Newsletter April 2019

OUR MISSION: TO RAISE THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH OF
AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL

April 2019 Lawton Service Unit

“Patients First”
By LCDR Lenora Littledeer
Acting Chief Executive Officer, LSU

The purpose of the “PATIENTS FIRST” CEO campaign is to
remind all employees that our service unit is capable of achieving
extraordinary results towards the IHS mission by putting our
patients first. As stated in my newsletter article “Patient
Experience: The Unwanted, The Wanted, and The Horizon” (March 2019), our patients
rely on us to lead them to optimal health. “PATIENTS FIRST” is created as an oppor-
tunity to condition ourselves to place emphasis on the patient when problem solving ra-
ther than focusing on processes or people that may eventually become barriers. Dur-
ing my career of 20+ years, I have found that solutions come much easier when I focus
on the patient because I am not thinking about the burden placed upon me to accom-
plish the solution(s). My continuous application of this philosophy has molded me into a
quite successful problem solver. I firmly believe that if we all apply the “PATIENTS
FIRST” philosophy, extraordinary results will manifest because we will just collabora-
tively find a way to make it happen or at least pave the path for the next best alterna-
tive or two. The “Patients First” logo was created by Kinsey Littledeer with specific con-
sideration to the population we serve and to the IHS mission. The reasoning applied dur-
ing the logo design is as follows:

In the Onondaga creation story, in preparation for the Sky Woman’s arrival, the Great Turtle swims to the
bottom of the ocean and resurfaces with mud on his back and that is how the Earth was created. The story
of a turtle being an Earth Bearer is present in many other Native American cultures. The importance of the
turtle to Native peoples can be seen in the religious, ritualistic and medicinal uses of the turtle shell. De-

pending on a tribe’s region, the symbolism of the turtle may be different, but generally, many cultures
view the turtle as a symbol of protection, healing, fertility, and a long, healthy life.

I challenge each of you to champion “PATIENTS FIRST”

Honoring National Doctor’s Day

Pictured (L to R): (A)CEO Lenora
Littledeer, Dr. Sean Wang, Dr. Brian
Nguyen, Heidi Powell NP, Amy
Glasgow,NP, Carmen Hernandez-Ware
NP, Jerrus Harris NP, Terry Hunter,
Director AIHC/CIHC
Not pictured: Dr. Maritza Roman,
Dr. Nepistance Shoko, Dr. Stacy
Goode, Dr. Marc Clanton and
Dr. Andrea Dudley

In honor of National Doctors Day, the offices of the CEO, Chief Nurse Executive, and the
Director of Public Health Nursing hosted a luncheon for all Lawton Indian Hospital pro-
viders on March 28, 2019. We sincerely appreciate the service they provide and feel for-
tunate that they choose to be employed with us. Providers - thank you for everything you

do! Although we missed those who were unable to join us, we were delighted at the
turnout and truly enjoyed the camaraderie of this event. An event was also held to rec-

ognize providers at the Anadarko and Carnegie Indian Health Centers.

Pictured: Front row (L to R): LCDR Tiana Babb - (A) Director of Public
Health Nursing; C. Jones, DO; S. Henderson, DO; S. Vinson, ARNP; N.
Collazo-Booker, MD; LCDR Lenora Littledeer - (A) CEO; J. Ilidan, OD.
Backrow: (L to R) K. Robinson, ARNP; S. Hults, DO (Deputy CD); S. Is-
mail, MD; S. Sanders, DO (CD); T. Teegarden, DDS; LCDR L. Alexander,
OD; G. Consagra, DO; Jennifer Wahkinney, Chief Nurse Executive. Others
participating but not pictured include: B. Christopher, MD; E. Han, MD;
D. Guan, MD; K. Newport, MD; J. Fitz, CRNA; K. Rodriguez, CRNA; L.
Rivers, ARNP; I. Udor, MD; C. Foster, DDS; K. Legako, DDS; A. John,
DDS; M. Nguyen, DDS.

Zero Suicide Monthly Update:
What It Means to Be a Zero Suicide Facility

By Eryn Bull, MSW, LCSW

Lawton Indian Hospital is committed to by a mental health professional in the

implementing a Zero Suicide Approach to month prior to their death, and only 10%

care. What that means is that we are are seen in the emergency room in the

looking to fundamentally change the way two months prior to their death. Over

we screen for, assess, and treat patients half of patients who die by suicide have

who are at risk for suicide. The goal is to no known mental health diagnosis. This

find patients BEFORE they are in a tells us that suicide care is not just an

suicidal crisis and provide interventions issue for the behavioral health clinic or

that prevent the crisis from occurring in the emergency room, but is a system-

the first place. In a Zero Suicide facility, wide issue. That is why LIH is

suicide prevention is everyone’s implementing universal suicide risk

responsibility. In addition, it is a blame- screening at all outpatient appointments.

free culture that looks only to increase Every patient who screens positive for

patient safety by improving the system as suicide risk will have a risk assessment

a whole. All staff have a role to play and completed to determine the level of care

are trained so they feel capable and that is needed to keep them safe.

confident in caring for patients at risk for Utilizing standardized tools such as the

suicide. The goal is to close cracks in the Patient Health Questionnaire 3, The

system through which patients with Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale,

suicidal risk can fall. Nearly half of all and The Stanley Brown Safety Plan,

patients who die by suicide are seen by allows for consistent responses and

their primary care provider in the month interventions to suicide risk across all

prior to their death. Only 30% are seen departments to keep our patients safe.

MeIamslpeosrOtauntbcereoafkVHaicgchinliagthiotsnthe

Measles is a highly contagious virus that Measles cases in the U.S. are highest
since measles was eliminated in 2000
spreads through respiratory droplets, mostly
As of April 24, 2019, the CDC reported 695
caused when someone infected coughs and cases of measles from 22 states. This is the
greatest number of cases reported in the
sneezes. Measles usually starts with a high fe- United States since measles was eliminated
from this country in 2000. The high number of
ver, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and a sore cases in 2019 is primarily the result of a few
large outbreaks – one in Washington State and
throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads two large outbreaks in New York that started
in late 2018. The outbreaks in New York City
over the body. Two-three days after symp- and New York State are among the largest and
longest lasting since measles elimination in
toms begin, tiny white (Koplik) spots may ap- 2000. According to the CDC, the longer these
outbreaks continue, the greater the chance
pear inside the mouth. Measles can be easily measles will again get a sustained foothold in
prevented by getting the measles-mumps- the United States. The CDC encourages all
who are able to be vaccinated against
rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is measles with the MMR vaccine.

very safe and effective. According to the Cen-

ter for Disease Control and Prevention,

two doses of MMR vaccine is about 97% effec-

tive at preventing measles where one dose

alone is about 93% effective.

For more information visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/measles

National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
April 21 – 27, 2019

This annual celebration recognizes our medical lab
teams who play a vital role in health care and patient
advocacy! They truly are “All Stars”. Take some time
out to thank all of your Medical Laboratory team at
Anadarko, Carnegie, and Lawton for the hard work and
dedication they display on a daily basis!

THANK YOU!!

Alcohol Awareness Month Start Taking charge of your Health

Drinking too much alcohol increases people’s This Month!
risk of injuries, violence, drowning, liver
disease, and some cancers. April was Alcohol April is recognized as Sexually
Awareness Month and the Lawton Service Unit
encourages you to educate yourself and your Transmitted Disease Awareness Month,
loved ones about the dangers of drinking too brining attention to the nearly 20 million
much. In 2017, there were 3,268 drunk driving new STD cases that occur in the United
accidents in Oklahoma alone. Of those,160 were States each year. While STDs affect all
fatal. To spread the word and prevent alcohol racial and ethnic groups, American
abuse, the Lawton Service Unit joined other Indian and Alaska Native communities
organizations across the country to observe bear a disproportionate burden. Indian
Alcohol Awareness Month. Health Surveillance Report - Sexually
Transmitted Diseases 2015, aims to
If you feel you may be drinking too much, your serve as a valued resource for those
health can improve by cutting back and/or working in Indian Country and others
quitting. Here are some strategies that may help: concerned with the public health
implications of STDs for American
 Limit drinking to no more than 1 drink a day Indians and Alaska Natives. For
for women or 2 drinks a day for men. information on getting tested, please
contact your medical provider.
 Keep track of how much you drink.
 Choose a day each week when you will not

drink.
 Don’t drink when you are upset.
 Limit the amount of alcohol you keep at

home.
 Avoid places where people drink a lot.
 Make a list of reasons not to drink.

If you are concerned about someone else’s
drinking, offer to help.

Contact your care team for more information:

Lawton Indian Hospital: 580-354-5000

Anadarko Indian Health Center: 405-247-7900

Carnegie Indian Health Center: 580-654-1100

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April) LSU Patient

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is a campaign to Experience Week
raise public awareness about sexual violence and
educate communities on how to prevent it. Sexual April 22-26
violence is a serious public health problem in the
United States. More than one in three women and Patient Experience is defined as
nearly one in four men have experienced sexual an integral component of health
violence involving physical contact at some point in care quality. Patient experience
includes several aspects of health
their lives. Help promote healthy, respectful care delivery that patients value
relationships throughout the year. highly when they seek and
receive care, such as getting
Talk to your Health Care Provider with questions timely appointments, easy
or concerns related to sexual violence. access to information, and good
communication with health care
providers. At LSU, several
activities were performed to
promote patient experience and
to recognize staff that made our
patient’s experiences better.
Please visit the LSU home page for
more details.

Adult Care- Same Day Access

By Barbara Derrico

A great team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and nursing staff are here to serve our pa-
tients with Same Day Access. This team works hard so that patients are able to receive care

on a walk-in basis. They enjoy caring for our patients and that’s what gets them through
each day. Thank you Adult Care for all you do!

Pictured from left to
right: Raejean
Camacho NP, Terica
Smith NP, Crystal Sal-
way LPN, Cindy Hall
RN, Stephanie Gomez
LPN, Rachel Keel LPN,
Dr. Colon, Lancee
Cook MSA, and Dr.
Ramirez (back row).
Not shown: Taylor
Bear, CNA

Welcome New Additions to the LIH Team

Dr. Janet Ilidan – Optometry

Dr. Janet Ilidan joined Lawton Indian Service
Unit in February 2019. She attended Mid-
western State University in Wichita Falls, TX
and Rosenberg School of Optometry in San
Antonio, TX, followed by residency training
in Ocular Disease with the Southern Arizona
Veteran Affairs Health Care System in Sierra
Vista, AZ. Prior to working for IHS she
worked as a civilian optometrist for the US
Army at Lawton/Ft. Sill, OK. She is from Law-
ton, Oklahoma and therefore very familiar
with the area. She looks forward to providing
eye care to the members of her hometown.

Brian Mauch, MD - Pediatrics

Caleb Wetselline – EVS

Caleb Wetselline is from Apache, Dr Brian Mauch is a pediatrician with 23
Oklahoma and is a member of the years of experience; most recently
working at William Beaumont Army
Comanche Tribe. He will be working with Medical Center at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX.
the EVS department. He comes to LSU Dr. Mauch is originally from North Dakota,
where he attended medical school. He is
with experience from Sugar Creek Casi- excited to be in Oklahoma and looks
no. forward to proving the best possible care
for the children of the Lawton Service Unit.

Pharmacy
Monthly

Lawton Indian Hospital
April 2019

From stress to de-stress

Stress happens; everyone feels function is minimized. The Ways to de-stress at work:
stressed from time to time, wheth- hormones released can also · Ear massage – massage the
er it’s from work, business, fami- increase our heart-rates,
ly, or relationships. Stress not on- blood pressures, and sugar ear gently, right in the
ly affects the mind but can also levels. Other hormones sup- middle of the upper third
lead to a wide range of ailments in press functions like digestion of the ear. The spot is
the long term. and the immune system. This called the Shen Men
is why chronic stress can point and reportedly de-
The body’s sympathetic stress re- leave the body more vulnera- creases stress and
sponse is a survival mechanism. ble to illness. boosts energy.
When stressed, our body thinks it · Workspace reset – take a
is under attack and switches to Prolonged stress can lead minute to reset your
“fight or flight” mode. This re- to: mind at the same time.
sponse is necessary to quickly  Allergies · Hand trick – lightly pinch
mobilize reflexes when there is  Alopecia the muscle between the
imminent danger, for example –  Anxiety thumb and index finger
pulling a hand away from a hot  Diabetes and massage it in small
surface. When our bodies per-  Frustration circles.
ceive a threat, a mix of hormones  Heart disease · Breathing technique – try
and chemicals such as adrenaline,  Hypertension inflating the air in the
cortisol, and norepinephrine are  Irritable bowel syndrome stomach instead of the
released to prepare the body for  Muscle and joint pain chest.
physical actions. When blood flow  Memory problem · Progressive relaxation –
is going only to the most im-  Stroke start at the toes, tensing,
portant muscles needed during  Ulcers
“fight or flight”, the brain  And many more and slowly releasing the
muscles. Work all the
way up your body and
you’ll finish feeling

energized

Meet your staff – Janie Zhu

Where are you and/or your family from?
 Lexington, MA, about 20 minutes outside of Bos-

ton.

Who or what inspired you to choose pharmacy as a
career?
 I think I gravitated towards it because I always

liked chemistry and math. The most rewarding
part of my job is when I’ve been able to help
someone. Previously, I’ve worked for an EHR ven-
dor, so I’m excited to be currently more involved
in pharmacy informatics.

If you could pick up a new skill in an instant, what
would it be?
 Driving a standard. I tried it for the first time re-

cently and I felt like I had to keep track of so
many things in my head!

What is your favorite quote and why?
 “The only real valuable thing is intuition.” –Albert

Einstein. When dealing with uncertainty, I remind
myself to go with my gut.

Lawton Pharmacy Hours: Anadarko Pharmacy Hours:
Monday – Friday
7:30 AM – 7:00 PM Monday – Friday
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday Refill voicemail line
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
405 - 247 - 7948
Pharmacy Phone Numbers: Refill mail line
Refill automated line 405 - 247 – 7950
580 - 354 - 5539
Refill voicemail line Carnegie Pharmacy Hours:
580 - 354 – 5538 Monday – Friday
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
*All refill lines available 24 hours Pharmacy number
580 - 654 - 1100
Lawton Pharmacy clerks
580 - 354 – 5532

Clerks available m-f from 8am – 5pm

Human Resources (HR) staff attended HR assistant training and Enterprise Human
Capital Management (ECHM ) training at the Oklahoma City Area Office from March 25th
through March 28th, 2019. EHCM is the system that will replace Capital HR or EHRP.
Pictured above is the current HR staff for the Oklahoma Area along with HR Director,
Lisa Gyorda from IHS headquarters and Director of Operation and Systems, Jennifer Fry.

We are always looking for contributions to the newsletter! If you
would like something to be considered for inclusion, please contact

Tiana Babb at [email protected] or call (580) 354-5559