Lower Elwha Health Department MEDICAL CLINIC DENTAL DIABETES
Lower Elwha Health Department MEDICAL CLINIC * DENTAL * DIABETES AND NUTRITION SERVICES * WIC SERVICES* COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES * CONTRACT HEALTH SERVICES * KLALLAM COUNSELING SERVICES*MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING * COMMUNITY HEALTH * PREVENTION HEALTH
Meet Our Providers!!!
Dr. Matthew Whitacre, MD Medical Director Dr. Whitacre is a Board-Certified Family Physician who graduated from the University of Washington’s residency program in Spokane, Washington. He is passionate about health and wellness and furthered his education through the University of Arizona’s 2 year fellowship in Integrative Medicine. Through this program, additional training in nutrition, prevention, and other holistic modalities were studied. He then went on to work with the Makah Nation to create and develop the award winning “Makah Wellness Center” serving as Director of the Integrative Medical Division for 3 years. Dr. Whitacre considers health an ever flowing journey—with many possible approaches that may be considered to help maintain or restore “Well-ness. ” Such care is truly supported though a team based approach, relying upon the expertise and support from the entire health care team as each and every person has an important role in the overall process. Dr. Whitacre believes in a patient centered model, which carefully listens to each patients concerns, needs and goals. Thus, individualized treatment plans can be created to help support, guide, empower and encourage patients as they progress along their own journey of wellness and healing. The Lower Elwha Health Department is very fortunate to have Dr. Whitacre on staff!
Dr. Ronald Bergman, MD Medical Doctor Dr. Bergman is from the great State of Michigan and has been practicing Medicine for the past 45 years. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma Medical School in 1972 and completed his residency at St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center in Portland, OR. Dr. Bergman also holds a Masters degree in Public Health which is where his passion for integrative and wrap around medicine stems from. Dr. Bergman is also a US Veteran serving in the United States Air Force as an Aviation Cadet for 4 years from 1958 -1962. Dr. Bergman holds special certifications in: - Forensic Pathology - Nuclear Medicine - Clinical Pathology - Aerospace Medicine - Special Survival Trainings - Advanced Cardiac Life Support - Global Medicine - Integrative Chronic Pain Management The Lower Elwha Health Department is very fortunate to have Dr. Bergman on staff!
Dr. Wahji Kasten, ND Naturopathic Doctor Dr. Kasten is a First Nations Native Canadian. Wahji Kasten, ND, LAc received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Antioch College in 2002. After working in a laboratory for several years she decided to pursue a career in medicine where she would be able to help people and utilize her scientific background. She graduated from the National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) in 2015 with a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine and a Masters in Acupuncture. Originally from Saskatchewan, Canada, she has lived in the Pacific Northwest for over a decade, and now calls it her home. As a Canadian First Nations woman herself she is dedicated to improving the health of Aboriginal peoples everywhere. When she is not treating patients Dr. Wahji enjoys spending time with her friends and family, exploring the natural wonders of Oregon and the world. She has enjoyed gardening and cooking since a young age and believes that learning to prepare healthy, nourishing food that tastes wonderful can be an empowering way for everyone to improve their health. The Lower Elwha Health Department is very fortunate to have Dr. Kasten on staff!
Dr. Carol Allchin, MD Internal Medicine Born and raised in a suburb of Cleveland OH (Shaker Heights)- lived in northern VA (Washington DC area) for 20 years then Gig Harbor Attended Allegheny College, Meadville, PA--> B. S. in chemistry George Washington University School of Medicine --> MD Georgetown-VA Program in internal medicine (residency), so I'm trained in adult medicine George Washington University pulmonary fellowship, so I have additional expertise in diseases of the lung Have practiced in various settings- solo private practice (Alexandria, VA and Lakewood, WA)- government employee (including Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Madigan Army Medical Center, Veterans Administration Clinic in Philadelphia)- locums (temporary) including multiple VAs nationwide and Forks Hospital Clinic. Practice interests: diabetes, asthma, COPD I like to teach patients with ongoing medical problems about their problem so that they can manage it themselves. The Lower Elwha Health Department is very fortunate to have Dr. Allchin on staff!
Dr. Lawrence Lyon, MD Medical Doctor Dr. Lawrence Lyon is a board-certified family doctor. He received his MD degree from the University of Vermont College of Medicine. He completed residency at the Fresno campus of the University of California at San Francisco. Dr. Lyon encourages a healthy lifestyle and habits. He believes our ability to achieve our goals depends on our health. Utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach and medical home model, his goal is to help patients improve their health to be able to live life to the fullest. Originally from Chicago, Dr. Lyon has lived in the Pacific Northwest since 2001. He enjoys biking, gardening and fishing. His hobbies include woodworking, metalworking, machining and welding. The Lower Elwha Health Department is very fortunate to have Dr. Lyon on staff!
Sherry Churchill, ARNP-C Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Sherry Churchill is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Originally from the Springfield, Illinois area, she received her Associates Degree in Nursing at Lincoln Land Community College and her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Benedictine University. In May 2016, she earned her Masters of Science in Nursing at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL. Sherry is the mother of three grown sons. She was working with computers with the State of Illinois while her sons were in school; she too decided to go back to school to become a nurse. As a registered nurse at HSHS St. John’s Hospital, working in a variety of settings including an intermediate care/neurology unit, case management, and in pre/post anesthesia care. During her clinical rotations, she gained experience in primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, dermatology, and orthopedics. Sherry believes in building a strong relationship with her patients and strives to create a comfortable environment for them to address their medical concerns. She hopes to empower patients to take an active role in their healthcare by providing knowledge and tools to optimally continue their care outside of the office. The Lower Elwha Health Department is very fortunate to have Sherry on staff!
MEDICAL SERVICES Preventative Care Health Screening Immunizations Family Planning Geriatric Care Chronic Disease Management: o Diabetes o Hypertension o Asthma Rheumatology Acute Medical Physical Exams Well Child Checks Nutrition Cancer Screening Pediatric Services Acupuncture Massage Foot Care Outreach/Home Care
DENTAL SERVICES Oral Exam X-rays Fillings & Crowns Simple Extractions Surgeries Root Canals Dentures & Partials Oral Health Education Sealants Referrals Walk-in urgent consultation
Mental Health Services ü Culturally Informed Individual therapy for all ü Trauma Focused Attachment Therapy ages ü Co-Occurring Groups ü Family therapy ü Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) ü Couples counseling ü Mental Health First Aid ü Play therapy ü Supportive Relationships ü Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) ü Collaborative work ü Culturally adapted Trauma Focused ü Selective crisis intervention Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) ü Art therapy ü Client Centered Therapy ü Family reconciliation services ü Mindfulness work ü Biofeedback and body-oriented ü Grief counseling psychotherapy for chronic pain
Klallam Counseling Services (KCS) Assessment, Intake, Referrals Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP) Stabilization Group Monthly Monitoring Youth IOP and Aftercare Native American Group Addiction-Free Pain Management Outpatient Treatment Men’s and Women’s Groups Continuing Care Relapse Prevention Anger Management Co-occurring Treatment Urinalysis, DUI Assessments
Prevention Health The Lower Elwha Health Department is excited to announce that we are developing a Prevention Health Program! Fun, interactive community programs supporting people of all ages including: prevention through an active lifestyle, the importance of healthy foods, wellness coaching and integration of cultural aspects that have long been used to help support balance and support through one’s Wellness Journey. Wellness Coaching Prevention Collaborative Community Garden Food Sovereignty Initiative Youth Physical Fitness Traditional Foods Classes Elder Physical Fitness Cultural Collaborative efforts Drug Free Communities Health Promotions
Community Health and Wellness Elder Home Visits Health Education Community Garden Food Sovereignty Plan Community Pool Passes Patient Transportation Self-Care Classes Traditional Foods Classes Drug Free Communities Initiative Systems of Care Initiative
DIABETES AND NUTRITION SERVICES Diabetes is a systemic disease that has the potential to affect every part of your body, so preventive care by a team of trained experts is an absolute essential. In addition to your primary care provider, you may be seeing a number of specialists. Your primary care provider may be able to provide initial screening for diabetes-related complications, but she may also refer you to another provider who has specialized training in the area of concern. Ophthalmologists, mental health providers, dentists, Certified Diabetes Educator, Registered Dietitian, and podiatrists are just a few of the other care providers who can help you stay healthy and avoid complications. WIC SERVICES The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a Federal Assistance Program of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) for healthcare and nutrition of low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants and children under the age of five. The eligibility requirement is a family income below 185% of the U. S. Poverty Income Guidelines. If a person participates in other benefit programs, or has family members who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, they automatically meet the eligibility requirements. The service population served by the Lower Elwha WIC clinic is defined as: 1. Any Elwha native and their family as defined by spouse, significant other, children, step-children and foster children. 2. All American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) and their families as defined by spouse, significant other, children, step-children and foster children. 3. All persons residing on the land deemed federally recognized as the Lower Elwha Klallam Reservation. 4. All employees of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. 5. All clients and their families who participate in Lower Elwha Klallam Head Start and Early Head Start Programs. 6. All clients who are primary care patients of the Lower Elwha Family Health Clinic.
Integrative Health Wraparound Program Current Status The Clinic and Tribe are reaching out to our Tribal Elders, the Wisdom Keepers of the community to hear their thoughts, concerns and ideas regarding these new changes. A story is developing, not only on a personal and individual level but also a story of how the community is coming together to address these challenges and the entire nation as a whole is working to solve these issues. The Clinic has begun to explore how we may be able to assist in this process with our current providers, tools, and resources. Other clinics are simply no longer prescribing pain medications which is difficult for patients. Yet The Lower Elwha Health Department has chooses to develop an intensive, “patient centered” program to help empower patients to address the source of their pain in a number of different ways. The following programs are included in this program: Community health, Mental Health, Recovery Services, Wellness and Prevention Health and other Integrative healers.
Integrative Health Wraparound Program: - An 8 week intensive program to help support patients in managing chronic pain. Proposed Program Title: Walking Strong – Mind Body Spirit & Community (Elwha Word) Potential Lower Elwha Words and we can consider other words as well. hák ʷ (Remember) or ʔiʔcút; ɬáw (Get well, recover) To be presented to Elders for assistance and guidance Program design Through a holistic sportive approach, patients will be empowered to manage and address their pain in such a way that allows for their opioid pain medications to be slowly tapered down as other pain alleviating measures are established Goal: To help assist, support, and empower patients on a personal journal towards addressing the root cause of their pain, including all aspects, Physical pain, Emotional pain, Generational & Societal pain and Environmental pain.
8 Week Integrative Health Program Week 1 Health Fair Extravaganza: Introduction to services, resources & providers Meet & Greet (Intake packets filled out, Wellness Journals handed out) Week 2 -8 Intensive wrap around services begin. Medical Assessments and chart reviews by clinic doctors. Begin group sessions Wisdom Warriors Key components: Narrative Medicine (Healing through Story) Enhancing Wellness program Awareness Training & Coherence Building Mind-Body Medicine Journaling Culture Community Additional components which can be included: Whole System approaches (Acupuncture/acupressure, or Naturopathy) Mental Health Nutrition (food as medicine concept) Nutraceuticals/ supplements Physical Therapy Massage Enhancing fitness Social involvement Specific Culturally appropriate modalities lead /guided by Cultural experts and elders Weekend Sessions A 3 hour event each Saturday (Food, stories, activities) Week 9 -Graduation celebration and community recognition event. Community mentors to help support participants after graduation. Needs: Elders Guidance Identify Cultural leaders/facilitators Community Involvement, Family support
INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE SERVICES • Naturopathic Medicine Naturopathy is a distinct type of primary care medicine that blends age-old healing traditions with scientific advances and current research. Naturopathy is based on a unique set of principles that recognize the body’s innate healing capacity, with an emphasis on disease prevention and health optimization. Symptoms are viewed as the body’s way of communicating an underlying imbalance.
INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE SERVICES Continued Massage therapy is more than relaxing me-time. Studies continue to prove the physical and emotional benefits of even a single massage therapy session. Stress relief is key to achieving a healthier lifestyle. Even a single massage session can significantly lower heart rate, cortisol and insulin levels all of which help reduce daily stress. Therapeutic massage also plays an important role in healing from musculoskeletal injuries and in the management of chronic pain. Traditional Chinease Medicine and Acupuncture is a traditional medicine that has been practiced for thousands of years. Treatments include: stimulation of specific points on the body with very-fine sterile needles, lasers, electrical stimulation, or magnets. Treatments are designed to: improve health, reduce pain, and improve wellness and quality of life. Integrative Medicine techniques stimulate the body’s self-healing and are a safe and effective complement to conventional medicine for many health conditions.
Begin Construction of LEKT Wellness Campus
Operationalize Leadership & Mentorship Training for Lower Elwha Health Department Professional Certification and Development in the Lower Elwha Workforce The Lower Elwha Health Department has taken extensive training in Leadership, Mentorship and professional certification of Lower Elwha Tribal Members & staff interested in the health care industry. We have operationalized our on boarding process in selecting mentors and teachers pairing. LEHD has completed Lyfe Coaching with Mac. Donald executive, leadership and coaching certification program. 85 LEHD personnel have gone through extensive training in professional development this past year. Within the next year it is our goal to pair young Native professionals with our Leadership Management team.
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