“I felt safe and comfortable enough to hold my husband’s hand in public, and I hadn’t been able to do that in 20 years,” Phillip J. Burke reflected on a recent trip to California.
It’s something many of us take for granted –being able to openly express ourselves without hesitation.
Hand-in hand with the LGBTQ+ community, Burke fights to break the stigmas and the stereotypes surrounding gender and sexuality. Using his role as Director of HIV and Viral Hepatitis Service, he makes consistent strides to further patient care within Variety Care and beyond.
Oklahoma. His insight will also be utilized to help with infectious disease education and prevention.
Burke says that we can all do our part to help support the LGBTQ+ community by simply treating them the same as everyone else while understanding the specific healthcare issues that impact this community more than others.
“Obviously, I always want to give back to the community that I’m a part of,” Burke said. “Being able to be a representative of the LGBTQ+ community, I’m proud to give them that representation of a gay man in a leadership role.”
In addition to serving on Variety Care’s DEI council, he also volunteers his expertise within several organizations in the community. Most recently he was appointed to the inaugural Oklahoma Council of Infectious Disease, where he will collaborate with other experts to help create best practice recommendations for the state of
“Domestic abuse. Alcohol and substance abuse. Mental health,” Burke said. “You can’t pick out someone’s sexuality, so we try to screen everybody - treat everyone the same.”
Burke says his goal within Variety Care is to create a lasting influence on the culture of this organization and expand inclusiveness to anyone impacted by healthcare disparities.
“If we consciously move to create a safe and welcoming environment, then we will be able to more appropriately and effectively provide healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community and fulfill our mission of making quality healthcare affordable and accessible to everyone,” he said.
WANT TOEvans Registered Dietician
One of the most common resolutions people make year after year is to finally regain control of their diet. And let’s be honest – it’s one of the hardest resolutions to keep. We spoke with Registered Dietitian Jennifer Evans about ways we can make this resolution more successful.
Evans emphasizes the importance of taking small steps to reach a bigger goal, which will help decrease frustrations and increase chances of success. “Pick small changes and do one or two a week, then see how they go and reevaluate,” she says. “That will get you somewhere good after a while.”
The next question is what foods we need to be incorporating into our diets more. “When people are overweight, they tend to be afraid of all fats, even the healthy ones.” Evans says foods like avocados, olive oil, nuts and seeds, and nut butters are all part of a balanced diet. She also says that people are either not getting enough vegetables in their diet, or they are being deceived by vegetables that don’t contain many vitamins or minerals.
But most of us don’t even know where to begin making small changes in our diet. Evans says the key is to get away from overly processed foods. One simple swap we can make is replacing chips for crunchy veggies like cucumbers or bell peppers. She says you can even dress them up and make them more fun with seasonings. “As long as you’re eating whole foods, salt won’t hurt,” she says.
-Jennifer Evans“Iceberg lettuce isn’t terrible, but it’s mostly just water,” she explains. Evans says the more colorful vegetables usually contain the most nutrients.
She also notes that how our meat and dairy are sourced determines the nutritional profile of the product. If you see a label that says a product came from grassfed cows, that means those products will then also have more nutrients. “When we are nice to our animals, our animals are nice to us,” Evans says.
If sweets are your downfall, Evans says you can still satisfy those cravings with natural sugars from fruits, or even super dark chocolates. If you really love to bake, she suggests using date sugar or substituting bananas or applesauce in your favorite recipes. Evans says we don’t need a lot of carbohydrates, but the key is to balance them out with protein and vegetables. She explains that complex carbs like quinoa and brown rice are the best choices when it comes to grains.
Finally, there is the age-old question of “how can we get our children to eat healthier foods?” The answer is simple – expose them to better food choices as early as you can safely do so and introduce them to foods that are common for the family.
To explore new recipes and start the year off right, Evans recommends checking out cookinglight.com or eatingwell.com.
When we think about health and wellness, it’s important to look at each person as a whole – not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. If your new year’s resolution was to work on your inner self, Variety Care might be able to help.
First, it’s important to know the difference between a behavioral health therapist and a psychiatrist. Director of Integrated Health and Services Sally Kerr says a behavioral health therapist cannot prescribe medication, whereas a psychiatrist can prescribe and manage medications. Your PCP or women’s health provider can determine whether psychiatry or therapy would be most beneficial, and then refer you to the most suitable provider. “They do need to be established Variety Care patients, and they do need a referral from their provider,” she explains.
system, memory loss, and even low sex drive.
She says the U.S. is currently experiencing a behavioral health crisis in its ability to prevent and treat mental illness and substance use. “The crisis is felt throughout all economic statuses, but particularly the underserved,” she emphasizes. “But Federally Qualified Health Centers like Variety Care are expanding access to behavioral health care for those who are most likely to report cost-related problems in accessing care.”
Kerr says Variety Care’s team-based approach helps make behavioral health and psychiatry more accessible to patients. “Because they are being seen at a medical facility, I really feel it also helps with the stigma of having to go to a mental health facility,” she says.
Sharon Martin, APRN, says that mental health plays a huge role in your overall wellbeing. “Depression can cause headache, fatigue, and digestive problems. It’s also linked to chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer,” she explains. “Anxiety can cause heart palpitations and spikes in blood pressure, which raises the risk of cardiac events in those who already have heart disease.” Martin also notes that insomnia can be linked to weakened immune
Licensed Professional Counselor Jacob Epperson gave us some tips for setting realistic goals and making improvements at home. He says the key is to make SMART goals – specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timebound. “If we don’t have goals, we engage in aimless behavior, and that usually doesn’t lead to health,” Epperson says.
He also says that even if you’re using SMART goals, it’s easy to miss a day and get discouraged. That’s why it’s important to give ourselves grace when we miss a step. Epperson suggests measuring progress in weeks or months, instead of day to day.
Most importantly, he says we should just take care of our bodies by drinking water, eating healthy foods, getting plenty of rest, and being physically active. “It’s also important to be aware of social surroundings and gravitate toward the positive and constructive,” Epperson adds. He also suggests challenging our brains by doing crossword puzzles, learning to juggle, or even just using a paper map instead of GPS.
Behavioral health is provided at all Variety Care clinics, either in-person or by telehealth.
Nested within several Variety Care locations is a department dedicated to helping Oklahomans receive the health care coverage they need.
“SoonerCare services can include medical visits, immunizations, prescriptions, behavioral health, and dental care,” Manager of Behavioral Health and Social Services Katy Knight says. “They also have access to SoonerRide, which provides transportation to non-emergency medical visits for those who need it.”
The application for SoonerCare can be completed online or by phone, but the process can be confusing. That is where Variety Care’s Certified Application Counselors come in handy. They are trained to walk patients through all the eligibility guidelines and the application process to make sure they get approved as quickly as possible. Once applicants are approved with SoonerCare, they are immediately eligible for benefits.
insurance programs,” she explains. Knight says this service is important because it directly aligns with Variety Care’s mission to make quality healthcare affordable and accessible. “Not only can patients use their SoonerCare benefits to obtain services within Variety Care, but they can also access outside specialists, equipment, supplies, and many other services they need to keep them healthy and thriving,” she explains.
She says SoonerCare has also increased the income guidelines and coverage for pregnancy and postpartum patients, starting in 2023. “Now patients can be approved with incomes up to 210% of the federal poverty level, and the coverage has been extended for up to 12 months postpartum.
While it may be discouraging for those who do not qualify, Knight says Variety Care’s Certified Application Counselors can still help patients find coverage. “For applicants who may be over the income guidelines for SoonerCare, the CACs can provide information and assistance with enrolling in the Marketplace
Full-time CAC coverage can be found at Straka, Lafayette, NW 10th, Britton, and Norman Himes. Coverage is also available at Baptist Portland, North Portland, Reno, and Mid-Del. Director of Integrated Health and Services Sally Kerr adds, “we can and will assist our rural patients if they need help.”
Variety Care's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion council hosted several events for staff throughout 2022, inviting them to laugh, engage, and learn about other cultures.
To see more pictures, check out the photo gallery on the Intranet.