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News

January 12, 2023

FOX43: Fentanyl test strips decriminalized under new Pa. law

YORK, Pa. – A new law officially in effect in Pennsylvania no longer defines fentanyl test strips as drug paraphernalia.

The state legislature changed the law to protect people who unknowingly buy drugs that have been mixed with fentanyl to increase potency.

“It’s definitely become more dominant in the drug supply over recent years, to a point where a lot of people who use drugs, have just kind of assumed that what they’re using has fentanyl in it already,” said Alf Dirosa with the Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Network.

Fentanyl test strips are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in different kinds of drugs and drug forms.

“Fentanyl is often in anywhere from cocaine to marijuana,” said Jessie Hoffmaster with Family First Health.

According to health experts, the test strips are a low-cost way of attempting to prevent drug overdoses.

“People can test their drug supply and make sure there’s no fentanyl, therefore avoiding [an] accidental overdose,” said Hoffmaster.

Organizations believe that by allowing people to know if drugs are contaminated with fentanyl lives can be saved.

“Knowing how much lethal fentanyl can be compared to other opioids, it’s really helpful at reducing overdose deaths and making people more knowledgeable about what’s in the current drug supply,” said Alf Dirosa with the Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Network.

Health experts at Family First Health say they hope to soon be able to distribute fentanyl strips to the community.

“The hope is that having access to the testing strips, people can make sure that they are not accidentally ingesting this very fatal substance might help prevent overdose death,” said Hoffmaster.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, 78% of the 5,343 overdose deaths statewide in 2021 involved fentanyl.

Watch the video here

Category iconIn the News

December 8, 2022

FOX43: More Americans are skipping doctor appointments because of price concerns, experts say

YORK, Pa. – Local healthcare centers like Family First Health say they are seeing fewer patients coming in to get check-ups.

“Their child had an acute issue, they were sick, and they weren’t able to come in for care because they believed that they had to pay the bill and they didn’t have the money to pay the bill,” said Casey Fogle, Community Health Program Manager at Family First Health.

Inflation has caused prices to skyrocket and that has left many families having to choose whether it is worth stopping by the doctor’s office.

“We do have some families that are hesitant to come in due to cost of healthcare,” said Fogle.

A Gallup study shows four in 10 Americans in the past six months have delayed or skipped healthcare treatments due to the cost.

“People need to make a decision about putting food on the table, are they paying utility bill. If they have to come say, for a medical appointment, that makes them to take off work, which will be a decrease in income perhaps,” said Fogle.

Experts say skipping on your doctor’s appointment can have a detrimental impact on your health.

“They can get sicker right, and that could have them end up in the emergency department,” said Fogle.

They want families to know that there are affordable options available for people who cannot afford to get care.

“We’re fortunate to have our slight fee scale, which is a discount on care for anyone. we see everyone regardless on their ability to pay, regardless of if they have insurance or not,” Fogle explained.

The study by Gallop also showed that overall, 26% of adults reported delaying or avoiding medical care or purchasing prescription drugs in the prior six months due to higher healthcare prices.

Watch the video here

Category iconIn the News

Caring for the whole patient

December 5, 2022

CBS21: Inflation creating access to healthcare crisis among low-income patients, providers say

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.

Watch the video here

Category iconIn the News

December 2, 2022

Drs. LaJuan and Joseph Mountain Received Changemakers Award

For Immediate Release

York, PA. On Thursday, December 1, 2022, the York County Economic Alliance hosted their annual “Changemakers” Awards to celebrate the talent and drive of individuals of color making things happen in the York community. Awardees are also featured in the local Changemaker magazine edition.

Family First Health is pleased to share that Dr. LaJuan Mountain and Dr. Joseph Mountain, our Vice Presidents of Dental Services, received the “Builders” award. This recognizes their work to “strive to provide healthcare to all families in order to lead better lives.”

Besides being dental providers at FFH, the Doctors Mountain founded the organization’s Mobile School Dentist Program that takes the dentist office directly into schools and childcare centers so students receive oral health care and are provided with a dental home at FFH. The program, launched in 2015, has provided care for thousands of pre-school and school-aged children across our service area. For more information about this innovative program, click here: https://www.familyfirsthealth.org/mobile-school-dentist-program.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, York Health Corporation, now Family First Health, is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to providing a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services at its sites on South George Street in York, Columbia, Gettysburg, Hanover, Hannah Penn K-8 School, Lebanon, and Lewisberry. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, Family First Health offers a reduced fee program for the uninsured and accepts most other health insurances. For more information regarding the programs and services offered through Family First Health, please visit the website at www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla Español.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Amy Chamberlin | 717-801-4808 | achamberlin@familyfirsthealth.org

Category iconPress Releases

December 2, 2022

WITF: World AIDS Day — what challenges do we face in testing and treating HIV/AIDS?

Today is World AIDS Day. Since 1988, December 1st 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.”

Listen to the podcast here

Category iconIn the News

December 2, 2022

CBS21: World AIDS Day: Testing in Central PA down since pandemic

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

Watch the video here

Category iconIn the News

November 17, 2022

ABC27: Pennsylvania health expert urges vaccines ahead of holidays

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.

Watch the video here

Category iconIn the News

November 15, 2022

Q Hubo News: Walk with a Doc, Lebanon, PA – Saturday, November 12th, 2022

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/.

Category iconIn the News

November 8, 2022

LifePath Christian Ministries: LifePath welcomes Family First Health, which offers medical connections at shelters

The partnership between LifePath Christian Ministries and the health care provider relieves shelter guests from having to find treatment on their own.

In September, LifePath Christian Ministries partnered with Family First Health to provide the first of many opportunities for guests at the men’s and women’s shelters to receive primary medical health screenings in-house, while then receiving referrals to additional services.

The objectives of Family First Health, which values collaboration and seeks to remove barriers to care, aligned with LifePath’s mission to connect its guests to support services.

Addressing a gap

Micah Heckert, LifePath’s Manager of Partnership Development, saw a gap in services, especially in medical treatment. Many guests who come to LifePath lack health insurance and a primary care physician. When a health concern arose, they found themselves heading to the hospital emergency room.

Heckert also saw the need to address the medical side of addiction recovery. It all aligned with LifePath’s core values to pursue Continuous Improvement and to provide Radical Hospitality.

The key was to find a community partner whose services could complement what LifePath can provide. Family First Health fit that bill.

At the same time, Erin Schmidt, who serves as COVID-19 Community Program Manager for Family First Health, was noticing a shift in the needs of the community as the pandemic waned. She saw a need for more mobile health services to reach people who otherwise might not receive care.

“We want to eliminate the barriers to come to a brick-and-mortar medical facility,” she says.

The collaboration began with listening sessions, where guests described services that would be most beneficial to them. The same needs kept coming up: vision and foot care, diabetes treatment, behavioral health services, and gynecological care and breast cancer screenings for guests at the women’s shelter.

‘An insurmountable task’

While mobile health care is growing in cities around the country, that option is limited in York. It can be overwhelming for someone experiencing homelessness to try to secure health insurance, arrange a doctor’s appointment, and get follow-up care.

“What it takes for a homeless person to put it all together,” says Heckert, “it’s an insurmountable task. People get discouraged.”

Heckert and Schmidt are on a mission to change that.

Michael Bucher, a guest at the Men’s Shelter, experienced the difficulty in finding treatment. While he was walking down the street, his leg gave out and he was unable to take another step. Being homeless and without transportation, his only option was to call for an ambulance ride to the hospital. Weeks later, he still can walk only short distances.

Having a connection to medical care in-house makes it much easier to get the care he needs.

“It’s been a new experience,” he says.

Many other shelter guests also are reaping the benefits.

“Considering that transportation is an issue,” says a guest at the women’s shelter, “having them come here is a great asset. I’m very grateful for that.”

It’s through relationships with providers in the community that LifePath sees opportunities to further impact the lives of guests — giving them hope for the future and assurance that their needs will be taken care of.

Category iconNews

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