NWADG Progress 2018

2018 Progress

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nonprofit groups can share information legally at the consent of the patient, client or his guardian. A system of community liaisons helped people set up their profiles and started to use the technology in July. "To make an impact from a health perspective, we have to find patients' social determi- nants, which are what they're dealing with, whether that's homelessness, food insecu- rity, domestic violence, or a lack of basic resources such as clothing and transporta- tion," Ogle said. The center assesses a pa- tient and builds a care plan based on his social determi- nants, Ogle said. Hark then creates a coordinated team by putting the patient in touch with all the providers and organizations that can help meet those needs, because most people have more than one health issue. Patients can use the web- site to find food, housing, agencies and the require- ments they would have to meet to get services. "Our network is not used to its fullest, and it's not a fault of anybody in Northwest Arkansas," Ogle said. Patients can access Hark from computers and by mo- bile, whether that's a phone, iPad or other device. If a cli- ent doesn't have a data plan, a liaison can meet him at a local McDonald's or other business with free Wi-Fi to assist. Ogle hopes to roll out a Hark app. Madi Hutson, executive director of the Teen Action Support Center in Rogers, said her organization has ben- efited from the free training sessions provided by the Cen- ter for Collaborative Care. Her clients, who are teenage parents and homeless teens, are beginning to benefit from Hark. "It def initely saves us money," Hutson said. As a nonprofit group, it's hard to set aside money for training. The Teen Center was using a program similar to Hark that came with a fee. In a recent event, the Teen Center faced a diaper crisis. They had an excess of size three diapers, but many of its clients needed size six. Through the Center for Col- laborative Care, they found a similar organization that was facing a similar crisis and swapped donations, which saved them $10,000 in supply purchases. Hark saves the center's staff a lot of time and effort, she said. "In our work, we have to talk to other providers, and we sign a release of informa- tion each time we do," Hut- son said. "Hark will cut down on that. The person approves that yes, a case manager can talk to their teacher. You only do it one time. The potential of that is huge." Acquiring so many signa- tures and release forms hin- ders the nonprofit group's ability to help in an emergen- cy, she said. The new tech - nology will help them help teens faster and without the temptation to cut corners. "With Hark, we're not put at risk in any way," Hutson said. April Wallace can be reached by email at awallace@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWAApril. UAMS Northwest programs focus on Marshallese Health care providers have created several programs to take care of the people from the Marshall Islands who have moved to Northwest Arkansas. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest in Fayetteville estimates from 10,000 to 14,000 Marshallese live in the region. THREE WAYS TO HELP The Office of Community Health and Research focuses on reducing health disparities through research and com- munity programs, explained Pearl McElfish, the school's associate vice chancellor and director of many of the school's programs. The Center for Pacific Islander Health, founded in 2015, is a research program designed to decrease health disparities and develop cul - turally sensitive approaches to education and treatment. The research extends to Pa- cific Islanders living in Okla- homa, Missouri and Kansas. "Pacif ic Islanders are among the least studied ethnic group in the world, as they are typically grouped with Asian-Americans in terms of data," McElfish wrote in email. The North Street Clinic treats uninsured diabetic Marshallese adults. "The clinic sprang out of a need identified by stu- dents at UAMS who partic- ipated in health screenings conducted by the Office of Community Health and Research," McElfish said. "Students were identifying high numbers of Marshallese community members who were diabetic or pre-diabet - ic. "Those who had insur- ance could visit with their physicians about treatment options. However, many did not have insurance and could not afford to pay for doctor's visits. The students worked with faculty at UAMS to launch the student-led, interprofessional free clinic for Marshallese with diabetes." HEALTH CONCERNS Since opening in 2014, the North Street Clinic has treated more than 600 Marshallese patients with diabetes, who were seen more than 2,500 times. UAMS faculty, staff and students from the colleges of medicine, pharmacy, nursing and health professions have been involved in screenings since 2013 and determined 38 percent of Marshallese have diabetes, compared with 9.3 percent of the general U.S. population. Both health screenings and meetings with pastors and community leaders identified diabetes as a key health con- cern for this community, spurring UAMS to launch the clinic. Patients with severe, uncontrolled diabetes receive free care from UAMS endocrinologists who staff a monthly specialty clinic on site. "The vast majority of these patients were not under a doc- tor's care prior to visiting UAMS and were already suffering from the effects of poor glucose management," McElfish said. The local population also has high rates of obesity and hypertension, McElfish said. "We're concerned about higher rates of cardiovascular disease, obesity and hypertension, and we look forward to advancing research in this area," she said. Recent screenings of 272 Marshallese community mem- bers showed 28 percent were overweight and more than 60 percent were obese. The North Street Clinic treats only Marshallese with diabetes without health insurance or another means to pay for treatment, McElfish said. To treat other needs, the medical school has partnered with area hospitals and other organizations to coordinate care. The clinic staff works with the Arkansas Department of Health to provide vaccinations and tuberculosis screenings, as the disease is common in this population. And UAMS is able to refer clinic patients to other physicians for free well-woman care, vision treatment and low-cost cardiac care. Other clinical programs — such as family medical cen- ters in Fayetteville and Springdale and an outpatient ther- apy clinic — are open to all patients, McElfish said. "Another challenge in the Pacific Islander community is the lack of diversity in health care providers," McElfish continued. "This is so important because providers who understand the culture and the language can better con- nect with and serve their patients, and the patients are more likely to follow through with doctor's orders." UAMS Northwest boasts of Dr. Sheldon Riklon, one of only two Marshallese physicians in the world trained in the United States. Riklon is an associate professor in the school's College of Medicine's department of family and preventive medicine and is the inaugural holder of the Dr. Peter O. Kohler endowed distinguished professorship for health disparities. Riklon oversees residents at the UAMS Family Medical Clinic and students at the North Street Clinic. He also treats patients at the Community Clinic in Springdale — a partner organization, but a separate entity. The medical school has trained 70 Marshallese com- munity health workers and certified interpreters to bridge the gap between health care providers and the community. The trained community liaisons work with agencies and clinics throughout Northwest Arkansas. "They have been an important part of educating the pa- tients about management of their disease," McElfish said. Laurinda Joenks can be reached by email at ljoenks@nwadg.com or on Twitter @NWALaurinda. NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo Sheldon Riklon, an associate professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest in Fayetteville, speaks to high school students and their parents at Spring- dale High School, encouraging the students to go into health care jobs. LAURINDA JOENKS NWA DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Center for Pacific Islander Health The Center for Pacific Is- lander Health is an early pioneer of research into and outcomes sharing about the Pacific Islander community, and is involved with other centers around the world, said Pearl McElfish, asso - ciate vice chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences North- west. Last fall, center staff launched the Pacific Islander Health Research Network to disseminate results of studies and trials involving Native Hawaiians and Pa- cific Islanders to health care providers delivering care to those communities. The Center and the Office of Community Health jointly hosted an international Pa- cific Islander health confer- ence in Fayetteville in 2016, attended by more than 200 health care professionals, researchers, government officials and community lead- ers. In 2017, the center staff co-hosted the conference in Honolulu with the University of Hawaii. "We're quite excited to pass the conference management on to several of our collabo - rators who will be hosting it in the U.S. and the Pacific in coming years," McElfish said. Source: Staff report County Health Rankings Benton and Washington counties have led the state in the County Health Rankings over the past seven years. The rankings measure health outcomes and health factors. Health outcomes are length and quality of life. Health factors include behaviors such as smoking and exercise, clinical care, social and economic factors and physical environment. Below are some of the health factors data used in the 2017 ranking. Adult smoking Adult obesity Uninsured Dentists Children in poverty Severe housing problems Benton County 16% 30% 14% 2,290:1 15% 12% Washington County 21% 31% 17% 1,720:1 21% 19% Arkansas 25% 34% 14% 2,260:1 26% 15% Top U.S. Performers 14% 26% 8% 1,320:1 12% 9% SOURCE: County Health Ranking & Roadmaps Rankings v Continued from Page 8S NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Olivia Minteer of Centerton, 3, plays on the outdoor gym Feb. 15 along the Razorback Greenway in Bentonville. "Our network is not used to its fullest, and it's not a fault of anybody in Northwest Arkansas." — Nick Ogle, who leads the nonprofit Center for Collaborative Care Health & Wellness ∂ ∂ SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2018 v 11S www.bvwsonline.com 479-876-2220 31 Cunningham Corner (just west of DQ) YUENGLING AVAILABLE NOW 10am-8pm Mon./Thur. & 10am-9pm Fri. & Sat. STOVES • FIREPLACES • INSERTS 1021 S. GENTRY BLVD. GENTRY, AR 72734 479.736.3100 www.SpavinawStove.com sales@spavinawstove.com Ignite your passion for grilling.™ With our production facility in Gentry, Arkansas, we are one of many McKee Foods locations serving over 6000 employees. Proud to be a part of Northwest Arkansas, we are privately owned and operated, and skilled with decades of experience in providing quality baked goods. And always remember, behind every smile you unwrap, there is a winning team comprised of heritage, respect and family values. Manufacturers of America's Number-One Snack Cake McKee Foods Corporation

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