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Volume 3, No. 3 A bi-monthly newsletter of HealthReach Community Health Centers May/June 2005

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

A Salute to Our VolunteersDear HRCHC employees, Board

members, and members of thecommunity:

s we quickly approach the end of another fiscal year, I would like to

extend special thanks to the manyvolunteers who continue to so generouslyoffer their time, energy and talents to ourorganization. Together, along with thedaily stellar efforts of our employees,nearly 100 volunteers help us achieve ourmission to provide quality, affordableprimary and preventive health careservices, close to home, to people of allages – regardless of insurance status orability to pay.� HealthReach benefits greatly from anall-volunteer Board of Directors.HRCHC’s Board members are activecommunity members who each bring ahigh-level of specific expertise to thegovernance of our organization. Themajority of our Board members are alsohealth center patients, which keeps theBoard in touch with local needs.� The active involvement ofapproximately 75 volunteers who serveon community Boards across our systemhelp our individual health centers thrive.These individuals typically have deeproots in the communities in which ourhealth centers are located. Some of thefolks who have served on local healthcouncils for many years helped with thegrassroots efforts to establish individual

health centers and were instrumental totheir opening (see also, Bingham AreaHealth Center Profile, Grassroots EffortsPaved the Way,” page 2). CommunityBoard members continue to serve asimportant resources to our organization,and are key to our ability to understandthe local environment in which ourhealth centers operate. We look forwardto additional collaboration with them infuture endeavors.� We have significantly benefited fromthe services of an AmeriCorps Volunteer(see related column, “In Their OwnWords – Alison Duncan, page 5”).� Volunteers from the Retired SeniorVolunteers Program (RSVP) have helpedus prepare some of our mailings.

� There are also a small number ofvolunteers who provide administrativeassistance at some of our health centers.

On behalf of our organization and thepatients we serve, thank you to each ofour volunteers for your contribution tocommunity health in rural Maine. Welook forward to you joining us at ourAnnual Recognition Dinner in the fall.

- Stephen E. Walsh, MHAPresident & CEO

Bingham Area Health CenterCelebrating 30 Years of Service to the Community

“ aving lived in the Bingham area most of my life, I know that having the health center in our community means an awful lot,” says long-time Bingham Area

Health Center (BAHC) patient Jay Strickland. Strickland, father of six, is gratefulthat he and his family don’t have to travel all the way to Skowhegan for care, “especiallyconsidering gas prices these days,” he says. In addition to the convenience, Stricklandsays that the health center is also vital because it offers care to everyone, those with

If you or someone you know isinterested in serving on HRCHC’sgoverning Board of Directors or oneof our health center’s communityBoards, please call Ann Young at861-3400. Adults 55 and olderinterested in volunteering for RSVPmay contact Ruth Saint Amand at861-3428. Both may also becontacted toll-free within Maine at1-800-427-1127.

(See Bingham, page 2)

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and without insurance or means to pay. “I had good healthcare coverage back when I worked at Sappi,” he says. Nowself-employed, Strickland reports that since his layoff fromthe mill he feels “very fortunate that[he] and [his] family can receive thekind of quality care that the healthcenter provides.” “My job now is asgood as most in the area, but it isharder and harder for people aroundhere to keep up with health carecosts, with the loss of industry andthe higher paying jobs and benefitsthat have left with it. Having thishealth center here makes a realdifference, as there is a great need forthe services and we don’t haveanywhere else to go. It makes thecommunity a better place,” he says.

Grassroots Efforts Pavedthe Way

HealthReach Community HealthCenters will celebrate its 30th

anniversary this fall thanks toBingham Area Health Center’s threedecades of service to the community.

It all began when in 1975, a groupof concerned citizens from Bingham,Moscow, Pleasant Ridge and Concordformed the Bingham Area HealthCouncil. The only doctor in the areahad moved to Skowhegan, leavingthe community without medical care.This left local residents no choice butto travel 25 miles or more to receiveprimary and hospital care. Seeing theneed to regain access to care close-to-home, the Health Council workedwith Kennebec Valley RegionalHealth Agency of Waterville (nowHealthReach), to bring health careback to the community. The HealthCouncil’s first slate of officers were President James Hilton,Vice-President Jenis Robinson, Treasurer Glenn Wing andSecretary Pauline Taylor.

Founding health center staff members were hired in late1975. Soon after, the first patients were seen. “The first week

we saw 40 patients,” reflects Carolsue Hill, Practice Manager.Hill, who is HRCHC’s longest serving employee, then servedas Receptionist/Bookkeeper. Robert Girard, PA-C, was theprovider caring for patients in those early days, with RobertKaschub, MD, from Skowhegan on-site part-time reviewingpatient charts.

The practice has grown over theyears and adapted to meet thegrowing needs of the community. In1990, the original site on MainStreet was expanded to add abusiness office and new exam room.Despite this modest expansion, thespace, which was formerly a privateresidence, was quickly outgrown.

In the fall of 2002, the healthcenter relocated down the street toa much-needed newly built facilityat 237 Main Street. Thisaccomplishment is credited to thediligent efforts of members of thelocal Health Council, who own thebuilding. “The Health Council area small group of very dedicatedpeople who have been a greatsupport to the health center over theyears,” says Hill. “Martha Youngwas particularly successful in raisingthe funds to house the new center,”says current Health CouncilPresident Chester Hibbard, a localpharmacist who owns and operatesE.W. Moore and Son. Hibbard saysthat the input and expertise of localcontractor Bill Holmes was alsoinstrumental as the design of thebuilding, constructed by SheridanCorporation, took shape. “Thefunction of the Health Counciltoday is to continue to provide aplace in the community wherehealth care services can beprovided,” Hibbard says. “Thecenter has benefited area residentsin many ways. We all value having

health care services available right here in the community,”he adds. Health Council member Richard Garrett agrees:“Traveling the distance to the hospital — a trip which theelderly find daunting at best in the winter — is quite ajourney compared to obtaining care in town.”

(Bingham, from page 1)

BINGHAM AREA HEALTH CENTER PROFILE

BAHC AT-A-GLANCE

Year Established: 1975

Services provided: A full range of primary andpreventive health care services for people of all ages.Dental services on-site part-time. Mental health andsubstance abuse counseling also available throughcontractual relationships with community partners.

Patients served: Over 2,100 in 2004

Current Practice Manager: Carolsue Hill

Medical & Dental Practice Manager in Training:Rochelle Dumont

Medical:Medical Providers: Cynthia Robertson, MD; WilliamBookheim, PA-C, Donald Dubois, MD

Clinical Staff: Linda Garland, RN; Denise Littlefield,MA; Linda Rosenberg, RN; Ellen Tewksbury, LPN

Administrative Staff: Kellie Atwood, Front OfficeCoordinator; Juanita Bean, Receptionist and PatientEducation; Corey Farnham, Receptionist; NancyLater, Receptionist; Susan Sherman, Receptionist

Central Billing Patient Account Representative:Jane McCarthy

Dental:Dental Providers: Victoria Matthews, DDS; RobertMyshrall, RDH

Administrative Staff: Nancy Beane, Dental Assistant

Central Billing Patient Account Representative:Priscilla Ripley

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Doing More for the CommunityToday a health center staff of 16 offer a full range of

primary and preventive care services to children and adults,regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Mental healthand substance abuse counseling are also available throughcontractual relationships with community partners.

BAHC provided care to over 2,100 patients last year,serving primarily Bingham, Caratunk, Embden, Moscow,Pleasant Ridge, Solon, The Forks and West Forks andsurrounding towns.

In the fall of 2004, part-time dental services becameavailable to patients of the center. One dentist and onehygienist provide gentle, quality dental care using state-of-the art technology. “Oral health is such a critical part ofoverall health and the need for dental care is considerablein rural Maine,” says Stephen Walsh, President & CEO ofHRCHC. “Our dental professionals are finding thatconditions inside of people’s mouths indicate the previouslack of dental care available in the area,” he says. The newdental services first became available through the assistanceof a development/expansion grant awarded by the Maine OralHealth Program, Department of Human Services, withfunding from the Fund for Healthy Maine.

An additional new service will soon be available at thehealth center. Staff are eagerly anticipating the arrivalMelody Pratt, DO, who will be joining the center later thissummer and will bring osteopathic manipulative therapy tothe health center.

Staff Committed to Community HealthOver one-half of the medical staff at Bingham have

served for over 20 years, creating a special connection withthe community. This type of longevity is unusual in today’s

health care system,and offers patientscontinuity of care.

Three incredibleladies, RegisteredNurses LindaGarland and LindaRosenberg andLPN EllenTewksbury — whohave worked forHealthReach for 21

years, 29 years and 27 years respectively — exemplify theprofessionalism and commitment to community healthfor which the health center is well-known. All aredeservedly proud of their role. “I always wanted to be anurse,” says Rosenberg. “Providing health care to folks

“The health center has benefitedarea residents in many ways.We all value having health careservices available right here inthe community.”Chester Hibbard, President ofBingham Area Health Council

Linda Rosenberg, RN, Ellen Tewksbury, LPN,and Linda Garland, RN

who live in a rural community is rewarding,” she says.“People know us, ask for us when they call, and they arereassured that we know them and their health situationand history and that we are here for them.” What sheenjoys most is caring for people of all ages, she says. “Wesee entire families, often caring for the children of parentswho we cared for when they were children.” She valuesthat the health center cares for the whole person, with astrong emphasis on prevention, she says, citingeducational efforts to encourage patients to stop smokingand to exercise more as examples. One component of thiseffort is a series of free health seminars, held at the healthcenter coordinated by Cindy Robertson, MD and JuanitaBean at which experts speak on health topics of interestto the community (e.g., diabetes prevention andmanagement.)

“It is rewarding to provide people with needed careand support, to make a difference in their day and in theirlives in even a small way,” says Tewksbury. It is directpatient care that all three nurses say they still enjoy mostthat initially attracted them into nursing careers, for whicheach made personal sacrifices to achieve. “I was amongthe first generation within my family to graduate from

“I feel very fortunate that myfamily and I can receive the kind of

quality care that the health centerprovides. It is harder and harder forpeople around here to keep up with

health care costs, with the loss ofindustry and the higher paying jobsand benefits that have left with it.

Having the health center heremakes a real difference, as there is

a great need for the services and wedon’t have anywhere else to go. The health center

makes the community a better place.”

(See Bingham, page 4)

Jay Strickland,BAHC patient

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college,” says Garland, who whileraising her children continued hereducation to become an RN.

Dr. Cindy Robertson’s story isanother one overflowing withinspiration. Dr. Robertson, who joinedthe health center over two decades ago,was recognized last year by the NationalHealth Service Corps for hercontributions and accomplishments.Sophie Glidden, Director of the state’sOffice of Rural Health and PrimaryCare, commended Robertson for hercommitment to community health:“Cindy went to Bingham, developedher practice, and committed herself tostaying in this rural community andproviding quality health care to anunderserved population,” said Glidden. At the awardceremony, Robertson was also praised as a role model forthe over 40 medical students she has mentored (see also,February, 2004 issue of Health Center Highlights). As youmay have also read in a recent article in the Morning Sentinel,Redington-Fairview General Hospital youth volunteer andhopeful future doctor Brandon Giberson cited Dr.Robertson as among his inspirations: “As a child going toroutine appointments at [BAHC], Giberson noticed howcaring Dr. Cynthia Robertson was, no matter how busy shewas. ‘She seemed to take the perfect amount of time withevery patient’ he said.”

“One of my life commitments has been to try to equalizeopportunity for people who have not had as muchopportunity in their lives as I have. I try to hold in myheart always the person who I think is most disenfranchisedin our society and to do things the way she would need

them done,” says Robertson. “It hasbeen a life goal of mine and it means alot to me to know that someday whenI depart I will be doing so with thehealth center located in this newbuilding and with the legacy of qualityhealth care in this communityensured,” she adds. “We have awonderful staff from the communitywho know our patients and itcontinues to be a privilege to workwith them.”

“Our providers and staff are caringand loyal, and the whole team workstogether to deliver the best possiblecare to our patients,” says CarolsueHill. She also recognizesHealthReach’s CentralAdministrative Office team for theircontinued support and commitment.“The folks at Central really care about

the health centers and people we serve, and we appreciateall that they do as well,” she says.

Hill, who will retire at the end of June, has witnessedmany changes in the community over her long tenure (seealso, spotlight on Carolsue Hill, November/December 2004issue of Health Center Highlights.) She has seen industrydecline locally with mill closings and the shift to aneconomy today that is driven more by seasonal recreation.Not to mention the changes in the health care systemnationally.

Hill emphasizes that she has every confidence thatRochelle Dumont, who has been transitioning into herrole as the next Practice Manager in advance of Carolsue’sdeparture, will very capably manage the health center.Dumont grew up in Bingham and worked for many yearsat Sappi. As her status as a patient of the health centerpre-existed her employment, she came into the position

Cynthia Robertson, MD, 22 years with BAHC,cares for a patient

VISIT US ONLINE!We invite you to visit our website http://www.HealthReachCHC.org

to learn more about our providers and health centers, our organization,

information of interest to patients and more. We update job opportunities

each week and provide new health tips each month.

By the click of your mouse, you can also read our press

releases and newsletters and connect to Maine and national resources.

We welcome your feedback at HRCHC@HealthReach.org.

(Bingham, from page 3)

BINGHAM AREA HEALTH CENTER PROFILE

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Spotlight - In Their Own Words...

Editor’s note: A recently added feature of our newsletter “spotlights” patients, employees, volunteers andother community members from our service areas in the form of testimonials. We hope that you enjoyhearing from individuals featured “in their own words” and at the same time gain a better understandingof our organization.

Name: Alison Duncan

Role at HRCHC: AmeriCorps Volunteer(AmeriCorps is a national volunteer service program).

In her own words…

“My time with AmeriCorps at HealthReach has really opened my eyes to someof the issues and barriers that health care consumers face. One issue that I havecome into contact with multiple times has been the barriers surroundingprescription medications. I have always been aware that there are medicationprice issues and of the confusion regarding insurance coverage but I wasn’t awareof the extent to which the problems exist. I have been working on multiple projectsthat have taken me deeper into this issue through the eyes of community health center patients:� Indigent Drug Program at Sheepscot Valley Health Center – Weekly I work with another dedicated

volunteer to process applications for patients applying for free medications through various drugcompanies’ patient assistance programs. I feel the importance of this program each week whenwe have more and more patients who are requesting help with the coverage of their medications.It is a constant reminder of how critical a program like this can be to a low-income patient.

� Senior health forums in Albion, Phillips and Coopers Mills – I have been organizing free educationalforums for seniors on the topics of MaineCare, prescription drug cards and the Estate RecoveryProgram. Volunteer speakers from the Maine Primary Care Association and Legal Services forthe Elderly present related information to help them better understand their options.

� 2004 Needs Assessment – Collecting and working with the data from the Needs Assessmentshowed just how big of an issue this is in the eyes of patients, staff and board members. Medicationcost was ranked as the top issue of importance (see also, “2004 Community Health NeedsAssessment Results,” March/April issue of Health Center Highlights, page 6).

I feel that working on these projects truly helps to meet a need of the health center patients. It feelsgood knowing that I am helping to connect people with services that can have a huge impact on theirstate of health. The Indigent Drug Program and the senior forums both reach out and help those whoare in need, whether it is help with purchasing medications or help deciphering the maze of medicationand insurance options.”

already having a deep appreciation for the services thecenter provides. “I always knew that this was a quality,professional health center staffed with people who trulycare. Now that I’m involved behind the scenes, I see thatmy impression was correct, and it is ever more apparentto me as I become more involved in the everydayoperations and witness the daily delivery of care,” she says.Dumont acknowledges the very big shoes she has to filland expresses a true respect and appreciation for the

accomplishments of her predecessor. “I look forward tohelping the health center to continue all that it has doneright for so many years. It serves a vital role close-to-homehere in this community, serving many who otherwise mightbe without other options, and I am proud to be on board.”

Thank you to the Bingham Area Health Center teamfor all that you do!

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SERVICES

Madison Area Health Center Outreach Program Update

L transportation, childcare, and energy arebetter met. Although all ofHealthReach’s 11 health centers provideinformation and referral to medical andsocial services, staff time is limited as thedelivery of medical care is the primaryfocus. With a social worker available whois knowledgeable about resources,patients are better able to make use ofthe programs which best meet the needsof their personal situation.

MAHC’s social worker, KimCaldwell, LSW, provides education andadvocacy to patients who areexperiencing difficulty in accessingneeded services. She assists individualsand families with issues such ashomelessness and domestic abuse. Shecan assist patients by providing directlinkages to health, pharmaceutical,financial, and social support services.

Kim Caldwell,LSW

ast spring, HealthReach Community Health Centers received fundingfrom the Betterment Fund for anOutreach Program at the Madison AreaHealth Center. With a social worker nowon site, medical providers are able tospend more time responding to themedical issues of health center patients.

The OutreachProgram helps reducethe impact of barriersto achieving the bestpossible health statusexperienced by manypatients, particularlyolder adults and high-risk individuals whoare underinsured oruninsured. Patients

can more easily improve their healthstatus when basic needs for food, housing,

In addition, Caldwell serves as aresource for health education materialsand organizes community educationprograms. Last fall she coordinated apresentation on Legal Aspects of Agingand co-facilitated a presentation at aSAD 59 teachers workshop on resourcesfor older adults. Caldwell is available toclubs or organizations in Madison toprovide community health education.

Caldwell’s hours are on Mondays from8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and on Tuesdaysfrom 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. There is nocharge for her services. If you needassistance filling out forms (e.g., SlidingFee Applications, MaineCare, MedicareBuy-In Benefit) or locating resources (e.g.,housing, transportation, counseling,dental services, elderly services), callMAHC at 696-3992 to schedule anappointment with Caldwell.

� Care for Acute and ChronicIllnesses

� Checkups for the entire family

� School and Sports Physicals

� Flu Shots & Immunizations

� Family Planning Services

� Minor Office Surgery

� Osteopathic Manipulation

Madison Area Health CenterOur Services Include:

� Community ResourceReferrals

� Mental Health & SubstanceAbuse Counseling

� On-Call EmergencyCoverage

� Sliding Fee Program

8 South Main Street, P.O. Box 200, Madison, Maine 04950(207) 696-3992

www.HealthReachCHC.orgHRCHC Equal Opportunity Organization

We are now accepting new patients

Charles Staley, MDDavid Ferris, DO

Bob Underwood, PALinda Tully, FNP

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FROM THE CLINICAL SIDE

LOVEJOY’S KALEIDOSCOPE (HDC DIABETES TEAM) BEGINS

ITS JOURNEY!

s reported previously, Lovejoy Health Center in Albion is a

participant in the 2005 HealthDisparities Collaborative (HDC) forDiabetes Care. The Bureau of Primary

Health Care (BPHC)has developed aninitiative, HealthD i s p a r i t i e sCollaborative, todecrease the gapsbetween what weknow to be “goodhealth care” and whatwe do. The

Collaborative is a multi-year healthinitiative that HealthReach CommunityHealth Centers (HRCHC) mustparticipate in because it is a system offederally qualified health centers(FQHCs).

National statistics show that over100 million Americans suffer from oneor more chronic illness. The UnitedStates spends greater than $500 billionevery year for health care for patientswith chronic illness. Patients, familiesand physicians increasingly recognizethe defects in the current system ofproviding health care. The BPHCHealth Disparities Collaborative usesthe “Care Model”- a system approachto effect the improvement in nationallyshared process and health outcomemeasures in diverse community healthcenter settings and populations.Implementation of the “Chronic CareModel” will result in continuous healingrelationships, customize care for patientneeds and values, make the patient anactive partner in his own care, shareknowledge and information, useevidence-based decision making,anticipate patient needs and createcooperation among health careproviders.

The Lovejoy Kaleidoscope (HDC Diabetes Team)Journey Continues

The “Chronic Care Model” has sixkey elements:

1. Patient Self-ManagementSupport

2. Delivery System Design3. Decision Support4. Clinical Information System5. Health Care Organization6. Community Resources.

When Lovejoy’s Kaleidoscopeperformed the initial data entry of Dr.Forrest West’s 100 patients with diabetes,the data showed two key elements(Patient Self-Management andCommunity Resources) that could besignificantly improved. During recentweeks, Lovejoy’s team has focused theirenergies on these two elements. The“Move More” Program Coordinators metwith Lovejoy’s Kaleidoscope team inMarch. The Move More Program isdesigned to engage community memberswith diabetes to become “Lay HealthEducators” (LHE). The LHEs receivespecial training so they are able to assistother diabetics with thefollowing: information,support, individualized-realistic-regular activities(exercise), links to diabetesself-management educationand support resources, maps ofoutdoor walking trails andindoor walking spaces, walkinggroups and walking part-ners, motivational andinformational e-mails andinformation about diabetes and physicalactivity.

Once Dr. West has met with a diabeticpatient and together they have decidedthat increasing the patient’s physicalactivity would be beneficial, the patientwill be referred to the Move MoreProgram. The patient will participate in a

telephone interview and will receive thename and contact information for a LHEin his community. When Dr. West sees thepatient at the next follow-up visit, he willask the patient if he was able to meet thepreviously set activity goals, (e.g., if thepatient and Dr. West agreed that thepatient should walk for a period of 15minutes, three times per week, did thepatient actually walk for 15 minutes, threetimes every week since the last officevisit?) This is just one small step thatLovejoy’s Kaleidoscope has taken towardbeginning to engage patients in activelyparticipating in setting goals for physicalactivity, with the hope that it will have apositive impact on their diabetes (e.g.,improve weight loss, lower HbA1C).

Stay tuned! There’s more to come inthe next issue of Health Center Highlights!

- Christa Dillihunt,Director of Performance

Improvement and Clinical SupportServices

Christa Dillihunt

Lovejoy’s Kaleidoscope (HDC Diabetes Team)L/R (title/collaborative role): Mellissa Murray,Front Office Coordinator/IT Specialist; ForrestWest, MD, Clinical Medical Director/ProviderChampion; Paula Dube, RN/Day-to-Day Leader;Christa Dillihunt, Director of PerformanceImprovement and Clinical Support Services/Clinical-Technical Expert; Lois Bouchard, PracticeManager/PECS Data Maintenance; StephenWalsh, President & CEO/Senior Leader

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EMPLOYEE REWARDS & RECOGNITION

We encourage employees to use simple, quick ways toacknowledge the special efforts of your colleagues. Doing sojust might brighten their day and yours.

We also invite employees to reflect on what forms of rewardsand recognition you might value. While our organization doeshave financial constraints that will not allow for certain types

of rewards, together we can continueto identify simple, creative ways toreward and recognize. You maycontact me via internal e-mail withyour ideas and suggestions. Manythanks for your support of this newprogram that we hope will bemeaningful to all.

In addition to myself, the followingHRCHC employees are currentlyserving on the R&R Subcommittee:Jewellyn Baker, Medical & DentalPractice Manager, Strong Area HealthCenter; Jill Conover, Director ofCommunications; Kylee Rankins,

Clinical Administrative Assistant; Sarah Seder, HumanResources Director; Carolyn Tranten, Practice Manager, Mt.Abram Regional Health Center; Cheryl Viles, Central Billing;and Ann Young, Administrative Assistant (as a back-up toKylee Rankins). I thank them for their time and enthusiasm.

- Jennifer BennettAssistant Director of Operations

R&R Committee Chair

Employee Recognition� On behalf of HRCHC, the R&R Committee is pleased torecognize Barbara Moss, DO, a family practitioner at SheepscotValley Health Center, for recently earning an additional Boardcertification. In successfully completing the examinations ofthe American Osteopathic Board of NeuromusculoskeletalMedicine, Dr. Moss is now also certified in Neuro-musculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative

Medicine (NMM/OMM). Dr. Moss becameone of only 466 osteopathic physiciansnationwide who currently hold this status,and now carries the distinction of holding twoBoard certifications. To achieve the NMM/OMM certification, Dr. Moss successfullydemonstrated special skill and expertise in thisarea of practice through written, oral andpractical examinations.

Kylee Rankins, Cheryl Viles, Carolyn Tranten and JenniferBennett assemble the R&R toolkits

T he Employee Rewards and Recognition Committee is pleased that efforts to show how much we all appreciate

the hard work that everyone does have moved forward.HRCHC is committed to creating and supporting

workplace excellence. Recognizing and rewarding ouremployees for a job well done is not only the right thing todo, it is also the smart thing to do.Job satisfaction leads to increasedretention of highly qualified staff –fundamental to our mission toprovide quality health care to thepatients that we serve.

We have put into place thefollowing initiatives for ouremployees:� The 1st Annual (Used) ComputerLottery was held on March 30th

2005. Of the ninety-f ive (95)employees who participated in thelottery, 36 received computers. Itwas as exciting for the Committeeto witness the random drawing of the winning names as itwas for the lucky winners. The lottery was a huge successand will be occurring each year in the Spring. So if youdidn’t win one this year, employees will have another chancesoon. We also can feel good about finding use for this otherwiseobsolete equipment.� R&R “Tool Kits” were created by the Committee foryour supervisor/Practice Manager to reward staff. In the“Tool Kits” are items that are small in size and large inmeaning. The “Tool Kit” includes appreciation snackpacks, “Garden of Thanks” seed packets, above and beyondsnack packs, Be Happy – Be Healthy handbooks, anyoccasion cards, gift certificates, “You made a Difference”notes and “special awards” certificates.� Employees will now be recognized for their goodattendance.� A Retirement Protocol has been put into place torecognize those employees that have been so loyal to theorganization.� Coming soon will be more details on the “Individuals ofthe Year” Awards and how employees may nominateindividuals for these awards.� Practice Managers wil l be provided a modestdiscretionary fund to help defray some of the cost of occasionalspecial event or holiday celebrations at the sites.

Barbara Moss, DO(continued next page, lower)

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HEALTH TIP

Understanding Asthma Could Help You Breathe EasierIn Recognition of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, May 2005

What is asthma and what are its symptoms?Asthma is a disease of the lungs affecting nearly

20 million Americans. If you have asthma, theinside walls of your airways are inflamed(swollen). This makes the airways verysensitive, and they tend to react strongly tothings to which you are allergic or findirritating. When the airways react, they getnarrower and less air flows through to yourlung tissues. This causes symptoms likewheezing (a whistling sound when youbreathe), coughing, chest tightness, and trouble breathing.Although the effects are usually temporary, they can cause shortnessof breath, breathing trouble, and other symptoms. Asthma shouldbe taken seriously, as severe asthma episodes, or “attacks,” canrequire emergency treatment to restore normal breathing.

Who gets asthma?Although asthma affects people of all ages, it often starts in

childhood and is more common in children than adults. Moreboys have asthma than girls, but in adulthood, more women haveasthma than men. Most, but not all, people with asthma haveallergies. Children with a family history of allergy and asthma aremore likely to have asthma.

What causes asthma?It is not clear exactly what makes the airways of people with

asthma inflamed in the first place. Your inflamed airways may bedue to a combination of things. We know that if other people inyour family have asthma, you are more likely to develop it. Newresearch suggests exposures early in your life (like tobacco smoke,infections, and some allergens) may be important.

What causes asthma attacks?There are things that can make asthma symptoms worse

and lead to asthma attacks. Some of the more common thingsthat can worsen your asthma symptoms are exercise, allergens(such as animal dander, dust mites, pollen from trees and grass,mold); irritants (such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, cold air,strong odors), viral infections, and certain types of medications.It is important for you to learn which of these are problems foryou. Your doctor can help you identify which things effect yourasthma and ways to avoid them.

Managing asthmaIf you think you may be experiencing asthma symptoms,

speak with your doctor, as there are a variety of diagnostic teststo help determine if you have the disease. Asthma cannot becured, but for most patients it can be controlled so that youhave only minimal and infrequent symptoms. So, if you haveasthma, taking care of it is animportant part of your life. Controllingyour asthma means staying away fromthings that bother your airways andtaking medicines as directed by yourdoctor. By controlling your asthmaevery day, you can prevent serioussymptoms and take part in normalactivities.

For more information, please contact your medical provider.He/she will develop an action plan with you to help controlyour asthma.

Source: National Institutes of Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

� On behalf of HRCHC, the R&R Committee is pleased torecognize Kevin Finley, DO of Bethel Family Health Center.Dr. Finley was recently presented the “Outstanding PhysicianAward for 2005” by the DowneastAssociation of Physician Assistants. Theaward is presented to a Maine physicianwho has demonstrated outstanding supportof Physician Assistants and the PAprofession by precepting, educating, andlegislating or by exemplifying the PA/Physician team approach to medicine.There have been regular rotations of PAstudents at BFHC over the last several

years for which Dr. Finley has served as preceptor. “He is alwayswilling and pleased to take on PA students, who have again andagain expressed their appreciation for his mentoring style and

inspiration,” says Practice Manager DiannaMilot. “We are proud of Dr. Finley’s recentrecognition by the Downeast Associationof Physician Assistants. His outstandingwork in this area reflects the importanceof supporting Physician Assistants — notonly in their development of clinical skillsbut in their understanding of rural healthissues,” adds Stephen E. Walsh, HRCHCPresident & CEO.Diana Milot congratulates Dr. Finley

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Thank You to Our Nurses!Thank You to Our Nurses!

Jeanne Alley, LPN, Lovejoy

Cynthia Atwood, LPN, Mt. Abram

Ann Barnett, RN, Western Maine

Rosalie Bates, LPN, Strong

Juanita Bean, RN, Bingham

Germaine Beane, LPN, Madison

Jennifer Bennett, RN, Asst. Director of

Operations, Central

Robin Boivin, MA Western Maine

Kathleen Bonney, MA, Western Maine

Pamela Brochu, RN, Mt. Abram

Karen Campbell, LPN, Strong

Eileen Castonguay, LPN, Western

Maine

Catherine Corbin, MA, Western Maine

Melissa Croxford, MA, Richmond

Cynthia Cushman, MA, Bethel

Kammy Cutten, Float MA

Latricia Damron, LPN, Lovejoy

Kathryn Darrow, LPN, Richmond

L. Bernadette Demillo, MA, Western

Maine

Carolyn Deming, LPN, Strong

Christa Dillihunt, RN, Dir. of P.I. &

Clinical Support Svcs., Central

Paula Dube, RN, Lovejoy

Patricia Dumas, LPN, Sheepscot

Wendy Elliott, MA, Western Maine

Lisa Field, LPN, Western Maine

Janie Fix, RN, Lovejoy

Brenda French, MA, Madison

Linda Garland, RN, Bingham

Line Gay, RN, Belgrade

Cathy Godwin, RN, Bethel

Tammy Hadley, RN, Bethel

Heather Hartford, RN, Richmond

Stephanie Hemingway, RN, Strong

Dulcey Holbrook, LPN, Mt. Abram

Christine Holzinger, MA, Richmond

Rachelle Horn, RN, Sheepscot

Marilyn Howe, LPN, Mt. Abram

Elaine Johnson, LPN, Lovejoy

Bonnie Largess, Medical Lab Tech., Bethel

Margaret Lee, LPN, Rangeley

Lillian Lewis, MA, Western Maine

Deborah Libby, MA, Rangeley

Pamela Lindvall, RN, Richmond

Denise Littlefield, MA, Bingham

Roxann Lizzotte, MA, Sheepscot

Jill Lovewell, LPN, Western Maine

Diane Maberry, MA, Western Maine

Patricia Magnusson, RN, Rangeley

Lisa Mann, RN, Madison

Linda Marchildon, MA, Bethel

Rosalie Martikke, LPN, Madison

Sue Martin, RN, Bethel

Lori McIntosh, LPN, Belgrade

Phyllis Nichols, RN, Sheepscot

Kathryn Nichols, LPN, Sheepscot

Ethel Noiles, Clinical Tech., Richmond

A. Faye Nye, RN, Belgrade

Diane Pearson, MA, Western Maine

Wendy Pond, RN, Mt. Abram

Janet Provost, LPN, Sheepscot

Kylee Rankins, MA, Clinical Admin. Asst.,

Central

Linda Rosenberg, RN, Bingham

Patricia Roy, RN, Lovejoy

Kelly Seegmiller, RN, Belgrade

Libby St. Pierre, Float MA

Pamela Starbird, LPN, Strong

Laurie-Ann Targett, RN, Strong

Karen Taylor, Float MA

Ellen Tewksbury, LPN, Bingham

Jeannine Thornton, LPN, Bethel

Patricia Turner, LPN, Sheepscot

Linda Vieweg, LPN, Bethel

Wilma Ware, MA Sheepscot

Cheryl Welch, RN, Madison

Leeann Wright, MA, Bethel

(As of 4/05)

In recognition of National Nurses Week,May 6-12, 2005

HRCHC would like to thank our nurses for their outstanding deliveryof quality, compassionate health care. We are proud of the daily heroicefforts you perform to the benefit of our patients.

861-3400 or 800-427-1127An Equal Opportunity Organization • www.HealthReachCHC.org

11

STAFF NEWS

Thank you to ouradministrativeprofessionals!

HRCHC would like to recognizeour administrative professionals fortheir daily stellar efforts at ourhealth centers across the systemand at our Central AdministrativeOffices in Waterville. Thank you forall that you do!

� Welcome Rochelle Dumont – Welcome Rochelle Dumont,Medical and Dental Practice Manager, Bingham Area HealthCenter. We are pleased to have you join the team (see also,BAHC profile, page 4).

- Connie Coggins,Director of Operations

� From Sheepscot – Welcome Janet R. Provost to the team! Janet is an LPNand is working in the lab. Also, Congratulations to Barbara Moss, DO, on passingher Boards (see related article in “Employee Rewards & Recognition” column,page 8).

- Teresa Gregory, Practice Manager,Sheepscot Valley Health Center

RochelleDumont

� Retirement Sentiments – Congratulations and best wishes to Bill Bookheim,PA; Carolsue Hill, Practice Manager; Nancy Later, Receptionist, all of BinghamArea Health Center; Judy Quimby, Practice Manager, Rangeley Region HealthCenter and Elaine Henry, Receptionist, Western Maine Family Health Center onthe occasion of your upcoming retirements. Thank you for your years of dedicatedservice.

- Connie Coggins,Director of Operations

� Keep up the good work – Thank you to Strong Area Dental Center employeesfor going above and beyond to make SADC a successful venture.

- Jewellyn Baker, Medical & Dental Practice Manager,Strong Area Health Center

� News from Western Maine – Congratulations and best wishes to SondraPerry, PA-C, on the arrival of your newborn son.

- Diane Lavoie, Practice Manager,Western Maine Family Health Center

WELCOME

Bonnie Crawford, Receptionist,Madison; Joanne Cox, Receptionist,Madison; Rochelle Dumont, Medical &Dental Practice Manager, Bingham;Harvey Eastman, MD, Float Provider;Lisa Lauro, Front Office Coordinator,Bethel; Rose Maheu, Receptionist,Sheepscot; Lauren Mulholland,Receptionist, Rangeley; Janet Provost,LPN, Sheepscot; Kelly Stone,Receptionist, Bethel

MILESTONES

5 Years – Barbara Marston,Receptionist, Western Maine

15 Years – Bonnie Largess, MedicalLab Tech., Bethel

FAREWELL

Laurence Barton, Medical RecordsClerk, Sheepscot; Mary Boothby,Receptionist, Rangeley; BridgetCampbell, Public Relations Specialist,Central; Lori Clark, Receptionist, Bethel;Shonda Copeland, Dental Assistant,Strong; Mary Dean, Medical RecordsClerk, Richmond; Sally Ann Dudley-Knights, Receptionist, Lovejoy; AnnieFarnham, Medical Records Clerk,Madison; Doreen Pingree, DentalReceptionist, Strong

(Please note that the occurrences in ourWelcome, Milestones and Farwell sections

took place during March/April, 2005).

Bill Bookheim, PA28 yearsof service

Carolsue Hill29 1/2 years

of service

Elaine Henry9 years

of service

Nancy Later27 yearsof service

Judy Quimby11 yearsof service

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MAINE 1. Belgrade Regional Health Center: 495-3323 2. Bethel Family Health Center: 824-2193 3. Bingham Area Health Center: Health: 672-4187 Dental: 672-3519 4. Lovejoy Health Center (Albion): 437-9388 5. Madison Area Health Center: 696-3992 6. Mt. Abram Regional Health Center (Kingfield): 265-4555 7. Rangeley Region Health Center: 864-3303 8. Richmond Area Health Center: 737-4359 9. Sheepscot Valley Health Center (Coopers Mills): 549-758110. Strong Area Health Center: Health: 684-4010 Dental : 684-304511. Western Maine Family Health Center (Livermore Falls): 897-434512. HRCHC Administrative Office (Waterville): 861-3400 Toll Free in Maine 1-800-427-1127

HealthReach Community Health Centers is a family of 11 federally qualified,community-based health centers located in central and western Maine. Dedicatedproviders deliver high quality, affordable health care to 38,000 rural and underservedresidents in over 80 communities. A private, non-profit organization with a 30-year history, HRCHC is funded by patient fees, grants and individual donations.

Health Center Highlights is a bi-monthly publication of HealthReach Community HealthCenters. Please send article ideas/submissions, comments, or suggestions to Director ofCommunications, 8 Highwood St., PO Box 1568, Waterville, Maine 04903, via fax to(207) 861-5519, or e-mail: media@HealthReach.org

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Bangor

Lewiston

Augusta

Waterville

FarmingtonSkowhegan

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www.HealthReachCHC.orgHRCHC is an Equal Opportunity Organization

NONPROFIT ORG

US POSTAGE

PAID

WATERVILLE, ME

PERMIT NO. 19

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

A Salute to Our Volunteers. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

HRCHC Profile: Bingham AreaHealth Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Spotlight - In Her Own Words:Alison Duncan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Services: Madison Area Health CenterOutreach Program Update. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

From the Clinical Side: The LovejoyKaleidoscope (HDC Diabetes Team)

Journey Continues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Employee Rewards & Recognition. . . . . . . 8

Health Tip: Understanding Asthma Could Help You Breathe Easier. . . . . . . . . 9

Thank You to Our Nurses. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Staff News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Welcome, Farewell & Milestones. . . . . . . 11

8 Highwood Street

P.O. Box 1568

Waterville, ME 04903