AHN News | April 2019
Your monthly news & updates from AHN!
What you need to know...
Organ Donation
  • April is National Donate Life Month!

  • 95% of Americans are in favor of being an organ donor, but only 58% are registered.

  • Every 10 minutes, another person is added to the national transplant waiting list.

  • 8,000 deaths occur every year in the U.S. because organs are not donated in time.


AHN Staff Went Blue & Green for Organ Donation Awareness
AHN staff wore blue and green April 12 in observance of Blue and Green Day.

These colors were in honor of National Donate Life Month - to bring awareness to the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.

AHN Awarded Funds to Support Individuals with High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure
The State of Nevada and the CDC has provided AHN with a five-year grant to support clients of our Medical Program suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
 
With these funds, we will be able to help uninsured individuals who are suffering from these diseases through case management with the goal of helping them to become and stay well. These efforts will reduce the burden of this disease upon our healthcare system and our communities.

Meet Our Board - Valerie Clark
Valerie Clark joined the AHN Board of Directors in 2008 because she loved the concept of the program and wanted to serve her community. Clark continues to enjoy serving on the AHN Board because of the diverse and dedicated board members, staff and leadership team of AHN.

Clark currently works as an Employee Benefits Insurance Broker for Clark and Associates and is celebrating 26 years with the company. She looks forward to starting an MBA program in Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Marketing this fall.


AHN Chronic Disease Class Testimonial
"I want to thank you for guiding us through this class – 'Living with Chronic Diseases.'

I love the interaction with the class and a chance to listen to other stories – but what really amazes me is how much I have learned. As Dave and I have lived with chronic disease for so many years, it has become our ‘normal’ plus the fact that we are dealing with ‘aging’ issues, that’s a lot that we don’t consider on a day-to-day basis. So many challenges to re-think. We are grateful, although many times frustrated with those challenges.

Your class has presented many options to consider when dealing with our lives. For that we bless you for expanding our opportunities after all, shouldn’t we make the most and very best of each day?

We’d also like to thank Access to Health Network for your generosity for the food coupons which have re-stocked our pantry in a more healthy way."
Volunteers Needed!
Our  Senior Medicare Patrol/State Health Insurance Assistance Program  is looking for volunteers! The v olunteers help seniors and people with disabilities understand their Medicare benefits and how to prevent Medicare fraud and abuse. FREE training is provided! 

Please contact Esperanza Henslee for more information: (775) 284-1896 ext. 307 or EHenslee@accesstohealthcare.org.
Prominence Care-A-Van Program
AHN is proud to announce a new transportation partnership with Prominence Health Plan.

The Prominence Care-A-Van Program provides free non-emergency medical transportation to Prominence Health Plan members.
Access to Healthcare Network is a "Best Places to Work" Finalist!
After surveying our staff, AHN has qualified as a finalist in Northern Nevada Human Resources Association's Best Places to Work Awards.

We thank our staff members for participating and providing valuable feedback.
2019 Statewide Transportation Summit
Nevada Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities is hosting the 2019 Statewide Transportation Summit on May 1, 2019 at the Atlantis Casino Resort in Reno, NV.

This Summit is for professionals, self-advocates with I/DD and/or parents/caregivers of individuals with I/DD, highly involved in the community and able to provide productive input in guided conversations about transportation.

Access to Healthcare Network's Mobility Manager looks forward to participating in this event.
Spread the Word - 2020 Census Recruiting Applicants
The Washoe County 2020 Census Bureau is currently recruiting for a variety of temporary jobs, including census takers, recruiting assistants, office staff, and supervisory staff.

To be eligible, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number, and be a U.S. citizen.

National Healthcare News
Genetic Testing for Diabetes Risk Now Available
Genetic testing giant 23andMe will now offer consumers a report that will tell them how their DNA impacts their chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Using data from the more than 2.5 million customers already in their database who agreed to participate in research, 23andMe developed a new test that analyzes genetic variants to generate what’s known as a polygenic risk score, the equivalent of a genetic credit score. While the company stresses that genetic risk and overall risk can be quite different for each individual, some experts are still hopeful that the test will send at-risk patients to see a physician who wouldn’t otherwise do so.
FDA Issues Proposed Rules for Mammography Quality Standards
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced new steps to modernize breast cancer screening and give patients with more information when they are considering issues regarding their breast health care. Within the rule, the FDA proposed requiring mammogram providers to tell women with dense breast tissue that the condition could make it harder to interpret their screening tests and to recommend that they talk with their physicians about whether they should have additional tests to check for cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, dense breasts have relatively high amounts of glandular and fibrous connective tissue with relatively low amounts of fatty tissue, almost half of women ages 40 and older who get mammograms are found to have dense breasts. Since these types of tissue appear white on a mammogram, the same as cancer, it can obscure malignancies. Under the FDA proposal, a minimum standard is established that would apply nationwide, but states could retain more stringent requirements if they wished. 
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