 | October 2022 | Issue No. 6 |
| Introducing Temi Oshiyoye PCC Quality Improvement Manager Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Montgomery County’s most vulnerable residents have continued to receive high-quality healthcare, thanks to Quality Improvement Manager Temi Oshiyoye and others who have worked hard to maintain quality measures and get the best outcomes from the programs that exist. Temi, tell us about yourself. How did you end up working with the Primary Care Coalition? |
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| Over the past 13 years, I have worked in different areas of public health, from community research to healthcare management. I’ve also worked on various topics within these areas, like tobacco cessation, rural health, and quality improvement. My educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in public health, a post-graduate certificate in patient safety and quality, and current enrollment in the Franklin University doctoral program in healthcare administration. I am also a certified Health Education Specialist and Six Sigma Yellow Belt. My training is broad, and it has involved so many pieces of the public health system. I ultimately decided to work with PCC because of the mission. I was drawn to PCC’s systems focus because I believe infrastructure development is a cornerstone for a healthy community. |
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|  |  |  | PCC Kicks off 30th Anniversary Year with November 10th Storytelling Show A limited number of tickets are available for the Primary Care Coalition’s 30th Anniversary Storytelling Show which starts at 7:30 p.m. on November 10 at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring. Don’t miss the chance to hear true stories that are guaranteed to be a little bit irreverent, a lot heartfelt, and totally unique, including one about a chance encounter with Icelandic ponies in a Montgomery County kitchen. Proceeds from the event will support the organization’s efforts to provide health care to Montgomery County’s most vulnerable residents. Tickets are $50 each. Get yours today. |
|  | The Importance of Medical Directives Planning for a time when you may not be able to make medical decisions for yourself isn’t just for elderly people thinking about end-of-life care. It’s important for adults of all ages to think about what healthcare decisions are important to them and what they would want to have done in a medical emergency if they become incapacitated and unable to communicate. Creating an advance medical directive will make their preferences clear about such issues as organ and tissue donations, life support, and comfort care. It becomes a living document, one that can be adjusted as circumstances and health conditions change. Advance directives can include such documents as a Living Will that addresses their wishes regarding CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), ventilator use, and feeding tubes. Advance directives can also ensure that personal and religious beliefs are respected. This serves as a useful legal document for adults of any age to plan for future healthcare needs. More information about healthcare directives is available on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) website. An advance directive form can be downloaded from the Maryland Attorney General’s website. | |
|  | Answers to Your Flu and COVID Vaccine Questions We talked with Dr. Carol Garvey, a retired physician and former Montgomery County Public Health Officer to unpack the latest guidance on flu and COVID vaccines. Dr. Garvey also co-founded the Primary Care Coalition and remains a member of our Emeritus Board. With flu season starting and COVID still in the mix, when is the best time to get a COVID booster and annual flu shot? Can you get both vaccines at the same time? Flu season is already starting and now, before the end of October, is the best time to get protected with a flu shot. The season usually peaks between December and February, often continuing until May. And yes, it is safe and convenient to get a flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 booster if it’s been at least two months since your last COVID vaccine and you have not recently had COVID. |
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 | October 25, 4-5 p.m., Adaptive (seated) Qi Gong and Tai Ji Quan. This free virtual class is sponsored by Disability Partnerships and Independence Now for individuals seeking meditative movement to gain a sense of calm and relaxation. Register here. October 27, 1-2 p.m., Accessible Boxing via Zoom. Designed for individuals with limited to no mobility, the class is free and offered via Zoom. Sponsored by Disability Partnerships and Independence Now. Register here. October 31, 4-5 p.m., Adaptive Zumba, a fun-filled virtual class via Zoom for individuals with limited to no mobility and senior citizen, funded by a grant from the Adventist Community Partnership, and sponsored by Disability Partnerships and Independence Now. Register here. |
| |  | Join PCC’s 30th Anniversary Virtual 5K November 25-29, 2022 - Walk or run, indoors or out.
- Win prizes for total impact or total fun.
Register today and support health care for our most vulnerable residents. |
| | Job Opportunities Shepherd’s Table is seeking a part-time (about 8 hours a week) optometrist to lead its Eye Clinic that serves the homeless at the organization’s headquarters in downtown Silver Spring, following the retirement of the clinic’s founding optometrist, Dr. Bernetta Davis. Compensation is $60/hour. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to Jerome Chambers, director of Social Services, at jchambers@shepherdstable.org. ______________________________ Current Primary Care Coalition job opportunities include: Behavioral Health Care Manager (Full-Time) Controller (Full-Time) |
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| Anyone who has had a solid reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination in the past may prefer to get their booster on a different day since studies have shown that individuals who get both vaccines on the same day can experience a slight (8%-11%) increase in the COVID-19 vaccine side effects such as fatigue, headache, and muscle aches. However, those side effects were mild and resolved quickly. Most people experience little to no side effects with the flu shot. |
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