VC, The Magazine | Issue 41

January 2024 | ISSUE 41

DIRECTING POPULATION HEALTH WITH

MARTÍN VILLAFANA

Employee of the Month: Emili Estrada Page 4

Staff Tributes Page 8

Spirit Page

Week e 10

Cover Story Page 6

Welcome to the Team!

Page 18

O M E O M E Emili Estrada Medical Assistant Float, Yukon

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M M

Employee of the Month: Positivity Your team nominated you for many character qualities, including Availability, Dependability, Diligence, Flexibility, and Initiative, but specifically emphasized Positivity. How are you able to always be so positive and why do you feel it important to be positive in the workplace?

I like to always think of the brighter side of things. I think it’s important to be positive in the workplace because first impressions are very important and being nice to people is how I would want to be remembered every time I speak to a patient or coworker.

How long have you been at Variety Care?

I've been at Variety Care for 2 years and a couple of months.

What motivates you to give your all at Variety Care?

What motivates me to give it my all here at Variety Care is the chance to develop new skills and expertise in certain areas. There is never too much information you can learn.

As a Medical Assistant, you are very important to the Patient Experience. What advice would you give to others for excellent customer service?

Working in Behavioral Health, I noticed that you never know what someone is going through or how their day is going so the advice I would give is to always smile, it can go a long way.

Tell me about your favorite experience at Variety Care.

I've encountered some of the kindest people I have ever met working through Variety Care Behavioral Health. Some of the patient’s stories make me feel all different types of emotions and I've tried to learn how to not carry all of them with me.

The one thing I do love is when patients thank me and my provider for hearing them out even if it’s just conversations that last a few minutes. As well as seeing them leave with a happy face.

Working in Behavioral Health, I noticed that you never know what someone is going through or how their day is going so the advice I would give is to always smile, it can go a long way.

Tell me about your family.

Well, I'm not married yet, but I do have four siblings and my parents. I have two younger sisters and an older brother. I don’t always get along with them, but I would do anything for them. I also have a cat named Kiwi.

-Emili

What do you like the most about working at Variety Care?

Specifically, Yukon. I love that the people here are kind and welcome. Everybody gets along with everyone, and I'm never judged for anything.

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

It feels good to be recognized by my team members.

Martín Villafana

Director of Population Health PAC VARIETY CARE | 6

Directing Population Health With

Martín Villafana You might have noticed a friendly new face touring the clinics recently – Martín Villafana, Variety Care’s newly appointed director of population health. Villafana is a clinician through and through and can often be found exchanging his suit and tie for a pair of scrubs while working alongside his care teams.

Villafana describes his entry into population health as a leap of faith more than anything else, during a time of healthcare reform. “Opportunities for nursing to be utilized in clinics were kind of a new thing,” he said. “We navigated how to work with payers, how to collaborate with physician leaders or health systems, and how to integrate behavioral health into primary care settings, workflows, and so forth.”

With over 20 years of healthcare experience under his belt, Villafana brings a wealth of knowledge to Variety Care, particularly in the fields of While Variety Care's current care teams play a population health and crucial role in delivering care management. “As we essential services to patients, navigate through 2024 and Villafana positions himself as the expansion of managed an additional resource to aid BEYOND PAIN care, Villafana’s expertise will in aligning the organization’s MANAGEMENT AND be vital while we streamline goals for success. Dr. SPIRITUAL CARE, and strengthen our care Nightingale explained, SHE SOUGHT BASIC teams,” highlighted Dr. Lydia "Our emphasis remains on NECESSITIES, LIKE BEING providing high-quality care, Nightingale, vice president of medical affairs.

ABLE TO BATHE AND EAT. and with Martín’s guidance, we will be closing care gaps, Recalling his first patient improving transitions of care, encounter, Villafana shared and ensuring that our patients how he found his calling in have access to screening -Martín the medical field. “My first services and preventative patient was a 57-year-old female with diabetes care. Variety Care is now positioned for success as and lymphoma and open wounds,” he said. “The we transition into value-based care, the future of nature of this individual involved numerous medicine, and we are thrilled to have him join our chronic illnesses, and beyond pain management team." and spiritual care, she sought basic necessities, like being able to bathe and eat.” Villafana explained that this particular experience occurred when he was just 13 years old, and the patient was his own grandmother.

Being well-rounded in the field of medicine is one aspect that sets Villafana apart as a leader. He began his journey as a microbiologist in a lab before transitioning into a bed coordinator. From there, he continued climbing the ladder – becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN), a registered nurse (RN), and finally, pursuing a graduate degree from Oklahoma Baptist University.

Her Legacy

Debra Cleary

lives on in you.

Tania Ramirez , MA

e sure ing person who mad Debra was an amaz arned ard. She not only le her patients were he e public health but sh the importance of ro her y. Debra was the he da y er ev it ed tic ac pr the time. patients needed at

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Pete Whit missed at

Bency Son y, APRN-CN

“A true frien d is never tr uly gone. T of those wh heir spirit li o loved the ves on in th m ” by an unk e memories more than a nown autho co-worker. r.

D e b W ra e w s hared offic as my frien White, so w es next to e d e develope ach other a d a close frie compassio t P e n te d s h nate person ip. She was the most . She would patients an go above a d their anim n d b e y a ond for her ls. If I had a that was ou patient who t of my reac n e e d h ed somethin , I w ould talk to without any g her and she hesitation. w Her laugh w ould help brightened a s c o ntagious – s up our clinic he always . She will be dearly miss ed.

P

Christina Robinson, LPN Debra was the kindest soul. Debra would go out of her way to help anyone in need. Debra’s love for people was only surpassed by her love of animals. Debra was a true angel on earth. She will be greatly missed.

Spirit Spirit Week Week Variety Care staff celebrated Spirit Week by dressing in cheery, festive outfits before the four-day holiday weekend.

Variety Care commemorates

Martin Luther

King Jr.

to our team Leslie Alvarez

Optometry Assistant, Britton

Ashley Boykin

Care Coordinator, Yukon

Brooke Nation

Medical Assistant, Anadarko

Emily Celaya

Sandra Chino Jimenez

Ana Esteban

Elizabeth Flores PSR, Norman Himes

Medical Assistant, Britton

Samantha Jimenez

Brandy Liston

Elise Lopez

PSR, Dental

PSR, Norman Alameda

Patient Access Specialist, PAC

Medical Assistant, Urgent Care

Immunization Coord., Norman Alameda

Sina Duarte PSR, Straka

Shannan Jensen

PSR, Lafayette

Karen Marquez PSR Float, PAC

Sandra Martinez

Melodi Martin

Medical Assistant II, Britton

WIC Breast Feeding Peer Counselor, Britton

Raymond Miranda

Priscillia Mata PSR, Lafayette

Tisha Pinder

Dental Assistant III, Straka

RDN/Dietitian, Lafayette

Karely Ramirez-Rivera

Martha San Juan

PSR, Lafayette

Jaqueline Sarabia PSR, Lafayette

Dental Assistant III, Straka

Daysy Sierra PSR Dental, Straka

Mariana Martinez PSR, Pete White

Kayleen Medina

Medical Assistant, Pete White

Irma Pulido

Custodian, Britton

Keysha Sanders

Community Health Worker, Yukon

Cristina Trujillo

Immunization Coordinator, Putnam

Kateari Try PSR, Britton

MEET OUR NEW

Education: UT Health Houston School of Dentistry Specialization: Dentistry Dr. Karen Holubec-Sorsby, DDS, is a dedicated dentist committed to enhancing community health one patient at a time. She takes pride in elevating the quality of life for individuals through basic dentistry and enjoys welcoming new opportunities and experiences with each patient encounter. In her free time, Dr. Holubec-Sorsby enjoys reading, working out, solving jigsaw puzzles, and gardening.

Karen Holubec-Sorsby, DDS Dentist Float, Straka

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CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IS CELEBRATED EVERY JANUARY TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO BE MORE ATTENTIVE TO THEIR HEALTH

SCREENING TESTS AND THE HPV VACCINE CAN HELP PREVENT CERVICAL CANCER

WHEN CERVICAL CANCER IS FOUND EARLY, IT IS HIGHLY TREATABLE AND ASSOCIATED WITH LONG SURVIVAL AND GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE

EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES, ABOUT 11,500 NEW CASES OF CERVICAL CANCER ARE DIAGNOSED AND ABOUT 4,000 WOMEN DIE OF THIS CANCER

VARIETY CARE’S TAKE CHARGE PROGRAM OFFERS FREE SCREENINGS TO THOSE WITHOUT INSURANCE WHO QUALIFY

JANUARY Anniversaries 20+ YEARS OF SERVICE

CAROL MARTIN, LAKEPOINTE, 20 YEARS MIRIAM GUERRA, STRAKA, 21 YEARS ANGELICA ROSILES, LAFAYETTE, 23 YEARS

10 + YEARS OF SERVICE

WHITNEY L HEINRICH, STRAKA, 10 YEARS GLADYS PANDO, STRAKA, 10 YEARS MARTTI TAYLOR, ADMIN, 10 YEARS JEANETTE M ZERBST, RENO, 14 YEARS RHONDA L BLOOMINGBURG, STRAKA, 14 YEARS

5+ YEARS OF SERVICE

YANCEY R LUNA DIAZ, STRAKA, 5 YEARS SUSANA CARRILLO, BRITTON, 5 YEARS DULCE TORRES, LAFAYETTE, 7 YEARS KALI A SEXTON, SEQUOYAH, 7 YEARS BRENDA M LOPEZ, LAFAYETTE, 7 YEARS ANGELA CASTRO-JENKINS, PAC, 7 YEARS ROBERT SWINDELL, STRAKA, 8 YEARS DEBBIE MURNAN, BRITTON, 8 YEARS LISA TROUNG, BRITTON, 9 YEARS BRENDA SANCHEZ, PUTNAM, 9 YEARS JESSICA DONATO, LAFAYETTE, 9 YEARS

4 YEARS OF SERVICE

JASMINE I DELGADILLO, LAFAYETTE CATHERINE W GARDNER, PUTNAM LAURA M HILL, STRAKA ARACELI JIMENEZ, NORMAN FP

3 YEARS OF SERVICE

2 YEARS OF SERVICE

KARLA E CARRENO, RENO VIOLET COHEN MEYER, BRITTON MARCELINA DELACRUZ, PAC GENESIS GONZALEZ, STRAKA NADIA JONES, RENO ROSA PINEDA, STRAKA ALONDRA PUENTES-DIAZ, LAFAYETTE BRE B ROBERTS, PAC KAREN SARGENT, NW 10TH ST LAUREN RUIZ, NW 10TH ST NINA STREET, ADMIN ALBERTO ZUNIGA-GONZALEZ, ADMIN

1 YEAR OF SERVICE

GLORIA AYISI, SEQUOYAH JOE W BRIGGS, PAC GENEVA L CALIP, BRITTON KAYLA M COMPTON, NORMAN PEDS BETHANY (BRIAR) A HERNANDEZ, MID-DEL LUZ M HIDALGO, STRAKA SAMANTHA JAQUEZ, PAC CHRISTINE KNIGHT, NORMAN PEDS IRVING MARQUEZ VALENCIA, NW 10TH ST MELANIE D MILLAN, PUTNAM STEPHANIE E MORALES, RENO SAMANTHA MORENO, STRAKA JOCELYN M PEREZ, PAC GLORIA RAMOS, PAC JASMINE I SANCHEZ, STRAKA ALEXIS SHELTON, STRAKA MARILU VILLEGAS, NORMAN PEDS

ABIGAIL C ALVARADO, NORMAN FP JANA THORNTON, NORMAN FP ERICK D HERRERA, NORMAN FP TERESA GRANADOS, BRITTON KARLA SANTILLAN, NW 10TH ST

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