Celebrating the heroes of National Health Center Week

This week is National Health Center Week, an annual holiday that recognizes the mission and accomplishments of community health centers across the country. The 2019 theme is Celebrating Health Centers: Home of America’s Health Care Heroes, so we're honoring some of the heroes who support our My Care Family members.

After one of our younger members was examined and we received his medical history, we learned that he was born prematurely and never received Early Intervention (EI) services, a program for infants and toddlers who have or are at-risk of developmental delays caused by social and medical events. Miriam Nieto, Social Care Manager, enrolled him in the services, as well as the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI), a state program that provides social, emotional, and other supports to MassHealth children and their families. In addition, Miriam was able to get the family into stable housing so they could focus on the member's care.

Above and beyond for the right DME
When a member was having issues with her Hoyer lift that she uses to sit and stand up and her other Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Elaine Samaris-Harrington, Rehabilitation Specialist, went above and beyond to help. Despite a language barrier with a DME technician, Elaine was able to work together with the member's PCP to get her equipment fixed or replaced. The member was truly grateful for our help.

In-person meetings to ensure access
One of our members needed oxygen to sleep at night. After multiple attempts to get oxygen for the member from an oxygen equipment company, Paul Benoit, Medical Care Manager, sprang into action and went to Chelmsford to talk in person about resolving the issue. Within the week, Paul also worked with the member's PCP to ensure that oxygen was received from this company. We were thrilled to hear back from the member that she is sleeping much better and even has more energy during the day.

Working collaboratively to improve adherence
After a member—who is a quadriplegic—moved from inpatient to outpatient therapy, we learned that she was not consistently taking her medications. Kim Ohman, Medical Case Manager, took initiative and asked a pharmacist from GLFHC to visit the member to see if we could help improve adherence to her treatment plan. The pharmacist learned that she was having trouble swallowing large pills, so the pharmacist changed the member's dosing to help accommodate her needs. And our support didn't stop there. Miriam also helped the member find low-income housing, and worked with her PCP on a safe transition to the new home, for which she secured a hospital bed and shower chair, and a resource to obtain free furniture.

About My Care Family
My Care Family offers complete care and coverage to MassHealth members in the Merrimack Valley in partnership with the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) and Lawrence General Hospital.