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05/03/2023

Breaking the Stigma: OVH’s Guide to Mental Health Awareness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we understand the importance of mental health and its impact on overall well-being. Mental health is not just about the absence of mental illness but also about the presence of positive mental health, which allows individuals to cope with life’s challenges, be productive, and lead fulfilling lives. 

At Oconee Valley Healthcare, we offer a range of services and resources to support mental health. All our providers perform mental health screenings and offer treatment. Treatment can include education, medication therapy, and referrals to external resources. We believe that every individual has unique mental health needs, and we work with our patients to create personalized treatment plans that are tailored to their needs and goals. 

As a part of Mental Health Awareness Month, we want to encourage everyone to take care of their mental health and seek help if needed. It’s essential to prioritize self-care and engage in activities that promote mental well-being, such as exercising, getting enough sleep, and spending time with loved ones. 

We also realize that there are many stigmas around mental illness and seeking help, and we want to break down those barriers. It’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to ask for help. We want our community to know that our doors are always open, and we are here to provide support and resources for anyone struggling with mental health issues. 

Mental Health Awareness Month is a time to highlight the importance of mental health and promote resources and tools that can help individuals improve their mental well-being. At OVH, we are committed to supporting our patients and providing them with the resources they need to thrive. Let’s work together to prioritize mental health and break down the stigmas around mental illness. 

04/03/2023

Promoting Alcohol Awareness: Our Commitment to a Healthier Community

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and Oconee Valley Healthcare is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol is one of the most used substances in the United States, and while moderate drinking can be safe for some individuals, excessive consumption can lead to a range of health problems and negative social consequences. The theme for this year’s Alcohol Awareness Month is “Changing Attitudes: It’s not a ‘rite of passage’”. Many young people see alcohol consumption as a symbol of growing up and asserting their independence. However, this view can lead to dangerous behavior, including binge drinking and drunk driving. 

As a Community Health Center, we are committed to providing resources and support to help people make informed decisions about alcohol consumption. We believe that education and awareness are essential to reducing the negative impact of alcohol on our community. Some of the ways we promote alcohol awareness include providing education, screening and counseling, community outreach, and advocacy. 

We believe that alcohol awareness is a critical issue that affects the health and well-being of our community. By working together to promote education and awareness, we can reduce the negative impact of alcohol on our community and improve the health and quality of life of our residents. 

In conclusion, at OVH, we are committed to promoting alcohol awareness and providing resources and support to those who need it. We encourage everyone to join us in this effort by learning about the risks of excessive alcohol consumption and making informed decisions about their own alcohol use. Together, we can make a difference and create a healthier, safer, and more informed community. 

03/02/2023

Taking Charge of Your Colorectal Health: OVH’s Guide to Raising Awareness and Prevention of Colorectal Cancer

Oconee Valley Healthcare recognizes the importance of Colorectal Cancer Month, which is observed every March. This is a time to raise awareness about this type of cancer and encourage people to get screened for it.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, and it is also one of the most preventable. Screening tests can detect precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum before they turn into cancer. If detected early, colorectal cancer is highly treatable, with a five-year survival rate of over 90%.

Unfortunately, many people are hesitant to get screened for colorectal cancer. Some people may be embarrassed or uncomfortable discussing their bowel movements and rectal exams, while others may not realize the importance of early detection. This is where family doctors and practitioners can play a crucial role in educating and encouraging their patients to get screened.

At OVH, we make sure to discuss colorectal cancer screening with our patients, especially those who are over 45 years old or have a family history of the disease. We explain the different screening options, including but not limited to colonoscopies, stool tests, and virtual colonoscopies, and help our patients decide which test is right for them.

We also emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. This includes eating a balanced diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber, exercising regularly, and avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption.

Throughout Colorectal Cancer Month, we make an extra effort to raise awareness about the disease through patient education and social media posts. We also encourage our patients to spread the word to their friends and family members.

Colorectal Cancer Month is an important time for doctors to remind their patients about the importance of colorectal cancer screening and early detection. By educating our patients and raising awareness about this preventable cancer, we can help save lives and improve the health of our communities.

02/13/2023

American Heart Month: A Community Health Center Prospective

February marks American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease and to encourage people to make positive changes to their heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and it’s important for everyone to take steps to prevent and treat it.

At Oconee Valley Healthcare, we understand the importance of heart health and are dedicated to providing our patients with the resources and care they need to maintain a healthy heart. Our team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and Care Plan Coordinators, are trained to assess heart health and provide personalized care plans to help our patients lower their risk of heart disease.

One of the ways we encourage our patients to maintain a healthy heart is by promoting healthy lifestyle choices. This includes exercise, a balanced diet, and quitting smoking. We also educate our patients about the risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, and help them manage these conditions through medication and lifestyle changes.

We also offer screenings and tests to help diagnose heart disease in its early stages, when it is most treatable. This includes blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, and electrocardiograms (ECGs). If a patient is diagnosed with heart disease, our team works with them to develop a treatment plan, which may include medications, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, surgery.

In addition to our in-person services, we also offer telehealth appointments for those who are unable to come to our center. This allows our patients to receive heart health assessments and treatments from the comfort of their own homes. In addition to telemed services, if you meet specific qualifications, OVH is able to provide home visits or remote patient monitoring. For more information on these options, please contact our office.

Overall, American Heart Month is a crucial time to raise awareness about the importance of heart health and to encourage everyone to take steps to prevent heart disease. Oconee Valley Healthcare, we are committed to providing our patients with the resources and care they need to maintain a healthy heart and live a long, healthy life.

If you or someone you know is concerned about their heart health, we encourage you to make an appointment with one of our medical professionals today. Together, we can work to prevent and treat heart disease and improve the heart health of our community.

01/25/2023

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month! Cervical cancer is mainly caused by infection from certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Anyone with a cervix is at risk for developing cervical cancer, and it most often occurs in women over 30 years of age. HPV is a common virus and is passed from person to person during sex. While nearly half of women will have HPV at some point in their life, few cases will develop into cervical cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, 8 new cases of Cervical cancer were reported for every 100,oo0 women in the United States. 

When detected early, Cervical cancer is highly treatable. Ways to reduce your risk involve getting the HPV vaccine if you haven’t already and you are under the age of 26 and having screening tests done regularly. These screening tests include a Pap smear and HPV test. For more information, call your healthcare provider or visit the CDC’s Cervical Cancer page. Call us today or click here to schedule your Cervical cancer screening appointment!

 

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Cervical Cancer”, https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/index.htm

01/20/2023

Community Newsletter – Q4 2022

Hello community partners, patients, and friends! Click the link below to read our fourth community newsletter of 2022.

2022 Q4 Community Newsletter

11/15/2022

OVH Named Gold Level Advocacy Center of Excellence

Last week, Oconee Valley Healthcare applied for and was named a Gold Level Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE). Achieving this status requires dedication to and prioritization of advocacy at health centers.

“An Advocacy Center of Excellence, or ACE, is a Community Health Center or Primary Care Association that creates a culture of advocacy to ensure that policymakers at all levels of government commit to investing in affordable, equitable, and innovative care that health centers provide. ACE levels recognize consistent engagement, success, and demonstrated an ongoing commitment to making advocacy an organizational priority. ACEs are actively engaged and involved with NACHC and federal policy issues, as well as their state Primary Care Association and key state and local-level policy issues impacting health centers and their patients,” according to the Health Center Advocacy Network website.

We are so proud to have achieved this status and to join this group of elite Community Health Centers!

11/10/2022

OVH Welcomes Dr. Andrew Tam, DDS

Oconee Valley Healthcare is excited to welcome Dr. Andrew Tam, DDS to the provider team! Dr. Tam will see patients at our dental office in Greensboro. He is a graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry and is certified by the Georgia Board of Dentistry. He also received his Associates of Arts degree from Oxford College of Emory. Dr. Tam was inducted into the Hinman Dental Society in 2005. To learn more about Dr. Tam, please visit the Provider page on our website.

10/10/2022

Community Newsletter – Q3 2022

Hello community partners, patients, and friends! Click the link below to read our third community newsletter of 2022.

2022 Q3 Community Newsletter

10/10/2022

Oconee Valley Healthcare Attends Georgia PCA’s Annual Conference, Brings Home Awards

Board Members and Executive Team Members from Oconee Valley Healthcare attended the Georgia Primary Care Association’s 45th Annual Conference on September 28th. During the conference, attendees were able to participate in training, classes, and networking opportunities with other FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Centers) staff from across the state. Oconee Valley Healthcare’s Chief Clinical Officer, Carri Thomas, was nominated and awarded the Elsie Peavy Brown Community Service Award. This award recognizes an individual who has gone “beyond the call of duty to the advocacy, development, improvement, and/or expansion of quality primary care within Georgia’s Community Health Services,” according to the Georgia PCA (Primary Care Association) website.  

Oconee Valley Healthcare was also recognized for being a Silver Level Advocacy Center of Excellence. Advocacy Centers of Excellence, or ACE, are recognized by the National Association of Community Health Centers and are centers that ensure policymakers at all levels of government commit to investing in the community health center mission through consistent advocacy efforts. ACEs stay engaged with federal policy issues, state Primary Care Associations and state and local-level policy issues that impact patients and health centers.

 

Pictured L to R: Fabiola Galan (OVH Board Member), Pastor Avis Williams (OVH Board Chair), Joan Antone (OVH Board Member), Stephanie Myers (OVH Chief Financial Officer), Mary Kate Dauler (OVH Chief Administrative Officer), Carri Thomas (OVH Chief Clinical Officer), Dr. Dave Ringer (OVH Chief Executive Officer), Linda McGhee (OVH Board Member), Nathan Wade (OVH Medical Director).

Not Pictured: Tyrone Jackson (OVH Board Member) and Rodricus Monford (OVH Board Member)