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South Cove Community Health Center Newsletter
Caring for Patients & Connecting with Community
 
In This Issue
Dr. John Yeh Reception & Washington Street Clinic Open House
Martha Hackett Honored by Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.
Cancer Navigator Program at BIDMC Provides a Much Needed Personal Touch
Health Center Update
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  Christina Ho
Irene Li 
Julie Siegal
Quarterly Newsletter
December 2009
Dear South Cove Staff, Patients, Board Members and Supporters:Eugene Welch
 
I cannot believe that Christmas is upon us, and soon, we will be closing another year.  This has been a year of many challenges.  Due to the condition of the economy, there have been many cuts in the coverage of healthcare.  Through all this, I must commend the staff for their willingness to adjust to the climate.  We have also been challenged, not only with the regular flu season, but with the H1N1 flu.  I do hope all staff members, especially if you are working directly with patients, did receive the regular flu shot and the H1N1 flu shot as well.  I would also like to thank Mary Jo Majors, Pauline Wong, and the group of staff and volunteers for two very successful flu clinics.  I would also like to thank the Social Services Department for responding to the 3,000 patients that we needed to transfer into CeltiCare, in order for them to receive coverage.  I wish I could say that this is the end of changes, but I am afraid that this is just the beginning.  The Governor has indicated that this year's budget, which goes through June 30th of 2010, is still $300,000.00 short; and without raising taxes, he will be forced to cut services.  The Governor is already working on the 2011 budget.  As of now, they are estimating a $1.5 billion shortfall.  We, as always at South Cove Community Health Center, will keep everyone informed, and as a group we will adjust, and together we will succeed.  I would just like to close by thanking everyone for the effort they have given, and wish everyone a healthy and happy year.
 
Sincerely
Eugene Welch
Executive Director
Dr. John Yeh Reception & Washington Street Clinic Open House
On October 13, South Cove hosted a reception for the new Chair of the Ob/Gyn Department at BIDMC, Dr. John Yeh.  It also served as the Washington Street ("WS") Clinic Open House/Re-Dedication following months-long remodeling of the facility.  Acting as co-host of the event was BIDMC and its President and CEO, Paul Levy.  Close to 100 guests from the Boston medical and Chinatown communities joined South Cove and BIDMC in welcoming Dr. Yeh, who trained at BIDMC many years ago.  Everyone also got a first look of the new face of WS.  Among the invitees were Judith Kurland, Chief of Staff to Mayor Thomas Menino, Anita Barry, Director of the Infectious Disease Bureau at the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), as well as many distinguished guests affiliated with the hospital and the health center.  In attendance from South Cove was Eugene Welch, Executive Director, along with a very well represented board. 
 L-R: Judith Kurland, Paul Levy, Eugene Welch, Dr. John Yeh
Eugene Welch welcomed everyone to the reception and the clinic re-dedication.  Paul Levy then took the podium and remarked that, as one can imagine, the selection process for a new chair of a department was a long and daunting one.   A search committee was formed with representatives from all hospitals affiliated with Harvard University to collectively select an individual.  The search produced a field of highly qualified candidates and Dr. John Yeh stood out among them.  Mr. Levy and the entire committee are extremely confident in their choice and see in Dr. Yeh not only an exemplary physician but also a great leader.  In his speech, Dr. John Yeh commented that he came from a small tight knit community in Arkansas.  Growing up, his parents had taught him that to be rich was not to make the most money but to offer one's service to society and help those in need.  Tonight, he felt privileged to be amongst a group of very rich people sharing the common goal to serve the Asian community and the underserved populations.  Judith Kurland also spoke and welcomed Dr. Yeh to Boston on behalf of the Mayor.  She stressed the importance of community work and commended both BIDMC and South Cove for doing their part.  Lastly, on a side note, mentioning the Mayor's belief in how children strengthen families, Ms. Kurland remarked that it would be nice that the department could "keep the babies coming!"   
 Dr. John Yeh speaks
Dr. John Yeh is not unfamiliar to the Boston setting; he completed his residency at BIDMC.  The return to BIMDC seems to have come full circle and he takes great joy in reconnecting with people from more than two decades ago.  Just tonight, Dr. Yeh reacquainted with Marty whom he met at BIDMC and to his delight, found out that one of the members on the South Cove board is an old classmate from Arkansas.  We imagine that this is only the beginning; Dr. Yeh will soon settle down and make Boston his home again!  South Cove looks forward to continuing a close and strong working relationship with BIDMC Ob/Gyn Department under the new leadership of Dr. John Yeh. 
 
The atmosphere was relaxed and cozy, perfect for mingling and socializing.  Guests also toured the recently completed WS featuring a brand new lab and phlebotomy area and in-take rooms designed to provide more patient privacy.  Everyone witnessed first hand South Cove's mission at work: serving the underserved and low-income with high-class service in a modern facility that would measure up to any other healthcare establishments.   
 L-R: Dr. Rong Guan, Dr. Anita Barry and Martha Hackett
Being an Asian community health center, South Cove of course would not have done its job of being a good host without treating guests to some delightful culinary indulgence - a display of Asian fusion featuring the best of Chinese and Japanese cuisine and complete with mouth-watering deserts.   If the guests came hungry, they certainly left with their taste buds completely satisfied, not to mention a full tummy!
 
South Cove would like to thank BIDMC for its role in coordinating and organizing the event, adding another to the many cases of success shared when we put our heads together!
 
For more pictures from the event, please go to:
http://www.scchc.org/News/news.htm and click on Dr. John Yeh Reception & WS Clinic Open House.
South Cove's Martha Hackett Honored by ABCD
South Cove's Martha Hackett was honored by Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD) at its annual Community Awards Dinner, which took place on Friday, October 30, 2009 at the Marriott Copley.  Like South Cove, ABCD is a not-for-profit organization founded with a mission to "help people help themselves" by providing tools that empower, so they can "overcome poverty, live with dignity and achieve their full potential."  The annual dinner recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions that led to an improvement in the lives of those less privileged.  There were a total of 19 awardees and Ms. Hackett was honored for her work in the field of health services.  L-R: Michael Vance, VP of Field Operations, John Drew, President & CEO, Martha Hackett, Juliette Mayers, ABCD Board Chair
 
Marty, as we all call her, has dedicated her career to serving the Asian community.  She first joined the South Cove family as a member on the advisory committee to its Board of Directors in 1975 and was elected to sit on the Board the following year.  She served one year before being recruited to be a full-time staff in the Ob/Gyn department. 
 
From her interactions with patients and her acute awareness of their needs, Marty is credited with developing and running the Boston Family Planning program and the South Cove labor coach program.  The former, in collaboration with ABCD, made possible the extension of family planning services and prenatal classes to community members.  Working with Christine Wong, a long time South Cove employee who recently retired, child birth classes were developed to prepare women for labor, delivery and newborn care.  The labor coach program was developed to ensure that all patients receive labor support and interpreter service during labor by a nurse-midwife or a labor coach.  The family planning program has a long track record at South Cove spanning over 25 years and Marty has been a part of it every step of the way. The service has been well received and is a collective effort of the Ob/Gyn department from top to bottom: the physicians, the family planning counselors, the nurses, and nurse & medical assistants.  They have done a remarkable job with the limited resources, commented Marty.  As a non-revenue-generating service that relies heavily on grants, having to constantly look for resources could be frustrating at times, but she is very proud of how the program has survived budget cuts and staff shortage thanks to the extra work put in by many.   
 
In a brief interview with Marty, she shared her personal views and how it all started for her.  She grew up in Burma and at a very young age, already knew that she wanted to be a nurse midwife.  She immersed herself in Asian culture and developed a deep understanding and appreciation for it during her time there.   Having seen the lack of accessible medical care to its people, she decided to go into nursing and to serve the Asian community.  Marty may look American, but she is Asian at heart; and putting some of her fellow American-born Chinese coworkers to shame, Marty speaks fluent Cantonese!  Her language skills allowed her to communicate with patients without barrier.  Her hard work and strong will earned the respect of colleagues and patients alike, but it is her dedication and compassion that won the hearts of all of us.  She is a patient advocate and always strives to do the best possible with limited resources.   When asked what she thinks is the most needed service we can provide, Marty feels that what we can do as a health center first and foremost is to let people know that we are here in the community.  South Cove has a long history in the community and is one of the best resources available for new immigrants when it comes to healthcare.  But it is important to not assume that people know us.  We have to stay proactive in our outreach efforts to let people know that we are available to help, whether it is taking care of their health & well-being, referring them to other appropriate services or walking them through a difficult diagnosis.  She knows the health center has made great strides in caring for its female patients, but there remains much more to do.      L-R: Irene Li and Marty, Ob/Gyn, South Cove
 
It is this kind of selfless contribution and the mentality that we can always do more that won Marty much praise and honor.  Marty's numerous recognitions include an Award for Clinical Excellence from the Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses in 2004.  The South Cove Ob/Gyn program that she helped run was recognized for excellence by Johnson and Johnson as well as the National Perinatal Association.  In 2007, South Cove awarded her the Humanitarian Award at its Jade Gala.  Again, this year Marty is the very deserving recipient of the award from ABCD for her "extraordinary contributions to the field, delivering compassionate, culturally relevant care to the women and families of the greater Boston area for over 30 years."
 
In sharing her thoughts about receiving this award, Marty expressed that it was certainly an honor to be part of such an impressive ensemble, but echoed the sentiment of many in the group that they "don't know why they are there;" for they feel they are simply doing their job, just like anyone would for a cause dear to them.
 
Many, many years ago, Marty found a career in nursing and community healthcare to be her calling and never looked back. Even though there have been and will continue to be setbacks and obstacles as she marches on, the reward far outweighs any stumbling block thrown her way.  To Marty, it is the opportunity to work with women and help them through their life-changing events that drives her year in and year out.  Marty loves what she is doing and plans to continue doing it for as long as she is able.
Cancer Navigator Program Provides a Much Needed Personal Touch
L-R: Christina Ho, Dr. Eric Wong, Lori Shea, Nurse Practitioner
South Cove's Chinese Cancer Navigator Program has recently passed its first year mark, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.  The conception of this program took place when we noticed an increase in the number of Chinese patients diagnosed with cancer.  The majority of these patients possessed limited English capability and would benefit greatly if there was someone to help during their course of treatment at the hospital.  Recognizing this need, South Cove Community Health Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center jointly developed a program known as the Asian Cancer Patient Navigator Program.  The ideal navigator would be someone compassionate with an understanding of Asian culture and could communicate with patients without language barrier.  The navigator, as the word suggests, acts as a guide to help patients find their way in the intricate cancer care system within the hospital.  He or she would provide whatever assistance is needed; it could be arranging for transportation, serving as an interpreter or simply holding a patient's hand during a difficult treatment or prognosis.  We were very glad to have found the perfect candidate in Christina Ho.  Christina was formerly a member of South Cove's interpreter team stationed at BIDMC and applied for this position when she learned of the opportunity. She receives referrals either from South Cove providers or from BIDMC's multidisciplinary cancer team.
 
In the program's first year, Christina navigated a total of 172 cancer patients with 20 different forms of cancer.  The most prevalent diagnoses were breast cancer, followed by colon cancer and lung cancer, liver cancer came in a close 4th. Christina interacted with 18 outpatient clinics and hospital departments; she also visited patients when they were hospitalized.  (Statistics courtesy of BIDMC).  
 
While these statistics are impressive, it is her human touch and how it has indirectly and directly affected patients during the course of treatment that speak louder than numbers.  A story Christina shared with us illustrates that perfectly.   
 
An elderly patient was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. The treatment of lumpectomy, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy would have a very high chance of curing the disease.  But she refused treatment without saying why and her firm stance made the medical team quite nervous.  Through the patient navigator program, Christina met with the patient, connected with her and was able to build a trusting relationship.  It was not long after that the patient confided in Christina.  Her husband had died of cancer a few years ago, her relationship with her children was strained and that she had been isolating herself.  These factors coupled with the misconception about cancer from the experience of her husband shed light on her refusing medical care; she thought the disease was incurable and that she would die regardless of treatment.  Moreover, she thought that it would only cause side effects such as hair loss, nausea and severe skin burn.   She was also concerned about not having an escort after the surgery as well as rides for the 6-week daily radiation therapy.  With the barriers identified, the message was relayed to the medical team and another consultation was scheduled, during which the prognosis and the treatment were once again explained to her.  Her questions were asked and answered. Through the wonderful resources at BIDMC, an escort and transportation services were arranged.  With everything in place and her concerns addressed, she finally agreed to be treated.  She recovered well from her surgery and finished her radiation treatment without any severe side effect.  She is now on hormonal therapy and comes back for regular check up with a smile on her face and a heart full of gratitude.
 
Cases like these where patients feel reassured because of Christina's involvement are numerous.  The program is a success from every angle and for all parties involved; not just patients but also providers.  Dr. Eric Wong, neurologist and the director of the Brain Tumor Center and Neuro-Oncology unit at BIDMC, saw how the presence of a navigator "offers a level of comfort to these patients that cannot be quantified easily."  He went on to attribute an increase in clinical trial participation by Chinese patients in part to the work done by Christina. The program is a win-win-win: for the patients, for the medical staff involved in the care of the patients and for Christina herself.Resources for Chinese-speaking patients
 
To Christina, the job is very challenging and draining sometimes, but very rewarding.  One of the reasons why Christina is so successful in her role as a patient navigator is her ability to connect with people and put herself in their shoes.  This may not be as easy as one might think.  Christina has come across patients with situations that, to most people, would be hard to fathom.    There was a patient who has lived in Boston for more than forty years but never traveled outside of Chinatown.  There was another patient that Christina called one time and got his elderly mother instead on the phone.  Christina recalled how she would have made a big mistake if she hung up on the mother, who refused to take down the phone number for her son to call back.  She then found out that the mother was illiterate and did not know how to write numbers.  This could be hard to relate to for those born and raised in the US, but not for Christina.  As she described, "being an immigrant myself, due to the language and cultural barriers, I have experienced tremendous struggles and challenges... I could imagine how difficult and stressful for those non-English speaking patients to deal with the medical situation in such a complex system, especially those with complex diagnosis and treatment like cancer."   The patients that Christina works with remind her everyday the importance of her role and the responsibilty she has to them.
 
What Christina did not quite expect was that by helping these patients, she too benefitted by the kindness reciprocated.  The simple act of helping made a difference in her life just as much as it did in those of the patients'.  Christina in her own words described the journey.

"Having been in the position as a cancer patient navigator, I have learned and grown a lot.  Not only in terms of my fluency in language or knowledge in the oncology field, but my sensitivity, compassion, understanding and maturity as a person.  What play an important role in my growth are the patients.  A bed-ridden seriously sick patient who could scarcely eat more than a few spoonfuls asked to make sure I had had a good lunch.  A limping patient asked if I was feeling tired after running from clinic to clinic.  A young dying patient consoled me by saying 'the length of life is less important than the intensity and sincerity with which it is lived.'  In my job, the patients have made marks on my life.   I wanted to tell them how touched I was by their acts of kindness, how much I appreciated all that they had done for me, all that they are still doing, but I know I'd embarrass them.  Often in my down time, losing my enthusiasm, those sweet memories with them surfaced and motivated me to move on again.  They teach me life, love, courage and patience." 
 
With her compassion and dedication, Christina has earned the trust of the patients, their families and the medical providers with whom she works.  It is a draining job as Christina stated, but like so many of those who are in the healthcare field, they are driven by passion and the desire to make a difference.  And in the case of Christina and the Asian Cancer Patient Navigator Program, the difference was immeasurable, whether it was a smile on the face of a cancer patient enduring painful treatment, or a sign of relief at the sight of seeing a familiar face in Christina, or a simple "thank you" uttered from the patient's mouth, all small gestures but clear indications that their experiences were enhanced through this program.   
 
The program is funded by the Asian Healthcare Foundation of Massachusetts, established with the sole purpose to further South Cove's mission and support its operations.  It is funded on a yearly basis and the foundation has approved funding for another year given the program's success and the overwhelming support it has received.
Health Center Update
And the construction continues...
As reported in the September issue, construction at South Cove seems to be a never-ending project.  Thanks to the Federal stimulus funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act awarded to South Cove this past July, we are doing some reshuffling of our departments at 145 South Street to increase capacity.   The project will add three more dental chairs to the existing five for a total of eight dental chairs.  WIC/Nutrition and Optometry departments will relocate from the first floor to the garden level.  The construction of WIC/Nutrition department is near completion; next up will be the optometry area.  WIC/Nutrition department will officially move into the new space sometime after the first of the year.  This is perfect timing for the annual Management Evaluation Site Visit from the Department of Public Health on January 11, 2010. The new area of 3,000 square feet is spacious and child- friendly.  In response to statewide breastfeeding initiatives, an addition of a private mother's room has been built to help support WIC participants who are breastfeeding.  Peggy Leung, director of the program, is excited about the new home and hopes that it will help grow the client base and attract more to the WIC program at South Cove. The work is being done in phases as to disrupt as little as possible the normal operations of the clinic.  We are shooting for next May or June to complete the entire project at the South Street facility. New WIC/Nutrition Reception Area
 
Our Quincy clinic also underwent a minor update of its own.  The Social Services department has for a while been overflowing with patients due to high demand and limited space.  Work was recently done to reconfigure the layout by adding one more room to the existing two rooms.  This allowed our staff to serve more patients simultaneously and reduce wait time.  
 
South Cove Submits its Annual 330 Grant Report
As a Federal 330 Grant funded health center, we are required to file an annual report with HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration, under the US Department of Health and Human Services).  The report highlights the health center's achievements in the last 12 months as well as outlines plans & goals moving forward.  The health center is in good shape with a healthy outlook that predicts continuing growth over the next 4 years in both the number of patients and visits.  In the month of October, we saw a record of 13,300 visits, the highest to date in the year.  We attribute this to the flu season and the concern over H1N1.  South Cove also has one of the lowest ER utilization rate compared to other health centers in Massachusetts.  This is because we are open 7 days a week providing exceptional access thus reducing the likelihood of our patients visiting the ER for non-life-threatening complications. A low ER utilization rate helps ERs to better direct their resources and run more efficiently.  That, in turn, contributes to huge cost savings for insurance companies, for the hospitals and for local & state governments.  
 
We are proud of our work and grateful for the support from the federal government, which is vital in carrying out our mission.  
 
Seasonal & H1N1 Flu
The health center continues its outreach and vaccination efforts in regards to flu prevention.  On the outreach front, we stress constantly the importance of frequent hands-washing.  On the vaccination front, we have so far vaccinated close to 7,000 patients for the regular flu and over 1,500 patients and employees for the H1N1 flu.  Currently we are receiving limited quantity of the H1N1 vaccines each week and are prioritizing patients based on the CDC guidelines.  We are still awaiting larger quantities to arrive, which would allow us to administer the vaccines to all patients who want it but are not classified as high-risk groups.  At the same time, we are in the process of coordinating with city officials to participate in and contribute manpower to the city-wide flu clinics. 

South Cove & BIDMC Team Up to Promote OB Services
Working in conjunction with BIDMC, South Cove has been delivering babies for the Asian community for over 35 years.  Our team of experts takes pride and joy in welcoming each and every baby into the world.  We provide comprehensive obstetric care in a culturally competent manner, so that our patients can take comfort in choosing South Cove as the provider for their babies.  We thought that the baby featured in the ad is so cute that we had to share it with our readers!  Look for our ad in the Sampan and give us a call for more information about our obstetric services! 
Ad promoting South Cove's OB services
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Happy Holidays!South Cove Community Health Center wishes everyone  a
 very happy holiday season.
About South Cove Community Health Center:
Founded in 1972, South Cove is dedicated to improving the health and well being of the Asian communities in Massachusetts with a special focus on the medically underserved by providing high quality, community-based health care that is accessible, culturally competent, and linguistically appropriate for these populations.
 
Services:
Adult Medicine (成人科) Bone Density (骨質篩檢) Ob/Gyn (婦科) Mammography (X光乳房攝影篩檢) Pediatrics (兒科) Dentistry (牙科) Optometry (眼科) Member Services (會員服務) Nutrition/WIC (營養科/奶卷) Family Planning (家庭計劃)
Early Intervention (幼兒培育組) Behavioral Health (行為健康科)
Brighton/Allston After-School Enrichment Program (課餘活動中心)

Clinic Locations:
885 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 
Tel: 617-482-7555
145 South Street, Boston, MA 02111         
Tel: 617-521-6730
435 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02171      
Tel: 617-745-0280
 
Website:
http://www.scchc.org