Category: Uncategorized

By Dr. Sharad Kohli

Recently I was honored by Integrative Medicine for the Underserved (IM4US) with the UR4US Award, recognizing my contributions to the organization. I was a Founding Board Member, co-created our Annual Conference, and founded and chaired our Policy Committee for several years.  My term on the Board has come to an end, and after almost a decade with the organization, I’m transitioning into a leadership role on the Board of another non-profit called the Integrative Health Policy Consortium.

IM4US is an inter-professional organization committed to affordable, available integrative health for all.  It was started by Family Medicine doctors, mainly working in Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), who were looking for a better way to care for their patients through a more holistic approach focusing on nutrition, lifestyle changes, mind-body techniques, and other low-cost practices such as acupuncture, herbs, yoga, and more.  We always had a strong focus on providing culturally relevant care, as well as on addressing patients’ social needs (many of our clinics had developed food access programs, safe spaces to exercise, group visits to address loneliness and isolation, etc.), and recognizing that there was an educational void around this type of care, we created a conference in 2011 to share best practices.  Eventually, we realized that there were all sorts of people doing this work, so we organically expanded to include behavioral health practitioners, nutritionists, naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists, chiropractors, midwives, herbalists, and anyone committed to working with the under-resourced.  We are now considered one of the major collaborative integrative health organizations – the only one focused on the under-resourced – and have become national leaders in the delivery of group medical visits.

As we evolved, we realized that there are larger structural issues at play which needed to be addressed if we truly want everyone to live to their fullest potential.  We began to really dig in around the social determinants of health, and felt that in order to address these, we had to think more about EDI as a whole, as well as the policies that lead to health disparities.  We have created an EDI Framework to guide our work and a Policy Committee active around outreach on issues that matter to our patients. We have written letters  opposing Public Charge and supporting the recent HHS guidelines for pain management, endorsing an integrative model and non-pharmacologic approaches. This is all at the core of integrative health and medicine, which looks at root causes and uses an expanded toolkit of evidence-informed practices to help patients attain optimal health.

My work with IM4US dovetails nicely with the mission and values of People’s Community Clinic.  It is one of the reasons I chose to work at the clinic. When you think about it, People’s truly is an integrative clinic. People’s works on multiple levels to impact health – on a direct patient care level, at a midstream level with our various programs to address our patients’ social needs, and further upstream with our supportive efforts. We have an expanded “toolkit” to support our patients including distress-informed behavioral health, acupuncture, cooking classes, substance use services, and our incredible medical-legal partnership. My work with IM4US has helped inform how I practice in clinic with patients, as well as with the development of our integrative pain management program and group visits.  At the same time, I learn every day from my committed mission-driven co-workers who have been doing this work for years. IM4US provides another opportunity to share what we’re doing here in Austin on a national level.

When people ask me to describe IM4US, I don’t actually say we’re an integrative health organization.  I say we’re an organization who believes that integrative health is one of the best paths to equity. I see People’s in the same light. Together, IM4US and People’s are poised to lead the charge in transforming how we view health in this country.

Onward in solidarity for the betterment of our patients, our community, and our nation!

 

On June 19^th, People’s celebrated the opening of its dental services. Thanks to the generous donation of a fully-equipped van by St. David’s Foundation, People’s was able to add “dental care” to its long list of services for the medically under-resourced and uninsured. Whether a patient needs cleanings, x-rays, fillings, prosthetics or root canal, our team is ready to serve.

The dental team is led by our new Director of Dental Services Dr. Carlos Diaz, DDS, RGDT. Dr. Diaz comes to us with over 15 years’ experience working at dental clinics and community health centers in Texas, New York, and El Salvador. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s International Dentist Program and recently relocated to Austin. He is joined by Nancy Lozoria, Dental Services Manager, and Dental Assistants, Gretchen Green and Dulce Sanchez. Together they work to put patients at ease and strive to see them leave their appointment smiling and happy.

The program officially opened its doors on May 15^th and, in only a month, has already treated 50 patients. Currently the program is serving uninsured adults with chronic disease (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, depression, and anxiety).

Did you know? Medical care accounts for only 10% of an individual’s overall health, while behavioral health—factors like social integration, support systems, and stress— determines 30% of overall well-being. That 30% is where Robin Rosell, People’s Director of Behavioral Health and Social Services, has focused her 23 years at the clinic. “Being open to change and improvement” is key to medical social work, Robin said. “The field is always evolving, and the pendulum always swings back and forth between different schools of thought.”

With her holistic approach, Robin has initiated several effective programs that have helped improve patients’ lives. The first was TANDEM, the teen prenatal parenting program that is currently in its 22nd year. It provides intensive case management to support teen mothers’ social, medical, and emotional wellbeing needs. Since 1998, TANDEM has served one thousand mothers, and helped reduce their chances of having a second teen birth to less than 3%, compared to the state average of 20%. Robin led the creation of our Integrative Behavioral Health Department, which provides patients with convenient in-clinic emotional wellbeing services. Finally, Robin also helped launch our Pain Management Program to reduce opioid use and treat patients with complex chronic pain.

The mind-body connection is undeniable, Robin says. For instance, we know that depression and diabetes are closely linked and that stress plays a role in physical pain. When we see the whole patient—not just their symptoms—we can help them get healthy and stay healthy for life. Thank you, Robin, for your leadership and for growing a vibrant IBH department!

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#NationalProfessionalSocialWorkersMonth #IntegrativeBehavioralHealth #SocialWorkers #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth #PeoplesofPeople

March is National Professional Social Work Month! To honor our #SocialWorkers and to help shed light on their important work, we’re bringing you their stories each week. #LMSW #PeopleofPeoples #BehavioralHealth

Our first feature is on Ana Serratos, a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) in the Integrative Behavioral Health department at People’s Community Clinic. Ana, like our 10 other social workers, counsels patients who are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief, and distress. Ana also provides support to the Pain Management Program, a multidisciplinary approach to reducing opioid use and treating patients with complex chronic pain.

In fact, counseling is one of the many non-pharmaceutical options recommended by the Center for Disease Control for alleviating pain. Patients will talk with Ana about their chronic pain issues—which are often unexplained and difficult to treat—and say things like, “I feel like you’re really listening to me,” or “I feel like you understand me.” (Ana says it’s moments like these that make her job as a social worker awesome!)

Ana also coordinates other “wrap-around” services like acupuncture, nutrition counseling, exercise, and medical-legal intervention to help patients with their symptoms.

Thank you, Ana, and thanks to the team of social workers that provide such great care for People’s patients!

 

 

 

 

Eva had one too many scares. For months, she and her 6 kids suffered from chronic respiratory issues. Her youngest, two-year-old Ana Maria, was in the worst shape. After rushing Ana Maria to the emergency room for the third time, Eva came to People’s looking for relief. They met with multiple pediatric specialists, each who looked for the root cause of the family’s illness.

It became clear that an unsafe living condition, particularly mold, was endangering the family’s health. For help, the physicians called on Keegan Warren, JD, an attorney at the Austin Medical-Legal Partnership (AMLP).

The AMLP recognizes that good health depends on many factors outside of the exam room. Social and legal determinants of health – like housing and work conditions, or hurdles to receiving certain benefits – effect health in tremendous ways, sometimes even more than the clinical care they receive. Often, a legal intervention is needed to address these health-harming situations. As part of the AMLP, attorneys are housed at People’s, and patients are referred to attorneys if they need legal help to improve their health.

Keegan learned that rains from Hurricane Harvey had flooded the family’s apartment, but property managers had not addressed the resulting mold infestation. Mold in the walls, floor, and furniture had contributed to debilitating – and dangerous – respiratory problems.

With Keegan’s help, the family took the apartment owners to court, which forced them to address the substandard conditions. Eva was assured that with the Keegan’s protection, the apartment owners would not evict the family or take any other retaliatory actions. As a result, the family was able to move to a new, clean apartment. The children’s health issues resolved slowly, and Eva’s family began the process of healing – this time, in a home with fresh air.

 

Walk into to People’s Community Clinic at 6pm on a Tuesday and you may be surprised by what you find. Medical appointments are over for the day, but the building is still buzzing with activity.

In the Community Room patients, neighbors, and clinic staff dance to upbeat Latin hits—it’s the weekly free Zumba class. The bass is pumping as students groove from side to side. They are laughing and moving to the beat. Zumba class is so much fun you may forget that you’re getting in a serious work out!

People’s is so much more than a clinic. We are a holistic health home for our patients

Down the hall in the Teaching Kitchen home chefs gather for La Cocina Alegre/The Happy Kitchen, a program offering free healthy cooking classes for People’s patients. Taught by People’s trained Health Educators, classes are available in English or Spanish (tonight’s class is in Spanish), with sessions for adults and teens.

Students receive a healthy cookbook and groceries to practice preparing the new recipes at home. The clinic even offers complimentary child care so busy parents can enjoy the class.

Zumba and La Cocina Alegre are just a few of the health and wellness programs that the clinic offers in partnership with other community groups. These partnerships bring enriching programs that empower patients to take charge of their health.

We offer a full calendar of classes, resources, and specialty services, everything from free summer meals for kids to breastfeeding support groups and healthy parenting classes.

Programs like ours make People’s so much more than a clinic. We are a holistic medical home for our patients and a health and wellness hub for our community. Stop by some time and see for yourself—even better, join us for a class!

 

Current Offerings

Classes, workshops, and resources empower patients to get and stay healthy.

DIAPER BANK

Free diapers for patients, provided by Austin Diaper Bank.

SNAP (FOOD STAMPS)

Patients can apply for and renew SNAP, or check the status of their application on-site at the clinic.

SUMMER MEALS

Many kids who qualify for free or reduced lunches during the school year struggle to access meals during summer. Thanks to a partnership with Central Texas Food Bank, we offer free lunch all summer long, four days a week.

MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP

Our staff attorneys provide free legal counsel for patients facing health-harming legal needs. In Partnership with Texas Legal Services Center.

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT

New and expecting mothers learn about the benefits of nursing. Students work with People’s Lactation Consultant to develop a breastfeeding plan, setting themselves (and baby!) up for success.

REAL TALK

Learn how to help your teen make healthy decisions through better communication. Connect with other parents, gain skills to talk to your teen about intercourse. In partnership with St. David’s Foundation and Lifeworks.

NURTURING PARENTING

A family-centered, distress-informed class designed to build nurturing parenting skills and empower families against cycles of abuse and neglect. In partnership with Any Baby Can.

THE HAPPY KITCHEN/La Cocina Alegre

Learn how to cook healthy meals for you and your family with this 6-week cooking and nutrition program. In partnership with Sustainable Food Center.

SMALL BITES

Teaching students ages 6-10 about nutrition and healthy cooking. Healthy snacks every class! In partnership with Common Threads.

MOM’S CLUB

A supportive group for moms with children ages 0-5 to connect, learn new skills for child development, find resources, and make new friends.

ZUMBA
Fun, energetic, group exercise class. Meets every week – all fitness levels welcome! In partnership with It’s Time Texas.