The Pulse - La Familia Medical Center

The Pulse
Heart Beat of the Community Since 1972
F A L L
2 0 1 5
Flu Season is Around the Corner
What You Should Know for the 2015-2016 Influenza Season
www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/
vaccine/index.htm) each year.
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Flu Season
1
CEO Message
2
Expanded Clinic
Services
3
Divine Decadence
Save the Date
4
What is seasonal influenza?
Seasonal influenza, commonly
called “the flu,” is caused by
influenza viruses, which infect
the respiratory tract (i.e., the
nose, throat, lungs). Unlike
many other viral respiratory
infections, such as the common
cold, the flu can cause severe
illness and life-threatening
complications in many people.
It is estimated that in the
United States, each year on
average 5% to 20% of the
population gets the flu and
more than 200,000 people are
hospitalized from seasonal flurelated complications. Flu
seasons are unpredictable and
can be severe. Over a period of
30 years, between 1976 and
2006, estimates of fluassociated deaths in the United
States range from a low of
about 3,000 to a high of about
49,000 people. Some people,
such as older people, young
children, pregnant women, and
people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications(http://
www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/
high_risk.htm). The best way to
prevent seasonal flu is by getting a flu vaccination(http://
Flu vaccines protect against
the influenza viruses that
research indicates will be
most common during the
upcoming season. Everyone 6
months and older should get
vaccinated against the flu
every year. Get vaccinated
soon after the vaccine becomes available in your
community, if possible by
October. Immunity sets in
about two weeks after
vaccination.
What are the symptoms
of the flu?
Fever, chills, fatigue, body
aches, sore throat, and headache are common symptoms
of flu. Not everyone with flu
will have a fever. The flu can
cause mild to severe illness,
and at times can lead to
death. The flu is different
from a cold. The flu usually
comes on suddenly. For information about flu symptoms,
see Flu Symptoms & Severity
(http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
about/disease/symptoms.htm)
How Flu Spreads
People with flu can spread it
to others up to about 6 feet
away. Most experts think that
flu viruses are spread mainly
by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or
talk. These droplets can land
in the mouths or noses of
people who are nearby or
possibly be inhaled into the
lungs. Less often, a person
might also get flu by touching
a surface or object that has
flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.
To avoid this, people should
stay away from sick people
and stay home if sick. It also
is important to wash hands
often with soap and water. If
soap and water are not
available, use an alcoholbased hand rub. Linens, eating
utensils, and dishes belonging
to those who are sick should
not be shared without washing thoroughly first. Eating
utensils can be washed either
in a dishwasher or by hand
with water and soap and do
not need to be cleaned
separately. Further,
frequently touched surfaces
should be cleaned and
disinfected at home, work
and school, especially if someone is ill.
Where to Get Your Flu
Shot
It’s time to get vaccinated!
Contact your nearest La
Familia Medical Center for
information or to schedule
your appointment. For the
Alto Street Clinic call 9824425 and for our Southside
Clinic call 438-3195. Or go
to our website
www.lafamiliasf.org for more
information on our Flu and
Pneumococal vaccination
clinics.
CEO’s MESSAGE
PAGE
2
Officers
Chief Executive Officer
Jay P. Jolly, FACHE
Happy Holidays
Medical Director
Wendy Johnson, MD, MPH
Dental Director
Dale Jenkins, DDS
Board of Directors
Trip Rothschild, President
William Lazar, Vice-President
Larry Cohen, MD, Secretary
Sharon Tison, Treasurer
Joel Baca
Omar Contreras
Doug Doran
Warren Hix
Ramona Flores-Lopez
Barbara Kastner
Nancy Lehrhaupt
Randy Murray
Beverly Russell
Deborah Weiss
Newsletter
Gloria Martinez, Development
Director / Communications
La Familia Medical Center
Locations
Alto Clinic
1035 Alto St.
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 982-4425
Southside Clinic
2145 Caja del Oro Grant Rd.
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 438-3195
Dental Clinic
6401 Richards Ave.
Santa Fe, NM 87507
(505) 984-5048
Health Care for the Homeless
818 Camino Sierra Vista
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Join our mailing list to
receive our newsletter by
email at
www.lafamiliasf.org
Our Mission:
Jay P. Jolly, CEO
As difficult as it is to believe, the end of another year is rapidly approaching. The
aspens have turned and most of the leaves fallen, snow has appeared in the high country,
and preparations for the holiday season are underway. All of us at La Familia Medical
Center wish all of you a blessed holiday season, and we remember with deep gratitude
and warmth the support you provide us, which enables us to meet our mission and
continue to serve the many individuals in our community who would have few, if any,
other options for healthcare if not for the presence of La Familia and the support you
give us.
Health care needs of course, don’t take a holiday. And, despite the long overdue
extension of health insurance benefits in the past year or so to many who did not
previously have it, there remain a large number of people in our community who still do
not have insurance coverage. For some it is because they are not eligible. For others,
even if they qualify, it is still not affordable. But, as we all know, illness and injury occur
whether someone has health insurance or not, and all too often those who most need
the care can least afford it.
So – as this season of celebration and good will for many of us approaches, it is
quite easy for me to think of several things I am thankful for, first for the simple fact that
I enjoy good health and have many blessings to celebrate. For those who are not in good
health at this time I am grateful for the providers and support staff who have dedicated
their lives and efforts toward health care for everyone who needs it, and especially those
whose access is limited. Their skill, compassion, and commitment to those most in need
is inspiring.
I am grateful for the non-clinical staff who keep systems and facilities operating,
bills paid, staff hired and trained, and operating challenges managed so that the clinical
staff who deliver the care have what they need to do their best for the patients of La
Familia. I am grateful for a Board of Directors that volunteers their time and best efforts
to understand what is needed to keep La Familia serving the community, and who work
to both ensure La Familia is responsive to that community and that the community
understands the significant and positive difference La Familia makes in Santa Fe.
Finally, I am grateful to all of you, our private supporters, who recognize the ongoing and often dire needs of so many in our community, and respond with compassionate hearts and generous support. La Familia cannot do the vital work it performs in this
community without you, our partners in providing essential healthcare services to those
with great needs and limited access. Thank you, and please know how much you are
appreciated by La Familia and those we serve.
La Familia Medical Center is dedicated to providing
excellent, affordable, comprehensive medical, dental and health
promotion services accessible to everyone in the community.
E X PA N D E D C L I N I C S E R V I C E S
PAGE
3
La Familia Medical
Low-Cost or Free Confidential
Teen Clinic
Pharmacy Staff: (Left to Right) Monica Mondragon,
Daisy Munoz, Gloria Arellanas, Sherry Montoya
La Familia Medical Center at Alto Street now has a
full-service pharmacy for our patients with 340B pricing
program. This program helps provide underserved populations with affordable prescription drugs through qualified
community health organizations. The program allows our
patients to obtain many medications and diabetes supplies
prescribed by our providers at a lower cost than retail.
The pharmacy is fully staffed with Sherry Montoya,
Pharmacist; Gloria Arellanas, CPhT; Monica Mondragon,
CPhT; and Daisy Munoz, MA/CPhT. Since the pharmacy
opened in July 2015 staff have filled almost 1,800
prescriptions!
La Familia Medical Alto Pharmacy
1035 Alto Street
Hours of Operation
Monday—Thursday 1PM—5:30 PM
Friday 9 AM—5 PM
Low-cost or free and confidential medical care,
including free reproductive health services and pregnancy
tests are available on Tuesdays from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM
located at La Familia’s Medical & Dental building at 6401
Richards Ave. La Familia’s teen clinic provides a place for
teens to access health care in a safe, friendly, culturallyappropriate, confidential environment. The clinic will
focus on reproductive health services and support for atrisk pregnant teens, provide outreach to homeless teens
in Santa Fe County and connect teens to behavioral
healthcare including substance abuse treatment. For
information and to make an appointment call (505) 3955229.
La Familia Medical Center Alto Street
Clinic Open Every Other Saturday
October 10th launched the first Saturday Clinic
at Alto Street. The clinic will be every other Saturday
and run through December. Hours the clinic is opened
are from 9 AM to 1 PM. Saturday dates clinic is open:
October 10, & 24. November 7 and 21, December 5 and
19. Walk-ins are welcomed.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
SANTA FE, NM
PERMIT 173
P.O. Box 5395 * Santa Fe, NM 87502
Save the Date
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Eldorado Hotel & Spa