Insider
Usually I finish out our newsletter with a word of thanks, but in light of the craziness of the past six months, and in the spirit of gratitude with Thanksgiving approaching, I want to begin with thanks. With all of the changes affecting the world and the way we conduct health care, it is amazing that we were able to serve patients more than 21,000 times... and that's only through September in a year where operations changed drastically due to COVID. Our team at MercyMed deserves credit in many ways— they have showed up each day ready to serve and roll with the punches. One of MercyMed's core values is Family. It's true, we serve together as a Family. The chaos of the last year reminds me of the story of the disciples who were in a storm in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was asleep in the boat. Waves were swirling, winds were blowing, and the disciples were in great fear. One wave after another hit the boat. Water was flooding into the boat. There was a fear of sinking. Death was at hand. With chaos swirling, they remembered Christ, right there beside them. Immediately they woke up Jesus, who was unphased by the storm, and He said, "Peace! Be still!" The calm covered the sea. Remember during this time, Christ IS at hand. He IS present. In the midst of this pandemic, do not forget to call out to God— the God who is present and who brings peace in the midst of chaos. We as a team remember Jesus is for us and more importantly for each one of our patients. Every person at MercyMed has done an outstanding job this year, and the impact we have had on our patients and in the community is in large part due to you. We cannot do what we do without your partnership. If these walls could talk, they would tell the stories of our donors who give generously to allow us to care for the underserved. Just as I began with thanks, I'd like to end with it. Thank you. With love, Dr. Grant Scarborough | CEO
WE GIVE thanks!
November 2020
Thanks to our ministry partner Brad Turner, in partnership with the Mill District, the MercyMed Farm has expanded on roughly 1.25 acres right next door. This new land is helping us grow 3x the food, and we will soon have a beautiful area where the community can congregate and buy vegetables. With more harvest comes more food for the community. We have started a patient/community market on Wednesday mornings in front of the clinic so everyone coming in and out of the clinic can shop. Our purpose at the Farm— to make healthy fruits and veggies both affordable and accessible while educating, inspiring, and enabling people to invest in their food choices— is fulfilled to a greater extent because of this new land!
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Updates from a Micro-Farm
Farm Expansion
MercyMed Farm Addresses Community Issues
FROM JAN-JULY 2017 & 2018
Bill didn't worry very much about his health. He hadn't been to the doctor in 15 years, and it worked for him. Why fix what's not broken? Instead, Bill focused on his career in construction and whether or not the job site was going well. He worked 12-16 hour days, seven days a week. There was no time for a regular check-up. He loved working with machinery in the great outdoors. He had health insurance but never used it. All of that changed in June 2019. In one quick moment, he showed signs that he needed immediate medical attention. His wife took him to the ER with the help of a friend. Come to find out, his torn esophagus and leaky bowels required emergency surgery immediately. A few more hours of waiting for surgery and Bill wouldn’t have been alive. Now a foot long scar runs from his chest to the side of his rib cage. It is a constant reminder of the urgency it took to keep him alive. His devoted wife, Jennifer, visited him every single day, by his side while in a coma in the ICU for weeks of critical care then months of in-patient rehab. Bill arrived home with a feeding tube, a walker, and no doctor. His wife was already a MercyMed patient, so she scheduled his first appointment with Dr. Joyce Kim, our Chief Medical Officer. Bill could barely talk and couldn't walk without the walker. With a long journey to healing ahead, Dr. Joyce, who Bill
Mr. Lynn makes a huge difference in his mobility and fitness through the Exercise Club.
described as kind, knowledgeable, and caring, became Bill's Primary Care Provider. Severely weakened by the whole ordeal, Bill had trouble graduating from the walker to a cane. But the real challenge was to stand up from a chair. To go from a sitting position to standing seemed nearly insurmountable. He came to the Home Workout Kick Off with Scott, our physical therapist, in January 2020. The first exercise Scott taught was sit-to-stand— exactly what Bill needed to master. Although frail, he focused on his health and began the exercises. He remembers how hard it was to walk while holding a bottle of water to serve as a dumbbell. Although the class was very difficult for him, he stuck with it and completed the 5-week program. After the program ended, he attended two more Exercise Club sessions. When COVID restrictions put the sessions on pause, he didn't give up. He used the take-home exercise sheets to practice the routines once a week. Once COVID restrictions eased, he began Physical Therapy in September with Scott. Standing up from a chair is now easy, and he walks confidently, hardly ever using his cane. He is working on more advanced mobility goals in hopes of getting back to work. He said he feels more like himself again, though there is a long road ahead. To someone considering joining the exercise club Bill would say, "Try it. You have nothing to lose." and "Drop the remote. Pick up something else."
Celebrating MercyMed Wellness
MercyMed celebrates 1 year of Physical Therapy! By Casey Valencia, Physical Therapy Manager
Teresa Morse, APRN
New Providers— Welcome to our Team!
mercymedcolumbus.com
In an effort to help our patients increase their mobility and pursue wellness and a healthy lifestyle, we're starting back our wellness classes! We're proud to offer different options for our patients and friends in November and December. What's on the schedule? Exercise Club: 2nd Wednesday (Nov. 11, Dec. 9) @ 1pm at 2nd Ave. with Dr. Scott Carow and Casey Valencia Diabetes Education: 3rd Wednesday (Nov. 18, Dec. 16) @ 1pm on Facebook LIVE with Marie McIntosh, FNP Chair Yoga: Every Monday @ 9am on Facebook Live with Casey Valencia Holiday De-Stress Yoga: Fridays (Nov. 13, 20, Dec. 4, 11, 18) @ 4pm at 2nd Ave. with Casey Valencia Sign up for Exercise Club and Holiday yoga at the front desk.
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Dr. Scott Carow and Casey Valencia
Kimberly Klaus, PA-C
Spotlight on MercyMed Wellness
Megan Huwe, PA-C