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Family First Health

A community health care center

ABC27: Health workers speak on black breastfeeding week

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Aug. 25 marks the start of Black Breastfeeding Week. The staff at Family First Health in York explained why focusing on moms of color has to do with the percentage of them who attempt to breastfeed.

“The CDC has told us that the initiation rate for black women is lower than the national average. It’s 76% for black women and the national average is about 84%, so we know there’s less likelihood of initiation and duration of breastfeeding,” said Heather Haug, a registered nurse at Family First Health.

Doctors say breastfeeding can reduce the risk of chronic illnesses and infections for both moms and babies.

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ABC27: Midstate participates in national HIV testing day

YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — More people found out their HIV status this year than last year, a key statistic during a push for outreach. June 27 marks national HIV testing day, and Family First Health in York was among the many Midstate organizations encouraging people to get tested.

Thirty seven people agreed to be tested by Family First Health on June 27, and Family First leaders say that’s a big improvement.

“Last year, due to COVID, we were only able to test about ten for our event. So definitely much better this year, and in 2020 we had to cancel the event, so just being able to have the event again was great,” said Nicole Buchanan, Lead Medical Case Manager at Family First Health.

Family First offers free HIV testing every weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., no appointment required.

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FOX43: Caring Together program offers free, confidential HIV tests

YORK COUNTY, Pa.—

Family First Health’s “Caring Together” program provided free HIV tests Monday in front of their George Street office.

The York-based non-profit is working to spread awareness and address stigmas about the disease.

Event organizers stress the importance of getting an HIV test, no matter who you are.

“Everyone should get tested.. everyone. No matter if you’re married for many years or you’re single and you’re not active right now. You should get tested at least once in your lifetime, and if not at least once a year,” said Nicole Buchanan, Medical Case Manager at Family First Health.

The group also handed out educational materials and held giveaways to help normalize HIV testing.

Organizers say that despite the stigma of HIV and aids, someone can still live a long happy life by taking daily medication.

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Family First Health’s Statement: Roe v. Wade Decision

YORK COUNTY, Pa.—

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has ruled to overturn the long held precedent of Roe v. Wade that safeguarded our right to abortion services. This means each state will decide how to regulate abortion services.  Currently, in Pennsylvania, abortion services are available and unharmed by today’s ruling.

While all kinds of people have abortions for all kinds of reasons, the SCOTUS ruling will not impact all people who seek abortions equally.  Women of color, women in low wage jobs and young women – many of whom already face barriers to healthcare – will be disproportionately impacted.

Family First Health remains committed to accessible and inclusive health care. We offer quality, compassionate primary medical care, including a wide range of reproductive health services, and have built programs like the Nurse-Family Partnership and Connections for a Healthy Pregnancy to support women and families to be healthy as a whole.

Since Family First Health was started in 1970, we have been committed to improving lives and building systems that support equitable access to healthcare services.  We stand strong and together in that commitment.

ABC27: FFH to implement health and wellness coach for York City School

YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — Family First Health says they know the last two years have been hard – but they are beginning to see the lingering psychological effects of the pandemic.

The American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health last fall. FFH representatives said the pandemic also impacted children’s physical health.

The CDC reports childhood obesity in the U.S. is a serious public health issue and studies are showing twice as many children experienced an increase in BMI during that time.

A few other issues seen include:

  • Nutrition
  • Physical activity
  • Sleep
  • Anxiety

These are just some of the topics Health Coach Sharla Scotten is hoping to address with students at Hannah Penn K-8 in York County.

“We are excited for the launch of the health coach role at Hannah Penn’s School-Based Health Center,” said Erica Johnson, the School-Based Health Center Manager for Family First Health. “The role will help to improve the social, emotional, and physical wellness of the students, their families, and ultimately, the community.”

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ABC27: Midstate Family First Health prides themselves on an 89% women workforce

DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – Across the Midstate Family First Health is led by a team that is 89% women.

“You know When I think about this topic, you know its been front and center for me throughout my career,” said Jenny Englerth, President and CEO of Family First Health.

She added, “I understood that the environment was largely female dominated but that leadership in health care was still victim of a glass ceiling.”

A glass ceiling, Englerth broke.

“It’s a great way to see an opportunity that as a working woman you can continue to grow and develop into a leader yourself,” said Michelle Jordan, Director of Medical Operations at FFH.

“I think women tend to have a higher emotional intelligence where maybe they don’t have to work at that quite as hard,” she said.

Without offending the men in the room, Jordan said it is a crucial part of pandemic peaks.

“Women tend to be the caregivers and so in our organization we were really trying to make sure that we could support women and make sure they didn’t need to make tough decisions,” said Jordan.

Women didn’t have to leave the job, take time off, find childcare. Family First Help made sure to keep their staff and patients first.

To other women dominated workforces CEO Jenny Englerth has this advice:

“Not to tear one another down, or to find the weakness in someone else and exploit that and I think that some of those behaviors in other environments are common. That isn’t part of our environment and that wouldn’t work as part as our environment.”

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CBS21: Voices of the frontlines two years into the pandemic

HARRISBURG, Pa. — There’s frustration on the frontlines two years into the pandemic.

“People are so tired of it that they are ready to move on and they want to go back to life as normal,” Family First Health George Street Center Lead Physician Dr. Hetal Patel tells CBS 21 News’ Samantha York.

“Then we see what’s going on in our hospitals,” UPMC Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John D. Goldman continues.

“This has been our life, our entire life, for two years,” WellSpan Health Critical Care Nurse Erin Hammond adds.

As the U.S. nears the two year anniversary of living with COVID-19, CBS 21 News visited healthcare systems throughout the region for a check-in.

“It’s become very difficult when you’re not seeing people get better anymore, despite everything you’re doing,” Hammond explains, her voice breaking.

“It’s making providers feel like they’re a failure,” Dr. Patel says.

Healthcare heroes say they’re fading.

“There was a point at the start of this when we were healthcare heroes,” Dr. Goldman remarks.

“We certainly don’t feel like heroes,” Hammond continues.

“I’m here to take care of them,” Dr. Patel says. “So when I’m not able to, that hurt feeling is there.”

Inside Penn State Health’s Emergency Department, Emergency Room Nurse Kristin Jens cares for patients battling COVID-19.

“Seeing as many sick people as many people die, I’ve seen more in the last two years I feel I’ve seen in my career as a nurse,” she says. “You hear all the monitors, there’s always somebody very sick in the Department.”

Some patients are fighting for their lives.

“I try to give them comfort that, you know, they can hold my hand still,” she adds.

“Especially when they’re here alone,” Hammond continues. “We’re all they have.”

In WellSpan Health’s Critical Care Unit, Erin Hammond fights a battle of her own as a Critical Care Nurse.

“This [winter] was the worst part of the pandemic for us and that’s a shame because we now have the vaccines, we have treatments, we have knowledge to help keep the community safe, to keep ourselves safe,” she explains. “And, unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be working.”

“You go into the room with the pictures of the kids up, pictures of the family members up and if somebody’s on a ventilator, you know they have less than a 50% chance of leaving the hospital,” Dr. Goldman says.

“Having to tell those families their mom, their dad, their brother, their sister, their child in some cases is not coming home, having to do that day after day, it gets really hard,” Hammond continues.

“There are the cases that you remember that kind of weigh a little heavier on you once you get home,” Jens says.

The patients who do get out have long recoveries ahead.

“When they do come out of the hospital, they’re short of breath, they can’t go back to work and they’re angry,” Dr. Patel says. “If I didn’t have it all in me, I could really be upset and be in tears that I did everything possible.”

Family First Health caters to a medically-underserved population and faces increased demand for services.

“There’s still ongoing COVID care, there’s still ongoing catch up care, there is post-COVID care and then we are still going back to the preventive care,” Dr. Hetal Patel adds. She has half the staff needed to manage it all.

“Those who are working, are working double the effort to try to fill the void,” she explains.

It’s a healthcare crisis on every level.

“There’s a lot of burnout, you know,” Geisinger Western Region Director of Hospital Medicine Dr. John Pagnotto says. “Particularly in the last six months, we’ve just been at pretty much 100% capacity.”

“A lot of people have decided they just can’t do this,” Dr. Goldman explains. “We have tremendous staffing issues.”

“I’ve been picking up the help just because we do have so many holes,” Jens adds.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 7% growth rate in the nursing industry from 2019 to 2029. That estimation puts it ahead of the national average of a 4% growth rate for all occupations.

However, the American Medical Association projects 1 in 5 doctors will likely leave the industry within two years, and reports show 1.2 million new registered nurses will be needed by 2030.

“There aren’t more providers in the pipeline,” Dr. Patel says. “So we haven’t been able to replace those providers.”

“Not only do you have high volumes, a lot more patients than usual than we used do, but you have fewer people to treat those patients,” Dr. Goldman explains.

Burnouts are expediting retirements.

“People get frustrated thinking their wait times are because we don’t want to see them but behind-the-scenes, we are working our butts off,” Jens says.

At UPMC Harrisburg, over 90% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are unvaccinated.

“There’s some aspect of this pandemic still going on being a choice,” Dr. Goldman says. He is working around the clock for care.

“He comes in on a call, is called all night, he’s doing notes all night,” his wife, Maureen O’Toole-Goldman, says. “He’s exhausted.”

“If we don’t do it, who will?” he says.

As cases decline once again, healthcare professionals are keeping their guards up.

“As soon as you get a breath, there’s another wave,” Hammond explains.

“We take it one patient at a time, one day at a time,” Geisinger Emergency Physician and Assistant Medical Director of the Emergency Department Dr. David Rupprecht says. “That’s the best we can do.”

Voices on the frontlines – begging to be heard.

“Everyone has given a part of themselves to this pandemic, where it’s going to take us a long way to recharge that part,” Dr. Patel says. “Slowly, we’re going to get there.”

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