Getting out Into the Community

Enloe Partners With CHIP for Screening Events

Enloe Health’s Kassie Houser, RN, takes a blood pressure reading from Shirley Campbell during the Enloe Health in the Community event at Lucian Manor in April. Campbell is a Lucian Manor resident.

When it comes to opportunities for improved health, residents of the Community Housing Improvement Program (CHIP) in Chico had an enthusiastic partner to help them attain it.

Enloe Health in the Community joined CHIP to host a wellness event at the Lucian Manor Senior Apartments in April. It was the second component of a four-event schedule Enloe Health expects to complete before June 30, marking the end of the 2024 fiscal year. Enloe and CHIP began the series at Campbell Commons in March.

Attendees at April’s event could find out more about their health by answering a short questionnaire, with some standard diagnostic health questions. According to Baylee Martin, Enloe Health’s Business Development & Community Outreach Coordinator, an example summary after completing the questionnaire might be, “You’ve turned 45. This is the recommended time for a colonoscopy,” she said.

“Prevention is the best medicine, and access to care can be difficult for those with limited resources. Our goal is to support people on their personal preventive health journey,” Martin said, adding that it’s a time for the nurse to take the person’s blood pressure and perform other check-ups.

In addition to Wes Matthews, RN, Manager of Enloe Health Community Health, other Enloe caregivers also attended the event. They included Kassie Houser, RN, Stroke Program Coordinator; Gabrielle Kasza, Healthy Here Coordinator; Alicia Takacs, Lead Respiratory Care Practitioner; Carlie Adams, Manager of Enloe’s Obstetrics & Gynecology clinics; and Brandi Tsujimoto, Practice Manager of Ambulatory Operations.

“My team was screening residents to see if they were up to date on the United States Preventive Task Force A & B recommendations,” Matthews said. “If the residents had past-due screenings, we provided a list of the items needed to complete the screening and encouraged them to follow up with their primary care provider.”

Houser said she and others performing the screenings keep an eye out for potential health dangers.

“We educate people on our acronym BE FAST to help recognize stroke signs and symptoms, and we stress the importance of calling 911 as soon as possible if they experience any of those symptoms,” she explained. “I offer blood pressure screenings when we do our community outreach events since high blood pressure can be a significant stroke risk factor.

“I also give them an information sheet from the American Heart Association with things they can do to help lower their blood pressure, such as take medication, exercise and eat a healthy diet.”

Washington Quezada of CHIP said the events have been successful in increasing awareness of residents’ health. Since CHIP serves a low-income population segment, effective health care is often beyond those residents’ financial means.

“When you have an event come to you, the medical professionals can do things like take people’s vital signs,” Quezada said.

For residents to feel more comfortable with health evaluations and vitals checks, he added, “The best thing is when professionals do it.”

Shirley Campbell, a Lucian Manor resident, agreed the event was a real benefit.

“I’m very glad Enloe has set up this situation. It’s something we need here,” she said. “I’m glad to see this large of a turnout.”

Martin felt the same way and looks forward to future events where Enloe can take important screenings to community members, whether it’s at a CHIP location or an event with another community partner.

“People face unique barriers when it comes to living a healthy life,” she said. “One barrier we are breaking down is that we’re meeting people where they are, instead of asking them to come to us. This helps them prioritize their personal health since they don’t have to go out of their way to access resources. Attendance at these events haven’t been huge — about 12 people per event — but every single attendee left with next steps that are specific to their health journey.”