The Promise and Power of Hope

Living Healthy

Marrero Clinic: Gretna Clinic:

504.302.3262 504.509.4800

January 2021 A Newsletter for the Priority Health Care Community

The Promise and Power of Hope in 2021

Embracing the light at the end of the tunnel

Finding purpose in the pain of loss and trials in 2020 is something no doubt many find quite challenging. While we shouldn’t dismiss it, we take the time we need to absorb what has happened, come to terms with it as best we can, then pick ourselves up to move forward towards hope’s beckoning light.

It is that light at the end of the tunnel fueled by the promise and power of hope that calls us to embrace a new path in 2021. One in which our personal health matters as much as anyone or anything else we treasure. In the process, we can create a community that embraces good health for each of us.

If the COVID19 Pandemic has taught us anything, its most poignant lesson is the importance of preventative health care and management of chronic diseases. Tenets that clearly reinforce the mission of Priority Health Care.

Throughout the past year we have been consistent in providing quality health care to our patients, offering free COVID19 testing to the community, updating our practices to provide telehealth services, safe in-person visits and hassle-free prescriptions and refills. At every juncture, our staff went the extra-mile in delivering services and reaching out to a community in crises. For this, we say thank you.

Recognizing that much of the power to improve our circumstances rest in our hands, we implore you to continue wearing a mask, practicing social distance and remain home except for essential errands or work.

Embrace the light at the end of the tunnel with the hope that the vaccine currently being distributed will arm us with additional power in 2021 to defeat this unrelenting virus.

Sincerely,

Mona D. Jones

Editor

PHC to receive Moderna Vaccine

Priority Health Care will soon begin vaccinating employees and patients with the first dose of the Moderna COVID19 vaccination. Vaccinations will be administered based on criteria and guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). the initial phases which include health care workers and long-term care residents, followed by persons 75 years old and older, non-health care front-line essential workers, then those 65-74 as well as individuals with high-risk medical conditions and other essential workers.

Patients can register for the vaccine by clicking here.

SEE BELOW

COVID19 now ranks as third leading cause of death in U.S.

As of January 8, 2021, COVID19 is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. with more than 350K Americans dying since February 2020. Louisiana has 348k cases and 7,918 deaths. As of the writing of this article, in Jefferson Parish there are 35,379 cases and 708 deaths. Orleans Parish has 23,252 cases and 689 deaths.

Heart disease and cancer rank first and second at 655, 381 and 599, 274 deaths, respectively.

PHC’s Mobile Health Unit will expand community outreach

In an effort to continue to expand its outreach of services on the West Bank, PHC will soon roll out its mobile unit in the communities it serves. With the addition of the mobile health unit, the community will have easier access to critical health care information, take-home health kits, and preventive health screenings.

Heart disease is the #1 leading cause of death in America and Louisiana

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in America and in Louisiana. Louisiana ranks 46^th in death due to heart disease and stroke, according to the 2016 Louisiana Department of Health Report Card. In Jefferson Parish, it ranks second, only to cancer. One person dies every 37 seconds from heart disease.

For more information visit here.

March is Colon and Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

“Colon Cancer is Preventable”

Although colon cancer is the second leading cause of death in America, according to the CDC, it is also preventable, if detected early. However, 1 in 3 adults who should be screened (ages 50 – 75) are not doing so. While there are several tests available for colon cancer screening, you can start with a simple take-home test called the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT). Call PHC at 504.309.3262 (Marrero) or 504.509.4800 (Gretna) for your FIT take-home screening test today.

Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

with a Twist

Wednesday, March 10th is Women and Girls HIV/AIDS awareness Day. Instead of its formal TEA Time (Teach, Empower and Advocate) event that was held last year PHC is hosting an informal HIV/AIDS awareness and sexual health education parking lot forum through its Community Outreach unit.

Find out more...

March 22nd is American Diabetes Alert Day

According to the CDC, 84 million people 18 or older have pre-diabetes and 90-95% of diagnosed cases are Type 2 Diabetes. Louisiana ranks 45^th in the percentage of adults with diabetes and 50^th in the number of obese adults (La. Dept. of Health 2016 Report Card). Obesity is a significant contributor to Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes can be a debilitating it’s preventable!

Special Thanks to our Pharmacists on

National Pharmacists Day, January 12^th

PHC is proud to recognize our dedicated pharmacists, Drs. Glenn Green and Dennis Barnes, for their commitment to informative and compassionate service. PHC is also grateful to Dr. Jeff Rodriquez and Dr. Annette Evans for serving as PRN pharmacists.

Dr. Green, who serves as the Lead Pharmacist (Pharmacist In Charge – Gretna), worked for Walgreens for 15 years before beginning his tenure at PHC. Green says he enjoys what he does and is grateful for the opportunity to help others in a more personable way by serving in a community health center. Green earned his Pharm. D. Degree from Xavier University of Louisiana.

Dr. Barnes, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, worked at Avita Drugs and independent pharmacies for more than a decade before joining PHC in September of 2019. He is serving as the Pharmacist In Charge - Marrero. Barnes earned his Pharm.D. Degree from Xavier University of Louisiana.

March 30th is Doctor's Appreciation Day

PHC want our doctors to know that we appreciate them "everyday." Please take a moment and express your gratitude to our doctors:

Dr. Osei Prempeh - Family Practitioner

Dr. Eilan Levkowitz - Pediatrician

Dr. Brandi Gilmore - Psychiatrist

Dr. Michael Hunter Hansen - Medical Psychologist

A Black History Month Moment:

Praise for Immunologist Kizzy Corbett

In recognition of the achievements and contributions of African Americans during Black History Month, we want to take a moment to congratulate and thank Viral Immunologist Kizzmekia Corbett, PhD, for her work in helping develop the Moderna COVID19 vaccine. A native of North Carolina, Corbett is a research fellow and scientific lead at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institutes of Health.

According to the Institute’s Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, Corbett or “Kizzy” was at the forefront in the development of the vaccine. "I want to make it clear that the work that we have been doing for so long I personally stand by it, essentially with all of my being," said Corbett in an interview with ABC News in Hurdles Mills, North Carolina.

The 34-year-old scientist, whose research has focused on novel coronaviruses and the study of messenger RNA’s (mRNA) effectiveness in stimulating the immune system to fight them, also works to encourage students of color to enter the field of science.

Photo: KizzyPhD

By Kizzmekia Corbett - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

Marrero Clinic: 504.302.3262

Gretna Clinic: 504.509.4800