VC, The Magazine | Issue 38

October 2023 | ISSUE 38

Winning

h t wi

WIC

Employee of the Month: Cecylia Miramontes Page 4

Meet our AT Still Students!

Page 8

Cover Story Page 6

Welcome to the Team!

Page 10

Cecylia Miramontes Anita Garcia EPIC Support Analyst Dental Receptionist Administration VARIETY CARE | 4

Employee of the Month: Dependability You were nominated for dependability because of your problem-solving skills and because you are always willing to help anyone who reaches out to you. What does dependability mean to you?

In my opinion, being a dependable person means that you are there when people need you the most.

I am truly honored that this is the trait I am being highlighted for. I strive to be here for my team and anyone who is in need both at work and out.

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

I am honored! I would love to give a shout-out to my ESA team, we all deserve this recognition!

Thank you, ladies, for all you do!

How does the work you do impact you personally?

Well, a lot of our work is behind the scenes. I feel this role puts our skills to the test every day.

BEING A DEPENDABLE

What are some things you love PERSON MEANS THAT Who inspires you to do and to give about working for Variety Care?

YOU ARE THERE your best?

WHEN PEOPLE NEED My grandmother was my rock and role The passion everyone has for serving YOU THE MOST. our patients is what I love most! model. She had to struggle so much I love seeing all our hard work in to make it in a foreign country but action. The services Variety Care -Cecylia was always a hard worker. She always provides make such a big difference encouraged me to put my best forward in the lives of the communities we serve. in anything I do. I am proud of her story, and I strive How was the transition from eCW to EPIC? It was intense! I think going through the go-live with the other ESAs has brought us closer together.

I have a wonderful team here at work.

What has been the most rewarding part of your job?

Being able to share my knowledge of EPIC and be helpful to others is very rewarding to me. The feeling of accomplishment I feel when helping someone grasp something they may have been struggling with is second to none.

How long have you been working at Variety Care?

I started back in 2017 but took some time away after my daughter was born.

to honor her memory by being a good role model to my daughter.

What is your favorite memory at Variety Care?

I don’t have just one favorite memory. I love getting to work with a great group of ladies in our ESA team who make every day memorable.

Tell me about your family.

I am married to my high school sweetheart and have one wonderful daughter. I love them dearly; they are my whole world.

Winning with WIC

by Heide Edwards, Communications Coordinator

Our WIC department has just received the Gold 2023 WIC Breastfeeding Award of Excellence for Peer Counseling!

Each year the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes local WIC agencies that go above and beyond in their efforts to promote breastfeeding and provide support for breastfeeding mothers. Awardwinning organizations are used to inspire other local agencies to enhance breastfeeding promotion and support initiatives. The ultimate goal is to create model agencies that will boost breastfeeding rates among WIC participants.

WIC is a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. Four Variety Care locations currently have WIC offices – Lafayette, Straka, Britton, and Mid-Del. In addition to breastfeeding peer counselors, experts, and pumps, WIC also provides recipients with nutrition education, WIC WE STRIVE dieticians, formula and food TO PROVIDE packages ranging BREASTFEEDING benefits from prenatal to age five.

GUIDANCE TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES

Delgadillo says it is a privilege to be a part of Variety Care’s WIC department, “Thank you, WIC team, for encouraging, supporting and helping our -Jasmine WIC participants with their Variety Care WIC Clinic Manager Jasmine breastfeeding journeys,” she expressed.

Delgadillo says her team strives to provide breastfeeding guidance to the best of their Congratulations on your well-deserved award, abilities. “We put in a lot of work, whether it is WIC team! educating our WIC prenatal and postpartum mothers or going to training to receive the most Sahariela Jennings, WIC Peer Breastfeeding Counselor up-to-date information on breastfeeding,” she elaborated.

Before an agency can be deemed eligible for the Breastfeeding Award of Excellence for Peer Counseling, it must have operated a peer counseling program for at least one year. It also must meet specific criteria as listed by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). This includes: • Peer counselors who represent the communities they serve • Experienced peer counselors who have breastfed at least one baby • Adequate compensation and reimbursement for peer counselors • Opportunities for continuing education and regular meetings with other peer counselors VARIETY CARE | 7

Meet our AT Still Students!

Join us in welcoming a new group of PA students from AT Still University! This group will be working alongside VC staff and with Integris Health to complete their clinical rotations.

Keitheon R. Collins

Jasmine Esmailzadeh

Cecilia Kelley

Benito Rumbo

Gabriela Zamora Bonilla

Where are you from? Dallas, TX What area of practice interests you? Sports Medicine. Being a US Navy Corpsman, I deal with a lot of sports-related injuries from the U.S. Marines that I’m stationed with.

How would you describe your health care philosophy? I am my patient's advocate.

What are your goals for the future? Seeing patients in an urban environment.

Where are you from? Los Angeles, California What area of practice interests you? I am currently very interested in Pediatrics.

Having previously worked in Pediatrics as a medical assistant, this specialty combines my love for children and medicine.

What is the most important factor in a provider-patient relationship? Open trust and communication. Patients should have a voice in their own care and should trust their providers to give them the best care possible.

Where are you from? California What area of practice interests you? I'm very interested in emergency medicine because I think the variation of patient acuity is very fascinating.

What is the most useful thing you have learned from Variety Care so far? The most useful thing I have learned at Variety Care is how easy and important it is to educate patients about preventive screenings.

Where are you from? Jurupa Valley , California What area of practice interests you? I am currently interested in practicing Cardiology.

I have worked at a level-one trauma hospital as a cardiac monitor technician in the emergency department, and I enjoy that fast-paced environment.

What do you like most about working in a community health center? Collaborating with underserved and vulnerable communities gives me a sense of purpose.

Where are you from? Born in El Salvador, but grew up in San Bernardino, CA What area of practice interests you? I really enjoyed learning about OB/GYN during my first year. I like the thought of doing procedures as well as visits. Women are powerful, and I think helping them is important work.

What are your goals for the future? I would like to work somewhere where I am able to make a difference in the Hispanic community.

Thisor That Coffee or Tea?

Pineapples on pizza...puppies vs. kittens, we asked our ATSU students the hard-hitting questions that really matter to you!

Movies or Books?

Spring

Puppies or Kittens?

Summer Fall Winter

Mountains or Beach?

-

-

-

Do Pineapples Belong on Pizza?

Oh, absolutely!

Please, no. Stop.

There is a time and a place.

VARIETY CARE | 9

to our team Billy Abla

RN Care Manager, Reno

Pamela Carethers

Claims Resolution Specialist, Admin.

Benjamin Elledge

Destop Support Technician, Admin.

Alma Hernandez

Patient Access Specialist, PAC

VARIETY CARE | 12

Norma Aguilera

Vianney Calderon

Devra Chapa

Lorena Chavez de la Torre

PSR Float, PAC

PSR, Putnam

Natalia Espinoza

Medical Assistant, Lafayette

Coyanna Joles -Cole Pharmacy Tech, Britton

PSR, Lafayette

Dental Assistant I, Straka

Yasmine Flores

Medical Assistant Float, North Care

Lindsey Lemons

Community Health Worker, Reno

Maria Martinez PSR, Reno

Daniela Mendoza WIC Clerk, Lafayette

Kenisha Paxton

Care Coordinator, Britton

Marisa Ramirez

Medical Assistant, Straka

Yuritza Martinez

Reginique Mccoy

Patient Access Specialist- PT, Sequoyah

Optometry Assistant, Britton

Marco Montoya

Susana Moraga

Angie Perez

Courtney Perez

John Ross

Leticia Salazar

Billing Clerk I, Admin.

Medical Assistant, Britton

Data Analyst, Admin.

Juliana Tovar

Medical Assistant, Britton

Dental Assistant III, Straka

Dental Assistant, Straka

Dental Assistant, Straka

MEET OU Education: OUHSC OU College of Dentistry Specialization: Dentistry Treyon Grant, DDS, is committed to providing dental treatment, education and preventative care in a safe, affirming environment. His ultimate objective is to make a positive impact in his community through his work as a dentist.

Treyon Grant, DDS Family Dentistry, Straka

Education: Midwestern State University Specialization: Family Medicine April Johnson, APRN, is a Family Nurse Practitioner with an extensive background in Rheumatology. She believes in motivating her patients to make positive changes, and enjoys a shared decision-making approach.

April Johnson, APRN Family Medicine, Britton

Education: University of Oklahoma Specialization: Family Medicine Carlie Person, MD, is a provider who strives to put the community first, one patient at a time. She believes that having an open and trusting conversation is the most important factor in a provider-patient relationship.

Carlie Pearson, M.D. Family Medicine, Britton

UR NEW Education: Oklahoma City University Specialization: Family Medicine Tenessa Pinkerton, DNP, APRN, CNP, FNP-C, says caring for others is her passion and her calling. She enjoys partnering with her patients to help them achieve their health and wellness goals.

Tenessa Pinkerton, DNP, APRN, CNP, FNP-C Family Medicine, Britton

2 0 2 4 O p e n E n ro l l m e n t November 1 - November 24

October November 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 1 Britton 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

27 PAC Norman Himes 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Straka 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

30 Norman Alameda 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 2 Pete White 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Admin 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Reno 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m.

31 Lakepointe 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 6 Fort Cobb 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Raffles!

Swag!

7 Anadarko Grandfield 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ! r Yukon 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. i a F t i f e 8 Putnam 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. n e B e th t u o k 9 NW 10th 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Chec Handouts!

13 Lafayette 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.