telehealth has been around for years, but many providers have been slow to adopt these methods due to spotty access, but also because of limited insurance coverage for care. Telehealth allows providers to care for and protect patients and BCHA staff during COVID-19.

Q: What telehealth options are available through BCHA?

A: We offer two different services with BCHA for telehealth. We offer a virtual telephone visit — similar to a telephone encounter that you’ve had with your provider in the past. Your provider can speak with you briefly for five minutes to determine if you need to be seen in person or they can speak to you over a longer course of time to discuss chronic disease or other issues you may be having.

We also offer a video conferencing or video chat appointment, and basically, it’s an online video meeting with your provider. It’s live and a real time visit where you can see your provider on your screen and your provider can see you. You can do it through a smartphone, a tablet and a home computer as long as you have a camera.

Q: What medical concerns can be seen by a provider via telehealth?

A: Anything that can be examined through video can be done through a telehealth appointment. One thing we can’t do is if you have a problem and we need a specific medical tool to diagnose you — for instance, if you have an earache, we can’t look at your ear through a video visit.

However, a lot of other conditions, like a rash, discussing chronic disease like diabetes or hypertension,  can discussed through a telehealth appointment.

Behavioral health patients can also use telehealth to speak to their therapists and counselors. It’s confidential and private, but there’s still that connection that you get face to face.

Q: Who can participate in the telehealth appointments?

A: Any patient can participate. If the patient is a minor, they’ll need to have a guardian with them and the guardian will have to give consent for the visit.

Q: How secure are telehealth visits?

A: We use a platform called UpDox and it’s a video chat that allows BCHA to offer secure communications with patients. It is very secure, and we also have a very strict consent policy where the patient is made aware of anybody who may be in the room. However, we do not let anybody in the room when we’re doing a video chat. We’ve put a lot of measures in place to make sure we’re protecting our patients’ privacy when we do these calls.

Q: What do I need to do to begin telehealth and get connected with my provider?

A: You can call your provider’s office and speak to registration and just let them know that you would like to set up a telehealth visit — whether that be a telehealth call or video chat.

 

To schedule a telehealth appointment, call Belington Medical Clinic at 304-823-2800 or Myers Clinic at 304-457-2800.

When you call to make an appointment, a BCHA representative will inform you of available telehealth appointments and if a healthcare provider can assist you via telehealth depending on your medical needs/concerns.

There’s No Place like Home for Myers Clinic’s New Nurse Manager

There's No Place like home for myers clinic's new nurse manager

The Myers Clinic is thrilled to have Lorelle Kisamore join the team as the clinic’s newly hired nurse manager. Lorelle has almost 40 years of nursing experience working in various positions and roles in the area and is sure to be an asset to the nursing department. We sat down with Lorelle and discussed her background as a nurse, how she hopes to grow in her new position as the nurse manager.

Q: Did you grow up in Barbour County?
A: Yes, I am a local girl. Having grown up in Barbour County, it’s exciting to be able to take care of my neighbors, friends and the community.

Q: What qualifies you for this position?
A: I have 38 years of experience as a nurse and have worked in various roles. Most recently, I was the Director of Nursing for the West Virginia Veterans Nursing Home in Clarksburg for 7 years. In 1981, I graduated from Davis and Elkins College with an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing.

Q: With so many years of experience, what is your favorite thing about being a nurse?
A: I like that nursing doesn’t confine you to one particular area. You can be a nurse in surgery, ICU or an outpatient clinic and then switch to another area if you want to try something else.

Q: What will be your duties as the Myers Clinic’s nurse manager?
A: I will schedule staff, ensure that the office runs smoothly and adapt and move staff around to cover when needed. I will assist the staff to provide care for patients when the need arises. I’ll also oversee the ordering supplies, medications and equipment.

Q: What do you hope to bring to the Myers Clinic?
A: I hope to bring stability to the clinic because when there’s a change in an area, there’s fear. But, I will treat everyone equally and I will help out whenever and wherever help is needed.

Q: How do you like to spend your spare time?
A: My family and I like to camp at Holly River or Canaan. I enjoy reading while my husband trout fishes at various streams in the area. I also am a volunteer with the Barbour County Fair Board where I serve as secretary. 

5 Reasons to Register for Our Diabetes Education Classes

5 Reasons to Register for Our Diabetes Education Classes

The number of people affected by diabetes in West Virginia grows every day. For those affected by the disease, life can seem overwhelming with all the concerns, dietary requirements, and new medications. At Myers Clinic, our job is to make sure you’re armed with the education you need to stay healthy. That’s why we’re offering a FREE 4-course Diabetes Education Class that will be held every Tuesday beginning September 3rd, 2019 at 6:30 PM. Classes will be taught by Kim Jefferies, RN, CTTS, and will focus on diabetic tips, best practices, and nutrition.

This class is beneficial to diabetics and those who care for diabetics. The purpose of the class is to promote the health and quality of life of those suffering and prevent complications that can arise with unmanaged diabetes. Still not convinced? Here are the five top reasons to register:

  1. Misinformation – there are plenty of misconceptions surrounding the disease and diabetes education helps set the record straight. Come to class ready to learn, or re-learn, things you may have ignored before or maybe didn’t need to know earlier. What we know about diabetes and how we treat diabetes changes all the time.
  2. Monitoring – including how to prick your finger, monitor your blood sugar, when to test, and what those results may mean. When you learn to look for signs of your diabetes changing, you can better react.
  3. Nutrition – Diabetes is complex, so it has to be managed every day. These classes will help you learn how to eat and exercise, determine and set your health goals, and get the tools to achieve those goals.
  4. Improved Quality of Life – there are no side effects to improving your lifestyle and there are no side effects to eating better and losing weight when done correctly. When you plan for nutrition, your diabetes is better managed and results in a better quality of life.
  5. It’s Free – these classes don’t occur often, so take advantage of this opportunity!

This series is open to everyone and you can register at http://bit.ly/DiabetesClassRegistration.

Provider Spotlight: Jessica Weiner, PA-C

Provider Spotlight: Jessica Weiner, PA-C

A physician assistant (PA), at a glance, is an easily misunderstood role—becoming a physician assistant requires more than a four-year education, and it is likely you’ve been treated by a PA while assuming they were a physician. In reality, a PA typically has more time than a doctor to spend time with patients and provide care. To learn what it means to be a physician assistant, we spoke with one of our resident PA’s at Myers Clinic in Philippi, West Virginia, Jessica Weiner.

Q. First of all, tell us a little about your current position and how long you’ve been at it?

A. My name is Jessica Weiner. I am a physician assistant (PA) at the Myers Clinic. A PA is a medical professional who is licensed both federally and locally to practice medicine. My scope of practice includes examining patients, ordering and interpreting tests, performing procedures, and diagnosing and treating pathology under the supervision of a collaborating physician. I have been working a little over two years now at the Myers Clinic. Prior to that, I was in school for about seven years preparing for this career.

Q. What drove you to choose this career path?

A. I spent seven years as a Pharmacy Technician before deciding to become a Physician Assistant. A friend in the program recommended this direction and like many of my colleagues, I was drawn to this profession through a passion to help people. The broad range of options following graduation as well as the ability to take more time with each patient and not have a rushed schedule was appealing to me.

Q. Misconceptions do people often have about your job?

A. Some people assume PA’s have doctor status and that being a PA limits our ability to treat patients. One misunderstanding is that a PA is still in school or training to be a doctor. I respond by explaining that I already spent a lot of time in school in order to become a PA and that I am a fully licensed medical professional who has completed all requisite training. I want my patients to feel comfortable knowing they are being cared for by a well-trained, proficient professional.

Q. Most enjoyable part of the job?

A. Having a positive impact on someone’s life is the most rewarding part of the job. It is certainly not all happy times. I have stressful days, but the patient who sincerely appreciates your care quickly buffers any acidic memories.

Q. When not at BCHA, what do you enjoy doing?

A. Along with being a committee member for our local Young Life group, I enjoy spending time with my 18-month daughter and helping my husband with his involvement with the Alderson Broaddus University Cross Country and Track & Field teams.

Top 6 Reasons to Attend Our Pulmonary Screening Event

Top 6 Reasons to Attend Our Pulmonary Screening Event

Partnering with Broaddus Hospital Pulmonary Staff, Barbour Community Health Association is excited to be providing FREE Pulmonary Screenings to the Barbour County community at the Myers Clinic on Thursday, May 24th.

There are many reasons to consider scheduling an appointment for a pulmonary screening. Mild breathing problems or shortness of breath can be a sign of a serious condition or disease including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sleep apnea and chronic bronchitis. As with any disease prevention, early detection and treatment are key. Here are our top six reasons to schedule an appointment today:

  1. Screenings are FREE for Barbour County community members
  2. Appointments are limited so schedule your screening ASAP
  3. Screenings can aide in early diagnosis and prevention
  4. We’re close to home – The Myers Clinic is local, you can find us at 3 Healthcare Drive in Philippi
  5. Screenings are for ALL ages
  6. Free pulmonary screening events don’t occur often, so take advantage of this opportunity

Free pulmonary screening events don’t occur often, so take advantage of this opportunity. By scheduling a free pulmonary screening, you are paving the way to improved lung health and better quality of life. To make an appointment or for more information call Christina at 304-457-2800, Ext. 223.