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Not even the COVID-19 pandemic could stop the success of CommUnityCare’s Healthy Chef Cooking Program in improving clients’ diets around Central Texas.

Founded in 2016, the program teaches nutrition education and provides hands-on learning to use healthy ingredients to create healthy meals. The program lasts six weeks, with six separate cohorts taking lessons in English or Spanish.

“The most rewarding part of this program for me is the cooking classes. It’s really neat to see people who are uncomfortable with certain cooking techniques or do not have good health literacy prepare meals and get that sense of success,” said Elyse Henson, CommUnityCare’s Clinical Nutrition Manager & Outpatient Dietitian.

Healthy Chef serves more than 100 patients per year and, after a brief pause during 2020, has adjusted to continuing its mission during the pandemic Class sizes have gotten smaller. Masks and vaccines are required. And in-class food sharing has been replaced by to-go-boxes that allow for after-hours tasting.

The program increased access to lessons in healthy eating both before and after COVID-19 arrived.  In 2019, for instance, the “Lose to Win” weight management class consisted of three groups with 24 hour-and-a-half long classes, for a total of 108 hours of lessons for Central Texas residents. This year, six groups are taking 12 two-and-a-half hour classes that collectively offer 180 hours of lessons in diet and nutrition.

The instructors present the nutritional teachings at the start of each class. They cover a broad range of topics, such as what it means to sauté or how much is in a tablespoon.

The lessons follow a set curriculum, with the first focused on kitchen safety, teaching participants how to keep meat and produce separate from one another and store them properly.

Other lessons explain what a healthy plate looks like, including the right daily balance of protein and starches and their roles in a healthy diet. Students actively participate in all lessons by answeringquestions, reading instructions, and helping to cook.

Participants are recruited from a variety of CommUnityCare health centers. Information is posted on flyers and digital screens. Physicians are encouraged to tell patients about the program if they believe they would benefit. About 90% of the clients who participate in the program are at risk for health complications.

Many participants cite the class as a highlight of their week. Although participation is limited to once per year, some clients find it so valuable they rejoin the program each year.

To learn more about enrolling in the Healthy Chef Cooking Program, please call 512-978-9269.

 

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CommUnityCare Health Centers provide much-needed dental care to about 17,000 Central Texans each year through seven dental clinics, including three that serve children from low-income families.

Now, the centers will be able to reach these patients even more effectively, thanks to a $150,000 grant from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation. The generous grant will help buy new equipment, supplies and chairs — and directly keep down costs for patients in need

“Many of CommUnityCare’s patients across Central Texas have gone years without regular dental care and are facing significant problems with their teeth and other areas of oral health care,” said CommUnityCare Chief Executive Officer Jaeson Fournier. “We are grateful for this commitment from the Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, which will directly support our mission to strengthen the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”

The funding is part of more than $20 million in grants the foundation is distributing this year throughout the 15 states and the District of Columbia, where Delta Dental of California operates.

The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California and its affiliated companies. Since 2011, it has awarded more than $60 million to health centers, food banks, disaster relief agencies and other community nonprofits to increase access to dental care, oral health education, and advance scientific research. Much of the foundation’s work goes towards improving equity in diverse communities.

“We’re honored to support CommUnityCare and their efforts to promote oral health care in the communities they serve,” said Kenzie Ferguson, vice president of foundation and corporate social responsibility for Delta Dental of California.

“This year, we looked for grant applicants who can meet the needs of those who often do not have access to quality dental health resources, such as the elderly, individuals in rural areas, and underserved communities of color. CommUnityCare stood out as a nonprofit organization that shared our mission and values. We’re very happy to extend this grant to them.”

CommUnityCare’s dental health services include exams, teeth cleaning, fillings, extractions, dentures, sealants, emergency treatment, and exams for children as young as 1-year-old as part of their well medical checkup. CommUnityCare also operates the School-Based Sealant Program for Austin Independent School District Title 1 schools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks to a generous $100,000 grant from the Lola Wright Foundation, CommUnityCare will buy a new Ambulance Sprinter van in 2022 that can serve as a mini-medical clinic. The sprinter will allow CommUnityCare’s Healthcare for the Homeless team to expand mobile healthcare services to Austin’s homeless population. 

The funds will also be used for other items to support street medicine, such as sleeping bags, clothing and tents. 

“The Lola Wright Foundation’s support and partnership will help to serve people experiencing homelessness, promoting comprehensive wellness and preventive care while potentially avoiding critical illness and hospitalization,” said CommUnityCare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nicholas Yagoda. “The Ambulance Sprinter is about providing the right care at the right time, and with the help of the Lola Wright Foundation, this vision will become a reality for more Central Texans.”

CommUnityCare has long served those in Travis County experiencing homelessness, providing them with necessary healthcare and supportive services. This includes operating the clinic at the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH), a shelter in downtown Austin, and offering medical care for unsheltered individuals staying near Sunrise Church, a homeless resource center in South Austin.

The Clinical Lead for the Healthcare for the Homeless team, Dr. Audrey Kuang shared, “Our street medicine team has been providing comprehensive primary care services to unsheltered individuals for the past five years in Austin. Through our consistent and compassionate care, our patients have come to trust us with their healthcare needs and beyond. The sprinter van will allow us to expand our services and our reach no matter rain or shine. We are so grateful to the Lola Wright Foundation for supporting our work.”

CommUnityCare also provides dental and vision care and has served more than 1,000 individuals experiencing homelessness. The grant from the Lola Wright Foundation and the new Ambulance Sprinter will build on these efforts and continue to help the unsheltered population in Travis County better manage their healthcare.

Founded in 1954,  the Lola Wright Foundation supports children and youth, public health and human services, education and community development and arts and culture. It provides grants to organizations in and around Austin.

CommUnityCare expects to purchase and dispatch the Ambulance Sprinter in early 2022. Click to learn more about CommUnityCare’s street medicine team.

 

 

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AUSTIN — CommUnityCare Health Centers has selected Anna M. Lozoya to serve as its Chief Legal and Risk Officer. Lozoya is both a registered nurse and an attorney with years of leadership experience in health care systems in Florida and Illinois that serve low-income populations.

“Anna’s background makes her uniquely positioned to support CommUnityCare and our mission of strengthening the health and well-being of the communities we serve in Central Texas,” said Chief Executive Officer Jaeson Fournier. “More than that, her passion and commitment to bettering lives in underserved communities will benefit the 123,000-plus patients we care for in and around Austin.”

Lozoya began in her role on Jan. 3. She comes from North Shore Medical Center in Miami, where she has served as the Patient Safety Officer and Risk Manager. She previously worked as Associate General Counsel of Risk for Sinai Health System and Risk Manager at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, both in Chicago.

As a nurse for more than 15 years, Lozoya has also directly cared for patients in areas from oncology to wound care and critical care, and she worked nights and weekends in hospitals to help pay for law school.

“I understand the population we serve and am excited and honored to join CommUnityCare and come to Austin,” Lozoya said. “Health care is where I feel most at home. Being involved in the community and helping patients in small and large ways can make a true difference in people’s lives.”

CommUnityCare’s more than 27 Central Texas locations provide outpatient primary health care, dental care, pediatric, specialty care, lab, radiology, mammography, pharmacy, and behavioral health services.

Lozoya said that working for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) will allow her to “come full circle” since doctors and nurses at an FQHC in Florida cared for her after she accidentally drank cleaning products as a baby.

“They saved my life and FQHCs have always played a very special role for me,” she said,

As CommUnityCare’s chief legal and risk officer, Lozoya will oversee its compliance, legal, and risk mitigation efforts.

A native of Florida, Lozoya graduated from Florida International University before earning her nursing degree from the University of Miami, law degree from DePaul University and MBA from North Park University.

Among the many honors and accolades in her career, she has served as regional president of the Hispanic National Bar Association and, this year, received the association’s Regional President of the Year Award. Previously, she received the National Association of Hispanic Nurses 40 under 40 recognition.

Central Texas Community Health Centers dba CommUnitycare is a 501c(3) nonprofit and an FQHC that provides high-quality and accessible care to underserved communities in Austin and surrounding areas without regard to insurance status.

 

 

 

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CommUnityCare Health Centers Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nicholas Yagoda answers some of the most common questions we are hearing as the COVID-19 Omicron variant spreads in Central Texas.

I haven’t gotten my first COVID-19 vaccine, and now I hear there are three or four required. Is it too late to catch up? Is there any point?

It is never too late to get started on updating your vaccines.

COVID-19 is likely to be with us for years to come, so starting to build your immunity through vaccines will have long-lasting benefits for you and those around you. Most of the vaccines we receive as a normal part of our healthcare require multiple doses to build full immunity, and COVID-19 is no different. It takes time to build a strong immune response.

I’m healthy and have already had the first two shots. Do I really need a booster? Isn’t that just a recommendation?

The booster is now strongly recommended based on Omicron’s ability to escape the immunity generated by the initial vaccination doses. Additionally, the immunity from only one or two doses of the COVID-19 vaccines started to wane after 4-6 months. Based on our experience with other vaccines, this is not surprising. It is quite common among our routine vaccinations to require multiple doses to achieve sustained, effective immunity. The COVID-19 vaccine boosters are following the same pattern.

I’m vaccinated, and I’m now hearing about the need to wear masks again — is that really necessary? 

Masking is an important barrier to prevent infection when our immune systems are not strong enough to protect us from serious illnesses that might require hospitalization or cause death. The immunity we develop following initial vaccine doses is initially very strong but gradually starts to weaken. ​Fortunately, boosters help restore strong protection. So while we work to get our community their protective boosters, we return to masking to keep us safe at a time when we are vulnerable.

 

 

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AUSTIN — CommUnityCare Health Centers announced this month that Austin labor attorney Steven Garrett has been elected to its board of directors. Garrett is an associate with Boulette Golden & Marin and is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Garrett joined Boulette Golden & Marin in 2013, after three years with the City of Austin as prosecutor and then as an assistant city attorney. Since joining the firm, Garrett has represented clients in a variety of labor and employment issues, including negotiating initial collective bargaining agreements, litigating non-compete and trade secret matters, advising clients on work separation decisions, assisting with federal and state agency compliance and investigations, and of course, defending employment claims.CommUnityCare Board member Steven Garrett

“I could not be more honored to join the board of CommUnityCare. Like for many people, COVID-19 was a catalyst for me to look around my community and see what I could do to help out,” Garrett said. “Learning about the invaluable service provided for low-income people in and around Travis County made me excited to join CommUnityCare in its vision to provide the right care, at the right time, at the right place.”

With more than 27 Central Texas locations, CommUnityCare is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides outpatient primary health care, dental care, pediatric, specialty care, lab, radiology including mammography, a full-service pharmacy and behavioral health services. CommUnityCare is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and is part of the nation’s vital safety net community health system, providing high quality care to underserved communities without regard to insurance status.

CommUnityCare is governed by the Central Texas Community Health Centers Board of Directors. As required by the Health Resources ServicesAdministration (HRSA), the FQHC board must be comprised of more than 51 percent patients of the health centers. In addition to its patient members, the CommUnityCare board represents a wide variety of community professions, including medicine, law, finance, technology and ministry.

“As a Community Health Center we rely on our patient majority Board of Directors to guide our work to improve health equity across Central Texans and especially for our neighbors who are low income. Steven is a welcome addition to our board and his wealth of legal knowledge and his passion for community service is an asset to CommUnityCare and the 123,000 plus patients we care for each year” said CommUnityCare Chief Executive Officer Jaeson Fournier.

 

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(Blog) – This December 1st 2021 marks World AIDS Day — a solemn moment of reflection during the 40th year of the HIV epidemic. For many of the early survivors, World AIDS Day is a somber moment to pause in remembrance of those who lost their lives to HIV; celebration as we note the progress that has been made in science and medicine; and consternation as we pass yet another year of an epidemic that has not been brought under control.

CommUnityCare has been at the forefront of the fight against HIV in central Texas with the David Powell Health Center, which has been centering people living with HIV with comprehensive primary care, pharmacy, mental and behavioral health, and social services for over 30 years. Click on the video to hear from our team members at David Powell who are at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

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(Blog) – In 1978, Delta Airlines pioneered the “Hub and Spoke” model, following deregulation of the airline industry, with the goal of increasing access and efficiency of air travel. Atlanta, GA was established as the hub through which most flights were routed while other airports were designated as spokes where travelers might begin or complete their routes. In healthcare, the Hub and Spoke Model has been used to increase access to specialized care within primary care settings, in addition to the traditional offering at a hospital or specialty clinic. CommUnityCare’ s Care Connections (CareCo) Clinic serves as both a hub (for complex procedures) and a spoke (for key services), bringing together a remarkable array of services for our patients with the highest burden of clinical illness as well as people experiencing homelessness. With this model we are boldly and safely challenging traditional notions of “right care, right place, right time.” Some of these services include the following:

1. Paracentesis is a procedure that is typically provided in a hospital setting that provides relief to individuals by draining fluid that has accumulated in the abdomen. This procedure helps avoid visits to the emergency room or hospital, and patients prefer the calm setting of our clinic with their trusted providers and team.

2. Hepatitis C treatment was traditionally provided exclusively by a GI or Infectious Disease specialist, but with newer hepatitis C medications, treatment protocols have been simplified allowing for treatment in the primary care setting. CareCo is one of a number of sites at CommUnityCare to offer Hep C screening, diagnosis, and treatment within the convenience of our patients’ primary care experience.

3. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) combines medication and behavioral therapy to treat substance use disorder, including the remarkably effective medication, buprenorphine, for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Initiation of this treatment requires intensive support, however, once a patient has stabilized on buprenorphine at our SEHWC hub, they are then transferred to a spoke site, including CareCo, for continued treatment. This exciting work is led by our MAT lead, Emily Humphrey.

4. HIV care has traditionally been delivered out of our hub site, the David Powell Clinic. Timely linkage to care is critical in the treatment of HIV, and CareCo Clinic has been developed as a spoke site to provide HIV care. Through additional HRSA grant funding, a HIV case manager and community health worker will be hired to assist with the spoke model work. This exciting addition is led by our Sexual Health Associate Director, Dr. Mike Stefanowicz.

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(Blog) – We’re celebrating more than 10 years of serving Central Texas to improve health equity and we are looking forward to another 10 years. We are committed to providing the right care, at the right time, and the right place for those who need us most. We can’t wait to show you what we do next. Click on the video link below to learn more!

For Spanish version click below:

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(Blog) – Nurses are the heart of CommUnityCare Health Centers and are often the first providers that patients engage with. Listen to Marion Douglas, long time nurse and The DAISY Award winner talk about why she loves working at CommUnityCare and what the DAISY award means to her.