VC, The Magazine | Issue 54

SUCCESS.INNOVATION.JUSTICE.EXCELLENCE.

Eating Disorders do not Discriminate

TELEHEALTH MYTHS NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH TEEN CLINIC STUDENT INTERNS

FEBRUARY 2025 ISSUE NO. 54

INTRANET.VARIETYCARE.ORG

VC, THE MAGAZINE EDITOR

DESIGN & LAYOUT

CONTRIBUTORS

CONTACT US

HEIDE EDWARDS

EVA MORALES

FIDEL MORENO JR., ROBB WETMORE

COMMUNICATIONS@VARIETYCARE.ORG

CONTENTS SUCCESS.INNOVATION.JUSTICE.EXCELLENCE.

5 CHARACTER CORE NOMINEES Check out this month’s Character Core Nominees and learn how to submit your own nominations.

6 5 BASIC FACTS ABOUT EATING DISORDERS

Learn more about the basic facts and symptoms of eating disorders.

8 SPIRIT WEEK!

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EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

SPREAD THE LOVE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY 9 NORTHCARE RECEIVES AWARD

NorthCare was honored at the 24th annual United Way Gala on January 31.

10 ANNIVERSARIES Celebrating February Variety Care anniversaries.

11 THUNDER TICKET WINNERS

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MYTHBUSTING TELEMEDICINE

NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH

12 WELCOME TO THE TEAM

March is National Nutrition Month! Small changes can lead to a healthier life.

13 TEEN CLINIC INTERNS

We’re debunking common myths about telemedicine and showing how it’s effective for various healthcare needs with high patient satisfaction.

Early birds for the 2025 Open Enrollment entered a raffle to win Thunder tickets.

Join us in welcoming our newest Variety Care team members!

Teen Clinic welcomed 10 motivated students into our first intern cohort in late January.

MYTH

REALITY

Telemedicine is only for minor issues.

It can be used for chronic disease management, mental health, follow-ups and more.

Patients don’t want telemedicine.

Many patients prefer it for convenience, and satisfaction rates are high when it is implemented well.

Telemedicine will replace in-person care.

It’s a complement to in-person visits, not a replacement. It enhances access, but it does not eliminate traditional care.

Providers can’t connect with patients virtually.

Many providers find that they can still build rapport and offer high-quality care, especially when trained in virtual bedside manner.

Telemedicine increases provider workload.

Our eVisit platform mirrors in-person care, with little difference in workload. Plus, eVisit sessions take half the time of in-person visits.

Telemedicine is too complicated to use.

With the right tools and training, most adapt quickly. Our provider and patient satisfaction score is 4.8 out of 5.

Telemedicine takes focus away from chronically ill patients.

Redirecting your patient with less severe issues, "the sniffles", to telemedicine frees up time for more severe cases.

Remind your patients they can now easily schedule telehealth appointments in MyChart

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SUCCESS.INNOVATION.JUSTICE.EXCELLENCE.

Employee of the Month: Dependability

Kathy Sholl Manager of EHR Training and Support, Adm.

There isn't just one character quality that describes your core to the fullest. You are the epitome of all of them.

I am so blessed to have you.

-Nina Street, Admin

VC, The Magazine

Other Character Core Nominees: Emily Allen, Anadarko.................................... Initiative Rakeem Bragg, Admin.................................... Positivity Margaret Halloway, PAC................................ Compassion Tisha Roman, Straka....................................... Patience Diana Jackson, Lafayette................................ Availabilty Julie Pineda, Straka........................................ Positivity Theresa Garton, Britton....................................Trustworthiness Do you know a Care Team Hero who embodies our core values, exceeds expectations in their role or makes a meaningful impact on our community?

Now is your chance to help us celebrate their outstanding qualities!

There are two ways to nominate:

Or simply type "nominate" into the search bar on our company's Intranet.

Nominate someone today!

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SUCCESS.INNOVATION.JUSTICE.EXCELLENCE.

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BASIC FACTS ABOUT EATING DISORDERS

disorders frequently affect teenagers and 1 Eating young people but also children and adults of all genders, ethnic backgrounds, cultures and body weights.

disorders are not lifestyle choices but 2 Eating serious mental disorders that cause patients to

stop eating or to engage in binge eating and/or other dysfunctional eating behaviors and include several clinical presentations.

disorders are self-destructive behaviors 3 Eating that the patient cannot control.

4 Eating disorders cause serious impairment, can have devastating chronic

effects and have one of the highest mortality rates of all mental disorders.

5 Eating disorders can be treated. If an ED specialized team is not an option the

therapy should involve a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals if available and involve caregivers/relatives if possible. Working with relatives to support patients through this process is recommended no matter what the kind of eating disorder the patient is suffering from. Treatment should focus on the psychological, social, nutritional and medical aspects of eating disorders.

COMMON SYMPTOMS (patients show some, but not necessarily all, of these) ❍ Behavioral change e.g. fasting, restriction of energy intake, difficulty eating, denial of appetite, binge eating, self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretics or diet pills, excessive physical exercise. ❍ Body dissatisfaction ❍ Distortion of body image ❍ Strong desire to lose weight / intense fear of gaining weight ❍ Low self-esteem ❍ Psychological distress ❍ Preoccupation with food

❍ Depression and/or anxiety/mood swings ❍ Reduction of libido ❍ Lack of acceptance of illness ❍ Social isolation ❍ Physical symptoms ❍ Excessive weight gain/loss ❍ Absent or irregular menstruation ❍ Sleep disturbances ❍ Patients with eating disorders often suffer from other mental and medical comorbid conditions that need to be addressed.

VC, The Magazine

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Fuel Your Body: Small Steps, Big Impact!

Celebrate National Nutrition Month® with easy, healthy habits March is National Nutrition Month—a time to focus on fueling your body with the nutrients it needs. This year’s theme is all about planning meals for a balanced lifestyle. No need for drastic changes! Small, mindful choices can lead to big improvements in your health.

PLAN FOR HEALTHIER EATING

PLAN FOR SUCCESS Taking a few moments to plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner can make a big difference.

Cooking at home allows for more control over ingredients, ensuring you get the nutrients your body needs.

SIMPLE STEPS TO EAT BETTER Eating at home doesn’t need to take much time. Quick meals like salads, smoothies, or soups are easy to prepare and full of fiber and nutrients. Plus, preparing food at home lets you experiment with healthy ingredients like vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

When on the go, don’t skip meals. A healthy snack, like fruit or nuts, can help keep you energized.

National Nutrition Month is a reminder that small, mindful choices can lead to big improvements in your health.

FOR MORE TIPS, VISIT

Nutrition/Dietitians

REFER YOUR PATIENTS TO VARIETY CARE NUTRITION Jennifer Evans, RD/LD Yukon

Karla Sigala, RDN/LD Lafayette

VALENTINE’S

SPIRIT Week

VC, The Magazine

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NorthCare Receives $5,000 at 2025 United Way Gala NorthCare was honored with the Wharton Family Mental Health Award at the 24th annual United Way Gala on January 31, 2024. The event, held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, brought together over 800 guests to celebrate the success of the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s 2024 fundraising campaign. NorthCare was recognized for its unwavering commitment to providing both physical and mental health services to patients at no cost, embodying their mission to support the community’s well-being.

From left to right: Connie Schlittler, MPA, LCSW, Vice President of Growth; Rachael Picon, LCSW, Chief Clinical Officer; Sally Kerr, Executive Director; Tonya Ratcliff, Marketing, Communications and Philanthropy Principal.

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SUCCESS.INNOVATION.JUSTICE.EXCELLENCE.

FEBRUARY

Anniversaries 20+ YEARS OF SERVICE

3 YEARS OF SERVICE

KATHERINE Y. SHOLL, ADMIN, 23 YEARS

MARLENE AGUILERA, BAPTIST PORTLAND ADILENE ALVA, LAFAYETTE ALEJANDRA ANGUIANO, SEQUOYAH ANGELICA AVILA, STRAKA MARILYN BARRIENTOS, STRAKA YATZARETH CARREON, N. PORTLAND SINTHIA DOMINGUEZ, PAC JESSICA HUIZAR, PAC ASHLEY MELENDEZ, ADMIN MELANIE OCHOA, STRAKA ADRIANA A. SEGURA, LAFAYETTE

10 + YEARS OF SERVICE BRENDA CELEDON, STRAKA, 10 YEARS PATRICE PAYTON, STRAKA, 10 YEARS LUIS PANTOJA, LAFAYETTE, 11 YEARS YESENIA QUINTANA, LAFAYETTE, 12 YEARS KYLE A. STEWART, BRITTON, 12 YEARS ROXANA P. ARROYO, CROOKED OAK, 16 YEARS

5+ YEARS OF SERVICE VANESSA I. CARDOZA, MID-DEL, 5 YEARS KATHERYN J. CONTRERAS, PAC, 5 YEARS JACQUELYNE M. HERNANDEZ, PAC, 5 YEARS MARIA ISABEL MENDEZ, BRITTON, 5 YEARS JUANA SALGADO, RENO, 5 YEARS LAURA I. THOMAS, ADMIN, 5 YEARS VICTOR CAMPA-GARCIA, LAFAYETTE, 5 YEARS AMANDA GONZALES-EASTMAN, PAC, 6 YEARS CHRISTINA LEIJA, NW 10TH, 7 YEARS YAJAIRA S. MARTINEZ, STRAKA, 7 YEARS TANIA SAUCEDA-CAMPOS, PAC, 8 YEARS ANA MARTINEZ, STRAKA, 9 YEARS

4 YEARS OF SERVICE LINDA KRISTEL CORONA, STRAKA EVANGELINA MORALES, PAC ARACELI PEREZ, STRAKA TELVINA MONSERRATH RIOS, LAFAYETTE

2 YEARS OF SERVICE MARISSA FOSTER, MID-DEL THERESA SUZANNE GARTON, BRITTON JASMIN PEREZ, PAC SARAHI REMIGIO, PAC

1 YEAR OF SERVICE DALILA ESTRELLA, ADMIN APRIL KEITH, NW 10TH MIKAELA MARTINEZ, PAC CHRISTY LYNN MODENA, ADMIN JACQUELYN MOYE JONES, BRITTON KARINA RAMIREZ, PAC

Benefits Trivia Winners Celebrate at Thunder Game After a winter weather delay, our November Benefits Trivia winners finally enjoyed their prize—tickets to an OKC Thunder game in early February!

Thanks to all who participated—stay tuned for more chances to win!

Brenda Mesta Jocelyn Villegas Luis Pantoja Vanessa Reyes Jazmin Ramirez Whitney Heinrich Roxann Wheeler LaVada Torres Vanessa Cardoza Noelia Pina Torres Shannon O’Shea Matilde Olivera Victor Campos Amelia DeLoera Javier Macias

Brianna Carroll Edyth Evans Phuong Do Lindsey Lemons Ramina Golshani Adamaris Carrasco Debbie Muran Victor Rodriguez Fabiola Santillan Christine Guillermo Morelia Bacio

e

W

o c l e m

Marni Leahy DoPC

Beverly Winn APRN

Daisy Herrera PSR

Denise Chavira PSR

Alondra Puentes Diaz MA

Aurora Calderon MA

Jose Gallegos Adolescent Hlth. Spc.

Joanna Herrera PSR

Also, please join us in welcoming our Teen Clinic student interns!

Jesus

Noemi

Yareli

Katie

Perla

Roselyn

Joanna

Isai

Fernanda

Jitzel

The Teen Clinic Sexual Health Student Advocate Intern Program engages youth as positive role models, trained facilitators, and health champions to support evidence-based education in schools, increase clinical services for adolescents, promote equity and inclusion, and empower youth to gain the knowledge, skills, and motivation needed to increase protective factors related to sexual health and safety. The program provides youth with real-world professional development, opportunities for career paths within the public health and healthcare fields, and supports youth in their growth as well-rounded individuals. Teen Clinic welcomed 10 highly intelligent, driven students into our first cohort of interns at the end of January. They have been working diligently to complete trainings in sexual health education, plan outreach events, and develop a youth-led social media campaign. The intern program is made possible by a grant from Telligen, along with continued support of Variety Care Teen Clinic programming from Kirkpatrick Family Fund.