November 2021
Year-End Update from Mountain Family

by Ross Brooks, CEO, patient

At Mountain Family, we believe healthcare is a human right. We are honored to provide access to affordable, culturally responsive healthcare to all members of our community, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. We serve 22,000 diverse persons from Garfield, Eagle, and Pitkin Counties on Colorado’s rural Western Slope. Our patient-centered, team-based, integrated care model allows patients to access coordinated medical, behavioral, dental, and now pharmacy services in one healthcare home.

Over the past five years, Mountain Family has expanded services and locations to better care for our community. We now operate four health center hubs in Basalt, Glenwood Springs, Rifle, and Edwards. Our six school-based health centers are located at Avon Elementary School, Glenwood Springs High School, Roaring Fork High School, and Basalt Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. In the past year, we’ve added pharmacy services so our patients can access low-cost prescriptions during their appointments. We appreciate our supporters whose investments have made these important expansions possible.



Double or Triple Your Gift
by Jan Jennings, Director of Development

We are pleased to share with you that the 2020 Rescue Fund has renewed its matching gift with Mountain Family’s Health For All Fund for the 2022 fiscal year, which began June 1, 2021.
 
Every gift to Mountain Family Health Centers received by June 1, 2022 will be matched by the 2020 Rescue Fund up to a total of $100,000. 
 
Your gift will impact the lives of 22,000 men, women and children under our care in Pitkin, Garfield, and Eagle Counties, many of whom are still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Gifts of $1 to $999 will be triple matched by the 2020 Rescue Fund. A $25 gift becomes $75; a $100 gift becomes $300; and a $300 gift becomes $900.
 
Gifts of $1,000 will be double matched. A gift of $1,000 becomes $2,000; a gift of $2,000 becomes $4,000; and a gift of $5,000 becomes $10,000.
 
Your gift will help us advance our mission to improve the health of our community by providing equitable and affordable medical, behavioral, and dental healthcare for all.
 
Give online or please send your tax-deductible contribution to Ross Brooks, CEO, Mountain Family Health Centers, 2700 Gilstrap Court, #100, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Jan Jennings, Director of Development, at (970) 989-1134. 
 
Thank you for your steadfast support. 



For more information on giving:

Jan Jennings
Director of Development
(970) 989-1134
Make A Difference & Schedule Your Giving
#GivingTuesday is Nov. 30 and Colorado Gives Day is Dec. 7th

Be a part of these global generosity movements and celebrate all acts of giving. #GivingTuesday reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity to inspire generosity around the world, with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life.

Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give. 

Colorado Gives Day is an annual statewide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving. Donations are accepted through ColoradoGives.org. New this year: Kids for ColoradoGives.
 

COVID-19 Vaccine Update
by Matt Percy, MD, Chief Medical Team Officer

There have been lots of exciting updates regarding COVID vaccines in the past month. To start, COVID boosters have now been approved for all vaccine types available in the United States. It is also very likely that by the time of publication, there will be an authorized vaccine (Pfizer) available for children ages 5-11. More on the latest developments below. Please reach out to your PCP if you have questions on COVID vaccinations. After reading the below information, if you would like to schedule an appointment at Mountain Family for a vaccine shot or a booster shot, please call (970) 945-2840. 

Boosters are now available for many who have been fully vaccinated. Those who received mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) for their initial series are eligible for a booster 6 months after their second dose, provided they meet certain age or risk requirements. The evidence of need for a booster is strongest in people over age 65 and those over 50 with chronic conditions. The CDC recommendation is that these populations should receive a booster, along with anyone 18 or older who lives in long-term care. Additionally, the CDC advises that anyone 18 or older with chronic conditions or who is living or working in a high-risk setting may receive a booster. Those who do not meet these criteria remain well protected by their initial series and does not need a booster at this time.


Open Enrollment Events
by Silvia Santana, Outreach & Enrollment Manager

Join us for a series of Health Insurance Enrollment Events Nov. 6th - Dec. 11th. Call 833-273-6627 for an appointment or email EnrollmentHelp@mountainfamily.org for more information.

Enroll by December 15th for January 1, 2022 coverage start date. Financial help is available.


Holidays Can Bring Joy… and Stress
by Gary Schreiner, PhD, Director of Behavioral Health

The holidays are typically a joyous time filled with love, gratitude and the spirit of giving. However, the holidays can also be stressful. Tension can come from a financial strain, or perhaps added pressure of a long To-Do list in a fairly short amount of time. Some may have experienced loss of a loved one, which can be especially difficult during the holidays. 

One person has memories of baked cookies, mom in the kitchen, dad setting up the ornaments, fire in the fireplace, and gently falling snow outside. Another person remembers no decorations, no excitement for upcoming vacation, just the dread that another holiday will pass without fun, presents, or good food. 

Both of these scenarios can cause stress in our lives, depending on the meaning we put into them.


School-Based Health Centers
It is our privilege to care for students. We are pleased to offer SBHC integrated care clinics at Avon Elementary School, Basalt Elementary School, Basalt Middle School, Basalt High School, Roaring Fork High School, and Glenwood Springs High School. These clinics will be open year-round and are available for all children, ages 0-20, residing in the Roaring Fork School District or the Eagle County School District. Medical, dental, and behavioral health services are available. 

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call (970) 945-2840 or visit www.mountainfamily.org.


Words to Remember
“Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have."

 – Winston Churchill
Congratulations to our Award Winners
Exemplary Care Award Winner:
Corrinne Johnson, PA-C

Nominated by Matt Percy, MD, Chief Medical Team Officer

My exemplary care nomination goes to Corrinne Johnson. I have had the pleasure of working alongside Corrinne for nearly five years now. I have seen Corrinne offer heart-felt and genuine care to her patients each and every day. Corrinne and I share several patients, with me doing the behavioral health work and Corrinne taking care of their medical needs. I could write volumes about how her patients tell me how they can’t wait to tell Corrinne something about their behavioral health and medical health progress just so they can experience her being proud of them. Imagine that! People wanting to have their PCP be proud of them! It’s evidence that Corrinne deeply cares about the patients she serves.


Mariposa Award Winner:
Nalley Peralta
Outreach & Enrollment Lead

Nominated by Silvia Santana, Outreach & Enrollment Manager

I would like to nominate Nalley Peralta. Nalley joined the MFHC team only two years ago, but has became an instrumental part of the Outreach & Enrollment Team. Nalley treats all patients with kindness and superb customer service. She goes above and beyond to ensure the patients understand their next steps and are fully informed of the process. She follows up timely and keeps us all in the department on track. Nalley has became a great Lead for Outreach & Enrollment and is always looking for ways to improve our flows. She is the reason I have been on track these last few months as she communicates clearly steps I have missed or overlooked. She has been working on enhancing the skills of the team and ensuring everyone has what they need to perform their best. Thank you Nalley for being an essential part of the O&E Department.


What We're Reading
Hickenlooper Announces $158 Million For Colorado Communities in Annual Funding Bills

Fifty projects requested by Hickenlooper receive initial backing

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper today announced $158 million in funding for projects across Colorado were recommended for inclusion in the fiscal year 2022 federal appropriations bills. Hickenlooper specifically requested funding for 50 of the projects through the congressionally directed spending (CDS) process.

“These projects will make a real difference in towns all across our state,” said Hickenlooper. “Coloradans know best what their communities need, and Congress should do its best to listen.”