AHEC Rural Health Care News
September 2015
Welcome New VISTA Members! 

Here at Big Country AHEC, we are happy to welcome four new VISTA Members to the team! 

Annalise Abma is serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA Asset-Based Community Development Coordinator serving the Haskell County area. Annalise will be working with Haskell Memorial Hospital to develop community based responsive health education programs. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Annalise moved to Abilene to study in the Master of Social Work (MSSW) program at Abilene Christian University. She has been a VISTA for 2 years already. 
Her first year of VISTA service took place at Health Intervention Services, a health clinic for the underserved of Grand Rapids, where she served as a Healthcare Navigator for patients. Her second year was spent at Bethany Christian Services as the VISTA Leader, providing management for the 14 VISTA members serving at Bethany. 

From left to right: Irene Fuentes, Leticia Cisneros, and Sarah Floyd

Irene Fuentes is serving as a Community Health Liaison, with Abilene Taylor County Public Health Department (ATCPHD). She is currently working to facilitate program promotion and outreach planning for the Mercy Clinic to provide community healthcare awareness for uninsured/underinsured individuals. She is also collaborating with area faith, community-based organizations and academic institutions to better assess the healthcare disparities in our community in order to provide optimal healthcare services for those who would otherwise go without healthcare.  

Leticia Cisneros is serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA at United Way of Abilene (UWA).Over the course of the year Leticia will serve as a VISTA Asset Based Community Development Coordinator. UWA would love to see her help build capacity for the organization to reach more counties in their service area through agency partnerships and donor acquisition to increase access and utilization of primary and preventive health care for the underserved. She is currently focusing on creating profiles for the partner agencies and community donors that work with UWA.

Sarah Floyd is a social work masters student at Abilene Christian University and the VISTA working at the Abilene Taylor County Public Health Department. Sarah will be working in preparedness at the Health Department, focusing mainly on education and prevention of infectious disease in Taylor county and surrounding counties. 
She is very excited about this upcoming year!

Welcome to our new VISTA Members! We are glad to have you as part of the Big Country AHEC team serving to provide solutions for West Texas health issues.
 









Hardin-Simmons University Physical Therapy:
Kinesio Taping Seminar
September 12-13, 2015
 
KT1 Fundamental Concepts of the Kinesio Taping Method
The KT1 course is designed to introduce practitioners to the Kinesio Taping Method in a 8-hour class. Throughout the lab sessions, attendees will have ample time to practice screening and muscle testing to enhance their Kinesio Taping skills and muscle applications for both the upper and lower body with a certified Kinesio Taping Instructor (CKTI). This course will also provide a full Taping KT1 & KT2 workbook to augment the training. A 60-day membership to the Kinesio Taping Association will also be provided to the attendee, which includes access to a reference database.
 
KT2 Advanced Concepts & Corrective Techniques of the Kinesio Taping Method (Prerequisite, completion of KTA approved KT1 Course)
The KT2 builds on material learned in KT1. This 8-hour class will introduce the six Corrective Techniques and discuss the application in a variety of clinical conditions. Upon the completion of this course attendees will be able to discuss and apply the Kinesio Taping Method to orthopedic & neurological conditions.

If you would like to register for the Kinesio Taping seminar, the information is found here.
National Suicide Prevention Week
September 6 -- 12, 2015
One global mental health concern is suicide, which affects both youth and adults locally, and throughout the United States. 
Every year, more than 1 million lives are claimed by suicide, which represents one suicide every 40 seconds. Risk factors for suicide and suicide itself can affect anyone, no matter age, gender, religion, or race. Suicidal tendencies are more frequently seen in men rather than women. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention attempts to raise awareness about suicide prevention, and also to further understand suicide. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention aims to "fund research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss." 
For more information, follow:
Hendrick Diabetes Support Group
The Hendrick Diabetes Center at the Hendrick Medical Center holds Diabetes Support Group Sessions every First Tuesday of the Month. The sessions are held at the: 

Shelton Building, Second Floor, 2000 Pine Street.

No cost to attend theses classes. Call the Hendrick Diabetes Center office at (325) 670-2421 with questions.

Looking for more Healthcare Opportunities?
 Here is this month's job posting list.

Kindred Healthcare 

Abilene Regional Medical Center
ER Tech

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Abilene State Supported Living Center
 
TTUHSC -- Abilene  

Texas Tech University System -- Abilene 


NHSC Opportunity
The 2015 application cycle is now closed. The next Scholarship Program application is scheduled to open in Spring 2016. Sign up to get an e-mail when it does.



CHW Webinar:
CHWs Helping Patients Manage Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors
Thursday, September 3, 2015
12 -- 1 p.m.


HSU Lunch and Learn Series:
Return to Play Concussion Protocol: What You Need to Know
September 8, 2015
12 -- 1 p.m.
Jessica Abbe, PT, DPT, ATC


ACLS 2 -- Day Provider Course
September 23, 2015
8 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m.
For: 
Nurses, Physicians, Respiratory Therapists, Paramedics, EMTs
Call 325-670-4304 to register.

2015 Healthcare Provider CPR Training
September 28, 2015 @ 8:30 a.m. -- 4 p.m.
 
Hendrick Health Center 
The Hendrick Health System is holding a CPR Training for employees of the Hendrick Health System and the community on September 28, 2015.

Call (325) 670 or visit Hendrick CPR Class for more information.