Connections

Healthy Neighbors. Healthy Community.

Garcia named to 40 Physicians Under 40 award

Media Advisory 

Family First Health’s Dr. Luis Garcia has been named to this year’s Physician 40 Under 40 list by the Pennsylvania Medical Society. PAMED’s new award is one of the several efforts to recognize the state’s efforts in training physicians and encouraging them to stay and practice here.

Garcia is a York-area native, engaged not only in the area’s medicine, but it’s community. He also advocates for the Latino population, and serves as a teacher for the York Hospital Family Medicine Residency Community Medicine curriculum.

He was nominated for the award by Douglas McCracken, WellSpan Community Health Center’s Interim Medical Director.

“Luis is a modest person, but his footprint is large,” McCracken wrote in the nomination letter. “… He uses teaching and media (TV and radio) to inspire generations of community medicine physicians, and to inspire patients – outside the exam room – toward better health.”

Garcia joined Family First Health in 2014. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Temple University School of Medicine. Garcia completed his family medicine residency at York Hospital.

“Dr. Garcia sets the standard for young physicians,” said Family First Health CEO Jenny Englerth. “He sees beyond the individual patient and into the community when assessing health status while maintaining an personalized approach to care. This recognition is well deserved!”

When he’s not working, Garcia volunteers his time at the Catholic Harvest Food Pantry and has served as Team Leader Assistant on Mission trips to Ecuador. Garcia is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians and the Catholic Medical Association.

“I sometimes have challenging days, and I have to say, when I hear him on the radio or see a patient of his, I am reminded of what an asset he is to our community,” McCracken wrote. “His impact and his humility inspire me to be a better physician.”
About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to increasing access to affordable, quality health care. With sites in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg, Family First Health provides a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services to insured, uninsured and underinsured patients with the goal of improving the health of our communities as a whole. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

 

Media contact: 

Kate Harmon, Marketing and outreach coordinator, K[email protected], 717-801-4855

Family First Health named Center of Excellence to treat opioid use

Media Advisory

Media contact:

Kate Harmon

[email protected]

717-801-4855

This week, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Family First Health received funding to develop a Center of Excellence for treating opioid-related substance-use disorder.

The goal of treating the whole person with a substance-use disorder falls in line with the collaborative care work already going on at Family First Health sites. The award is an infusion of resources that support our ability to work with others to have a broader community impact, versus a more narrow focus on our existing patients.

The Center of Excellence will be based in York and through existing Family First Health sites and partnerships, additional access points in key locations will be identified throughout the county.

The implementation plan is in development, but Family First Health’s vision “is to create a hub and spoke model that will build on existing resources, fill gaps where necessary and always be guided by those impacted most by dependency and addiction,” said CEO Jenny Englerth.

“Our intention is leverage best and promising practices in the treatment field to enhance the delivery system with direct services and to be a ‘go-to’ source for all of those in the community seeking to address this complex issue.”

As Family First Health grows as a Center of Excellence, it will be adding expertise and dedicated individuals to expand our reach in line with the vision of the state Department of Health.

For more information about the Centers of Excellence, visit www.dhs.pa.gov.

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to increasing access to affordable, quality health care. With sites in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg, Family First Health provides a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services to insured, uninsured and underinsured patients with the goal of improving the health of our communities as a whole. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

Caring Together recognized for Quality of Care Award for Measurable Improvements in HIV Care

MEDIA ADVISORY


Media contact:
Kate Harmon
[email protected]
717-801-4855

Caring Together, a collaboration between Family First Health and WellSpan Health, that provides continuous case management for people living with HIV/AIDS has been nationally recognized for its quality of  HIV care.
The National Quality Center and HRSA HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB) announced today that Caring Together won the Quality of Care Award for Measurable Improvements in HIV Care. Caring Together serves approximately 550 clients living in the York-Adams County area.
In the past three years, the Caring Together program has restructured to become more comprehensive, inclusive and productive. It has focused on retention numbers, digging deep into data and what barriers to care exist for its clients. The team worked to clean up processes around refilling medications and lab work while also reviewing clients who fell out of care. The Caring Together retention rate has risen from 64.46 percent to 76.84 percent.
These increases show the benefits of retention but bring increased viral load suppression rates. As more clients come to their medical appointments, they’re having improved suppression rates. Viral load suppression for the program’s clients is currently at 87.91 percent.
“This is a huge honor for us and I have to say again how proud I am to work with this team,” Shannon McElroy, Caring Together program manager said announcing the award to the staff. “You all know you do great work and here is first hand recognition of that work.”
People who are HIV positive have unique needs and challenges in accessing medical care, case management and other services. Caring Together works to provides a seamless system of coordinated, high quality HIV care for people who are HIV positive so they can easily access the services they need.

About Family First Health
Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to increasing access to affordable, quality health care. With sites in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg, Family First Health provides a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services to insured, uninsured and underinsured patients with the goal of improving the health of our communities as a whole. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

His Story. Her Story. Our History.

Join Family First Health in a three-day celebration of our 25 years of working with clients living with HIV/AIDS. Twelve panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display at Marketview Arts in York as a recognition of the lives we’ve lost to the disease and the work still to be done to fight it.

Family First Health has been working with York College and the IMPACT Arts and Culture Conference to bring you this event. Funding from WellSpan Health and the York County Community Foundation has made this event possible.

Check out the lineup of events.

Thursday, June 23:

A public reception will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at York’s Central Market (across the street from Marketview Arts). Guided tours will set off from Market every 30 minutes to look at the quilt. A welcome and other prepared statements from our partners will occur at 6 p.m.

Food and drink samples will be available during the reception thanks to some of the great York restaurants and breweries including – York City Pretzel Company, Tutoni’s, Pepper’s Grille, Gift Horse Brewing Company and Liquid Hero Brewery. More food and drink options will be added as they are confirmed.

Friday, June 24: 

The quilt will be open for viewing at Marketview Arts from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free, confidential HIV testing will be available on site.

Join us at 7 p.m. at the Strand-Capital Performing Arts Center for a free showing of the movie “Philadelphia” – one of the first films to openly discuss HIV/AIDS and LGBT issues. York poet Carla Christopher will perform a spoken word piece before the showing.

Saturday, June 25:

The quilt will be open for viewing at Marketview Arts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HIV testing will again be available free of charge.

A ceremony is in the works at the Caring Together Serenity Garden. More details to come.

Location:

Marketview Arts, 37 W. Philadelphia St., York, Pa. 17401

Parking: 

There is metered parking available that runs through 5 p.m. Several city garages are free after 5 p.m. on weekdays and are free all day on weekends.

For more information, call Kate Harmon at 717-801-4855 or email [email protected].

Family First Health to participate in LGBT collaborative to “transform care”

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Family First Health to participate in LGBT collaborative to “transform care”

How a person self identifies when it comes to sexual orientation or gender identity plays an important role in life. But imagine going to your medical provider and never being asked those things about your life.

How can a provider do the best for their patients if they don’t know who they are? How comfortable would you be with forms that ask about your mother and father’s medical histories when you in fact have two mothers?

Family First Health wants to change that. The community health center is one of 10 in the nation chosen to participate in a year-long learning collaborative with the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Centers for Disease Control designed to “Transform Primary Care for LGBT People.”

“Until we ask them their sexual orientation and gender identity along with all of the other questions we ask in a medical visit, we can’t give them that quality care,” said Karen McCraw, director of social services.

The most recent statistics showed that 2.7 percent of Pennsylvania’s population is LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender), but many believe the number is underreported since most people aren’t asking.

Family First Health will start with one provider in Hanover – Jennifer Fernandes. The goal is to then expand the work to the entire site, and then Family First Health’s other four sites.

Staff will start small with just asking Fernandes’ patients about their sexual orientation and gender identity and making it a part of their charts.

The end goal is better care. How can staff at any point in your visit be better equipped to meet your needs? And how does Family First Health’s paperwork and processes best reflect the work in a more inclusive way? How do we best take care of the health of LGBT people, and how do we track and measure our outcomes?

Fernandes will do national training every other week that she can bring back and teach in house.

Signs will also be going up in provider’s’ rooms with the phrase “Do ask, do tell,” letting patients know that we want to talk and have created a safe space in which to do so.

Why does it matter? Here are some facts from HealthyPeople.gov:

  • LGBT youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide.

  • LGBT youth are more likely to be homeless.

  • Lesbians are less likely to get preventive services for cancer.

  • Gay men are at higher risk of HIV and other STDs, especially among communities of color.

  • Lesbians and bisexual females are more likely to be overweight or obese

  • Transgender individuals have a high prevalence of HIV/STDs, victimization, mental health issues, and suicide and are less likely to have health insurance than heterosexual or LGBT individuals.

  • Elderly LGBT individuals face additional barriers to health because of isolation and a lack of social services and culturally competent providers.

  • LGBT populations have the highest rates of tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use.

Media contact:

Kate Harmon, marketing and outreach coordinator

[email protected]

717-801-4855

 

# # #

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, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. 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.

Family First Health receives $7,500 WellSpan grant for Nurse-Family Partnership

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155

 

Family First Health receives $7,500 from WellSpan Health’s Community Partnership Grants Program

 

Southcentral Pa. (8 September 2015) – Family First Health is pleased to announce it has received a $7,500 grant from WellSpan Health’s Community Partnership Grants Program to support increased engagement through a strategic marketing campaign for Nurse-Family Partnership in Adams County.

The funds will be used to support initiatives that increase the community’s knowledge of the Nurse-Family Partnership program, benefits and outcomes promoting increased utilization of this high impact program.

Nurse-Family Partnership is a prenatal and early childhood nurse visitation program that seeks to improve the health and well-being of first-time mothers and their babies. Home visits from a registered nurse help to educate families and address and prevent maternal and child health problems. Open to WIC/MA eligible first-time mothers, the program begins during pregnancy and continues until the child is 2 years old.

Nurse-Family Partnership is an evidence-based model that has been in existence for more than 30 years. Family First Health has run the Nurse-Family Partnership program in York County since 2001, and in Adams County since 2013.

In 2014, Family First Health served 163 women through the program in York and Adams counties, with 1,969 total Nurse-Family Partnership visits.

 

# # # 

 

About Family First Health

Founded in 1970, Family First Health is a non-profit, federally qualified health center dedicated to increasing access to affordable, quality health care. With sites in York, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg, Family First Health provides a broad range of primary health, dental care and social services to insured, uninsured and underinsured patients with the goal of improving the health of our communities as a whole. For more information, visit www.familyfirsthealth.org. Se habla español.

Family First Health recognizes National HIV Testing Day

MEDIA ADVISORY

 

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
c: 203-731-7228

Take the Test, Take Control: Family First Health recognizes National HIV Testing Day
with free, confidential testing open to everyone

TIME
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

DATE
Friday, June 26, 2015

WHAT
Family First Health will offer free, confidential HIV testing at its George Street Center on June 26 in recognition of National HIV Testing Day.

Individuals are encouraged to “Take the Test. Take Control,” and will be able to choose from one of many incentives, including coupons and food items from Healthy World Café, Rita’s Italian Ice, Subway, Gold’s Gym, Jimmy Johns, Wendy’s, Marcello’s Pizza, York City Pretzel Company and more. Participants can also enter into a gift basket raffle.

Staff and volunteers will also be distributing condoms and educational materials in downtown York to encourage individuals to get tested at the George Street center. Testing is open to everyone, not just Family First Health patients.

WHERE
Family First Health
116 S. George St., York PA 17401

BACKGROUND
Centers for Disease Control recommends that health care providers test everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 at least once as part of routine health care. One in seven people in the United States who have HIV do not know they are infected. Family First Health provides free, confidential HIV testing at all five locations year-round, as part of routine medical care. In 2014, staff performed nearly 3,500 tests.

# # #

 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, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. 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.

Family First Health celebrates 45 years of putting community first

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155

Family First Health celebrates 45 Years of Putting Community First
 

York, Pa. (8 June 2015) – Family First Health is thrilled to celebrate a major milestone in 2015 as it marks 45 years of providing health care in York County.

One of the first community health centers in the nation, Family First Health was founded in 1970 in response to the York Charrette, which identified solutions to several programs facing York City. Family First Health proved to be an effective way to meet the comprehensive health care needs of underserved populations.

In 45 years, Family First Health has grown to five locations in York and Adams counties. Its uniquely qualified providers delivered medical, dental and social services to more than 22,000 patients in 2014, furthering its goal of addressing barriers to better health and increasing affordable, accessible health care for those who need it most.

“Family First Health began several decades ago as a response to community need,” said Jenny Englerth, CEO. “We’re proud to carry that mission focus through every day in our work with individuals and families to effect community-wide changes and address the challenges they face in achieving better health.”

Family First Health will be celebrating this milestone anniversary all year, kicking off June 1 by sharing diverse stories of how the community health center puts community first in its program and services every day.

Follow along with updates on Facebook, Twitter and online at familyfirsthealth.org.

# # # 

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, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. 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.

Family First Health earns national recognition for patient-centered care

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact
Sarah Chain
[email protected]
o: 717-848-8155

 

Family First Health earns national recognition for patient-centered care

 

Southcentral Pa. (3 June 2015) – Family First Health is pleased to announce it has earned National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition for its use of evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long?term, participative relationships.

The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. Medical homes foster ongoing partnerships between patients and their personal clinicians, instead of approaching care as the sum of episodic office visits. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and can improve patient and provider reported experiences of care.

Family First Health received accreditation for all five of its community health centers, in York, Hannah Penn, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg.

“Since its start 45 years ago, Family First Health has been dedicated to relationship-based care that addresses all facets of health and improves the health of our community as a whole,” said Family First Health CEO Jenny Englerth. “We are honored to be recognized by NCQA, which raises the bar in defining high-quality care.”

To earn recognition, which is valid for three years, Family First Health demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements and embody characteristics of a medical home. NCQA standards aligned with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.

# # #

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, Hannah Penn Middle School, Lewisberry, Hanover and Gettysburg. 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.