A Message From Liz
Dear Team,
Happy Summer! The sun is shining and the longer days are here. Whether it’s a day at the beach, a picnic in a park, or a simple barbecue with loved ones, I want to encourage you to take some time and soak in the sunshine and rejuvenate.
As you know, this month we completed our HRSA audit with resounding success In our exit conference, one of our HRSA auditors made a comment about our health center that really stuck with me She commended us and said that our health center truly represents the gestalt of the Community Health Center movement, and what she meant by that is that our health center captures the spirit and essence of the CHC movement; we provide holistic, inclusive, and community focused care. We make meaningful and lasting impact on the communities we serve.
A Message From Liz (continued)
I'm so proud of the work we do. In the coming months, I'll be sharing a little on the history of the Community Health Center movement so you can be rooted in and knowledgeable on the rich and inspiring history of our origins.
Our first segment will focus on the origins Did you know that Community Health Centers were established during the Civil Rights Movement? In 1965, the first two CHCs were launched in the impoverished neighborhoods of Boston, Massachusetts, and Mound Bayou, Mississippi. These early CHCs embraced a holistic approach, addressing not only medical needs but also the social determinants of health. This included providing services related to education, housing, nutrition, and employment. The aim was to treat the whole person and improve overall well-being, recognizing that health is influenced by a wide range of social and economic factors.
The early founders and staff of CHCs were deeply involved in the broader Civil Rights Movement They saw healthcare as a fundamental human right and worked alongside civil rights activists to advocate for equal access to care Community Health Centers continue to serve as vital lifelines for underserved populations and total more than 1400 across the country. The beginnings of the movement remind us that our work is not just about providing healthcare but also about advancing equity and empowering our communities.
Thanks for reading along!
As always, thank you for lending your talents to Axis. You're part of a greater movement that changes lives.
We invite you to read our first annual Axis Gratitude Report and to learn more about the lives we touch, services we provide, and to hear from Axis staff about why they believe our Community Health Center is a wonderful place to work! Please click the image on the left to check it out!
Advocacy and Awareness
BIPOC Mental Health
Awareness Month
June is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is a critical component of overall well-being, yet it remains a largely stigmatized and neglected aspect of healthcare, particularly within historically marginalized communities. As a Community Health Center, we are dedicated to serving diverse populations. Axis recognizes the unique challenges faced by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities in accessing mental health services.
> click here to read more
June is Pride Month: Health Equity for the LGTBQ+ Community
Community Health Centers play a pivotal role in ensuring accessible, comprehensive, and culturally responsive healthcare for all individuals, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. At Axis Community Health, we understand the importance of creating inclusive spaces where everyone feels safe to seek care without fear of judgment or discrimination.
During Pride Month, we join the collective effort to shine a light on the health disparities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. Our goal is to empower healthcare providers and community members to engage in open dialogue, share resources, and foster understanding. From the moment a patient walks through our doors, we prioritize their dignity and embrace their diversity.
> click here to read more
Axis Out and About
Check out what Axis is doing outside the clinic!
Quality Enhancement Team Speaks at OCHIN Conference on Cologuard Implementation Success
I a n o a h p g g last month s OCHIN Learning Forum in New Orleans! Their presentation explored the potential of Cologuard as a key player in the early detection of colorectal cancer in the uninsured population.
Axis presenters, Angelina Speltz (Sr. Director of Quality Enhancement), Dr. Sonali Sheth (Medical Director of Population Health), and Sylvia Madrid (EHR Support Analyst), focused on the Exact Sciences Patient Assistance Program, an initiative that supplies Cologuard kits at no cost to low-income, uninsured patients. This program not only aligns with Axis’s mission, but also addresses a critical gap in healthcare equity.
Axis takes on New Orleans!
Every year, Axis sends a handful of staff to the OCHIN Learning Forum. OCHIN supports Axis’s EPIC software, the comprehensive system we use to manage patient health information (PHI). At this conference, Axis staff attend learning workshops, connect with peers, and shared tools and insights to advance health equity.
HR CORNER
Have you read your 2024
For more HR information visit your Paycom Homepage or email HR@axishealth.org with any questions.
Axis Community Health is dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of the Tri-Valley Community by providing medical and mental health care that is responsive, affordable and of the highest quality.
As an employee of Axis Community Health, you are a vital member of a team effort to realize this success. We strive to keep our benefits and compensation plans comprehensive and we are committed to providing you with a complete benefits program as part of your total compensation. This guide has been prepared to assist you in making informed decisions regarding your employee benefits. Read this guide carefully and keep it as a reference.
Click HERE or the image to access the 2024 Employee Benefits Guide!
Happy Retirement Karen!
On 6/28/24, Karen Hill, RN will be departing Axis Community Health and starting her retirement For just over 5 years, Karen has worked as one of our Telephone Triage nurses She has continually provided quality and compassionate care to our patients, going above and beyond to ensure our patients were safe especially when they called with medical concerns near the end of the business day
Over the years, her fellow nurses have relied upon Karen's nursing experience and knowledge when dealing with difficult patient situations and often consulted her. She has always been an integral part of the care team and will be greatly missed! Karen looks forward to travel, continuing her passion for playing tennis, and caring for her pet cats, aka her office managers.
On behalf of Axis, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Karen for everything that she has done for our patients We wish her a very joyous and fulfilling retirement!
Email helpdesk@axishealth.org or call x6050 if you have any IT questions.
New Tools Coming Our Way!
Both GRIP and Seraphic are excellent tools that will improve our cybersecurity posture and help us to maintain compliance with various regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, in the following ways:
GRIP:
Account Monitoring - GRIP continuously monitors user accounts to detect and prevent unauthorized access. It ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive information, reducing the risk of data breaches
2 Seraphic:
1. Account Cleanup - GRIP regularly cleans up inactive or outdated user accounts, which helps to eliminate potential security vulnerabilities This keeps our system secure and organized.
Browser Protection - Seraphic scans and blocks malicious software before it can be downloaded through your browser. This prevents harmful programs from compromising our network.
1. Data Loss Prevention - Seraphic ensures that unauthorized access to sensitive data is blocked. 2. Stay tuned for more
the implementation
these tools!
