The Volunteer Voice
E-Newsletter
March 15th, 2019
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Happy Saint Patrick's Day
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Slainte!
The staff would like to wish you a
Happy St. Patrick's Day
!
"May your thoughts be
as glad
as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song. May each day bring you bright, happy hours that
stay with you
all the year long."
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Support a Smile on World Oral Health Day
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World Oral Health Day
is Wednesday, March 20th! Support a smile and make a donation that will assist VIM's dental clinic with continuing to provide FREE dental care to our
uninsured neighbors
in need.
Dental services offered to patients include fillings/restorations, extractions, treatment of abscesses, dentures, cleanings and education. Most patients that come to VIM's dental clinic have
severe oral hygiene issues
and often require 2-4 appointments to get out of pain.
Any contribution you are able to make helps support our mission of keeping low-income families in Luzerne County healthy, well and working!
Donations can be made directly on our website or by sending a check to
VIM at 190 North Pennsylvania Avenue Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.
We appreciate your support! Thank you!
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NALOXONE (NARCAN) NOW
AVAILABLE AT VIM
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According to the
Centers for Disease Control
, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids is a
serious national crisis
that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare. It affects Pennsylvanians across the state, from big cities to rural communities. At VIM, our goal is to
keep our patients safe
and healthy. Education and preparation is key to dealing with this crisis so a strategic decision was made to carry Naloxone.
In September 2014, Senate Bill 1164 was signed into law as ACT 139 which allows first responders, providers, and organizations the ability to administer a medication known as
Naloxone
, a life-saving opioid reversal medication, to individuals experiencing an opioid overdose. Additionally, the 'Good Samaritan' provision of Act 139 provides immunity from prosecution for those responding to and reporting overdoses to 911 until help arrives.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication that can reverse an overdose that is caused by an opioid drug. When administered during an overdose, Naloxone
blocks the effects of opioids
on the brain and restores breathing within two to eight minutes. There are several ways in which Naloxone can be administered: intranasally, intramuscularly, and intravenously. VIM now has the
ability to administer
the drug both intranasally and intramuscularly. Most importantly, the intranasal medication can ONLY be used on someone who is breathing. If they are not breathing, you MUST use the intramuscular medication.
These medications can be found in the
emergency kit
in the storage closet along with instructions on how to administer the medications. If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact Dr. Frances Feudale
at drfrances-vim@hotmail.com.
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March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
By Frances Feudale, DO, Medical Director of VIM
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March is
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
and although it's the third most common cancer in the US and the second leading cause of cancer death - when it's discovered early, it's highly treatable. Colorectal cancer
affects men and women
of all racial and ethnic groups, and is most often found in people 50 years and older. The most common symptom is NO symptom and the majority of colorectal cancer
patients do not have
a family history.
So what can you do to reduce your risk?
- Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight
- Consume a diet high in fiber including fruits and vegetables
- Decrease the amount of red meat and processed meats, i.e., hot dogs, ham, bacon, and sausage you consume
- Quit smoking
- Limit your alcohol intake
But the number one way to
reduce your risk
of colorectal cancer is to get screened. VIM has had a partnership with the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute to offer our patients
FREE screenings
! Starting at age 50 and continuing until age 75, patients can receive a YEARLY FIT (fecal immunochemical test) test which is a simple home test that screens for hiden blood in your stool.
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VIM Selected to Participate in Telemedicine Pilot Program
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VIM was recently informed that the clinic has been selected to participate in the
Increasing Access to Specialty Care in VIM Clinics
pilot telemedicine program through the MAVEN Project.
The program will provide VIM with one year of access to specialty consultations, educational sessions and clinical mentoring from
The MAVEN Project’s
network of experts.
This
exciting program
will give providers at the clinic instant access to specialty consultations from neurologists, endocrinologists, cardiologists and additional specialists through
telehealth technology
.
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Staff Attend International
Women's Day Luncheon
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On Friday, March 8th,
Kelly Ranieli
, Executive Director, and
Chelsea Collins
, Social Care Coordinator, attended
"Your Hour, Her Power"
presented by
Dr. Lauren Hazzouri
, a licensed psychologist and founder of Hazzouri Psychology and Not Therapy, a lifestyle program, revolutionizing the way girls and women care for their emotional health. The event was hosted by the
Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce
at the Westmoreland Club.
The luncheon celebrated
International Women's Day
. Dr. Hazzouri's presentation used CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) techniques to show attendees how simple things such as sleep, nutritional eating and exercise can affect
mental health
.
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Students & Instructors Love VIM!
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As an
educational host site
, VIM has many students complete rotations and internships at the clinic. At the 2019 Annual Meeting & Appreciation Luncheon, the clinic recognized
Marywood University
as an Outstanding Academic Institution and
Sara Herr
as an Outstanding Student. Below is a note sent to Kelly Ranieli, Executive Director, in appreciation of the recognition.
"Our
Master of Social Work
students have always had an exceptional learning experience and the opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team. As Director of Field Education, I appreciate your
support and commitment
to our Field Education program. We are also honored that Sara Herr, this year's intern, was honored as Outstanding Student at the annual luncheon".
-
Deirdre Spelman
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Pictured above: Deirdre Spelman, Director of Field Education at Marywood University, and Marie Thomas, Chair of VIM's Board of Directors
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Healthy Smiles Program
Visits Local Preschools
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On Tuesday, March 12th,
Darcie Schaffer
, Dental Clinic Manager, and
Brittany Kittle
, intern, presented the Healthy Smile to a Healthy Start program at
Their Beginnings Childcare and Preschool Center
in Hanover. The children loved practicing brushing on Katie the Kangaroo!
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Save the Date
Upcoming Educational Community In-Services
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Learning about other Luzerne County
community agencies in order to refer patients
is one of the many ways that VIM provides case management services. All in-services are from
9:00 am to 10:00 am
and are held at the clinic. If you would like to join us for the next presentation, please
RSVP to Chelsea
at
chelsea-vimwb@hotmail.com
or 570-970-2864.
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Tuesday, March 26th
Volunteers of America
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Tuesday, May 28th
Victims Resource Center
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Patient Centered Medical Home Update
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During this week's call with the Americares team, the clinic's staff completed the review of the
Care Coordination
module. The final module to review is
Quality Improvement
before moving on to the work plan process.
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Volunteers
in
Medicine
190 North Pennsylvania Avenue
Wilkes-Barre PA 18702
Phone: 570-970-2864 | email: vimwb@hotmail.com
website www.vimwb.org
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