Cómo HealthNet está respondiendo a COVID-19

News

HealthNet de Rock County, Inc  ha realizado cambios en sus regulaciones operativas como resultado del brote de COVID-19 o Coronavirus. Actualmente, HealthNet of Rock County está limitando las visitas no necesarias a sus instalaciones y suspende la inscripción hasta nuevo aviso . Esto significa que los pacientes actuales  no necesitan volver a inscribirse para los servicios de 2020 hasta nuevo aviso. HealthNet del Condado de Rock también ha realizado ajustes en el programa de la siguiente manera:

Clinica Medica

Después de consultar con los socios de atención médica, la clínica médica decidió suspender las visitas al médico hasta el 6 de abril de 2020. Dado que los médicos de HealthNet of Rock County no se centran principalmente en la atención de emergencia o urgencia, esta medida evitará que voluntarios y pacientes arriesguen la propagación de la comunidad a medida que El brote está en curso.

HealthNet del Condado de Rock planea continuar con visitas de enfermeras (monitoreo de salud) y administración de medicamentos. Esto evitará que muchas personas vengan al mismo tiempo  en nuestros días actuales  y permitirá que las personas con  problemas de inmunodeficiencias  reciban medicamentos para que mejoren sus posibilidades de permanecer estable  y saludable durante este brote.

Los días para recojer  medicamentos serán los Lunes, Martes, Miércoles y Viernes durante varias horas en el dia .Por favor de  comunicarse al  608-756-4638 o consulte el sitio web de HealthNet of Rock County para obtener un calendario detallado en www.healthnet-rock.org.

Clínica dental

Hasta el 6 de abril de 2020, todos los procedimientos que no sean de emergencia, como limpieza dental  y los chequeos  regulares, se suspenden en la clínica dental. Esta decisión se tomó en base a la orientación de la Asociación Dental Americana y la Asociación Dental de Wisconsin. Sin embargo, será necesario realizar procedimientos dentales urgentes / de emergencia para garantizar que los pacientes con dolor dental no vayan a la sala de emergencias ya que las salas de emergencia  necesitan  todos los recursos  debido al brote. Nuestro dentista de HealthNet of Rock County, el Dr. Meyer, acordó ver a estos pacientes los viernes.  La clínica dental reservará espacios  de 1 hora y 15 minutos entre cada paciente . Esto asegurará que los pacientes no estén en nuestra clínica por más de una hora esto ayudara  para que no haya muchos pacientes al mismo tiempo en nuestas salas de espera.  Por favor de  contactar al 608-314-1940 para servicios dentales de emergencia solamente .

El CEO de HealthNet of Rock County, Ian Hedges, declaró: “La seguridad de nuestros pacientes actuales es primordial. La falta de seguro  medico y de poco recursos economicos es algo de lo cual las personas tienen menos probabilidades   de mantenerse  saludables y financieramente estables. Nuestras regulaciones operativas actualizadas solo estáran  vigentes hasta el 6 de abril, pero permitirán a los pacientes mantener sus condiciones crónicas bajo control y mejorar las posibilidades de no experimentar en el peor de los casos, el virus “.

HealthNet of Rock County, Inc. to adjust services with COVID-19 outbreak

News

HealthNet of Rock County, Inc has made changes to its operating guidelines as a result of the COVID-19 or Coronavirus outbreak. Currently, HealthNet of Rock County is limiting non-essential visits to its facilities, and suspending enrollment until April 6, 2020. This means current patients who are uninsured and need to re-enroll for 2020 services will not need to do so until further notice. Based on its clinic structures, HealthNet of Rock County has also made program adjustments in the following areas:


Medical Clinic
After consulting with healthcare partners, the medical clinic has decided to suspend physician visits until April 6, 2020. Since HealthNet of Rock County’s physicians are not primarily focused on emergency or urgent care, this move will prevent volunteers and patients from risking community spread as the outbreak is ongoing.
HealthNet of Rock County plans to continue with nurse visits (health monitoring) and medication dispensing. This will prevent bottlenecking on our current medication pick-up days, and will allow immunosupressed individuals to receive medications that improve their chances of remaining stable and healthy during this outbreak.
Medication pick-up days will be on Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during various hours. Please contact 608-756-4638 or refer to HealthNet of Rock County’s website for a detailed calendar at www.healthnet-rock.org.

Dental Clinic
Until April 6, 2020, all non-emergency procedures such as hygiene and regular dental check-ups are suspended at the dental clinic. This decision was made based on guidance from the American Dental Association and the Wisconsin Dental Association. However, performing urgent/emergency dental procedures will be necessary to ensure that patients who have dental pain are not going to the emergency room (which needs the majority resources dedicated to COVID-19). HealthNet of Rock County’s dentist, Dr. Meyer, has agreed to see these patients on Fridays. The dental clinic will be booking slots in 1 hour and 15 minute increments. This will ensure that patients are not in our clinic for more than an hour, and reduce the overlap between patients coming in and out of our dental clinic. Patients are encouraged to contact 608-314-1940 for emergency dental services.


HealthNet of Rock County CEO Ian Hedges stated, “The safety of our current patients is paramount. The lack of insurance and living in the margins mean they are less likely to remain healthy and financially stable. Our updated operating guidelines are only in effect until April 6, but will allow patients to keep their chronic conditions in check, and improve chances of not experiencing the worse case scenario with the virus.”

HealthNet of Rock County Gifted Medical Building from Local Credit Union

News

Janesville, Wis. – February 19, 2019 – Blackhawk Community Credit Union announced today the organization’s intent to gift its administrative building zoned as a medical facility at 2707 Kennedy Road in Janesville to HealthNet of Rock County, the state’s largest of 99 charitable clinics. HealthNet is Rock County’s only free and charitable clinic, giving away prescriptions annually worth $1.5MM and staffed with volunteer physicians, nurses, and dentists, as well as 21 employees serving 6,400 patients.

The gift will coincide with the planned opening in 2021 of the credit union’s Legacy Center and new headquarters as part of Reflections Plaza along the eastern bank of Rock River in downtown Janesville. HealthNet of Rock County’s medical and dental clinics are outgrowing its current two locations in Janesville: 23 W. Milwaukee Street and 1344 Creston Park Drive, Suite 2.  

“We are incredibly appreciative of this gift from Blackhawk Community Credit Union. The building sits on a bus route, has plenty of parking and wheelchair access,” stated HealthNet CEO Ian Hedges. “HealthNet’s mission to provide access to healthcare to those most vulnerable in our community pairs well with Blackhawk Community Credit Union’s vision of giving back to its members and the community.”

“The Blackhawk Community Credit Union board of directors was emotional about the donation of our Kennedy Road office. Everyone had a story about how HealthNet has helped people they know. We were privileged to use this building as a resource for a lot of years. We had a choice to sell or to seize the opportunity to give back in a meaningful way,” said Sherri Stumpf, CEO and president. “It was an easy decision because we prioritize the connection between physical health and financial health. We are extending our plans for healthy living in our new headquarters. A financial counselor, a nutritionist, yoga and wellness initiatives will be available for employees and members.” 

HealthNet of Rock County’s move is part of the realization of its five-year strategic plan released in 2018 which calls for the expansion of services related to behavioral health and to select alternative locations that meet the needs of the organization’s patients.

Hedges stated, “This location is intended to create a healthcare one-stop shop for our patients, while allowing us to begin addressing the behavioral health care needs of those most vulnerable. It is in line with the expansion of our medical and dental programs that are making a significant impact in the lives of our patients and their families.”  

In 2016, HealthNet of Rock County expanded its dental program by serving those who were on Medicaid and BadgerCare and those who obtain their medical care through the Veteran’s Administration. This required an expansion of its dental clinic and the hiring of a dentist. Shortly after, HealthNet of Rock County’s medical clinic began an integrated depression and anxiety treatment program and an intensive diabetes education and treatment program.

“This move will be significant to Janesville and to Rock County by helping to ensure that we are not leaving anyone behind during this time of economic growth in our communities,” noted Hedges.

City Manager of Janesville, Mark Freitag, stated, “The City of Janesville is pleased to learn about Blackhawk Community Credit Union and HealthNet’s new partnership. BHCCU continues to set the example as a great community leader by supporting HealthNet’s vital services to our residents in need as well as its commitment to the revitalization of Janesville. With BHCCU, we are proud to help make the Legacy Center and Reflections Plaza project come to life.”

While HealthNet has expanded its treatment options over the last four years, Hedges acknowledges that a capital campaign is the lynchpin to make this center an optimal space for its patients.

“Building a modernized multi-purpose clinic with the ability to host families or large groups for treatment will require remodeling and a significant investment from the community,” says Hedges. HealthNet hopes to announce the start of its capital campaign by second quarter of 2019.

About HealthNet of Rock County

HealthNet of Rock County is a free and charitable clinic providing medical, dental, and vision care to the uninsured and underinsured in Rock County. The clinic operates a dental clinic that serves low-income patients who utilize BadgerCare and who have their medical care through the Veteran’s Administration. More information about the organization can be found at www.healthnet-rock.org.

About Blackhawk Community Credit Union (BHCCU)

Blackhawk  Community Credit  Union has over $600  million in assets and  over 50,000 members. Membership  is open to those working and living in Rock, Dane, Jefferson, Walworth, Green, Kenosha, Racine, Waukesha and  Milwaukee counties of Wisconsin and Winnebago, Boone, McHenry and Lake Counties of Illinois. Products and services  include savings, checking, certificates and credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, and home equity loans. Investment services are also available.  More information can be found at https://www.bhccu.org.  

For information, contact:

Kellee Johnson (303) 884-3434 kjohnson@ballastgroup.com  

HealthNet Dental Clinic begins accepting BadgerCare patients

HealthNet of Rock County announced on Wednesday that its dental clinic will start accepting patients using BadgerCare on July 5, 2015. HealthNet of Rock County’s Executive Director Ian Hedges announced the changes to the organization’s dental clinic volunteer providers and the staff on Tuesday night.

HealthNet of Rock County’s Executive Director Ian Hedges said it was apparent that the organization needed to make the change. “We receive probably 10 calls a day from patients who use BadgerCare who are trying to find dental care. The board of directors and staff felt this is a step in the right direction because ultimately we are responding to a need of great importance to the community.”

Rock County has more than 27,000 individuals who are enrolled in BadgerCare or medical assistance programs. A report on oral health released by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services in 2010 stated that only 25 percent of patients who have BadgerCare were able to see a dentist.  The need for dental care is also reflected in the 2014 Rock County Health Needs Assessment, which identified under-utilization of dental health services as one of the most significant health risks to Rock County residents.

According to Hedges, fundraising and grants will still be needed to sustain its dental clinic. Hedges says, “Reimbursements from the state do not come anywhere close to covering the costs of operating a dental clinic.” Hedges cites a study by the American Dental Association (“A Ten-Year, State-by-State, Analysis of Medicaid Fee-for-Service Reimbursement Rates for Dental Care Services”) as to why many BadgerCare patients are not seen in Wisconsin. The study concluded that Wisconsin has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates for dental care in the nation.

For the first time since the dental clinic’s opening in 2007, HealthNet of Rock County will be opened five days a week. The organization has also hired a dentist, Dr. Zach Gregerson, to serve patients on BadgerCare for three days a week.  HealthNet will continue to see patients who are uninsured two days a week. Patients who are interested in enrolling in the service should call 608-314-1940.

HealthNet of Rock County is a volunteer-based clinic, offering free primary medical, dental, and vision services to Rock County residents who are uninsured, underinsured and low income. For more information on HealthNet of Rock County, visit the clinic’s website at www.healthnet-rock.org.

 

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