May/June 2014 Volume 10
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If you haven’t heard UNM Truman Health Services is now a level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH)! What does that mean for you? You will continue to receive the highest quality of care and service at every visit. This widely recognized symbol of quality shows the hard work and dedication UNM Truman Health Services provides to our patients.
Congratulations to the UNM Truman Health Services team for their Albuquerque Pride OUTstanding Medical Partner Award!
WHAT’S INSIDE Page 2
Page 3
What We Need From You
Page 7
Hepatitis, The Silent Epidemic
Important Dates To Remember
Page 8
Employee of the Year
Healthy Choices Make a Difference Medication Reminder
Page 4
Who’s New At Truman!
Page 5
Building A Healthy Support System Your Health Care Team
Page 6
Question & Answer: Massage Therapy
Corporate Compliance Week Page 9
Quality Management Thank You to Our Sponsors
Page 10-11 Emergency Financial Assistance Want to Live a Long Life Page 12-13 Truman Times Classifieds
Truman Health Services | 801 Encino Place NE | Building F| Albuquerque, NM 87102| 505-272-1312
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To Help Us Keep Your Records Up-To-Date Please be sure we have your most recent insurance card on file. Let the front desk staff know if your insurance has changed.
Dear Patient, Welcome to UNM Truman Health Services. We are committed to providing the highest quality of care with compassion and respect for human dignity and the right to privacy. Thank you for your confidence in choosing us to provide for your health care needs. This newsletter will provide you with updates on services, staff, and processes that may be added or changed in the future. Please keep in mind this newsletter was created for YOU. If there is any topic you would like to learn more about, questions you would like answered, or additional information, let us know. We will do our best to be sure it is covered in our next issue.
If you have an emergency or urgent care visit outside of the UNM family, please fill out a Release of Information form while you are still there. This will allow the Truman care team access to any notes taken during your visit. Have the information faxed to 505-272-2240.
Did you get a new phone number? We need to know. If your doctor needs to contact you for any reason, we will send a letter to your home if we try calling you two times with no response. Also, if we leave a message asking you to call us back, please be sure to do so, the information may be important.
Have a new address? We would like to know that too! Sometimes we have to mail information to you and we want to be sure it gets in your hands. Email address are important to us too!
Sincerely, Your Truman Healthcare Team
If you have any questions about the information we need be sure to ask the front desk after your appointment.
Important Dates to Remember Offices Closed UNM Truman Health Services offices will be closed on Monday, May 26th in observance of Memorial Day. Be sure to take some time to thank a service member that day! Starting at noon on Friday, May 30th UNM Truman Health Services offices will be closed. We will return to normal business hours on Monday, June 2nd. May 19th is the 3rd National Hepatitis Testing Day Help us stop this silent epidemic and get tested today!
Albuquerque PRIDE! Saturday, May 31 UNM Truman Health Services will be participating in Albuquerque PrideFest 2014’s parade and festival. Come out and help us celebrate! June 27th is National HIV Testing Day Know your status and get tested today!
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Healthy Choices Make A Difference
Receiving an HIV-positive diagnosis can turn your world upside down. You are faced with new routines consisting of doctors’ appointments, new medications, and lifestyle changes. Making choices to live a healthier lifestyle can help you live a long and productive life. According to Everydayhealth.com there are a few things you can do immediately: Eat a more nutritious diet. Fast food isn’t going to cut it anymore. Feeding your body a healthy choice of foods will help it fight infection. Quit smoking. How many times have you heard this? Well this is your chance to stop the habit once and for all. Your body needs oxygen to repair itself. Depriving it will increase your chances of getting an infection. Stop illicit drug use. It is hard to kick your habits, but finding strength in a clear head will help you make important decisions that could affect your life. Get moderate exercise. Get out and walk. You don’t need to run a marathon, but you do need fresh air and sunshine. Exercise not only improves body functions, it helps your brain too. You sleep better, think clearer, and are a happier person because of exercise. Practice safe sex. Don’t put yourself or others at risk. HIV is a serious disease and you can stop the spread by using condoms. Get tested and treatments for STIs (sexually transmitted infections). If you are having sex with multiple partners you need to be tested. People who have contracted an STI have a higher chance of contracting HIV. Follow the instructions on your prescriptions. You went to the doctor to get better right? Be sure to ask questions if you are unsure about medication usage, but don’t just stop the treatment. These things were put in place to help you. Take steps to prevent infection. Stay away from people with colds or other easily transmitted infections. Wash your hands on a regular basis and avoid touching your face if possible. Infections like the common cold or the flu are spread easily. If you follow the steps above you may reduce your risk of getting sick. Don’t change everything all at once. You are going through so many other transitions and may become overwhelmed. Take your time, but be sure to make the changes. Each of these steps is an important part of keeping you in the best possible health. If you are unsure of how to begin any or all of these steps, be sure to ask your provider or any of the UNMTHS nurses. They are more than happy to give you information and share tips on making healthy changes to your lifestyle.
Medication Reminders
Remember-Narcotic pain medications cannot be called into your pharmacy by your physician, and therefore cannot be filled at night or on the weekends.
Please DO NOT call the after-hours answering service to request pain medication refills. Plan ahead to be sure you renew your prescriptions before your run out. Remember-Update your new phone number and address with the pharmacy too. They may need to contact your about any medication issues or concerns. Remember– UNM Truman Health Services will not accept any medications for disposal. Please stop by the front desk for a list of local disposal sites. Note-only pills will be accepted at the sites listed.
At UNM Truman Health Services YOUR health comes first! In our on-going effort to ensure we are meeting your health care needs, we are asking for your assistance in the following: Medications– Please bring your medications when you are scheduled to meet with your provider. Your provider will compare them with the list of medications in your medical record. Other Appointments-If you’ve been seen by a provider outside of the UNM Truman medical system, please let us know so we can request your treatment record. Hand Hygiene-You may be asked if the clinical staff practiced good hand hygiene during your visit. Clinical staff should clean their hands every time they enter and leave the exam room. Reminder Calls–You will receive a reminder call about your appointment. The caller may also need to share important information during this time to help you prepare for the appointment.
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Hello And Welcome To Our Newest Faces
Carlos Parada
Patricia Horneffer
Michelle Wood
Medical Case Manager
Program Manager
Media & PR Coordinator
Employee Recognition Program UNM Medical Group, Inc (UNMMG) is committed to recognizing exceptional employee performance and/or contributions to UNMMG. The Rewards and Recognition Committee developed an Employee Recognition Program
We know your time is precious and so is ours, if you have more than one appointment scheduled in a day, it is YOUR responsibility to tell your doctor. If your first appointment runs over, you may miss your second appointment and need to reschedule.
named Way2Go. Visit the front desk for forms to nominate a THS employee.
Don’t Let Your Medical Care Lapse
Nominees must meet at least one of the following in order to be eligible:
People-Respect, diversity, teamwork, collaboration, reliability
Quality-Continuous improvement, innovation, commitment to exceptional quality work
Service-Excellent customer service, exceptional service to UNMMG and community, dedication and exemplary commitment as a UNMMG employee, environmentally conscientious
Finance-Initiatives and/or efforts by staff that may impact revenue
Growth-Professional development, self-motivation, initiative
Please let Truman staff know if you are planning to move away from the area. That way we can:
Ensure you have your medications for a couple of months. Supply you with all of your most important records for your new provider. Help you find resources in your new community.
Don’t let you medical care lapse!
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Building a Support System Finding out you have HIV is scary; there is no way around the feelings of isolation, fear, and confusion. Building a support system of family and friends is imperative to your mental and physical well-being. Creating that support system is not easy though, especially if the relationships have been damaged, but you need support to help you navigate your way through doctors’ appointment, getting medication, and other daily tasks you now have. Many people who contract HIV are engaging in risky behaviors says Glenn J. Treisman, Director of AIDS Psychiatry Service at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md. Risky behaviors may include sharing needles and having unprotected sex. These behaviors may have isolated you or damaged your relationships with members of your support network prior to your diagnosis.
Start the process...Think about someone you are comfortable with and share your diagnosis with them. Your confidant is able to help you build the rest of your support system, whether it is finding other friends, reconnecting with family you trust, or rebuilding damaged relationships. Not everyone needs to know your status, but you should share this information with those you feel most comfortable with. Remember it is OK to not tell everyone. Building that support system will help you not only meet your appointments; this group will make you happier and healthier with the positive support. HIV is a serious issue and going it alone should not have to be part of your diagnosis. UNM Truman Health Services understands the fear and isolation you are feeling and as part of your care plan we offer support groups to help you build a friends and family network. At your next appointment find out which support group is right for you.
Do you have HIV and Hepatitis C? Dr. Karla Thornton hosts a weekly information session at UNM Truman Health Services. A referral from your doctor is necessary and you are able to continue with your current primary care physician. This visit gives you the opportunity to discuss your Hepatitis C and will hopefully answer any questions you may have. Please call or stop by the front desk for more information.
Your Health Care Team One nurse and one medical assistant just aren’t enough to keep you healthy. At UNM Truman Health Services you have a team of medical professionals ready to assist you. The front desk is available to transfer your calls to the medical professional on-duty when you call. Remember, all of our nurses understand what you are going through, so you don’t have to wait for a specific person. This saves you time and helps you get on with your day. If you are transferred to an on-call nurse and get voicemail, please leave a detailed message with your name, date of birth, MRN (found on your blue appointment card), the best number to reach you at, and the specific reason you are calling.
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What’s So Great About Medical Massage Therapy? Question: UNM Truman Health Services offers medical massage therapy services. What is the difference between medical massage therapy and a “spa” massage? A: Wellness massage, sometimes called a Spa Massage, is great for relaxation, easing aches and pains, soothing tired muscles, improving circulation, and promoting a general sense of well-being. It is commonly used with good results by those who are well and want to remain well. It is usually booked in 60 or 90 minute increments for a whole-body relaxation treatment. Wellness massage is a consumer service delivered to a client who requests and pays for the service themselves. Medical massage therapy is an outcome-based massage targeted to a specific diagnosis and problem(s) the patient may have. After a thorough evaluation by the medical massage therapist, a treatment plan will be developed to reach attainable outcomes. Medical massage therapy requires a prescription and referral from a physician. The massage therapist will ask questions during the treatment and patient feedback is necessary to help guide the session to be as effective as possible. Therapist may use a variety of techniques during the treatment, but will focus the medical massage treatment only on the area(s) of the body related to the diagnosis and prescription by the physician. Question: What takes place during a medical massage? A: The patient will complete an intake form and a health history, along with signing an information consent form after reading our intentions. The patient and the therapist will take a moment to discuss the information on the intake form, what the patient’s current medical status is, and what the patient’s expectations are for the massage. In the meeting the therapist will explain what will happen during the massage. The therapist will leave the room giving the patient a moment to undress to their comfort level and get situated on the massage table under the sheet (note: all medical massage therapists are required to wear gloves during the treatment). Question: Do I need to make an appointment? A: Yes. An appointment and a referral from your physician are necessary to see the therapist. Question: What is your cancellation policy? A: As of March 1, 2014 if patients do not contact our office at 505-272-1312 to cancel or reschedule their appointment 24 hours in advance, future appointments may be canceled. Habitual disregard of this policy may result in termination of this service for the patient. Question: What are the benefits of Medical Massage Therapy? A: The following lists many of the benefits of Medical Massage Therapy:
Decreases pain and inflammation Helps relieve nerve compression or entrapment Helps to prevent future chronic pain conditions Releases tight and sore muscles Improves circulation Aids in digestion Increases flexibility and range of motion Calms the nervous system Improves posture and coordination
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The Silent Epidemic-Viral Hepatitis Termed the silent epidemic, viral Hepatitis is virtually unknown in mainstream society. The leading cause of infectious death, viral Hepatitis claims the lives of 12,000 to 15,000 Americans a year. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are campaigning to bring light to this silent killer. May 19th marks the third national Hepatitis testing day. According to the CDC, this day is an opportunity for health care providers to discuss the risks of viral hepatitis and how to prevent the spread of the disease. Aids.gov reports there is an estimated 3.5 million to 5.3 million Americans unaware they are living with viral hepatitis. So what is viral hepatitis and how is it spread? Traditionally there are three types of viral hepatitis; Hepatitis A (HAV), Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C (HCV). Hepatitis A (HAV) can be spread from person to person and is an acute illness that never became chronic. The gestation period is 15-45 days and typically is spread through food or water where unsanitary conditions exist. This is also the most common type that can be spread through a household. Poor hand washing and intimate contact are the main forms of transmission. Hepatitis B (HBV) ranges from mild (acute) to long-term (chronic) and is typically spread through sexual contact, shared needles, accidental needle sticks with contaminated needles, blood transfusions (although it should be noted this is the least common form of transmission), and infected mothers passing the infection on to their new born. HBV is found in the blood and/or blood serum (the liquid portion of blood). Individuals infected with HBV are at risk for liver disease or liver cancer. (Tattooing, piercing, sharing razors and toothbrushes that have infected blood and serum on them may also be factors in the spread of HBV). The gestation period is 45-160 days. Hepatitis C (HCV) can sometimes be mild (acute), but is typically a longterm (chronic) illness and can be spread through the use of dirty needles among drug users, blood transfusions, hemodialysis, from mother to infant, sex with multiple partners, and needle sticks. The risks for HCV are cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. The gestation period for HCV is two weeks to six months. Who is at risk? Workers in the health care profession Sewage and water treatment workers People with multiple sex partners Intravenous drug users Hemophiliacs who receive blood clotting factors Infants born to infected mothers Men or women who have sex with an infected person Common signs of infection Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Low grade fever Weakness Aching in the abdomen
Less common signs Dark urine Light colored stool High fever Jaundice
Prevention methods Avoid exposure, use clean needles, do not share razors or toothbrushes, wash your hands, practice safe sex, and get tested. UNM Truman Health Services now offers Viral Hepatitis testing in an effort to prevent this silent epidemic. Visit the front desk for more information on available testing times.
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Corporate Compliance & Ethics Week May 4-10 May 4th through the 10th marks the 10th annual Corporate Compliance and Ethics week. Started in 2005, this national event offers an opportunity for organizations to highlight the importance of ethics and compliance in the workplace. Building a corporate culture of awareness, recognition, and reinforcement, corporate compliance and ethics put an emphasis on how workers’ behaviors are shaped by the values and beliefs of an organization. The strategy of the national Corporate Compliance and Ethics week is to help reinforce the underlying values, beliefs, attitudes, and expectations UNM Truman Health Services has in our code of conduct. Our goal is to build a culture of integrity in everything we do, both inside THS and outside THS to mitigate internal and external threats of wrongdoing. At UNM Truman Health Services we stand behind our values and beliefs, and expect these ideas to pass on to our patients through excellent customer service. For more information on the national Corporate Compliance and Ethics week or on the UNM Truman Health Services Code of Conduct please contact Sonya Smith, Clinical Compliance Manager at 505.272.1312 or sonyasmith@unmmg.org.
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Quality Management at UNM Truman Health Services At UNM Truman Health Services (UNM THS) we strive to provide patient centered quality services. Our Quality Management Program (QM) is designed to monitor, evaluate, and continuously improve the quality of care provided to UNM THS patients. You can become involved in Truman’s Quality Management Program by:
Helping us improve our services. The surveys at the front desk are for your benefit, please take a moment to complete the survey at our front desk during your next visit. Your feedback is important to us!
Becoming an active member of your "health care team". Your health care team includes: The doctor who oversees your medical care and prescribes your medicine, a medical assistant, a nurse practitioner, a behavioral care (counselor, psychiatrist) specialist, a complementary therapist (massage therapy , chiropractic), a case manager, and the pharmacist who fills your prescriptions.
Going to all of your scheduled medical appointments. Bringing a list of or a bag with ALL your medications when you go to your medical appointment
Taking responsibility for your care. If you miss an appointment please call to reschedule as soon as possible.
A Special Thank You To Our Sponsor
A special thank you to the United Court of the Sandias for all of their efforts to help improve the lives of our patients.
May/June 2014 Volume 10
When at Truman... Please be sure to turn your phone off or to silent when you enter the building. Stay in the lobby once you have checked in. This means you should not go outside for a cigarette or for any other reason. We are happy to provide you beverages from our beverage cart, but remember, if you provider is ready to see you when you check in, you may have to wait for that tasty treat. If you are not available when we call you, you will have to wait until your doctor has an opening later that day, or you will have to reschedule to a different day altogether.
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Need Medication Refills? No Refills Left? Call your pharmacy for all refills 14 days in advance
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE CLINIC MEDICATION REFILL PHONE NUMBERS Curant Health (HealthStat RX) 1-866-437-8040, ext. 245 or ext. 224 Don’t forget HealthStat RX is now Curant Health. UH Pharmacy 272-2309
DOH in Santa Fe 1-800-254-4689
DON’T FORGET! UNM Truman Health Services now offers Outpatient Pharmacy Services through Curant Health (formerly HealthStat RX). Personal Care managers, free home delivery, and free bubble packing are currently available. For more information ask your Nursing Team.
Emergency Financial Assistance Now Available Registered UNMTHS clients can now receive limited financial assistance from the Common Bond NM Emergency Project. If you are facing a financial crisis and have exhausted all other potential resources, on a “last resort” basis you can receive up to $200 for rent, utilities, medicines, and other necessities of life. Contact a member of your care team to get your assistance request submitted. For rent assistance you will need to provide a copy of your lease; for utilities assistance, bring in a copy of your most recent bill showing your account number. Other documentation may be requires depending on the nature of your request. All your personal information is kept confidential. In some cases you may be able to receive financial assistance twice in the same calendar year. However your requests must be for two different types of needs. Tell us what you think of the new Truman Times layout and let us know what you would like to see in this publication. Your feedback is important to us. So come on, Share!
No Show, Oh No! Unplanned issues come up and you may need to cancel an appointment, we get it. If this happens we ask that you contact our office at least 24 hours in advance to reschedule with a complimentary therapist. Our complimentary therapy providers want to be available to meet the needs of all of our patients. When a patient doesn’t show up for a scheduled appointment, another patient loses an opportunity for treatment. As of March 1, 2014 any patients that do not contact our office to cancel or reschedule their appointment for complementary services, may have future appointments canceled. Continuous disregard of this policy may result in termination of complementary services. (Complementary includes; acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage)
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Want to Live a Long Life? By Adam Metcalf, LISW In their 2011 book “The Longevity Project”, Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin reviewed research dating back to 1921 to explore what factors lead to a longer life. The result? Conscientiousness appears to be the most important factor. Conscientiousness is a group of personality traits that appear in someone who uses careful good judgment and is responsible. Friedman and Martin propose several reasons conscientious people live longer. Conscientious people tend to obey rules, helping them protect their health and avoid risky behavior. For example, conscientious people are more than likely to take every dose of a medicine prescribed by their doctor, and less likely to smoke. They are also generally healthy people. This may be due to differences in the levels of specific chemicals in their brains. Third, conscientious people typically have happier marriages, better friendships, and healthier work situations. Strong connections with other people and groups were found to be very important for conscientious people. Lastly, the research revealed conscientious people tend to bounce back easier from life’s challenges through use of healthy coping skills. This resilience was strengthened by a sense of satisfaction with one’s life and achievement. While some people are naturally more conscientious, the good news is conscientiousness can be learned with regular practice. Participation in counseling here at UNM Truman Health Services can be helpful in guiding you to become a more conscientious person. Talk to your nurse or the front office staff about scheduling an appointment with a counselor if you’d like to learn more. How conscientious are you? Ask yourself the following questions: 1. Am I always prepared?
Yes/No
2. Do I enjoy planning my work in detail?
Yes/No
3. Do I get chores done right away?
Yes/No
4. Do I like order?
Yes/No
5. Do I follow a schedule?
Yes/No
6. Am I persistent in the accomplishment of my work and goals? Yes/No 7. Do I ever leave my belongings around?
Yes/No
8. Do I ever make a mess of things?
Yes/No
9. Do I ever avoid my duties?
Yes/No
10. Do I ever forget to put things back in their proper place?
Yes/No
If you answered mostly yes to questions 1-6 and mostly no to questions 7-10, then you are likely a conscientious person.
Free RAPID HIV Testing Rapid HIV testing is available at UNM Truman Health Services Tuesday mornings from 8:00 AM to noon and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Please stop by during these hours. All testing is confidential. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an HIV test, please contact Truman at 925-7286.
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Classified Looking For More Information? UNM Truman Health Services now has two ways for you to get in touch with us. For general information or questions please contact us at THSinfo@unmmg.org. For information on educational events and HIV rapid testing locations around Albuquerque contact us at THSoutreach@unmmg.org.
Your Ad Here! We are always looking for new and exciting information to share with our patients. Let us know the latest news and you never know, it may end up in the Truman Times!
Good News! If you have found it difficult in the past to get an appointment for one of our complementary therapies, you are in luck! We have expanded the hours of these services to meet the needs of our patients. Check with the front desk to find out more about available slots.
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Classified
Dental Care for UNM Truman Health Services Patients UNM Truman Health Services & UNM Dental Services Have Joined Together To Provide Dental Care To Truman Patients!
Dental Care is an extremely important part of your continued health and well-being. If you don’t have a dentist you see on a regular basis and are interested in receiving dental care through UNM, be sure to talk to your care team. Enrollment forms are also available at the front desk.
Due to health concerns for patients and staff, UNM Truman Health Services is a fragrance free zone. This includes perfumes and colognes. Please refrain from using these until after your appointment.
Free Lab Draws & Testing For your convenience you can now get your labs drawn at UNM Truman Health Services. Lab draws at UNM Truman Health Services are by APPOINTMENT ONLY during the following days and times: Tuesday 1pm-4pm
Wednesday Thursday 8am-11am
1pm-4pm
Friday 8am-11 am 1pm-4pm