Seasons of Wellness
SUMMER 2019
In This Issue
MOMS & BABIES
From Surviving to Thriving
REFUGEE HEALTH
A Journey Across the World
BRIDGING THE GAP
Free Medications Keeping Patients Healthy
COLERECTAL CANCER
Early Detection Saves Lives
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MOMS AND BABIES
From Surviving to
Thriving
CenteringParenting® Gives Newborns Access to a Healthy Future
2
Many families depend on us to help them have a healthy life, yet our maternal and child health programs depend heavily on your giving. You made CenteringPregnancy® happen, and with your continued support, you can give vulnerable mothers and infants in need the best start to life. Make a gift today to make a difference in a new mother’s and a new baby’s life. In May 2019, CCI Health & Wellness Services launched its first ever CenteringParenting® group. CenteringParenting® brings a group of newborns and their parents together for group pediatric care. Led by pediatricians Dr. Nneoma Ugorji and Dr. Benjamin Simson, CenteringParenting® is an innovative model of comprehensive group pediatric care that builds on the success of CCI Health & Wellness Services’s existing model of group prenatal care, CenteringPregnancy®.
Seasons of Wellness
In May 2019, CCI Health & Wellness Services launched its first ever CenteringParenting® group.
After CenteringPregnancy® patients deliver their babies, they join CenteringParenting® to continue care with the same group of mothers. Studies have shown that group pediatric care produces better health outcomes than traditional care. CCI Health & Wellness Services offers CenteringParenting® at the newly opened Greenway Health Center in Prince George’s County. This center offers primary care, family planning, behavioral health, and HIV/infectious disease care, with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) right across the hall. Just 2.5 miles away from our Greenbelt site which offers dental care, prenatal care, and family planning services, CenteringParenting® families can conveniently access a wide range of health services.
MAKE A GIFT
TODAY!
See back cover for more information.
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REFUGEE HEALTH
A Journey Across the
World
This summer, CCI Health & Wellness Services shines the spotlight on its refugee health assessment program. CCI Health & Wellness Services works in partnership with the state of Maryland to help humanitarian immigrants, which include refugees, asylees, special immigrant visa holders (SIV), and victims of trafficking.
The program makes sure humanitarian immigrants are in good health for resettlement, while protecting public health safety by providing comprehensive two-part health screenings. When these patients arrive at CCI Health & Wellness Services, it is their first exposure to health care in the U.S. The past three years more than 1,300 patients have passed through this program. Recently, a 15-year-old refugee and his family came to CCI Health & Wellness Services for health assessments. Having had poor health care experiences, the patient was quiet and distant, unwilling to answer the nurse’s questions or receive testing. The nurse attempted to connect with the patient by explaining the purpose and process of each assessment, which helped the patient trust the nurse and be more comfortable with opening up. At the end of the visit, the patient thanked CCI Health & Wellness Services and the refugee health care team for helping him, saying that he was glad he had a great experience unlike experiences he has had in the past. Through your generosity, CCI Health & Wellness Services can continue to help community members, including resettled refugees, and provide the care necessary to support a long, healthy life. As our community grows every year, we thank you for your support that allows us to do more for our community.
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4.7% from
El Salvador
34
% of
patients
migrated from
Afghanistan
13% from
Cameroon
9% from
Eritrea 8.4% from
Ethiopia
9.9% from The Democratic Republic of Congo
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BRIDGING THE GAP
Access to
Free Medications
Keeping Patients Healthy
Because of committed supporters like Mr. Larry Johnson of the Bridge the Gap Foundation, CCI Health & Wellness Services has been able to pilot a medication assistance program at our Gaithersburg Health Center. Launching in July of 2018, the medication assistance program provides prescription medications free of charge to the most high-need patients. One of our patients, Joanne, a long time CCI Health & Wellness Services patient, has uncontrolled diabetes and is uninsured. She had been taking oral medications for her diabetes, but had recently been encouraged by her doctor to start insulin. However, Joanne was hesitant to start insulin because of the expense. Thanks to the Medication Assistance Program, Joanne was able to start taking insulin that improved her hemoglobin levels, all at no cost. With continued access to medication through the program, Joanne has made significant improvements in her hemoglobin levels.
The medication assistance program provides prescription medications free of charge to the most high-need patients. In November, Juan, an uninsured adult male, went to the emergency room with a severe case of bronchitis. Two weeks later, Juan again had an intensified cough and extreme wheezing. Concerned about the cost of another visit to the emergency room, Juan came to CCIGaithersburg. During his visit at CCI Health & Wellness Services, Dr. Escobar was able to treat him, and thanks to the Medication Assistance Program, she was able to send Juan home with all the medications he needed to get healthy, free of charge. CCI Health & Wellness Services is incredibly thankful for the Bridge the Gap Foundation’s commitment to helping patients in need.
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Seasons of Wellness
COLORECTAL CANCER
Early Detection
Saves Lives
“
Because of the support of the Bridge the Gap Foundation, over 120 patients were able to receive the medication necessary to manage their health conditions and treat their illnesses.”
On a Friday afternoon in March, the staff of CCI Health & Wellness Services came together to campaign for National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Staff packed colorectal screening awareness goodie bags with awareness-themed water bottles, fitness wristbands, notepads and pens, and resource materials, which were given to patients at health visits to promote regular colorectal cancer screenings. As Colorectal Cancer has become the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women, CCI Health & Wellness Services has accelerated colorectal cancer screening efforts to improve prevention and early detection rates. During health visits, the care teams educate patients about colorectal cancer to improve the community’s understanding of the chronic disease, their risk of onset, and the importance of routine screening. CCI Health & Wellness Services has managed to successfully improve colorectal cancer screening rates with your donations. With your gifts, you can help us reach more individuals and make a greater impact on early cancer detection and prevention in the community. 7
Our annual Run Baby Run 5K in support of moms and babies returns August 17th, 2019 at Wheaton Regional Park. In Prince George’s County, 1 in 4 women receive inadequate prenatal care. With your help, we can change that!
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Seasons of Wellness
NEXT & NOW
Participating in the Run Baby Run 5K supports the mission of CCI Health & Wellness Services, with a focus on raising awareness of, and the importance of accessible and affordable prenatal care. Funds raised support CCI’s Maternal and Child Health programs, ensuring access to services for those in our community who need it the most. Saturday, August 17, 2019 (Rain or Shine) Wheaton Regional Park (Parts of Brookside Gardens) 2000 Shorefield Rd. Silver Spring, MD
Registration at
cciweb.org/run.
Quick Facts! This is a family, stroller, and wheelchair-friendly event! You can register as an individual or join as a team. Packet Pick Up: Friday, August 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 1204, Silver Spring, MD. Race Day Check-In: Saturday August 17th at 7:00 a.m. There will NO same-day registration. The race begins at 8:30 am! Visit the FREE Health Expo from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for free demos and giveaways.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED!
Sign up to become a sponsor, expo vendor, to make and in-kind donation, or to volunteer by visiting cciweb.org/run.
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t a e n i l n o s tu
Visi
! e r o m r o f g r o . b e w i w.cc
ww
WAYS TO
GIVE! 8630 Fenton St., Suite 1204 Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301) 340-7525 www.cciweb.org FOLLOW US
@ CCIcares 10
Donate Online www.cciweb.org/giving
Gift by Mail Attn. Jessica Wilson
