November 2015 - The Health Wagon

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November 2015
The Health Wagon’s
mission is to provide
compassionate, quality
health care to the
medically underserved
people in the Mountains
of Appalachia. Our values
are inclusiveness, community outreach, collaboration, spirituality and
empowerment.
Let us tell you The Health Wagon story. Our average patient is 38 years old. Ninetyeight percent of our patients are uninsured. Seventy percent of them have an
income of less than $20,000 annually, despite working multiple jobs. This means
they make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private
insurance. Our patients live in desperately poverty-stricken rural Appalachia, where
they can’t afford to go to the doctor but can’t afford not to. The mobility of our health
clinic means we are able to fill the gap, whether they are inline at the food bank or
at their job, we bring healthcare to them.
Upcoming Events
November 2: Dental clinic
Free Flu Shot
Flu season is here and the Health Wagon
is offering FREE flu vaccines. Please stop
by our Wise or Clintwood office to stay
protected this flu season!
Mobile Unit Schedule
November 2: Pound
November 3: Coeburn
November 6: St. Paul
November 10: Lee Co & Oakwood
November 13: Appalachia
November 17: New Hope
November 19: Binns Counts
Mobile unit schedule is subject to change,
please call 276-328-8850 for more information
In The News
Jelca Kollatsch is a German student who visited
the Health Wagon and Grundy RAM in October to
document health care in the United States. Jelca
was able to spend 2 days with the Health Wagon
photographing our story. She was also able to
travel the mountains of southwest Virginia on the
Health Wagon's mobile unit. The Health Wagon is
excited and blessed to receive international
coverage in Germany in the months to come.
Health Wagon nurses Anna & Crystal
with Jelca
The Heath Wagon receive a very generous
donation of brand new children's winter coats to
distribute throughout our community to those in
desperate need. Carl and Sandra Heter from
Elberton,Georgia became aware of the needs in
southwest, Virginia and wanted to donate these
wonderful gifts to help our patients and
community. We are blessed and thankful for each
and every one of our donors.
Inside the Health Wagon
Diabetes is a chronic illness that
plagues the Health Wagon's
service area. To help combat this
debilitating disorder the Health
Wagon began a program aimed at
prevention through the promotion
of healthy eating and physical
activity. The program follows the
CDC's Diabetes Prevention
Program. Participants were placed
into group sessions that involved
two certified lifestyle coaches.
These coaches helped lead group
discussions focused on establishing healthy habits. As a result, the participants
began to demonstrate weight loss and healthier behaviors. Two participants met
their weight loss goals within 16 weeks of beginning the program. These
participants stated that "the program helped the realize things they had never
thought about before."
Diabetes can be prevented by choosing healthier lifestyles. Studies show that
healthy eating and physical activity can help prevent the progression from
prediabetes to diabetes.
Instagram
The Health Wagon now has Instagram. Please follow us
by searching healthwagon.
https://instagram.com/healthwagon/
Endocrinology Clinic
On October 13, 2015 Dr. Joseph Aloi visited the Health
Wagon and hosted a FREE endocrinology clinic for our
patients. Dr. Aloi is currently practicing at Wake Forest
Baptist Health in Winston- Salem, NC.
NAFC
Dr. Gardner and Dr. Meade attend
the National Associate of Free Clinics
conference in Palm Springs, CA on
October 25-27. Several keynote
speakers presented one being Dr.
Regina Benjamin, MD who is the 18th
Surgeon General of the United States.
This was a great opportunity for the
Health wagon to learn new innovative
ways to increase patient care in a free clinic setting.
Please help fund the Health Wagon a SUV
The Health Wagon is a mobile health clinic that serves the poverty stricken people
of rural Appalachia for little to no cost to the clients. In 1980, Sister Bernie Kenny
began the program with nothing more than her Volkswagen Beetle and the passion
to make a difference through service. The Health Wagon has grown exponentially
since it started 35 years ago. The organization now has one brick and mortar clinic
in Wise, Virginia, and a second one in Clintwood, Virginia, as well as a state of the
art mobile health clinic. In 2013, The Health Wagon served 11,000 patients and
provided over $1 million in health care costs.
To continue its efforts in serving the people of Appalachia, The Health Wagon
needs donations and community support. This GoFundMe campaign is dedicated
to purchasing a SUV due to the current need of The Health Wagon for a vehicle
dedicated to carrying medical supplies. Our fundraising goal is $34,000 because
(prospectively) this will cover the cost of purchasing an SUV. This monetary goal
was determined by researching car makes, models, safety ratings, miles per gallon,
reliability and size. We have used Kelly Blue Book, Carfacts and similar sites to
decide upon the best choice in SUV for The Health Wagon. We have decided upon
purchasing a vehicle similar to a 2014 Ford Explorer. Additionally, we are searching
for a car dealership that is willing to provide a discount or match the funds raised for
the SUV. Please click here to make a donation!
Health Awareness for November
This month, we are recognizing:
• National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
• American Diabetes Month
• COPD Awareness Month
• Diabetic Eye Disease Month
• National Family Caregivers Month
• National Healthy Skin Month
• National Hospice Palliative Care Month
• Lung Cancer Awareness Month
• Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
• National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
• GERD Awareness Week (Thanksgiving week)
• Great American Smokeout (third Thursday of November)
Target Illness Spotlight
Diabetes prevention: 5 tips
Tip 1: Physical activity
• Lose weight
• Lower your blood sugar
• Boost your sensitivity to insulin
Tip 2: Fiber Intake
• Lowers your risk of heart disease
• Promotes weight loss by helping you
feel full
Tip 3: Go for whole grains
Whole grains reduce your risk of diabetes and help maintain blood sugar levels.
Many foods made from whole grains come ready to eat, including various breads,
pasta products and many cereals.
Tip 4: Lose weight
Participants in one large study who lost a modest amount of weight — around 7
percent of initial body weight — and exercised regularly reduced the risk of
developing diabetes by almost 60 percent.
Tip 5: Make healthier choices
Low-carb diets, the glycemic index diet or other fad diets may help you lose weight
at first, but their effectiveness at preventing diabetes isn't known nor are their longterm effects. And by excluding or strictly limiting a particular food group, you may be
giving up essential nutrients. Instead, think variety and portion control as part of an
overall healthy-eating plan.
When to see your doctor
• You're age 45 or older and overweight
• You're younger than age 45 and overweight with one or more additional risk
factors for type 2 diabetes — such as a sedentary lifestyle or a family history of
diabetes
For more information please visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseasesconditions/type-2-diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-prevention/art-20047639?pg=2
Donate to The Health Wagon
If you would like to donate to The Health Wagon, we would greatly appreciate it if
you would contribute online at:
https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/thehealthwagon/
Or you can mail donation checks to:
The Health Wagon, P.O. Box 7070, Wise, VA 24293
As a nonprofit organization, volunteers are welcome and tax deductible donations
are accepted.
State Employees - Give through the CVC Campaign (#03588)
Federal Employees- CFC Code 33986
The Health Wagon Wish List
Medical Supplies
Alcohol wipes, Scalpels, Sutures, UA dip sticks, Band aids, Safety needles, Exam
table paper,Butterflies, Gauze, Syringes, Medical tape, Exam gloves, Suture
removal kits
Medications
Ibuprofen, Iron Supplements, Antacids,Decongestants, Dandruff Shampoo,
Aspirin, Folic acid, Anti-diarrheas, Zantac, Nexium, Allergy Medication, Claritin D,
Antibacterial ointment, Prilosec, Foot/skin cream/lotion, Anti-Fungal cream, prenatal
vitamins
Office Supplies
Copy paper, paper clips, K-cups (any variety), Toilet paper, Pens, Paper towels,
3 Ring Binders (all sizes),Post-it notes, First class stamps, Coffee cups, Letter size
manila folders, Sharpies, Disinfecting wipes, Highlighters, binder dividers,
33 gallon garbage bags, Batteries, Stapler and staples, cleaning supplies
White out, 3 whole punch, Scotch tape,Stapler remover, Mail envelopes, Gift cards
Items to give to patients
Shampoo, Conditioner, Deodorant, Razors, Diapers, Wipes, Lotions, Soaps, Can
foods
Contact Us
Visit us at: www.thehealthwagon.org
Call us at: (276)-328-8850
Our offices are located at: 5626 Patriot Dr • Wise, VA 24293
P.O.Box 7070 Wise, VA 24293
233 Chase St, Suite 100 • Clintwood, VA 24228
P.O.Box 709 Clintwood, VA 24228
©2015 The Health Wagon | Wise, VA
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