Tag: Q&A

Employee Spotlight: Lesa Jordan, RN

Employee Spotlight: Lesa Jordan, rn

Barbour Community Health Association is excited to welcome Lesa Jordan, RN, to the Belington Clinic team. With over 30 years of nursing experience under her belt, BCHA and staff are looking forward to seeing Lesa serve as nurse manager at the Belington Clinic.

We chatted with Lesa to learn more about her nursing background and find out what she’s looking forward to in her new role.

Q: Where are you from?
A: I grew up in the city of Sutton in Braxton County, but I currently live in Tucker County.

Q: What is your educational background with nursing?
A: I received my bachelor’s degree from Alderson Broaddus University and my master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. I’m currently working on my dissertation to get my PHD in nursing.

Q: What has been your experience in the nursing field?
A: I have 33 years of nursing experience. I taught in the Nursing Department for 11 years at Alderson Broaddus University, and I was also the assistant chair of the university’s nursing department.

Q: With so many years working in the nursing field, what has been your favorite part of your career?
A: I really like the educational aspect of nursing. Recently, I had to make changes in my own lifestyle to be healthier, so I have really enjoyed teaching patients how to also improve their overall health.

Q: What will be your duties at the Belington Clinic?
A: As the nursing manager, I’ll be in charge of scheduling, ordering supplies, keeping staff accountable, ordering medicine, etc. — just making sure the nursing staff and department runs smoothly.

Q: What do you hope to bring to the Belington Medical Clinic as the new Nurse Manager?
A: I hope to bring positivity, enhance teamwork and continue to provide quality care to patients.

Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
A: I love spending time with my grandchild and my fur baby. I also enjoy riding four-wheelers and reading.

Brandon School-Based Health Services: Serving Barbour County Schools

Brandon School-Based Health Services: Serving Barbour County Schools

Barbour Community Health Association consistently looks for opportunities to improve and expand services to all Barbour County residents. In fact, BCHA’s school-based program was recently contracted by the Barbour County Board of Education to begin providing both medical and behavioral health services in all Barbour County Schools.

These additional services to students are sure to be a great advantage for not only the student(s), but families, staff and teachers.

Here’s everything you need to know about the school-based program and the recent expansion.

When did the Barbour County Board of Education decide to partner with BCHA?
In August 2020 the Barbour County Board of Education accepted BCHA’s proposal that emphasizes every child, family, and school staff member in Barbour County should have access to medical and behavioral health care through a school-based health clinic.

What is the purpose of a school-based health program?
School-based clinics are utilized for both immediate-care services, such as minor injuries or diagnosis and treatment of various health conditions, as well as preventative services, such as health screenings, weight management, and providing health education to the students and staff.

By offering these services to all Barbour County Schools, students and families now have easy access to health and wellness.

What services are offered through school-based health services?
Both physical and behavioral services are offered through the school-based program, including:
Routine check-ups, vaccination, sports physical exams, chronic conditions management, acute care, individual/group/family therapy, psychological testing, psychiatric evaluations and medication management.

What does the contract between BCHA and the board of education indicate about the expansion?
Under the contract, the Brandon Wellness Center at Philip Barbour High School would continue to be the central hub and first point of contact for behavioral health referrals or questions from the community. A full-time licensed mental health provider will remain at that location as well as a case manager to provide support to both the medical provider and the school.

The contract now includes adding two additional licensed mental health providers, one to serve Philippi Elementary, Philippi Middle, and Kasson Elementary/Middle and one to serve Belington Elementary, Belington Middle, and Junior Elementary. A full-time manager will also be on site for support. BCHA also employs two doctoral level psychologists and a psychiatric nurse practitioner that will be available on an as needed basis for specialty services.

Barbour Community Health Association will also assign one licensed medical provider, and a nurse to these additional locations, with a rotating schedule to best accommodate the needs of each individual school.

Will these services be monitored?
To ensure services are effective and adequate, BCHA will meet with school officials every 90 days to discuss how the program has been going and to troubleshoot any barriers or issues that may arise.

By introducing this expansion, BCHA’s goal is to provide quality care for the wellbeing and health of the children and families of Barbour County. For more information on services, contact Brandon Wellness Center at (304) 457-4000.

What to Expect at Your Medicare Wellness Visit

What to Expect at Your Medicare Wellness Visit

Since 2011, Medicare beneficiaries have been eligible for an annual wellness visit (AWV), a preventive health benefit created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Though this service has been offered for several years now, many may be confused about what the actual visit entails.

We talked with our AWV experts, Amy Chenoweth, LPN from Belington Clinic and Jamie Carpenter, LPN from Myers Clinic, to find out what beneficiaries can expect at an annual wellness visit.

What is a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit?
It is a visit that we make sure your chart is completely updated and make sure your screenings are done. Everything you should be getting like your immunizations, we want to go over your medication list, and go over family history. We are basically updating your whole chart and depending on your health, will be what screening you get.

Who gets a Medicare Wellness Visit? Who is it that has these or should get them?
Anybody that has Medicare coverage for their insurance is eligible for a Medicare Wellness Visit.

Does this visit cost the patient?
It does not, it is a free annual wellness visit for all Medicare covered patients.

But patients should be aware that during their visit, their clinician may recommend tests or perform services like a hands-on exam that are not formally included in the AWV visit, potentially causing beneficiaries to incur out-of-pocket costs.

What is the process like? How does it get started? If I have Medicare do I call you or do I talk to my provider about it?
You can call us at our respective clinics and ask to speak with us. I do have a Medicare list and I try to call all of our patients that have Medicare, especially when they have Part B, because Part A and B is when you are able to get an exam. Then I will update your chart over the phone and after that, you will come in to see the provider. The basic thing is if I have not gotten ahold of you and you decide you want to do that; give me a call and I will get you in.

Was there any special training or certifications that nurses have to go through to perform these visits?
We did have to do the Aledade training and we are both Licensed Practical Nurses, so we are certified to complete the Medicare Wellness Visits. Aledade is an organization that we work with that helps us put all the data together for these visits and helps us make sure we stay in touch with folks.

What specific screenings should I expect during these visits?
I will do my part over the phone, which is basically getting all of your health information and getting everything updated. Then when you come in to see your provider you will get vital signs depending on which Medicare appointment you come to. During the welcome visit, you can actually get an EKG as well at no cost, but it is going to depend on your health because men and women are different. Women may get their mammograms or dexa scans and men of course will need their PSA checked and we want to make sure they are getting their colonoscopy. It will depend on your health and your age.

For more information on your upcoming Annual Wellness Visit, call Barbour Community Health Association at 304-823-2800.

HPV Vaccination: What You Need to Know

HPV Vaccination: What You Need to Know

January is recognized as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. During this month, BCHA sets out with the intention of raising awareness of the preventable cancer. To provide our patients with education about prevention, screening options and treatments, we sat down for a Q&A with Jenniver Duvall, PA-C at BCHA.

Why should you get your teenager’s HPV vaccinations?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US and the vaccine protects against particular strains of it. Nearly 80 million Americans are currently infected with HPV and approximately 14 million people become newly infected each year.

How is it cancer protection?

HPV is known to cause cancers of the throat, cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, and anus. Since the vaccine can protect against certain high risk strains of HPV, it can prevent more than 90% of HPV cancers.

What ages should your child get their vaccinations?

Ideally, Gardasil is given to boys and girls between the ages of 11-12 before being exposed to HPV. The body’s immune response to the vaccine seems best at this age range. It can be given as early as nine years of age.

What if you missed your HPV vaccination during childhood? Can a patient catch up?

Yes, it should be given as soon as possible followed by the appropriate immunization schedule. It is given in a series of two or three doses, depending on the age it is started. The vaccine is recommended for ages 9-26, even if the individual has already been diagnosed with HPV. Some adults between the ages of 27-45 may benefit from vaccination depending on risks for new HPV infections. They can discuss this with their healthcare provider.

What else should patients know about cervical cancer and the HPV vax?

For most women, HPV will go away on its own; however, if it does not, there is a chance that over time it may cause cervical cancer.

Some things that increase your risk of developing cervical cancer are being immunocompromised, smoking, being on birth control pills for five or more years, and giving birth to three or more children.

Cervical cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms. Advanced cervical cancer may cause abnormal bleeding or discharge.

Cervical cancer is the easiest gynecologic cancer to prevent with regular screening tests and follow-ups. It also is highly curable when found and treated early. However, each year, approximately 12,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 4,000 women die.

Getting the vaccine does not eliminate the need for cervical cancer screening.

HPV has been recommended since 2006 and has proven to be safe and effective. However, there are some people that should not get the vaccine, such as people with a life threatening allergic reaction to any ingredient of HPV or to a previous HPV vaccine, people who have an allergy to yeast, or people who are pregnant.

The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides vaccines at no cost to children ages 18 years and younger who are uninsured and Medicaid-eligible.

What screening options does BCHA have for cervical cancer?

BCHA offers PAP tests and HPV testing. We start screening PAP tests at 21 and HPV testing at 30.

To help prevent false-negative or false-positive results, you should avoid douching, sexual intercourse, and using vaginal medications or hygiene products for two days before your test.

If you have a low income or do not have insurance, you may be able to get a free or low-cost cervical cancer screening test through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program or Family Planning.

If you have questions or would like to learn more, contact BCHA today. 

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. 

Why Consider a Physician Assistant for Your Primary Care Provider?

Why Consider a Physician Assistant for Your Primary Care Provider?

Jennifer Burner, PA at AB Wellness Center

October 7th through October 11th is Physician Assistant Week!

Here at Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA) we have seven Physician Assistants (PAs) on staff at our varying locations. We are so thankful for them and all that they do to help and care for our patients and their families.

So why should you consider choosing a PA as your primary care physician?

What is a PA?

The role of a PA is sometimes misunderstood. At BCHA, we want our patients to feel comfortable that they are being cared for by a well-trained, proficient, certified professional. PAs are licensed and certified health care professionals who practice medicine in partnership with doctors and bring a breadth of knowledge and skills to patient care.

Certified PAs obtain medical histories, examine, diagnose and treat patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests and recommend and implement treatment plans for the wide range of human illnesses and injuries. They can perform minor surgery and assist in major surgery, instruct and counsel patients, order or carry out therapy and prescribe medications. Certified PAs work with doctors as an integral part of the health care team. The doctor is available to consult with the PA when needed and stays informed about the care you are receiving.

Are my family and I receiving the same level of care if we’re treated by a PA instead of a doctor?

Yes! PA training is incredibly competitive with a difficult academic and clinical course load.  Today’s PAs are educated in accredited graduate-level programs and trained in medical and behavioral sciences, completing rotations in internal medicine, family medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine and geriatric medicine.

PAs are held to the same standard of care expected from doctors. Following graduation from an accredited PA program, PAs pass a rigorous national certification exam that tests them on everything from taking a patient history to diagnosing and treating complex medical issues.

The physician-PA team is an effective approach to the delivery of health care because it decreases your waiting time, increases your time with the health care provider and ultimately helps you and your family get the care and attention you need and deserve when you need it.

Call BCHA today to make an appointment with one of our amazing PAs! 

Employee Spotlight: Jessie Massimino

Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA) is thrilled to expand their Behavioral Health team with the hire of new Behavioral Health Case Manager, Jessie Massimino. Jessie has joined the team at Belington Medical Clinic and is excited about her future there. We caught up with Jessie to learn a little bit about her past experiences and why she’s excited to begin her new role at BCHA:

Q: What qualifies you for this position?

A: I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Services from Davis & Elkins College in 2010 and have held many positions in the field since graduation.

Q: Are you from Barbour County?

A: No, originally, I’m from Kent Island, Maryland.

Q: How did you make your way to BCHA?

A: After graduating from Davis & Elkins College, I worked in an outpatient children’s mental health clinic while also providing related school-based services for four years.  After this, I worked closely with sexual assault and domestic violence victims for nearly three years before taking on a new role as an Advocacy and Prevention Coordinator.

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

A: I look forward to the opportunity to further my education and work with other trained mental health professionals who are and will be providing unique interventions to our community.

Q: Do you have any specialties or professional interests?

A: I enjoy empowering individuals to achieve their fullest potential. I am always interested in learning new ways to engage people in healthy lifestyle change objectives.  

Q: What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?

A: With this job in particular, I enjoy the diversity in our patient population, especially providing services to patients across the lifespan.

Q: What do you like to do outside work?

A: I spend a lot of time with my family and our dogs. We spend most of our free time enjoying each other’s company. Being a Maryland native, I enjoying venturing to the eastern shore to spend time with relatives coasting along the bay and crab dipping.   

For more information on Barbour Behavioral Health or to schedule an appointment with Jessie, please call 304-823-4000.

About Barbour Behavioral Health

Barbour Behavioral Health provides outpatient therapy and evaluation/assessment services for both children and adults and continues to grow with the addition of new accomplished staff members and specialized programs. Across the staff, there are therapists skilled in trauma, play therapy, parent-behavioral training, and substance abuse treatment among other specialty areas.

Employee Spotlight: Sallie Hamrick, RN

Provider Spotlight: Sallie Hamrick, RN

Hamrick visiting the Grand Ole Opry.

Belington Medical Clinic is excited to announce the new hire of Nurse Manager Sallie Hamrick, RN. After two decades of nursing, Sallie has the experience to ensure the clinic runs smoothly. We sat down to speak with Sallie and get a little bit more information on her past and why she’s excited to begin her new role with Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA):

Q: What qualifies you for this position?

A: I received my associates degree from Davis and Elkins College in 1997 for nursing, currently take online courses through WVU Parkersburg and will have my Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing in May.

Q: Are you from Barbour County?

A: No, I’m originally from the Coalton area in Randolph County where I still live.

Q: How did you make your way to BCHA?

A: Originally, I began my nursing career at Davis Memorial before working at Barbour County Good Samaritan. After that I taught nursing courses at Randolph Technical Center in Elkins. I was a board member for BCHA from 2014-2016 and because I live close to the Barbour County line, receive care as a patient from BCHA. I always thought it would be a great organization to work for because I love the small-town environment and that they really got to know patients personally.

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

A: I’m just here to make sure things go smoothly. The nurses and medical assistants here are great, I’m just here to make sure they have what they need!

Q: Do you have any specialties or professional interests?

A: I would say geriatrics and education. Especially after teaching for so long.

Q: What’s the most enjoyable part of your job?

A: I like that I’m still able to interact with patients and sometimes I float around and work with patients. I especially like working with the elderly.

Q: What are things you do as a part of your job that people don’t see?

A: I keep things behind the scenes running smoothly. I make sure nurses have their supplies, medications, schedule, and cover gaps. I also attend a lot of provider meetings and conduct quality assurance. I also teach a CPR course.

Q: What do you like to do outside of work?

A: I really love to travel. I recently went to Denver and Las Vegas and would really love to go to Ireland, Scotland or Japan soon.