Tag: Q&A

Barbour County Health Department Seeks to Better Serve the Public

Barbour County Health Department Seeks to Better Serve the Public

Barbour Community Health Association’s (BCHA) Chief Medical Officer Jennifer Burner has been splitting her time between BCHA and the Barbour County Health Department.

Burner started her new part-time position as Administrator for the health department in March of this year right before the COVID-19 Delta Variant Surge. She will continue to maintain her job title as Chief Medical Officer and Director of Quality of Risk and Compliance at BCHA.

We chatted with Jennifer on how she’s been handling her new position and what goals she has set for the health department and the community.

What are your responsibilities at BCHA?
My duties include making sure we’re doing peer reviews and appropriately reviewing each other and making decisions for operational management, like cleaning procedures, risk or safety issues. It’s a lot of training and making sure the staff are educated and have the resources available.

What’s been your experience in the healthcare field?
I started working as a physician’s assistant at the Belington Wellness Center in 2013 and soon started filling in with administrative duties, such as quality and risk control. I then got my masters in healthcare administration from George Washington University in 2020, and the education I’ve learned has been so useful with this position.

How did you feel when you first started your job at the health department?
It was a very challenging time to come on not only because of the operational issues but right before the surge of a pandemic. I’ve realized it’s all about balance. Some days you have to make sure your staff is doing okay. You can’t sit in your office all the time, so it’s really about trying to find a balance between having a presence with your staff but also maintaining the pressing operational issues.

At no point did I want to quit, but it was overwhelming. I had to identify the issues early on and make quick decisions and changes. I really had to hit the ground running.

What have you achieved so far in this role?
When I first started I was discouraged because I wanted to make quick progress and see that progress, but I had to slow down and take the time to specify what the issues were.

I’ve looked at where the spending is going and asked if it is reasonable. I’ve also looked at the revenue. These are all the things the department should be looking at and often. So, I’m looking at it not only how we can be financially stable but also financially sustainable.

I’ve been looking at what policies need to be reviewed and updated, too, and how grants can help support the organization.

What are some of your goals for the health department?
I want to assess the needs of our community and find the gaps in public health. What is our community missing? Where can we feel the gaps that our primary providers aren’t able to? What are the expectations of the health department from the public? Of course, I want to expand services, but I also want to start offering more wellness screenings, especially for men’s health which isn’t brought up often. Overall, I just want to find out how the health department can better serve the public and its needs.

Provider Spotlight: Taylor Chevalier, PA-C

Provider Spotlight: Taylor Chevalier, PA-C

Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA) is thrilled to welcome Philip-Barbour High School and Alderson Broaddus University graduate Taylor Chevalier to the BCHA Team. Taylor will work as a physician assistant with patients at Myers Clinic.

We chatted with Taylor to learn more about her healthcare experience and what she’s looking forward to the most with serving her hometown.

Tell us a little about yourself — where are you from? What school did you graduate from?

I am a Barbour County local who graduated from Philip-Barbour High School in 2014. I went off to college at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, but then came to Barbour County to study medicine at Alderson Broaddus University.

Why did you choose to work with BCHA?

I’ve always wanted to come back home and put my education to good use by serving the folks of my community.

What drove you to want to work in healthcare?

I have always loved science/medicine and taking care of others. By becoming a healthcare provider, I am able to combine those two passions into a career I love!

 What do you hope to achieve through your role at BCHA?

Since Barbour County has always been home to me, I’ve always wanted to find a way to give back to my community. Through my role at BCHA. I am able to do so as a provider.

What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?

I love the people I work with!  I love being able to interact with members of our close-knit community – both my patients and my colleagues.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love anything outdoors! In my free time, you’ll most likely find me somewhere in the mountains on horseback, camping, or out on Tygart Lake.

Taylor is now accepting patients at both locations. To schedule an appointment with her, please call Myers Clinic at (304) 457-2800.

Introduction to Nutrition Coaching with Rachel Williams

Introduction to Nutrition Coaching with Rachel Williams

With the month of March recognized as National Nutrition Month, health professionals, wellness coaches, and nutritionists around the country use the opportunity to bring awareness that a well-balanced diet and an active lifestyle can make a huge difference in daily life.

Whether you’re looking to begin a weight loss journey or simply want to enhance your overall health, your nutrition is the first step.

By incorporating proper nutrition into your day-to-day, folks can see an improvement in sleeping habits, mood, gut health, and overall well-being.

That’s why Barbour Community Health Association has hired Rachel Williams as a Nutrition Counselor to manage patients looking to better their overall quality of life through nutrition.

We chatted with Rachel to find out about their experience, BCHA’s new nutrition coaching program, and what they hope to offer to BCHA patients.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up in Baltimore but spent most of my adult life in Pittsburgh before moving to Elkins. My family
includes two giant Great Pyrenees dogs, and we love having so many options for hiking and walking
close by. I have always been passionate about food and health, but had jobs in environmental science and forensic DNA analysis before I went back to school to turn that passion into my career. When I am not at work, I may be found cooking, reading, or obsessing over my house plants.

What services are you bringing to BCHA?

I am offering individual, family, and small group nutrition education and coaching. I coordinate with the physicians, PAs, and other providers at BCHA to ensure that services are appropriate for each client. I am also looking forward to being involved in some of the great programs that BCHA already has in place such as the Farmacy program.

What does nutrition coaching entail?

A nutrition intake and assessment is an hour-long session, with follow-up appointments as needed. I have a long list of questions I like to ask, but more than that, I want to have a conversation about how a person is feeling, and of course what and how they are eating. Food habits, preferences, accessibility and budgets are very individual, and it is my goal to meet the client where they are and work together to move forward from there. Related subjects such as body image, sleep, mood, energy levels, and physical activity may also be discussed. A client may leave a session with handouts and recipes, and I do give tips to try for—hopefully delicious—homework.

Who can benefit from nutrition coaching? What are some benefits of nutrition coaching?

I believe that everyone can benefit. It is never too early or too late to learn something new. I truly welcome people of every age, gender, size, and health status. This is a judgment-free zone to discuss health and habits. People who are dealing with chronic health concerns such as hypertension, autoimmunity, diabetes, digestive issues, or food allergies may especially benefit, and I coordinate with primary care and other providers to ensure that I have the best information available on individual client health concerns. I can provide information to those looking to increase their nutrition knowledge for athletics, disease prevention or recovery, or general health and longevity. I am also happy to talk with people just looking for fresh new ideas to feed themselves and/or their families.

What’s the difference between a registered dietician and a nutrition counselor? What path did you take to get into nutrition services?

I have a degree in biology and recently completed a Master of Science degree in human nutrition. I am
currently working toward becoming a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), a nationally recognized certification which requires having an internship with 1000 supervised hours, passing a comprehensive exam, and continuing education every year to stay up to date with research. CNSs have extensive training on how nutrients from food function within our bodies to promote optimal health. We also have training in all things food related, such as how to order health promoting foods from restaurants and how to make family favorites more nutritious.

How can patients get started?

I currently have office hours at both Belington and Myers Clinics. Clients can ask their provider at their next appointment or call the clinics directly to set up a time to talk with me. This is a free service to BCHA clients.

BCHA is thrilled to be able to offer this new and exciting program to patients. To schedule an appointment, speak with your provider at your next visit or call the Belington Medical Clinic or Myers Clinic.

Provider Spotlight: Morgan Winterbottom, PA-C

Provider Spotlight: Morgan Winterbottom, PA-C

Barbour Community Health Association is excited to welcome Morgan Winterbottom to our healthcare team as a physician assistant. Morgan will work as a provider at Belington Medical Clinic and Myers Clinic.

We chatted with Morgan to learn a bit more about her background and what she’s looking forward to as a PA at BCHA’s clinics.

Tell us a little about yourself — where are you from? What school did you graduate from?

I’m originally from Lothian, Maryland. I graduated from Alderson Broaddus University for both my undergraduate in biology and PA school. I came to Philippi in 2015 and haven’t left since!

Why did you choose to work with BCHA?

After spending many years at ABU and traveling around North Central WV for my PA school rotations, I discovered that I really enjoyed rural healthcare and appreciated how welcoming, genuine, and kind the patients were to me, even as a student. As graduation approached, I realized that I wanted to stay in Barbour County and serve the community who had welcomed me and helped me grow all these years. Working with BCHA was the perfect opportunity to do this.

What drove you to want to work in healthcare?

I wanted to promote health and wellness on a personal level. Interacting and connecting with people has also brought a great sense of joy and purpose to me.

What do you hope to achieve through your role at BCHA?

I just hope to continue providing great team-based care and meeting the needs of the people in this community.

What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?

I really enjoy developing a relationship with my patients and making a difference in their quality of life.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I like to play lacrosse and seek out WV scenery. In the summer, I like driving back to Maryland to visit my family and go crabbing and fishing with my dad.

Morgan is now accepting patients at both locations. To schedule an appointment with her, please call Myers Clinic at (304) 457-2800 or Belington Medical Clinic at (304) 823-2800.

Here to Educate, Help, and Guide – Intro to Chronic Care Management with Erica Weese, RN

Here to Educate, Help, and Guide - Intro to Chronic Care Management with Erica Weese, RN

Here at Barbour Community Health Association, we are constantly working to turn to better healthcare—which is why we are so excited to announce one of our newest endeavors: Chronic Care Management. Ever heard of it? We didn’t think so! Luckily, Belington Medical Clinic’s Health Educator, Erica Weese, RN, was able to sit down and explain what Chronic Care Management is and who it can help.

Q: What is Chronic Care Management?
A: Chronic Care Management is a personalized program designed to assist eligible patients manage their ongoing chronic conditions. After the initial start-up visit or phone call, we draft goal-oriented care plans specific to each patient to help them tackle their health goals. These can range from simple goals like remembering to take medication to more complex goals like managing and changing diets. I spend roughly 20 minutes a month with each patient checking in on their goals and making sure they’re staying on track.

Q: Who is Eligible for Chronic Care Management?
A: To begin, we are only working with Medicare patients, specifically those who have at least two chronic conditions that will last their lifetime or at least twelve months. Some chronic conditions on this list can include Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Cancer, and more.

Q: How do patients get started with Chronic Care Management?
A: Patients can be referred by their primary care physician to begin this program. One of the best parts of Chronic Care Management is that it can all be done over the phone. It begins with an initial phone call or visit where the patient and I review their health history and any medications they’re taking.

Q: What are some benefits for people to start Chronic Care Management?
A: There are so many benefits for people to start Chronic Care Management, the biggest being education. A big part of my job is to collaborate with the patients primary care provider and to help aid in the understanding of their health conditions, labs, medications, treatments, etc.

Q: What is the Health Educator’s Role in Chronic Care Management?
A: I’m here to educate, help, and guide. My role is to be the center of the spider web. I’m the liaison between patients and their primary care physician or any other physicians or specialists the patients see. My goal is to help the patient feel more confident in their understanding of their disease processes so that they can be a happier, healthier version of themselves.

If you or a loved one are eligible for this program, don’t hesitate to contact Erica Weese, RN, at Belington Medical Clinic or Holly Holbert, BSN, RN, at Myers Clinic.

Provider Spotlight: Tessa Ricottilli, PA-C

Provider Spotlight: Tessa Ricottilli, PA-C

Barbour Community Health Association is thrilled to welcome Tessa Ricottilli, PA-C to the team. Tessa will work directly with patients at Myers Clinic.

We chatted with Tessa to learn a bit more about her background and what she’s looking forward to in this new position.

Tell us a little about yourself — where are you from? What school did you graduate from?
I am originally from Nicholas County, WV, but I moved to Barbour County two years ago. I graduated from Alderson Broaddus University.

Why did you choose to work with BCHA?
I wanted to be closer to my children and serve our community.

What drove you to want to work in healthcare?
I have always had a passion to help others. I’ve also always been interested in science and the field of medicine.

What do you hope to achieve through your role at BCHA?
I hope to contribute to the family-friendly environment of BCHA by making sure patients feel welcomed and comfortable seeking care.

What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?
I really enjoy interacting with patients and coworkers.

What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy outdoor activities, like gardening, swimming, and hiking as well as cooking and traveling.

To schedule an appointment with Tessa, please call the Myers Clinic at (304) 457-2800.

 

Employee Spotlight: Marjorie Burner, RN

Employee Spotlight: Marjorie Burner, RN

The Myers Clinic is excited to announce Marjorie Burner, RN promotion to nurse manager. Marjorie is entering this new position at Myers Clinic with years of experience in the healthcare field and two years already with Barbour Community Health Association.

 

 

 

 

We chatted with Marjorie about her nursing experience and what she hopes to achieve in her new role.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself – are you from Barbour County?

A: I’m originally from Barbour County. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Alderson Broadus University.

Q: What experience do you have in the medical field?

A: I have been an RN for 27 years. I previously was Dr. Holbert’s nurse and then moved to transitional care manager in which I provided care for patients who were transitioning from the hospital back to their home. I’ve also been a nurse manager at other facilities.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being a nurse?

A: Honestly, just being able to help and care for people. COVID-19 really put a new spin onto things but I was still able to feel that I was helping patients whether it be in person or via telehealth.

Q: What will your duties be as nurse manager?

A: Managing day to day operations and the clinical staff, staffing, ordering supplies and just making sure everything runs smoothly.

Q: What do you hope to bring in this new role at the Myers Clinic?

A: I just hope I’m able to continue providing outstanding care to the patients that Myers Clinic is known for.

Q: What do you enjoy about working at the Myers Clinic?

A: I just really enjoy the family atmosphere. I’ve worked out of the county most of my career, but in Barbour County, everyone knows everyone.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: I’ve started hobby farming. Right now we have two goats, Biscuit and Gravy.

 

Employee Spotlight: Rhonda Parker, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC

Employee Spotlight: Rhonda Parker, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC

Barbour Community Health Association is pleased to welcome Dr. Rhonda Parker, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC to the BCHA team as a psychiatric nurse practitioner for all sites.

Originally of Charleston, West Virginia, Dr. Parker received her BSN at Medical University of South Carolina, MSN/CFNP and DNP at Frontier Nursing University and her post Master’s, PMHNP at University of South Carolina. She is certified in family, palliative/hospice, and psych/mental health services.

We chatted with Dr. Parker to find out more about her role as psychiatric nurse practitioner and what she’s looking forward to in that position.

Q: What types of conditions do you treat or work with?

A: I work with patients who struggle with issues affecting their mental health including stress, depression/sadness, nerves/anxiety, concentration/memory, fear/paranoia, addiction concerns or anything that makes you feel “not like yourself.”

Q: What is the ideal patient/who should seek your care?
A: Anyone interested in dealing with their mental health issues from a “whole-person” approach. Medication is often appropriate in conjunction with counseling.

Q: What type of patient/condition should be referred to you?
A: People willing to explore medication options as part of their treatment plan, or individuals that have primary care prescribing psychotropics (medication for depression, anxiety, etc.) but they are still experiencing unpleasant symptoms.

Q: Describe yourself/your professional style in 3 words?
A: In three words, I would describe myself as exceptionally laid back.

Q: Anything else that you would really like potential patients to know about you?
A: We are integrated with your Primary care providers at Belington and Myers clinic to provide you with expert mental health care in Barbour county. In the past, patients have had to travel out of the county to receive these services, creating another barrier to care. With our exceptional behavioral health psychologists and therapists, medication management rounds out BCHA’s mental health options.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Parker, call 304-823-4000.

The PA Will See You Now: Meet Scott Nesland

The PA Will See You Now: Meet Scott Nesland

Barbour Community Health Association is excited to have Barbour County native Scott Nesland, PA join the Myers Clinic team. Scott will work as a primary care provider to the patients of Philippi’s Myers Clinic.

We chatted with Scott to learn about his background and to see what he’s looking forward to as a BCHA team member.

Tell us a little about yourself — where are you from? What school did you graduate from?
I grew up in Junior and moved to Moatsville and just stayed in the area. I graduated from Philip Barbour High School and then went on to attend Alderson-Broaddus University (AB). There, I earned my bachelor’s degree in biology and my master’s degree in PA Studies.

Why did you choose to work with BCHA?
Barbour County has always been home to me, and I know everyone in the area. I see it as my way of giving back to the area that helped shape me. I’ve been given a lot of opportunities here in Barbour County.

What drove you to want to work in healthcare?
I was bouncing around the idea of going to med school or PA school. My teacher asked me if I had scheduled my MCAT and the deadline passed by a month. I only applied at AB, and I was accepted. I saw it as a sign to further myself into the medical field by attending AB.

What do you hope to achieve through your role at BCHA?
I’m excited to start taking care of people, especially folks who would benefit from closer care. I think having someone younger in the clinic might be beneficial for both patients and hopefully staff.

What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?
I really enjoy talking to people and getting to know patients on a personal level. I also enjoy performing certain procedures too, like sutures, draining abscesses, joint injections, etc.

What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy running, skiing and fishing on the Tygart River.

To set up an appointment with Scott, click here.

Get Up & Get Moving Together

Get up & get moving together

Did you know regularly walking provides the body and mind with many perks? It’s true. Walking has been shown to improve mood, boost your energy and even have an effect on life span. You might not know it, but walking also helps burn calories, strengthen the heart and lower blood sugar.

With the Philippi Wellness Center’s newest Walkercise program, you can groove to some tunes while reaping the benefits of walking.

Here’s everything you need to know about this new program!

When is it? Where is it?
The Walkercise program has recently just started, and this session will run until May 26 at the Philippi City gym. Doors will open at 9 a.m. Anyone can start at anytime as there is no routine to learn.

How often will the class be held?
Walkercise will be held Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Fridays will be added if there is sufficient interest in the program.

What does Walkercise consist of?
Participants will walk the city gym to music with ongoing coaching to encourage the use of arms, directional change and balance work.

What does Walkercise cost?
Classes are included with membership at the Philippi Wellness Center and Belington Wellness Center. A non-member may participate for $5.

If interested in participating in Walkercise, please contact Donna Seaman at the PWC at 304-457-0700.