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DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa (WHP) – Healthcare providers say inflation is fueling the access to care crisis among low-income patients.

“You have a health challenge and transportation issues or housing that is substandard, those things come together and make your health issues more challenging,” Community Progress Council President and CEO Robin Rohrbaugh said.

“If those challenges aren’t readily met, that’s going to impair how people do regarding their healthcare,” added Highmark Wholecare Chief Medical Officer Joseph Stankaitis.

“For people who are working, they’re trying to survive,” Family First Health Community Health Program Lead Celia Serrano said. “There is a huge amount of people that do not have insurance here in this community.”

Medical professionals are seeing low-income patients skip appointments they can’t afford.

“Once upon a time, I was in their shoes,” said Serrano.

She has spent the last two years at Family First Health, going into the community to connect those worried about making ends meet to care.

“For a point there, I was unemployed and I needed to be on public assistance,” Serrano explained. “So I know what a lot of this community goes through, I can relate to it.”

In York County, Serrano works with Haitian Creole patients, Hispanics, undocumented immigrants and those in the five-year waiting period of being lawfully in the U.S. She says many are unaware of the services available to them.

“One of the major barriers is language,” Serrano continued.

It’s a barrier seen at Community Progress Council, too, which also tries to streamline the process of finding insurance coverage for low-income patients.

“If you’re not feeling well and you’re trying to navigate through housing services and transportation and healthcare and food programs, you just don’t have the capacity to do it,” Rohrbaugh said.

And more health insurers are recognizing this need. Highmark Wholecare offers a Medicare Dual Special Needs non-medical package for patients who have both chronic health problems and live in poverty.

“Because the population that we serve is incredibly challenged,” Stankaitis continued.

AmeriHealth Caritas, UPMC Health Plan and Pennie insurance are among others offering more care at less cost.

“It levels the playing field,” Stankaitis added.

Serrano says, with so many patients coming in without insurance, Family First Health also offers a slide fee which allows them to pay for clinical care based on their income to address one of the biggest concerns they hear.

“They’re afraid that they cannot get quality healthcare,” she said, advocating more education on resources is needed.

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Today is World AIDS Day. Since 1988, December 1^st has been designated as a day to unite to end AIDS and remember those who have been lost to AIDS and HIV illnesses.

Since the first AIDS cases were diagnosed in the early 1980s, we’ve come a long way – in education and knowledge of the HIV virus but especially of the treatment options for those infected with the virus. AIDS no longer results in certain death.

But there still are challenges. Getting more people tested for one and the stigma that still exist.

On The Spark Friday, Nikki Buchanan, Case Manager Supervisor at Family First Health said there was a drop-off of testing during the COVID pandemic but more people should get tested for HIV,”The best that we can do is educate the community to let them know that it’s okay to get tested. There are ways that you can get tested where you don’t have to go into a medical facility. You can actually get a free HIV test. I get my HIV test gets delivered to your door because some individuals don’t they just don’t feel comfortable being out in a medical facility and getting tested again. It goes back to the stigma of HIV and that automatic thought that that’s a death sentence. But we do try to really educate, that it’s not a death sentence. We’ve come such a far way since the 1980s what people thought of HIV and AIDS. So in 2022, we have made so many advances that we just want to want to educate the community that it’s okay to get tested, it’s okay to talk about your your situation and your personal life. And we don’t think of you any differently.”

Dr. Jarrett Sell, a family physician who specializes in HIV treatment and prevention at Penn State Hershey Medical Center was also on The Spark. He indicated treating AIDS has progressed significantly,”I think the complex regimens of medications that folks had to take 20, 30 years ago, you know, that often caused a lot of side effects and were, you know, multiple 20 or 30 pills a day was very difficult. I think anybody would have a hard time sort of adhering to a regimen like that. Today, treatment is much simpler. So not only do we have very effective treatments, but most of the folks that I treat, you know, are taking a single pill once a day, which is often very well tolerated. So, you know, it ends up being HIV treatment can end up being similar to high blood pressure treatment or diabetes treatment or in some cases even simpler than some of those other chronic diseases that we see very, very commonly. And I think where the difficulty lies is really, you know, many of us have other things going on in our lives.”

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HARRISBURG, Pa. — Thursday is World AIDS Day. Though HIV/AIDS is no longer a death sentence like it was decades ago, health experts say there’s still a stigma surrounding the virus.

“While there is still stigma when we’re doing our outreach,” said Caring Together program manager Becky Wilson, “We’re able to connect with people and have open conversations.”

In York and Adams counties, Family First Health has offered the grant-funded Caring Together program for about 30 years. The clinic offers free testing, resources and treatment options.

Wilson says testing is key to reigning in HIV spread in our community.

“It’s a small prick of a finger and you know your results in 15 minutes,” she said.

It’s not the 80s anymore when it comes to HIV treatment and prevention. HIV is now known as a chronic condition like high blood pressure or diabetes.

Wilson says many people are living long, healthy lives with HIV.

Several new medical advancements have made HIV/AIDS treatment attainable. A new monthly injectable treatment called Cabenuva can suppress symptoms and prevent transmission.

A medication called PrEP can prevent contracting HIV and PEP can prevent contracting the virus after someone has been exposed.

“We are continuing to see new people diagnosed every week,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of resources we can provide so people don’t have to pay for those things.”

Caring Together has about 600 HIV/AIDS patients. The issue the center is seeing now, is testing is way down compared to before the pandemic.

The pandemic did reduce the number of tests Caring Together is administering each year.

In 2019, Caring Together tested over 900 people.

That number dropped dramatically in 2020 to just over 150 people.

This year so from January to September, Caring Together tested 362 people.

“If people aren’t even getting tested,” Wilson said. “They aren’t taking the measures to protect themselves and protect others.”

If you would like a test or resources, click your county or city below:

• York/Adams County
• Dauphin (Harrisburg)
• Dauphin (Harrisburg)
• Dauphin (Harrisburg)
• Dauphin (Hershey)
• Cumberland
• Lancaster
• Blair

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York, Pa. (WHTM) — ‘Tis the season for a rise in flu and COVID cases and, this year, RSV. It sounds like deja vu, but for another year going into the holidays, people are encouraged to protect themselves from multiple circulating viruses.

In addition to the rise of RSV and the lingering COVID-19 virus, Erin Schmidt from Family First Health says flu cases are on the rise.

According to the state health department, the most recent data from the week ending Nov. 5 shows York County reporting 479 flu cases — the most in the Midstate.

Schmidt says any number of flu cases right now may be a problem as RSV cases rise since officials are worried about overcrowding hospitals.

“I think the last couple of years, we kind of forgot there are other viruses and illnesses that we can experience because we did do so well at social distancing and washing our hands and wearing face coverings, so now we’re back to seeing those illnesses and viruses that we didn’t see so much in the last couple of years,” Schmidt said.

Schmidt encourages people to get their COVID booster and flu shot before heading to holiday gatherings. Family First Health is hosting a flu shot clinic on Wednesday and a COVID booster clinic on Friday at the George Street Center in York.

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LEBANON, Pa.,

Have you heard of “Walk with a Doc”?

Anna Deraco is a Physician Assistant with Family First Health, who has spearheaded the development of a Lebanon chapter of a National/International initiative known as “Walk with a Doc.”

Deraco said that Walk with a Doc was initially founded in 2005 by a cardiologist based in Ohio who wanted to find a way to better connect with his patients while also encouraging them to partake in healthy activities.

Deraco said that much to his surprise at the time, about a hundred people attended his first ever “Walk with a Doc” event. Since then, the initiative has spread like wildfire all over the United States and worldwide.

Deraco said, “He kind of knew that he was on to something in terms of people wanting this. People want to be active, but not necessarily alone.”

According to the “Walk with a Doc” website, there are approximately 500 chapters established across the world to date.

Deraco founded the Lebanon Chapter of “Walk with a Doc” this year. They held their first event in October, with approximately 25 people attending their inaugural event.

Deraco said the monthly event is held at the Union Canal Tunnel Park. She said they initially considered hosting the event at different locations each month but decided against it because of the potential confusion and safety hazards of walking in more centralized urban areas.

Deraco also said that besides offering a safe location for walkers, the trail at Union Canal Tunnel Park is not particularly strenuous, with it being approximately two miles total from start to finish. She said even if participants feel they need more time to complete the two miles, they are still encouraged to come even if they only end up walking part of the trail.

Additionally, Deraco said the first five minutes of the hour-long event are typically designated for a short health-related talk. While the topics of these health talks vary from month to month, their purpose is to help better educate community members and give them an opportunity to ask questions they may have.

Deraco added that because Lebanon has a sizable Hispanic population and approximately 80% of her patients are Spanish-speaking residents; the talks will be in Spanish and English to promote inclusivity.

Deraco said that for the November walk, she plans to discuss the adverse effects of loneliness on people’s health. According to the former Surgeon General, the dangers of loneliness are on par with smoking or obesity.

Deraco said that although the walks cannot take the place of medical checkups and formal diagnoses, participants are welcome to come with health-related questions that they might have.

When asked how poor weather may affect the event, Deraco said they plan to host the events rain or shine, so long as there are no violent storms. She said they would plan to keep the events outside in light rain; however, they may consider postponing or finding an indoor location if there is heavy rain.

Deraco also said that the walks occur year-round, regardless of the cold or snow. She said there are many misconceptions about the hazards of being out in the cold; however, her philosophy is that “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.”

Deraco said there are many health benefits of spending some time in cold weather and that she plans to make that the focus of one of the health topics in the future.

For those interested, the walks take place on the third Saturday of every month (except for November, which will be the second Saturday) at 10:00 AM.

Finally, Deraco added that she would give free “Walk with a Doc” pedometers to the first 25 walkers that show up.

For more information, you can visit their Facebook page, Walk With A Doc Lebanon, PA, or check out their website https://walkwithadoc.org/join-a-walk/locations/lebanon-pennsylvania/.

Family First Health has partnered with “Walk with a Doc” to promote active lifestyles throughout Lebanon, hosting walks each month.

On Saturday, Oct. 15, The health clinic will host a walk inviting both healthcare professionals, patients and members of the community to a quick discussion about health and a 45-minute walk around Union Canal Tunnel Park.

These walks will continue to be hosted on the third Saturday of every month except for next month, which will be held on Nov. 12. All walks will be held at the same location.

For more information on dates and times, visit the Walk with a Doc Lebanon, PA Facebook page.

The walks are free, and participants will receive a free pedometer on their first walk.

The event begins at 10 a.m. and will last about an hour in total.

Anna Deraco, a physician assistant who will head the walks each month, said that the discussion for this month’s walk will focus on the act of walking itself, and its benefits as a “miracle” drug that treats and prevents all kinds of illnesses.

The Walk with a Doc program initially began with a cardiologist’s frustration with their patients living too sedentary, and began meeting his patients to walk.

It is now a nonprofit organization based in Ohio that partners with local communities to inspire physical activity and reduce the impact of a sedentary lifestyle.

“I read about this program years ago and I thought, that’s a great idea,” Deraco said, “I wanna do that with my patients too.

“So when I moved back to Lebanon a couple of years ago and started working with Family First, I just kept in my head that at some point I want to start one of the chapters.”

When she approached Family First Health with the idea a few months ago, they were supportive of the idea.

Each walk will begin with a different discussion regarding healthy living and end with a recap on what was taught.

Citing the large number of Spanish-speaking patients that she sees, Deraco said that the discussions will be offered bilingually.

Anyone, regardless of age, weight or ability is encouraged to come and walk at their own pace. There’s no distance requirements to the event. Some people might be able to walk a mile within that time, others might be able to walk three.