A Message From Liz
As we wrap up Mental Health Awareness month, I want to encourage you to think about and celebrate your "why" for working in the Community Health Center space. The work we do is incredibly important, meaningful, and touches thousands of lives each year. Honoring your "why" supports mental health by providing a sense of purpose and promoting a balanced and authentic life. I've learned in my own life that staying connected to my purpose positively affects my well-being. Here are a few thoughts to help you reflect on your "why" which may support your mental health:
Reflect on Your Purpose: Take some time to think about why you joined Axis; understanding your "why" can give you a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment For me, my "why" is knowing how important social service organizations like Axis were to my family while I was growing up We lived in an impoverished community and the safety net was crucial for us My passion for our mission drives me every day
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Facilities Updates IN THIS ISSUE: CEO Message Celebrating our IBH Staff IT Module Connecting With Our Community
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A Message From Liz (continued)
Acknowledge Your Impact: Every day, your hard work makes a real difference in the lives of our patients and the community. Recognizing the positive impact you have can boost your sense of accomplishment and well-being. Please remember to celebrate these successes, no matter how small they may seem.
Connect with your co-workers: We’re all in this together Sharing your "why" and hearing about their motivations can create a supportive environment where we all feel more connected and understood Even connecting on Teams counts!
Your "why" is the heartbeat of our mission and it is what makes Axis a place of compassion, dedication, and excellence.
Thank you for lending your talents to Axis. We are so glad that you are here! Please continue to invest time in taking care of yourself.
With Gratitude,
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MENTALHEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
CELEBRATING
OUR MENTAL HEALH STAFF
All this month, we have been sharing different ways to help you support your mental health.At Axis, we have a dedicated team of mental health therapists who promote good mental health and overall well-being everyday. Thank you to our mental health staff for providing an integral service to our patients. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, some of our mental health leadership would like to share messages of gratitude:
“Our mental health providers work within the clinic via IBH, provide urgent mental health care support via Bridge and provide counseling within our local school districts. Both licensed staff, and interns in training, dedicate high levels of emotional energy to provide a safe space for our patients to explore underlying mental illness, trauma, grief and many other struggles that often lead to chaos, turmoil, addiction, abuse and overall difficulty functioning.
Being a therapist means meeting new patients all the time, diving into some of the worst aspects of patients' lives, hearing difficult stories, experiencing vicarious trauma and needing to be keenly focused on personal well-being and balance to avoid burnout.
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MENTALHEALTH AWARENESSMONTH
While there are difficult aspects of the job, our mental health providers live for the wins; for example, when a patient states that they feel understood by someone for the first time in their life, witnessing growth and positive change in someone's life and laughing with our patients. Making a positive impact on a patient's mental health means breaking inter-generational dysfunction, improving families and making our community a better place.
A huge thank you to all of our mental health therapist and support staff (front desk and care coordinators) who make this job possible! We couldn't do it without you.”
Dr. Jennifer Penney Chief of Integration“The IBH team is full of dedicated and compassionate individuals who know how to hold the hope for our patients. Not only are they skillful, but kind and gentle to the needs of those we see. My thanks to all the IBH staff who make this work so gratifying!”
Natalie Kiff Director ofthe Intern Program and School Based Services
“I’m grateful for how well our team members in the Bridge Program communicate around urgent patient issues, advocate on their behalf, and support each other through some very challenging cases. Everyone shows up with such compassion and grace, it really has a powerful impact on patients’ lives at a time when they are often most in need.”
TheresaRizzo, PsyD (she/her)
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HR
CORNER: WELLNESS BENEFITS
All Axis employees have access to tools that can help support your mental health? See the list below for resources you can access through your Employee Benefits.
Wellness Apps: Axis staff with Kaiser for health insurance has free access to Calm and Headspace. Log into your Kaiser account online and visit: https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/mentalhealth/tools-resources/digital for more information!
ComPsych: Do you need confidential emotional support or work-life solutions? ComPsych is another employee benefit that offers someone to talk to and consult whenever you need them. Click HERE for more information.
LifeCare: Lifecare is designed to save you time and stress. This employee benefit is voluntary and confidential but you can register at any time! Click HERE for an overview on this program.
Acupuncture & Chiropractic: Axis staff have up to 30 free acupuncture or chiropractic in-network visits a year through Landmark Health Plan. To find a provider near you, visit: https://www.lhp ca.com/Members/ProviderDirectory.aspx
Cal Perks and Calchoice: Looking to do something fun? Cal Perks has discounts on a wide variety of entertainment and services to bring a little joy into your life! Log into your CalChoice account then click HERE to view all the discounts available to you!
To explore all the employee benefits available to you, visit the Benefits File in the Axis General Teams Channel.
For more HR information visit your Paycom Homepage or email HR@axishealth.org with any questions.
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Facility Updates
Parking Reminders at Hacienda
For staff that work at our Hacienda clinic please note:
The areas in RED are off limits – those belong to our neighbors. The areas in YELLOW are also off limits – those are for our patients. The areas in GREEN are for us, the Axis staff! We are all clear to park here.
If you work at Regional, Pacific, or WIC, please check with your manager on where to park.
A friendly reminder to please check how you ’ ve parked before leaving your car. Try as best you can to stay within the parking lines. If you are over the lines, the Facilities team will ask you to move your car.
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Out and About
May has given Axis some exciting and new opportunities! This month, Axis Community Health and the Pleasanton Unified School District have partnered to ignite students’ interest in Community Health (picture above on the left). In addition to learning about Community Health, students were informed of several student loan forgiveness and repayment options designed to alleviate financial burden while allowing practitioners to make a positive impact in underserved communities.
The Axis WIC team is ramping up their community presence so if you see them at an event, please say, ” HI!” Our Community Engagement team continues to connect with our community and provide vital resources to those in need. Most recently, we attended a health fair hosted by Goodness Village and we were able to connect a patient with medical and dental care!
On May 23rd, Axis had a shout out from Mayor John Marchand during his State of the City of Livermore address for our work with the Livermore Connects Coalition. We are grateful for the recognition we have been receiving for this initiative and look forward to helping more people in our community!
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IT MODULE
Coming Soon: New Password Policy
In the digital age, the security of our online accounts is paramount. Traditional passwords, often a mix of letters and numbers, have been the standard for decades. However, as cyber threats evolve, the need for stronger security measures becomes evident. A passphrase a sequence of words or a sentence that is longer than a traditional password and can provide enhanced security.
Axis will soon implement passphrases. Passphrases are not only generally longer than passwords, making them harder to crack, but they are also easier for users to remember. For example, a passphrase could be a line from a favorite book or a memorable quote, such as “ToBeOrNotToBeThatIsTheQuestion.” This is significantly more secure than a simple password like “Hamlet123.”
Stay tuned for more information regarding this new policy!
Axis and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence has been a popular topic the past couple of years. If you ’ ve heard the term Generative AI (GenAI), it is most likely associated ChatGPT. GenAI has many uses and it’s integration into healthcare. DAX Copilot, an AI powered voice enabled solution that automatically documents patient encounters immediately after the patient visit, is a new tool that Axis will stat using to enhance patient and staff experience!
Axis has always embraced new, state-of-the-art technology! With this new tool comes Axis’s first AI policy, that you can read HERE. It details how the use of GenAI for healthcare dictation should remain ethical and compliant with regulatory requirements. It also reminds us that although AI is a great productivity tool, the humans who use it are still responsible for all content generated.
Email helpdesk@axishealth.org or call x6050 if you have any IT questions.
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