The Volunteer Voice
E-Newsletter
October 23, 2020
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2020 Cocktails for a Cause |
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How can you get involved with the event?
1) Be a sponsor. Below is the sponsorship form or click on the button. This is a critical time for the health of our community. Any amount helps the clinic provide healthcare to our neighbors in need.
3) Bid on our online auction items by going to our page at www.biddingowl.com/vim2020. New additions will be added to our Bidding Owl site daily! Keep checking back to bid on items and support VIM. They make great gifts while supporting a worthy cause.
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Teaser... meet our Celebrity Healthcare Bartenders!
Don't miss their drink presentations on
November 18th at 6:00pm
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VIM is a Millennium Circle Finalist |
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VIM has been chosen as a finalist for a grant from the Millennium Circle Fund of The Luzerne Foundation. Our project of "access to healthcare" will be one of five presented at the Millennium Circle Virtual Event on Thursday, October 29th at 2 PM. The event will be livestreamed on The Luzerne Foundation's Facebook page or can be viewed on their website. Members will listen to a two-minute oral presentation from each of the candidates and will vote on the Luzerne Foundation website. More information about the Millennium Circle and the event can be found by clicking here.
Your support is appreciated!
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Thirty-One Bag Party
To support:
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Visit www.mythirtyone.com/1910888
- Click on "Parties"
- Navigate to "VIM Party"
- You must go to the VIM Party page to receive a discount and for a percentage to go to VIM
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Party ends on November 20th.
Get those orders in to support VIM.
Hint: These bags make prefect holiday presents!
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VIM Receives a Surprise Anonymous Donation |
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VIM received a surprise check for $25,000 from a generous philanthropic donor that requested to stay anonymous. The donor recommends the funds be used in the dental clinic to assist with providing free care to our working uninsured neighbors. If the donor happens to read our e-newsletter, please know how much it means to the clinic and it's patients to have these funds to assist with expensive dental supplies and treatment. It is very heartwarming to have donors understand and support the VIM mission.
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Flu is a contagious disease that spreads around the United States every year, usually between October and May. Anyone can get the flu, but it is more dangerous for some people. Infants and young children, people 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions or a weakened immune system are at greatest risk of flu complications.
Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections and ear infections are examples of flu-related complications. If you have a medical condition, such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes, flu can make it worse.
Flu can cause fever and chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headache, and runny or stuffy nose. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.
Each year thousands of people in the United States die from flu, and many more are hospitalized. Flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related visits to the doctor each year.
(HHS)
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AmeriCares assisted in coordinating three flu vaccination dates with the local Walgreens in Kingston, PA. The dates were September 24, October 7 and October 22, 2020. Patients signed up for appointments and the Walgreens pharmacists administered the vaccinations at VIM. VIM is also receiving flu vaccinations from the PA Department of Health so will be able to provide that service to patients on an ongoing basis throughout flu season.
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Healthy Smile program presented at
Little Wiggles and Giggles Child Care Center
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The VIM Manager of Dental Services, Darcie Schaffer and her assistant Katie the Kangaroo have been busy educating children on the importance of good dental hygiene. In a recent visit to Wiggles and Giggles Child Care Center, children were able to show off their brushing skills using Katie the Kangaroo's full set of teeth and observe the dangers of hidden sugars in seemingly harmless foods such as ketchup.
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VIM Awarded Grant to
Clean Area of Parking Lot
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The Moses Taylor Foundation generously awarded a grant to VIM as support to the mental health of the staff and volunteers. The "Create an Outdoor Break Space" construction project will be used to encourage positive mental health and well-being practices in the workplace. Picnic tables are arriving soon for the staff to get some fresh air during the day. Masks and heavy PPE causes extra stress to the extensive schedules each day. Due to the warm October weather, the staff recently had their weekly huddle to discuss the upcoming weeks events in the new area.
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Donations Always Appreciated |
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VIM's friends and clients are always showing appreciation. We received a nice surprise of freshly picked apples that were delicious. VIM also received lab gowns from NAFC and Garment District for Gowns. They are very high quality and the staff enjoys wearing them.
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All Smiles in the Dental Clinic |
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While masks make it difficult to see smiles, the volunteer dentists continue to provide quality services to the VIM patients. A before and after photo shows the difference a smile can make in the life an individual. |
The VIM Dental Clinic is honored to be a recipient of a Pennsylvania Coalition for Oral Health Mini-Grant to assist in expenses associated with providing free dental care.
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Patient Tests Positive for Lyme Disease |
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A 29 year old male came to VIM because he removed a tick from his abdomen and had continued joint pain and swelling. Upon examining the patient, the healthcare team noted that the large bite covered the majority of the right side of his abdomen and had macerated the skin. The patient was given an antibiotic and a script for free lab work. The results revealed a positive test for Lyme Disease via Western Blot. The patient was instructed to continue his antibiotic therapy and was scheduled for a follow up appointment. At his next visit, the area on abdomen was greatly improved, with minimal faint redness and scab present at the site of the bite. Patient denied any further fever or joint pain and finished his last antibiotic that day.
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Staff and Volunteers Corner |
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Welcome to Our New Dental Hygienist,
Ivanna Kolesa
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VIM would like to welcome our new dental hygienist, Ivanna Kolesa to the team. She is already hard at work seeing patients in the Dental Clinic. Ivanna will be a huge asset to the dental clinic and ensuring patients understand good oral hygiene.
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Meet Our New Students and Volunteers |
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Christina Newcamp
Christina, a 2nd year PA student from Kings College, said "I hope to graduate PA school and practice in orthopedics or emergency medicine in the Lancasater area. I admire the mission of VIM and want to gain more experience in internal medicine."
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Xavier Walker
Xavier (left), a p2 Wilkes University student plans to eventually work in the federal prison system as a pharmacist.
Nolan Ott
Nolan (right), a p2 Wilkes University student plans to work in pharmacy either in a hospital or community setting.
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Yamika Cunningham
Yamika, who strives to work in labor and delivery said "I have been in nursing homes for 20 years, I've done acute care but never been in the clinic setting. I really love it here, the staff is great and I can feel the love in the office."
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Willie May brings decades of work experience as a volunteer receptionist. She is making a career change and is training to work in the medical coding and billing field. |
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NEPA Doctors Discuss 3rd Wave |
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"Now that the weather is cooler, officials at Geisinger are seeing an increase in positive cases. Doctors say it's a combination of people spending more time indoors and people becoming complacent."
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COVID-19 May Make Getting
Health Insurance Harder
With the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in jeopardy, millions of individuals who receive health insurance through this policy are at risk of having it taken from them. This will not only impact those with pre-existing conditions, but imposes threats to several employer plans as well.
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Mark your calendars for
November 18, 2020
Happy Hour with VIM
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Volunteers in Medicine
190 North Pennsylvania Avenue
Wilkes-Barre PA 18702
Phone: 570-970-2864 | Fax: 570-970-2868
website www.vimwb.org
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