Shawnee Health Service awarded $300,000 to expand access to oral health care
Shawnee Health Service received a $300,000 award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to “expand oral health service capacity through new infrastructure enhancements.”
Shawnee Health Service plans to add two dental operatories to its Shawnee Health Care, Murphysboro and Marion Wellness School Health Center locations. Shawnee will use remaining funds for equipment upgrades.
The expansion will help Shawnee Health Service continue to provide needed dental services to poor and underserved residents of Jackson and Williamson Counties. In 2018, Shawnee Health Service provided care to over 15,000 patients with Medicaid, over 4,000 patients with Medicare, and almost 3,000 patients who had no insurance.
Shawnee Health Care, Dental is one of few dental providers in southern Illinois which accepts Medicaid and has a sliding fee scale for patients without insurance.
HRSA-funded health centers, like Shawnee Health Service, provide affordable, accessible, quality, and cost-effective primary health care services to their patients. According to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, health centers consistently deliver “high-quality primary care at a significantly lower cost than their peers and above-average results in controlling chronic conditions.”
Since its inception in 1971, Shawnee Health Service has worked to improve the health and welfare of southern Illinois residents through the promotion, development and administration of quality, comprehensive health and social services. Shawnee Health Service believes that quality health care is a right, and continuously strives to ensure that patients receive the highest quality health care without regard to age, race, religion, sex, financial status, or where they live.
Shawnee Health Service receives National Quality Leader designation, $144,005 award from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Shawnee Health Service received the National Quality Leader designation from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). National Quality Leader designation is given to health centers that rank in the top 1 to 2% of health centers nationwide in one or more key areas: behavioral health, diabetes prevention and management, and heart health. Shawnee Health Service was one of five health centers in Illinois which received this distinction.
The National Quality Leader designation is a category of Quality Improvement Award from HRSA. For its designation as a National Quality Leader, Shawnee Health Service received a $144,005 Quality Improvement Award. These Quality Improvement Awards are given to the highest performing health centers nationwide.
HRSA-funded health centers, like Shawnee Health Service, provide affordable, accessible, quality, and cost-effective primary health care services to their patients. According to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, health centers consistently deliver “high-quality primary care at a significantly lower cost than their peers and above-average results in controlling chronic conditions.”
Since its inception in 1971, Shawnee Health Service has worked to improve the health and welfare of southern Illinois residents through the promotion, development and administration of quality, comprehensive health and social services. Shawnee Health Service believes that quality health care is a right, and continuously strives to ensure that patients receive the highest quality health care without regard to age, race, religion, sex, financial status, or where they live.
Contact:
Emma Kelley
Marketing, Outreach, & Recruitment Coordinator
Shawnee Health Service
(618) 519-9200, ext. 9570
Shawnee Health Care is teaming up with IlliniCare and First Southern Bank to offer you a day to get all of your child’s school exams and immunizations taken care of in one location.
We are offering this for children in grades K, 2, 6, and 9. You do not need to be a patient of Shawnee Health Care to take advantage of this opportunity.
Carbondale
When: July 16 starting at 7:30 am
Where: Campus at 400 S. Lewis Lane, Carbondale, IL
Services:
• physical – $25
• physical and dental exam – $35
• vision screening available
• required immunizations – insurance will be billed or if you do not have
insurance we will provide information on how to obtain them at low cost
Marion
When: July 18 starting at 7:30 am
Where: 1506 Sioux Drive, Marion, IL
Services:
• physical – $25
• physical and dental exam – $35
• required immunizations – insurance will be billed or if you do not have
insurance we will provide information on how to obtain them at low cost
There will be FREE backpacks and school supplies to give you a good start for a great school year! Inflatables and a Mobile Market will be available in Carbondale.
Your child will get to spin the prize wheel after his/her exams are completed to receive a prize!
Shawnee Health Service is excited to announce our newest fundraiser, in partnership with Art for All Animals, benefiting the Shawnee Health Care Emergency Fund!
Art for All Animals is a charity started by a southern Illinois mom and her creative son, who has Autism.
Proceeds from t-shirt sales support endangered wildlife through charities like Black Rhino Fund at the Wildlife Conservation Network, Elephant Crisis Fund, ARK Rehabilitation Center, Giant Panda Fund at WWF, and more.
In our fundraiser, proceeds from shirt sales will also support the Shawnee Health Service Patient Emergency Fund. The Patient Emergency Fund helps support our patients through healthcare and life challenges. If you would like to purchase a t-shirt, please reach out to any Shawnee Health Service employee or send an email to shsinfo@shsdc.org.
Please click here to view the shirt options and order form. We have sample shirts for color and size reference available at our Administrative Office. Donations to our Emergency Fund of any amount are also welcome.
Shawnee Health Service is excited to announce our newest fundraiser, in partnership with Art for All Animals, benefiting the Shawnee Health Care Emergency Fund!
Art for All Animals is a charity started by a southern Illinois mom and her creative son, who has Autism.
Proceeds from t-shirt sales support endangered wildlife through charities like Black Rhino Fund at the Wildlife Conservation Network, Elephant Crisis Fund, ARK Rehabilitation Center, Giant Panda Fund at WWF, and more.
In our fundraiser, proceeds from shirt sales will also support the Shawnee Health Service Patient Emergency Fund. The Patient Emergency Fund helps support our patients through healthcare and life challenges. If you would like to purchase a t-shirt, please reach out to any Shawnee Health Service employee or send an email to shsinfo@shsdc.org.
Please click here to view the shirt options and order form. We have sample shirts for color and size reference available at our Administrative Office. Donations to our Emergency Fund of any amount are also welcome.
Shawnee Health Care Health Center Holiday Hours:
December 24 – All Shawnee Health Care health centers are closed. Same Day is open 9:30am – 4:30pm.
December 25 – All Shawnee Health Care health centers are closed. Same Day is closed.
December 26 – All Shawnee Health Care health centers and Same Day are open regular business hours.
December 27 – All Shawnee Health Care health centers and Same Day are open regular business hours.
December 28 – All Shawnee Health Care health centers and Same Day are open regular business hours.
December 29 – All Shawnee Health Care health centers and Same Day are open regular business hours.
December 30 – All Shawnee Health Care health centers and Same Day are open regular business hours.
December 31 – All Shawnee Health Care health centers are open regular business hours. Same Day will close at 5:00pm.
January 1 – All Shawnee Health Care health centers are closed. Same Day is open regular business hours.
To see hours of operation for each location, visit our Locations page.
Shawnee Health Care, Same Day is located on our Carbondale campus, at 404 South Lewis Lane, Carbondale, IL.
We hope all of our friends and neighbors have a wonderful holiday spent with family and friends. Take some time to be thankful. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve you every day!
November is National Family Caregivers Month
Each November, we celebrate National Family Caregivers Month — an opportunity for communities across the country to come together to support and recognize the contributions and sacrifices made on a daily basis by family caregivers of all ages. It is estimated that nearly 44 million adults provide care for an adult or child annually. As a family caregiver, it may be easy to feel like you are alone. Please remember, you are not alone.
Family caregivers are the heart and soul of our nation’s long-term care system. Did you know that family caregivers’ make up 80 percent of the long-term care in the United States provided by family and other unpaid caregivers?
In addition, many family caregivers do not realize that they are caregivers. Perhaps it’s because most people think of caregivers as professionals who are trained and paid to provide care for clients with health issues. They may feel that they are just helping out. However, if you offer daily assistance to a spouse or other family member, you may be a caregiver. It is important to recognize this, so you can seek support.
As a family caregiver, it is essential that you take care of your own health. This month, we encourage family caregivers to learn about the services and supports available in southern Illinois. There are more than you realize!
Shawnee Alliance offers a Caregiver Support Program. The goals of this program are:
- To provide information to family caregivers about available services
- To provide assistance to family caregivers in gaining access to services
- To lead family caregivers to individual counseling, support groups or caregiver training
- To provide respite and supplemental services on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by family caregivers
For more information about this program, call (618) 985-8322.
The Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter offers a Free 24/7 Helpline – (800) 272-3900. They also have an online Caregiver Center at alz.org/care.
To all family caregivers, thank you for all that you do. We appreciate you. And please remember, you are not alone.
Survey: Many Parents Share Leftover Antibiotics
According to a recent online survey of nearly 500 U.S. parents, about 48 percent say they have kept leftover antibiotics rather than properly dispose of them. Of those, 73 percent later gave the drugs to siblings, unrelated children and adults, sometimes months after the antibiotic was originally prescribed. Some of the parents used the leftover antibiotics themselves.
This is very dangerous. Taking antibiotics for colds and other viral illnesses not only won’t work, but it can also have dangerous side effects — over time, this practice actually helps create bacteria that are harder to kill.
So what should you do when your child gets sick? To minimize the risk of antibiotic resistance, keep these tips in mind:
- Take antibiotics only for bacterial infections.
It’s a good idea to let milder illnesses (especially those thought to be caused by viruses) run their course. This helps prevent antibiotic-resistant germs from developing. But leave it to your doctor to decide if an illness is “mild” or not. - Seek advice and ask questions.
Ask your doctor about whether your child’s illness is bacterial or viral, and discuss the risks and benefits of antibiotics. If it’s a virus, ask about ways to treat symptoms. Don’t pressure your doctor to prescribe antibiotics.
If you are considering giving leftover antibiotics to a child, sibling, other family member, or friend because of the cost of the visit or the prescription, remember:
- Through the Shawnee Financial Assistance Program, Shawnee Health Service can provide discounts for services provided at our community health centers. This program can be used by people who are uninsured and people with insurance who have deductibles and co-pays and are determined eligible. Eligibility is based on family size and gross income (before taxes and deductions).
- Shawnee Health Care, Pharmacy participates in the Public Health Service Drug Pricing Program authorized under Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act. The 340B Program allows Health Center patients to purchase prescription drugs at significant savings.
Below is the full text of the original article:
FRIDAY, Nov. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An “alarming” number of American parents save unused antibiotics and give them to family members and other people, a new study finds.
This type of misuse helps fuel antibiotic resistance, the study authors said. Their report is scheduled for presentation Monday in Orlando, Fla., at the national conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
“This is dangerous not only for those given antibiotics that weren’t prescribed for them, but for entire populations of people who some antibiotics may no longer help when the bacteria they target become resistant to them,” study senior author Dr. Ruth Milanaik said in an AAP news release.
Milanaik directs the neonatal neurodevelopmental follow-up program at Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York.
The researchers conducted an online survey of nearly 500 U.S. parents and found that about 48 percent said they’d kept leftover antibiotics rather than properly dispose of them.
Of those, 73 percent later gave the drugs to siblings, unrelated children and unrelated adults, sometimes months after the antibiotic was originally prescribed. Some of the parents also used the leftover antibiotics themselves.
A common reason parents gave for keeping unused antibiotics was to avoid the cost of a second trip to the doctor.
The dosage of the unused antibiotics given to others was typically the prescribed dosage, or was estimated based on the age of the child, the study authors said.
The survey also found that 16 percent of parents said they’d given adult medications to their children.
Milanaik said more needs to be done to educate parents about antibiotics and the risks of taking them without proper medical consultation.
“Although the discovery of antibiotics has revolutionized medicine, it is imperative that clinicians emphasize the importance of [proper use and disposal of these medications] to make sure they remain an effective tool against infectious diseases,” she said.
Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary unless published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Did you know it’s time to sign up for health coverage for 2019?
If you need health coverage, you can enroll at HealthCare.Gov. But hurry, the deadline to enroll in a plan is December 15th – so don’t delay!
Most marketplace shoppers will qualify for financial help to lower their costs, too. In fact, 85 percent of current enrollees receive a tax credit to help lower their monthly premiums. Most enrollees pay less than $100/month for their plan.
And this year, there are new plans available at new prices. Even if you’ve looked before, it’s important to check out your options – coverage might be more affordable than you think.
There’s a lot of confusion about the state of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), but the truth is the ACA is still the law of the land. Comprehensive health coverage, including key consumer protections like no discrimination against people with pre-existing health conditions, is still available to consumers who need to get covered.
We’re busting some of the most common myths about the ACA – check them out below.
Myth #1: Financial help to lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs is no longer available. FALSE.
Financial assistance is still available for low and middle-income consumers to help lower the cost of their plan. In fact, more than 8 out of 10 consumers last year qualified for a tax credit.
Myth #2: The marketplace is not stable and premiums are skyrocketing. FALSE.
In fact, premium price increases for 2019 are expected to be much lower than previous years, and some states will even see price decreases. CMS recently announced a national average drop of 1.5 percent in premiums across states using HealthCare.Gov.
Myth #3: I am no longer protected from discrimination for having a pre-existing condition. FALSE.
All of the consumer protections created by the ACA are still intact, and all plans sold by HealthCare.Gov must provide comprehensive coverage, and cannot charge a consumer more because of their health status or medical history. Plans outside the ACA marketplace don’t have to offer the same protections, so always make sure to use HealthCare.Gov when enrolling in coverage.
Myth #4: Insurers are dropping out. FALSE.
In fact, the highest number of insurers are participating this year since 2015. There will be 23 more insurers participating in HealthCare.Gov states and 29 insurers are expanding their coverage to additional counties in 2019 compared to 2018. That means more choices and competitive prices for consumers.
As always, application assistance is available at Shawnee Health Service.
Our Navigators can help you go through the online system as well as answer questions you might have about the Marketplace. There is no cost for this service, and you do not need to be a patient of Shawnee Health Service to receive assistance.
Midwifery at Shawnee Health Care, OB/GYN
Many women tend to think of midwives as playing a supporting role in the pregnancy and childbirth experience, similar to doulas or lactation consultants. But a midwife is, in fact, a professional trained specifically in assisting women with every aspect of pregnancy, from prenatal care to delivery. What’s more, her job doesn’t necessarily end with pregnancy. You can see your midwife for just about all your women’s health needs, including your annual exam, contraceptive counseling and prescriptions.
Midwives often lend a more personal touch to the pregnancy experience compared to OBs, emphasizing the physical, emotional and social needs of patients. Rebeccah even knits hats for her patients’ babies.
“A lot of women desire a low-intervention, hands-off birth, and this is something that Shawnee has allowed us to provide for our patients,” says Megan Walker, DNP, APN, CNM.
Midwives honor the normalcy of women’s life cycle events, and believe in “watchful waiting and non-intervention in normal processes,” according to the American College of Nurse Midwives.
What are patients saying about our midwives?
“And of course Megan I can’t say enough about! THANK you for being there for me on one of the scariest days of my life. I was so nervous about childbirth and wanted fabulous people to make the day great and you def made it very special! You will always be a special person in my little families life.”
“We couldn’t have asked for better care for Jensen and I and if we ever decide to have another, they will be the ones to share our experience with us again! Thank you all for everything you do!”
“I had Megan during delivery and she was a light during the storm when I didn’t think I could do it any longer. She reassured me that everything was going to be ok and with that reassurance I delivered a beautiful little boy.”
“We could not be more thankful to the midwives and the team at Shawnee! It was a complete 180 experience from our first and I know a lot of the reason why is because of the team we assembled! Yay for rocking the VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). Thanks for supporting mom’s in efforts many practices won’t!”
If you are expecting and think a Nurse Midwife is right for you, call Shawnee Health Care, OB/GYN.
(618) 519-9200.