CCRHN Quarterly Newsletter | WINTER

HEALTHCARE NETWORK COMMITTED TO CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE

The Healthcare Network team believes that quality healthcare goes beyond providing access to doctors and facilities. It’s equally important to address the disparities that people of racially and culturally diverse backgrounds often experience. Doing so is important to the health of the overall community and patients like Olguine.

Haitian immigrant Olguine, who has diabetes and is blind, travels with her daughter Sophia from Bonita Springs for treatment at Healthcare Network’s Immokalee medical center. The long journey is worth it because of the care provided by their multi-cultural team, several of whom are Haitian. They feel the staff are considerate and understanding of their culture, values and beliefs. For them, care at Healthcare Network feels safe and comforting.

What is culturally competent care? It is defined as the ability to deliver healthcare services that meet the social, cultural and linguistic needs of a patient. Cultural differences can influence many aspects of care, such as:

• When and how the patients view symptoms and health conditions
• When and how the patients seek care
• Expectations of care
• Ability to follow recommendations and treatments

To read more about the different ways Healthcare Network provides culturally competent care to patients, please visit HealthcareSWFL.org or call 239.658.3000 to make an appointment.

MAKE YOUR HEALTH A PRIORITY WITH

HEALTHCARE NETWORK

Take charge of your health in 2024! Healthcare Network VP of Clinical Business Development, Dr. Sal Anzalone, explains why you should make primary care a priority this year in the January issue of Neapolitan Family.

A primary care provider (PCP) is important for everyone. When you have a non-emergency medical issue, your first healthcare provider is a primary care physician. They develop the baseline for your wellbeing and get to know you. This long-term relationship helps find and treat diseases early, manage chronic conditions and prevent illnesses. In fact, studies show that individuals who see their PCP are more likely to have improved health outcomes.

Make your health a priority and schedule an appointment with a Healthcare Network provider! Call 239.658.3000 or visit HealthcareSWFL.org for more information.

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FORUM

Addressing Youth Mental Health

Healthcare Network CEO, Jamie Ulmer, will be joining community leaders to discuss the youth mental health crisis in Collier County.

According to the CDC, in 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless, and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health. 

To address this issue, the Naples United Church of Christ will be hosting a FREE community forum on Wednesday, January 10 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The form will be taking place on Crayton Road, Naples, FL 34103.

To register for this free event, click here. 

COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT

Thank you to the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation and Collier Community Foundation for making the assessment possible!

Learn More About Your Community

The 2022-2023 Collier County Community Assessment is now available! Do you want to know what is going on in Collier County? Learn more about the strengths and needs of the county by visiting the Collier County Community Assessment website here. 

Join an upcoming presentation to learn more about the findings. The presentations will be held at 999 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, FL 34108 4th Floor Conference Center. No registration is required. 

Presentation dates in January 2024:  

• Tues. Jan. 16 from 9 to 10:30 am 

• Wed. Jan. 17 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm 

WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC) PROGRAM

If you know someone in need of nutritional support, you can recommend the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

The federally funded nutrition program is designed to safeguard the health of women, infants, and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk and meet certain requirements. At no cost to these participants, the WIC nutrition program provides:  

• Supplemental nutritious foods 
• Nutrition education and counseling 
• Breastfeeding support 
• Screenings and referrals for healthcare and community service

WIC Program Benefits 

WIC benefits are not limited to only food. Participants have access to several resources, including health screenings, nutrition and breastfeeding counseling, immunization screenings, substance abuse referrals and more. Children who participate in WIC are also likely to have better academic and dietary outcomes. Additionally, WIC program participants often show significant savings in healthcare costs when compared to non-participants. 

FREE RESOURCE: To determine eligibility for the WIC program, families can use the easy WIC pre-screening tool. Available in multiple languages, this tool takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Visit https://healthcareswfl.org/wic/ to learn more. Note that this tool is not an application for WIC benefits but assesses eligibility for participation. For assistance, individuals can contact Healthcare Network’s multi-lingual Community Outreach Team at 239.675.7080.

Applying for WIC 

To apply for the WIC Program, individuals can contact their local office for specific information and to schedule an appointment. Applicants will receive guidance on the necessary documentation to verify eligibility. The Community Outreach Team is available to assist with the application process. For more information on how the team can help, please visit the Healthcare Network website.

JANUARY | CERVICAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Preventing Cervical Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, Cervical Cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. The cervical cancer death rate dropped significantly with the increased use of the Pap test (Papanicolaou test.) 

What can you do to prevent Cervical Cancer?

The two most important things you can do to prevent cervical cancer are to get the HPV vaccine if you are eligible, and to be tested regularly according to American Cancer Society guidelines.

Get an HPV Vaccine 

Vaccines are available that can help protect children and young adults against certain HPV infections. The American Cancer Society recommends: 

• HPV vaccination of children between the ages of 9 and 12.  
• Children and young adults ages 13 through 26 who have not been vaccinated, or who haven’t gotten all their doses, should get the vaccine as soon as possible. 

It’s important to mention that no vaccine provides complete protection against all cancer-causing types of HPV, therefore routine cervical cancer is still needed. Adults over 26 years should talk to their doctor about the best options to protect against cervical cancer.

Regular Screening

Screenings can help find conditions that may lead to cancers and can find pre-cancers before they can turn into invasive cancer. 

You should start getting Pap tests at age 21. If your Pap test result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years until your next Pap test. If you’re between 30 to 65 years old, you have three options. Talk to your doctor about which testing option is right for you.

• An HPV test only. If your result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait five years until your next screening test.
• An HPV test along with the Pap test. If both of your results are normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait five years until your next screening test.
• A Pap test only. If your result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years until your next Pap test.

For more information, please make an appointment to talk to your primary care provider.

FEBRUARY | AMERICAN HEART MONTH

Take Control of Your Heart Health

Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for people across various racial and ethnic groups in the United States? This includes African American, American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, and white men. According to the CDC, Black adults in the United States die from heart disease at a rate two times higher than white adults. 

Choose healthy habits to prevent heart disease! 

• Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and limit your intake of processed foods. 
• Maintain a healthy weight by limiting eating less calories and moving more. 
• If you don’t smoke, don’t ever start! If you do, by quitting, you lower your risk of heart disease and many other health issues.
• Regularly check your cholesterol and blood pressure levels. 

If you are in need of a primary care provider, Healthcare Network is welcoming new patients. Call 239.658.3000 to schedule an appointment.

COLLIER CARES APP

Need a quick and easy way to find resources available in Collier?

Collier CARES (Community Application for Resources and Emergency Services) is a mobile application and web-app for the purpose of connecting people in need with critical resources and services available in Collier County. The application is free, bilingual and provides users with information on available support. Learn more about community events, emergency resources, and local help. Download the Free app on the Apple Store and Google Play.