VC, The Magazine | Issue 32

March.

2023||ISSUE ISSUE 31 April 2023 32

PROVIDING SUPPORT

GLORIA AYISI

Employee of the Month: Allison Blythe Page 4

Thank you, United Way Page 9

Cover Pag

Staff Cele Page

r Story ge 6

ebrations e 10

Pre-Register for Pride Page 8

Leaders of the PAC Page 12

Allison Blythe Anita Garcia

Practice Administrator Dental Receptionist Norman VARIETY CARE | 4

Employee of the Month: Initiative

You were nominated for exemplifying the character core of initiative because of the way you take charge and offer assistance in the clinic. What does initiative mean to you?

Initiative to me, means to act, be driven and have ambition. When I am in clinic, I try to look ahead and be proactive instead of reactive.

I will jump in and help my team to alleviate their stressors, so they have time to focus on their patients who are in front of them. I make myself available to everyone in my clinics as much as possible, so they feel supported.

How does it feel to be recognized as Employee of the Month?

I am honored to be recognized as Employee of the Month; it shows that all the hard work that is put in every day is appreciated.

What are some things you love about working for Variety Care?

One of the biggest things I love about working for Variety Care is my team. That means my clinical team, my providers, my practice admins, and supervisors as well as our team of directors. Everyone offers enough support when needed and that is something that I truly appreciate.

What is the most interesting thing about your work at Variety Care?

The most interesting thing about my work at Variety Care is being able to see the bigger picture and look toward a positive and bright future for all of us.

I TRY TO LOOK AHEAD AND BE PROACTIVE How does the work you do impact you personally?

INSTEAD OF How long have you been working work that I do impacts me REACTIVE The at Variety Care? personally by giving me a sense of I have been working for Variety Care since December of 2021

accomplishment. I truly love my job and what I do and because of that I continue to increase my knowledge -Allison Why do you make it a priority to within my role to make sure I can gather feedback from your staff regularly? help whoever is in need.

Gathering feedback from my staff regularly is a big priority for me. If I do not ask or take the Tell us about your family feedback from my staff, I would never be able I have been married to my husband Jayme for to develop and grow my team to provide the 12 years and we have a 12-year-old daughter healthcare that our patients deserve, as well as named Kairie and a 7-year-old son named provide the growth that my staff seeks within Miles. We are originally from California and the organization. moved to Oklahoma in 2016. Some of the things we enjoy doing as a family is playing What do you hope your teammates learn video games together, camping and over all from you? spending quality time with each other.

The biggest thing I can hope my teammates learn from me is to stay productive. Your ability Anything else you would like to add? to focus on key work will give you the feeling It’s okay to ask for help. While we always feel of accomplishment at the end of your day. like we can take on everything, there are Having that feeling of accomplishment helps times when we just need to ask for implement a better work life balance. help. You will be amazed at the amount of people who are Describe yourself in 3 words. willing and able to assist Compassionate, Supportive and Patient with a you. sprinkle of Nerdy

Gloria AYisi, APRN-CNP, FNP Family Medicine Norman Himes

VARIETY CARE | 6

"Call Me George"

Care Team Heroes Saving Lives “If that provider hadn’t caught it, I would be dead,” Variety Care patient Georgiana Wilkinson shares.

Georgiana, known to friends and our Care Team Heroes as “George”, is a spry 69-year-old woman who says she feels like she’s still in her 30’s.

By talking to this ball of energy, you would never guess that just one month ago, she underwent emergency brain surgery.

“She told me I didn’t look right, so she sent me to Norman Regional Hospital,” George recalls. After spending nearly one month in the hospital, the patient is now in physical therapy to regain control of her right leg. Ayisi’s visits to George at the skilled living facility where she receives her therapy are always met with a hero’s welcome.

IF THAT PROVIDER HADN’T CAUGHT IT, I WOULD BE DEAD

Reflecting on this experience and similar ones she’s had, Ayisi says it’s important that providers truly listen to “She came in for right their patients in the short foot pain,” recalls Gloria time they have together.

Ayisi, APRN-CNP, FNP. “We have to be very open, “2-3 minutes into her communicative, and we have -George visit, her right leg started to be humble – we shouldn’t twisting and twitching rush out of the patient’s - then when it stopped, her head was room,” she emphasizes. shaking.” Gloria says that her initial diagnosis for George was cervical George says that for nearly a decade, dystonia or Tourette’s Syndrome, but she she has been utilizing Variety Care for soon suspected something more sinister. all her healthcare needs. “They are my everything,” she beams. But after her Having a background in neurology and as most recent experience, Georgiana an ICU nurse, Ayisi was able to deduce Wilkinson says she is proud to call that her patient’s mobility problems anyone with Variety Care a friend could likely be caused by an issue in the and her friends can call her “George.” frontal lobe. “She had a mass on her brain – left frontal lobe with Vasogenic edema, which can cause significant morbidity,” explains Ayisi. It was an amazing catch that saved George’s life.

Variety Care is prepping for Pride Month 2023!

Want to join the parade or help manage a community booth?

Click on the images to pre-register today!

Thank You, United Way! We are so thankful for the support of united way – not only does the support we receive help patients get the care they need when they need it regardless of their means to pay, but they also help connect us to valuable community resources and potential community partners.

Carol Martin Executive Director Of Community Services

A 15-year anniversary with Variety Care calls for a special celebration - why not double the excitement and make it a retirement party as well? That's exactly what Adela Guzman from Medical Records did!

After years of dedication, she can now enjoy 7-day weekends! Congratulations on starting your new chapter, Adela!

VARIETY CARE | 10

Hopping into Easter with Baptist Portland

The Patient Access Center is vital to Variety Care operations. It acts as the central hub for the call center, referrals department, and medical records department.

The introduction of EPIC brought forth many challenges, but the PAC leadership team made it a priority to guide staff through changes and show the system’s ease of use compared to the previous EMR. Throughout the EPIC transition, PAC leadership has been nothing short of role models for their staff, with consistent patience and guidance.

As a token of their appreciation, PAC staff surprised their supervisors with gifts and kind words.

Victor Campos

Manager of Referrals and Medical Records PAC

Laura Reyes

Referral Supervisor PAC

Jacquelyne Hernandez

Patient Access Center Training Specialist PAC

Ana Guzman

Call Center Manager PAC

Rosaura Mares

Call Center Supervisor PAC

Eunice Solano

Patient Access Specialist Supervisor PAC

“I have changed my schedule for work multiple times to accommodate for school. My supervisors, instead of getting onto me for being late, they ask ‘how can we help to make sure you are punctual to your shifts’ in which made me change my schedule once more and it has been pretty great. I know that it is their job but I love how caring and considerate they are when it comes to seeing when we are not abiding by the rules. They try to understand my point of view and look further into the situation. They truly care and want success from all of us. Whether we move up in the tiers of our position or go on to get our degree. They want to help us succeed and that truly is what leadership is all about.”

– MARIO AMAYA

“Here at PAC, we love to celebrate whether it be Christmas, Cinco de Mayo, or Black History Month. We embrace our cultures by having potlucks and having a variety of foods based on the occasion/theme, it just makes us feel at home and proud of where we come from. I am thankful our supervisors celebrate us and make work a fun environment.”

– EVELYN JIMENEZ

"They make it a safe comfortable environment to work in. they are willing to go out their way in anything we need. Very friendly but also professional. They take their time to view an encounter and have our backs when something goes wrong."

– HAILEY MILLER

“I have had a good encounter with each and every supervisor at PAC. They do the absolute best to celebrate every culture through food, discrimination doesn't even exist in their vocabulary. Our supervisors make me feel seen, heard, and loved. There is not a doubt in my mind that PAC has the best supervisors ever!”

– JOSELYN MARTINEZ

"They have always been a great help to me. Eunice and Rosa have both been very understanding of how difficult/stressful the job could be sometimes and go out of their way to make sure we are also getting the help needed to make this job less stressful. Ana is always understanding and love how she also tries to see through our point of view to make our jobs easier for us too."

– KAREN CORAL

“I believe they do an excellent job. I have only been working here for a month and they have helped me a lot. I am thankful for them.”

– ADANELY RUBIO

“I think they're literally the best at getting back to us as quickly as possible.”

– ANNGIE GUZMAN

“For all their help when I have a question or a concern, they are always on top of it. I really appreciate everything they do.”

– BRIANA MARES