 | October 2024 | Issue No. 30 |
| Montgomery Cares Network Adequacy Study Finds High Coverage, Trust and Predicts Higher Use The Montgomery Cares (MCares) program provides access to comprehensive health services for more than 20,000 low-income, uninsured residents of Montgomery County each year and generally meets or exceeds national care quality benchmarks for Medicaid providers. Together, those data points indicate the program succeeds in helping nearly 2% of county residents stay healthy every year. But how do those outcomes compare to the level of need in the community? Are there gaps in our provider networks that leave out some of the very residents we aim to serve? To find out, the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and the Primary Care Coalition (PCC) commissioned NORC at the University of Chicago to conduct a Montgomery Cares Network Adequacy study. |
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|  | Meet Marisol Ortiz Marisol Ortiz is the Primary Care Coalition’s Director of Family Centered Care and—with 24 years of service—one of the organization’s most senior employees. She oversees the Care for Kids program, ensuring PCC and partners meet healthcare needs of more than 6,000 children each year (CFK had more than 10,000 participants in FY24!). She coordinates with partners, listens to patient and community needs, anticipates immigration trends, coordinates with stakeholders, addresses program compliance issues and environmental impacts, and manages budgets, data, and reports. “I love my job,” said Ortiz. “Working with children and families and giving them peace of mind by providing them with the health care they need impacts their lives in a meaningful way.” |
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| | Triumph at Last: Celebrating Faith Ibura Ideki's Inspiring Journey to Becoming a CNA Faith Ibura Ideki’s journey has taken her tens of thousands of miles, two continents, and almost five years. “Growing up in Nigeria, I dreamed of being a nurse. I majored in Biochemistry in one of the Federal Universities of Technology in Nigeria with plans to join in the nursing program upon graduation. However, my husband’s career took us to Columbia, Missouri, where he accepted a position. That changed everything.” Faith had the good fortune to land a job at the University of Missouri hospital with duties supporting the nursing care team. "I assisted with everything, including helping doctors, storing supplies, and providing patients with basic medical care." I felt like I was helping people even though I wasn't a nurse. |
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| |  | The Storytelling Night You Don't Want to Miss What happens when the way you self-identify is a taboo word? What do you do if the things you stand for make you a target? How do you escape when you’ve become your own worst enemy? For this year’s storytellers—as for all of us—the answers are never simple, but they have a common thread: you’ll find them at Best-Kept Secrets, PCC’s 2024 Storytelling Show. Sometimes, the best secrets are the ones we don’t keep. |
| |  | |  |  | Meet October's Pet of the Month: Gigi! Meet October’s Pet of PCC, Gigi! Known affectionately as 'Gigi the Terrible Chihuahua' by her owner, Liza Greenberg, PCC’s Director of Workforce Development. However, Gigi would prefer you call her 'Gigi the Adorable'. She adores cozying up completely buried under the covers, savoring any snack she can find, and sneaking treats from her feline roommates with her signature Chihuahua charm. Gigi also enjoys long(ish) walks and snuggling with her favorite humans! |
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 | November 2, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Maryland Emancipation Day event. Free admission includes hands-on activities, self-guided tours, lawn games, and an 11 a.m. children’s storytime. Josiah Henson Museum & Park, 11410 Old Georgetown Road, North Bethesda, MD 20852. November 2, 12-3 p.m., Annual Maryland Emancipation Day Event, Sandy Spring Slave Museum, 18524 Brooke Rd., Sandy Spring, MD 20860. |
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