HealthySTART · 2 days ago · healthystart vol.xvvi • summer • free you havethepower i n s i d...

HealthySTARTVOL.XVVI • SUMMER • FREE

YOU HAVE THE POWER

INSIDE VIVENT PARTNERS WITH NAT’L

AIDS MEMORIAL TO NOTE STATEOF AIDS EPIDEMIC TODAY!

UWM RESEARCHER EXPLORINGPOSSIBLE EARLY-WARNING

SYSTEM FOR COVID-19!

A HEALTHY START PROFILE OF:METRO HOME HEALTHCARETHISISSUE

“Healthy Visions”of how the community’sHEALTH PROVIDERSAND RESIDENTS ARE

copingcopingwithwithCOVID-19COVID-19

A staff member at St. Ann Centerfor Intergenerational Care makes afacemask, one of 700 masks sheand other staffers made during a“Mask-a-Thon” as part of the“MaskUpMKE” challenge to create3.5 million home-made masks forhealthcare providers in Southeast-ern Wisconsin to help stem thespread of the coronavirus, COVID-19. More photos of this and otherevents on the center spread.—Photo by Yvonne Kemp

Photo by Yvonne Kemp

HealthyStart/SUMMER/

As the premier national com-munity partner of the AIDSMemorial Quilt, Vivent Healthis providing a monetary giftover five years to support AIDSMemorial Quilt programs andeducational activities, includingdisplays of the Quilt in commu-nities across the United States.Under the care and steward-

ship of the National AIDS Me-morial, the Quilt serves as a

visual reminder of the AIDSepidemic and continues as thelargest ongoing community artproject in the world. Today, theQuilt is a powerful social jus-tice teaching tool, weighingmore than 54 tons, and havinggrown to nearly 50,000 3-by 6-foot memorial panels, individu-ally sewn together to tell thepersonal stories of 105,000lives lost to AIDS. Vivent Health and the Na-

tional AIDS Memorial beginsthe partnership by announcingthat ten sections of the Quilt,consisting of 80 individual pan-els, will be on display at ViventHealth offices in six cities inColorado, Missouri, Texas andWisconsin. The Quilt sections on display

have been chosen to includepanels that represent each geo-graphic area and will be rotatedwithin Vivent’s locationsthroughout the year, providingan important educational re-source for employees and thepublic about HIV/AIDS. “We are honored to support

the work of the National AIDSMemorial and proud to displaypanels from the AIDS Memo-rial Quilt in our offices to serveas a powerful symbol to fightprejudice, raise awareness, pro-mote healing and foster hope,”said Michael J. Gifford, Presi-dent and Chief Executive Offi-cer for Vivent Health.

“The Quilt remains one of themost poignant reminders of thebreadth and scope of the HIVepidemic. “We are honored to join

forces and expand educationand awareness about theHIV/AIDS epidemic in pursuitof our vision of a world withoutAIDS.”“Today, the Quilt remains a

powerful social justice teaching

tool that represents so manylives lost to HIV/AIDS,” saidNational AIDS Memorial Exec-utive Director John Cunning-ham. “With the support from part-

ners like Vivent Health, we areable to ensure that the lives andstories the Quilt represents canbe shared in communitiesacross the country, and used tohelp educate communities inthe fight against HIV/AIDS.”The AIDS Quilt was con-

ceived by long-time San Fran-cisco gay rights activist CleveJones, who is also a dear friendand active supporter of ViventHealth. In 1985, while planning an

annual candlelight march tohonor men like San FranciscoSupervisor Harvey Milk andMayor George Moscone, Joneslearned that more than 1,000San Franciscans had died fromAIDS-related complications.Jones asked each of his fellowmarchers to write the names offriends and loved ones who haddied on placards. At the end of the march,

Jones and others stood on lad-ders taping these placards to thewalls of the San Francisco Fed-eral Building. The wall ofnames looked like a patchworkquilt. It was this seemingly simple

act of love and defiance that ledto the first panels of the Quiltbeing created, and sparking anational movement that contin-ues today.“The enormity of loss and so-

cial injustice the Quilt repre-sents is so profound and itvisually captures the painfuljourney of the HIV/AIDS crisisthat our country continues toface four decades later,” saidCleve Jones. “I am truly moved by the

leadership of Vivent Health insupporting the Quilt and help-ing share the Quilt’s powerfulstory, particularly in helpingreach communities most im-pacted by HIV/AIDS today.” Since the first cases of AIDS

were reported in 1980, morethan 700,000 people have diedfrom AIDS-related complica-tions in the United States. Today, there are more than

1.1 million people currently liv-ing with HIV in the UnitedStates, and an estimated 1 in 7people do not know they haveHIV. In 2018, nearly 38,000 people

received an HIV diagnosis inthe United States, withBlack/African American gayand bisexual men accountingfor the largest number of HIVdiagnoses. The partnership between

Vivent Health and NationalAIDS Memorial will collabora-tively raise awareness andreach communities and popula-tions adversely impacted byHIV.

MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL3612 N. Martin Luther King Drive

Milwaukee, WI 53212Patricia O’Flynn Pattillo

Publisher

Mikel HoltEditor, Coordinator and Marketing/Sales

www.milwaukeecommunityjournal.com

Administrative Telephone(414) 265-5300

Sales and AdvertisingMikel Holt

Colleen Newsom

Advertising [email protected]

Editorial Telephone(414) 265-5300

Editorial [email protected]

Mike MullisWebmaster-Media Center

Thomas E. Mitchell, Jr.Production and Designer

Vivent Health AnnouncesPartnership with National AIDS MemorialPartnership will raise awareness about the history and current state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic

ivent Health announced recently along-term partnership with the Na-tional AIDS Memorial, a nonprofitdevoted to the remembrance ofpeople lost to AIDS that works toensure the legacy and ongoingstruggle with AIDS is never forgot-ten.

V


Making The Rounds...Local and National Health/Med Related NewsEric L. Conley has been se-

lected to lead Froedert Hospi-tal, eastern Wisconsin’s onlyacademic medical center, intothe future as its new president. He assumed the role on July

1, succeeding Cathy J. Buck,who led the organization since2011.The announcement of Con-

ley’s selection completes a suc-cession plan that wasannounced in September of2019.Conley joined Froedtert in

July of 2018 as senior vicepresident and chief operatingofficer. Conley is one of two execu-

tives to be promoted; with oneexecutive joining the hospital.Michael Stadler, MD, has

been named chief medical offi-cer (CMO) of Froedtert Hospi-tal after having served asinterim CMO since September2019. In addition to his CMO role,

Dr. Stadler was appointed As-sociate Dean of Clinical Affairsand will continue in his current

role as MCW Associate Profes-sor of Otolaryngology andCommunication Sciences.New to the organization,

Richelle Webb Dixon joinedFroedtert Hospital as seniorvice president and chief operat-ing officer in the role previ-ously held by Conley.

Dixon most recently servedas system vice president forCommonSpirit Health in Den-ver, Colo., where she led strate-gies to enhance integration andtransformation performance ina health system that spans 21states.“Through exceptional care,

enhanced by both innovationand discovery, our mission con-tinues to be focused on becom-ing and being the trusted leaderin the communities we serve bytransforming health care andconnecting communities,” saidCathy Jacobson, president andchief executive officer ofFroedtert Health. “To execute on our mission,

it is imperative that we havelocal, proven leadership that iscommitted to maintainingFroedtert Hospital’s excep-tional care with a focus on ourcore values of dignity and re-spect. “Each of these leaders has

proven a track record living ourvalues and will help continue to

Eric Conley new president of Froedtert Hospital

(continued on page 14)

Eric Conley Dr. Michael StadlerRichelle Webb Dixon

Wisconsin’s unemployed turnto alcohol during COVID-19pandemic1 in 4 Wisconsinites recently

unemployed are turning to alco-hol, reveals study.

• 40% of employees have no-ticed the mental health of theirco-workers suffer since the startof lockdown.• 2 in 3 workers believe believe

employers should have officialsystems in place to help staffdeal with mental health strug-gles.• Infographic included.The economic aftermath left

in the wake of the Coronavirusoutbreak cannot be underesti-mated. The Department of Labor has

reported that over 40 million*Americans have lost their jobs inthe space of just nine weekssince the start of the pandemic. Having to remain at home

means those who have lost theirjobs have may have limited sup-

port for the newfound financialstrain, as well as mental distresscaused by lockdown. For some, one of the ways of

coping with trying circum-stances during this time is tonumb the pain with alcohol.American Addiction Centers,

leading provider of substanceabuse treatment resources, con-ducted a study of 3,000 people to

find out how they are dealingwith the economic pressures ofthe pandemic, particularly whenit comes to facing unemploy-ment. Worryingly, the survey found

that 1 in 4 (25%) Wisconsiniteswho were rendered unemployeddue to lockdown, admit theyhave taken to drinking morethan usual ever since.


How to prevent an exercise injuryAs people return to the gym and theirregular fitness routines after months inquarantine, the last thing anyone wantsis an injury caused by their workout. Asports medicine expert at Baylor Col-lege of Medicine said it is normal tofeel that your fitness level is lower thanusual if you have had a break from ex-ercise.

“One of the most common reasons people get in-jured is because they overexert themselves whentheir level of fitness is not where they want it tobe,” said Dr. Irvin Sulapas, a primary care sportsmedicine physician and assistant professor of fam-ily and community medicine at Baylor. Sulapas offers a few tips on how to prevent in-

jury, whether you are seasoned to exercise or arebeginning to work out again: Do a proper warm up and cool down Warming up the muscles and having a cool-

down routine can help decrease risk of injury, Su-lapas said. He recommends walking or jogging asa warmup and performing yoga, stretching or aslow walk after exercise.Practice correct formSulapas said many exercise injuries occur due to

poor form. Whether it is cardio or weight training,he said to make sure you are doing the exercise

correctly. “Sometimes when you take a break from exer-

cise, or even when you exercise a lot, form goesaway and that can put you at risk for an injury,”Sulapas said. Start slowIf you have been on a break from exercise, Su-

lapas recommends slowly easing into your work-out to prevent an injury. He advises shortening the distance for cardio

and decreasing some of the weight for weighttraining until you reach your normal pace orweight.Exercising outdoorsIf you are not comfortable with returning to the

gym or a group exercise class yet, Sulapas said ex-ercising outside is an alternative way to work outwhile maintaining a suitable social distance. Heoffers additional tips on how to exercise outsidein the summer without becoming overheated: • Remain hydrated, especially when tempera-

tures are high. • Try doing your workout in either the early

morning or evening when temperatures are lower. • Wear the appropriate workout attire. Sulapas

advises wearing fabric that’s breathable and canprevent you from becoming overheated. “It’s the summertime so you need to stay on top

of hydration to make sure you don’t cramp or be-come dehydrated,” Sulapas said. If an injury occurs, Sulapas advises to slow

down, stop and assess the injury. Depending onthe injury, he said using an ice pack compress andelevating it can help ease the pain.“Do not try to work out through the pain,” Sula-

pas said. “If something is hurting, remember tostop because you might make it worse.”

The Birth Outcomes Made Bet-ter (BOMB) Doula Program is aCity of Milwaukee and Milwau-kee County funded initiative cre-ated to support healthypregnancies and nurture healthybabies in the city. The goal is toreduce maternal and infant mor-tality throughout the city. Throughdoula services, families will havethe support and education neces-sary for a healthy pregnancy andbeyond. The BOMB program has two

components. First, the programhas Doulas employed through thecity health department to provideresources, emotional, physical,and social support prenatally,through labor and delivery and 12weeks postpartum. This programis housed under the Maternal andChild Health (MCH) Divisionalong with other home visiting

programs including: EmpoweringFamilies of Milwaukee (EFM),Parents Nurturing and Caring fortheir Children (PNCC), and theDAD Project. The program will enroll fami-

lies through several avenues in-cluding but not limited topartnering on cases with theseMHD Home Visiting Programs,enrolling their own familiesthrough a centralized intake, part-nering with community labor anddelivery providers— all to pro-vide comprehensive support to thebirthing parents in need. Second, is the community-

based doula component whereMHD will contract with commu-nity-based doulas who will betrained in the HealthConnect Onecommunity-based doula model. The community-based doulas

will be recruited from the 53206

zip code, and surrounding zipcodes, to serve families in thesame areas—targeting the most atrisk zip code(s) for infant mortal-ity with doulas that can best rep-

resent the needs and dynamics ofthese birthing parents. TheCounty will market the doula pilotprogram to eligible womenthrough existing programs aimedat low-income residents, includ-ing but not limited to energy as-sistance programs and childsupport initiatives.

Program Status:Last Fall, the program manager,

Nicole Miles, MA, CertifiedDoula, Lactation Counselor andNewborn Care Specialist washired from Chicago. Since thenMHD has hired three doulas: TaraGallagher, Christina Rembalski,and Lalita Sallis. MHD continuesto recruit for one more Doula anda Doula Program Coordinator.The most recent doula was hiredin February 2020, and by Marchplans for trainings, outreachevents, and program promotiontook a major shift when COVID-19 hit. Pertinent trainings and out-reach events were postponed andMHD staff were respectively del-egated to perform COVID-spe-cific duties as public health staff.The BOMB Doulas were on thefrontlines providing screenings atall four MHD health centers andsupporting the safety and continu-ance of essential business opera-tions for MHD. In lieu of this shift BOMB was

able to make a pivot to the virtualworld. The doulas had to be cre-ative in providing support to thecommunity due to the physicaldistancing and transition to web-based platforms—hence the“BOMB Doulas Office Hours”were created. The doulas use thisvirtual platform to present weekly

on topics surrounding family andchild health. The Office hours area way to introduce the BOMBdoulas to the City of Milwaukee,community partners, and potentialclients. The most popular webinarwas What Is a Doula? where theBOMB doulas discussed the vari-ous ways doulas support preg-nancy, birth and beyond. This platform is also a way to

foster community collaborationthroughout the city. BOMB hasinterviewed guest speakers bothinternally (e.g. Office of ViolencePrevention and DADs Project)and externally (e.g. Birth to Threeand Milwaukee Coalition forChildren's Mental Health)-sinceApril 2020 there have been 20+BOMB Office Hours! The doulas have since been able

to be trained by HealthConnectOne in partnership with DONAand overall have been able tocomplete necessary trainingsmade available virtually betweenJune and July 2020. The program

is in the final stages of launchingwith plans for the City doulas tobegin serving the public betweenAugust and September of 2020and recruiting and training thecommunity-based doulas as ofFall 2020.For more information on the

BOMB Doula program please

Milwaukee city and county funded initiative supports healthy

pregnancies and nurture healthy babies

The ‘BOMB’ Doulas!

“The BOMB program has two components. First,the program has Doulas employed through theCity of Milwaukee Health Department to provideresources, emotional, physical, and social

support prenatally, through labor and deliveryand 12 weeks postpartum.”


Cities across the nation al-ready have facilities that couldhelp officials track the spreadof COVID-19 locally. That’sbecause the virus that causesthe disease – SARS- CoV-2 –passes through the body and

ends up at sewage treatmentplants. Monitoring the virus’ con-

centration in wastewater ismore efficient than individualtesting to understand its preva-lence in a large population. It

can also highlight a develop-ing hot spot even before peo-ple show symptoms, butdeploying this early- warningsewage surveillance programis complex. UWM researcherSandra McLellan is helping

lead two efforts, one to estab-lish statewide virus monitor-ing in Wisconsin and anotherthat creates a blueprint otherscan use to implement such aprogram. McLellan, with funding

from the Wisconsin Depart-ment of Health Services, ispartnering with the WisconsinState Laboratory of Hygieneon a surveillance program thatwill generate weekly SARS-CoV-2 data from more than100 wastewater treatmentplants in the state. She’s already started collect-

ing wastewater samples at sev-eral sites, including inMilwaukee with the help ofthe Milwaukee MetropolitanSewerage District, as well asin Green Bay and Racine. Simultaneously, backed by a

grant from the Alfred P. SloanFoundation, McLellan isworking with researchers fromthree other universities andNew York City officials on de-veloping a wastewater surveil-lance program blueprint forpublic health officials. Thecombined efforts will identifythe best sampling practices aswell as ways to quickly inter-pret the results and transformthem into actionable healthpolicies. “The pandemic response is

constantly evolving, and dataand knowledge for decision-making is lacking,” saysMcLellan, a professor in theSchool of Freshwater Sci-ences. “This project will bridge the

gap between rapidly evolvingresearch in wastewater sur-veillance and the public healthentities that can use this infor-mation to better respond tothis threat.” Because SARS-CoV-2 is a

new virus, there is not a stan-dard method for detecting it inwastewater samples. By ne-cessity, methods are being op-timized concurrent with thelaunch of large-scale monitor-ing. McLellan and her collab-orators are therefore chargedwith developing a communi-cation plan so that data is im-mediately useful for publichealth responses. The full team includes re-

searchers from New York Uni-versity’s Tandon School ofEngineering, Stanford Univer-sity and the University ofNotre Dame. Their goal is to transfer les-

sons learned to cities nation-wide for a COVID-19surveillance program, as wellas to create a framework totrack other pathogens in thefuture.

UWM School ofFreshwater Sciences ProfessorSandra McLellan

UWM researcherexploring COVID-19 early-warningsystem

“The pandemic response is constantly evolving, and dataand knowledge fordecision- makingis lacking...This project will bridgethe gap betweenrapidly evolvingresearch in wastewater surveillance andthe public health entities that canuse this information to better respond tothis threat.” —Prof. SandraMcLellan


“Healthy Visions” SPECIALHEALTHYSTART PHOTOOP OF HEALTHCAREPROVIDERSWORKING TOHELP THECOMMUNITYCOPE WITHCORONAVIRUSPANDEMIC!

Cream City Medical Society recently did their part to “flatten the curve” of the Coronavirus (also known as COVID-19)by handing out handmade face masks in front of the Midtown Pick n Save grocery store, 5700 W. Capitol Drive. Pic-tured at left is society member, Dr. Rene Settle-Robinson who handed a face mask to a Milwaukee police officer.Below members of the organization who helped hand out the masks to shoppers. The Cream City Medical Society isthe first and only Milwaukee-based 501(c)(3) organization of Black physicians. It is a charter chapter of the NationalMedical Association, the nation’s oldest, and largest association representing Black doctors.

Staff members of St. AnnCenter for IntergenerationalCare making the 700 facemasks for the “MaskUPMKE”challenge to help stem thespread of COVID-19. Stafferswere spread out in two largerooms at the Bucyrus Cam-pus, located on the city’sNorthside, which has been hithard by the virus.The maskmaking was an important waySt. Ann Center could giveback to the neighborhoodthey’re located, as well as theGreater Milwaukee area.

Members of the OutreachCommunity Health Center’sstaff (from left to right): LisaMullins, Shanevia Jones-Harris, Darlene McMillonand Will Taleb prepared re-source bags for individualswho attended the healthcenter’s annual CommunityHealth & Resource Fair.The fair featured drive/walk-thru book bag and healthresource giveaways. At-tendee were encouraged towear their face masks andbe ready to practice recom-mended safety measures.Outreach CommunityHealth Center is located at210 W. Capitol Drive.

All Photos by Yvonne Kemp from previouseditions of the Milwaukee Community Jour-nal (with a couple of new additions).


A nurse mans thecheck-in station at theIsaac Coggs HeritageHealth Center, 8200 W.Silver Spring Drive, oneof two sites opened byMilwaukee Health Serv-ices to test communtiyresidents for COVID-19.

Plain clothes members of the Wisconsin National Guard recently started con-ducting free COVID-19 testing for central city residents. The tests are part of aninitiative by the state to test Milwaukee’s African Americans, Latinos, and tribalcommunity members at two locations. The locations are 5760 W. Capitol Drive inthe Midtown Shopping Center, and UMOS at 2701 S. Chase Ave. Both locationswill be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., seven days a week until they are deemedno longer necessary.

Brian Thomas (inside the vehicle) was given a COVID-19test by two Milwaukee city firefighters recently outsidethe Outreach Community Health Center, 210 E. CapitolDrive. Outreach was providing “drive-thru” testing for res-idents. Outreach physician, Dr. Christopher J. Withers (insetphoto), advised those with chronic medical conditionsshould get tested for the virus.

The African American Breast-feeding Network (AABN) andthe Office of Early ChildhoodInitiatives (OECI) recentlyhosted a Well Mommy & BabyCare Initiative Drive-Up to sup-port area families and promoteoverall wellness. Care pack-ages were provided to familiesthat contained materials thatfocus on mental and physicalwellness. The event was heldin the parking lot of Mt. ZionMBC, 2207 N. 2nd St. Itemswere purchased by AABNthrough funding from Bader Philanthropies, Inc. and donated bylocal partners. Dalvery Blackwell, executive director of AABN,said with the impact of COVID-19 on the community, theywanted to let families who recently welcomed a baby, or whoare preparing for their baby to arrive, to know they are thinkingof them. By providing the care packages, she said, AABN andOECI are helping remove some of the burden families may befeeling as they await the new addition to the families.


Wisconsin Licensed Home Health AgencyMEDICARE and MEDICAID CERTIFIED

All Employees Bonded and Covered by Liability and Workmen’sCompensation Insurance

Call (414) 464-4490 • 6014 West Congress Street • Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53218

Four decades ago, Winona Jackson openedthe doors of Metro Home Health Serviceswith the dual goal of providing her commu-nity with culturally specific home health careservices, and to one day become Milwau-kee’s largest Black-owned home careprovider.Though Jackson achieved those goals shortly before her death

in 2003, today the northside agency holds the distinction of beingrecognized as the only African American owned home health careagency in the state and among the largest local agencies, period.A family operated business, Jackson's two daughters, Regina

Johnson and Lynette Jackson, took over the reins of Metro fol-lowing their mother's death. During the past two decades, the sisters have brought new en-

ergy and technological innovations to the company, along withmaintaining one of the most diverse staffs in the city.Many staffers have tenures dating back decades. That positive business indicator reflects the agency's commit-

ment to the African American community and the loyalty of staffto Winona Jackson’s mission as outlined four decades ago.Most recently, the sisters have added state of the art technology,

and revised their marketing materials, including the introductionof a new company logo.The original masthead was created by renowned Griot Teju

Ologboni and featured a uniformed nurse pushing a wheelchair.The new logo features the wheelchair, but it is merged into the

company name and motto---People Helping People.“Metro has sustained, and ultimately grown due to the entre-

preneurial expertise of Ms. Jackson,” Johnson, Metro’s president,said. “The agency has a solid foundation because of our dedicated

management team and our current office staff who have been thebackbone of Metro for over 30 years. “With this formula we have addressed major changes and chal-

lenges,” she explained.Metro opened its doors in 1983 with a small staff and limited

operating budget based on an $8,000 loan. Winona Jackson once told a reporter that she approached sev-

eral prominent African American entrepreneurs and communityleaders about investing in the new venture, but was rejected byeach. The common refrain was that an African American owned

health organization of the magnitude Jackson foresaw would notsurvive in a segregated city like Milwaukee, where non-profitagencies dominated the market and for-profit businesses main-

tained strong political influence.Some suggested those White agencies would use their political

and financial clout to overwhelm her.But those myopic opinions underestimated both the need for

ethnically sensitive care and Jackson's determination.The first African American graduate of the Milwaukee County

School of Nursing, Jackson was a founding member of the BlackNursing Association-Milwaukee Chapter. She was also active in numerous community organizations and

was a prominent contributor to civil rights causes.She earned a reputation as a committed health care professional

whose passion for empowering the poor was only exceeded byher service on behalf of the elderly and health challenged.“Nothing great was achieved without enthusiasm,” lamented

Johnson. “Winona followed her life passion.” A pioneer in the nursing community, Jackson once said she

started Metro Home Health services to fill the healthcare indus-try’s underserved and to fill a void in the central city. "People in the (central city) have a lot of needs, and we fill a

gap by providing home care services to the elderly and disabled,"she was quoted as saying.In its infancy, several of Metro's key staff members were rela-

tives, including a majority of its board members. Family and friends also referred most of its early clients. As word of its specialized services spread throughout the com-

munity, the agency grew, ultimately reaching Jackson's goal ofbecoming the state's largest Black-owned home health agency. Jackson's daughters grew up in the business and thus were pre-

pared to assume leadership roles when Jackson died.Because of state regulations, neither of the sisters were able to

initially serve as the administrator, which required a nursing or

METROHOME HEALTHSERVICES, INC.DECADES OLD BLACK AND FAMILY OWNED BUSINESSADJUSTS TO THE NEW NORMAL BY COMBINING ITS LEGENDARY SERVICE WITHNEW TECHNOLOGIESBy Mikel Holt

(continued on page 14)

Sisters Lynette Jackson (at left)and Regina Johnson (at right)

"WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON SEEKING PERFECTION THROUGH SERVICE; OUR CLIENTS ARE TREATED LIKE FAMILY. WE TAKE TO HEART WHAT OUR MOTHER MEANT WHEN SHE CAME UP WITH OUR MOTTO.”—Johnson


It is hard to exaggeratethe impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on Milwau-kee, and especiallyMilwaukee’s minoritycommunities. The sickness and death seen

here and in communities aroundthe country is partly becausethere is very little research to telldoctors and scientists the best ap-proach is to limit the disease.

The NationalInstitutes ofHealth will usethe All of Us Re-search Program tohelpt h i sproblem. It is very important thatmore than half of the people par-ticipating in the All of Us Re-search Program are ethnicminorities, since most previousresearch was done in Whites,

who have not been as severelyaffected. Milwaukee is a very important

contributor to the All of Us, sincescientists from both the MedicalCollege of Wisconsin and theUniversity of Wisconsin havebeen asking Milwaukee area res-idents to sign up for the programfor the last two years. The thousands of residents

who are in the study are automat-ically part of studies that are al-ready being done to helpunderstand spread of the disease,like why some people get it andsome don’t. People who have notjoined yet can do so on-line atwww.joinallofus.org or callMCW researchers at 414-955-2689 to get more informationabout the study. One study that is already under

way will test participants’ bloodto see if they have been infectedin the past by looking whetherthey have developed antibodies

to the virus. Antibody testing is dif-ferent than the nasalswab tests doctors useto detect active infec-tion. Antibody tests are

generally done with peo-ple who do not have symp-

toms, to find out if they had thevirus in the past. All of Us is test-ing samples from 10,000 or moreparticipants who joined the pro-gram in March 2020 or earlier. The tests will show how com-

mon coronavirus exposure is

among All of Us participants,and help researchers assess vary-ing rates across regions and com-munities.In addition to antibody testing,

All of Us participants have beencompleting surveys that will helpscientists better understand theeffects of the COVID-19 pan-demic on participants’ physicaland mental health. This 20- to 30-minute survey

includes questions on COVID-19 and how the epidemic is caus-ing stress and financial hardship.Participants are taking the surveyrepeatedly until the pandemicends, so researchers can studythe effects of COVID-19 overtime and better understand howand why COVID-19 affects peo-ple differently. All of Us also uses information

from participants’ health recordsto look for patterns and learnmore about COVID-19 symp-toms and associated health prob-lems, as well as the effects ofdifferent medicines and treat-ments. These research studies will be

particularly useful for Milwau-kee, because it is one of only afew places around the countrythat are approved to enroll peo-ple in the All of Us ResearchProgram. Karen Dotson of Glendale,

who is the overall manager of theAll of Us Research Program,said, “The fact that we were al-ready working with members ofMilwaukee’s Black and Hispanic

communities when the epidemicstarted is very important. “Many people are reluctant to

be a part of research studies, be-cause previous studies were un-ethical or did not returninformation to the participants ortheir community.” Dotson notes that over the

course of the program, partici-pants will receive informationback about themselves and aboutstudies that use All of Us data.Also, the program has safeguardsin place to protect participant pri-vacy. Only scientists are able to look

at the data, and their access ismonitored by an advisory boardof non-scientists from diversebackgrounds. The people who have joined

the All of Us Research Programare making important contribu-tions to slowing and eventuallystopping the pandemic. Scientists working with All of

Us participants will also do re-search to understand other con-ditions, like diabetes, dementiaand cancer. All of these are more common

in the Black community, so it isfortunate that so many AfricanAmericans have stepped up tovolunteer. Dotson emphasizes that All of

Us will be even stronger if morepeople participate – “We are offto a great start but we have roomfor lots more people to be part ofimproving the health and health-care of all Milwaukee residents.”

The All of UsResearch Program focuseson COVID-19

Karen Dotson

With a focus on health and safety, Milwau-kee Area Technical College has released“Stormer Safe + Ready: MATC’s Plan forSafety and Learning During COVID-19.”The college plans to offer online, in-personand a mixture of online/in-person coursesthis fall at all campuses. Approximately 60% of courses will be offered entirely online.

Another 10% will be offered with a mixture of online and in-person instruction (known as hybrid or blended courses).Twenty percent of courses that require hands-on training withspecialized equipment will be offered in person. The remaining less than 10% of courses include clinicals and

apprenticeships and will be held off campus, either in person oronline.Courses will be offered in the traditional semester-long format

and in eight-week sessions. Based on changing health conditionsand public health recommendations and requirements, coursetype, location, dates or times may need to be changed. Studentsenrolled in courses will be notified if changes are made.The Milwaukee Health Department provided MATC with the

necessary approval to offer limited in-person classes and studentservices at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus, the EducationCenter at Walker’s Square and the Health Education Center onFriday, Aug. 14. Limited in-person classes and student servicesalso will be held at the Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis cam-puses.In addition to assisting students remotely, MATC is offering

in-person office hours for admissions, financial aid, advisingand student employment/career/transfer. Services are availableat the Downtown Milwaukee, Mequon, Oak Creek and WestAllis campuses. Visit matc.edu/fall for details and hours. (The services will

not be available from Aug. 17-20 at the Downtown MilwaukeeCampus due to the Democratic National Committee conventionwhich will be held near the campus.) Students can also accessservices including admissions, registration, financial aid and

other areas virtually. See the fallplan for details. “The health and safety of our

students and staff is our greatestpriority,” said Dr. Vicki J. Martin,MATC president. “MATC instructors and staff

have worked tirelessly to find thesafest way to offer high-quality in-struction during the pandemic. We know that our community

and students depend on MATC totrain workers for essential jobs thatrequire hands-on, in-person in-struction in fields such as health-care, police, fire, emergencyservices, manufacturing and truckdriving. We are taking every precaution

to safely offer in-person trainingfor workers in those types of pro-grams. We also have developed effec-

tive online instruction for other programs that do not demandin-person learning. We are committed to preparing our students for good jobs that

offer family-sustaining wages in the safest way possible.”In addition to implementing deep-cleaning protocols, the col-

lege has developed safety training for students and staff andworked to rearrange space to ensure social distancing. MATCis limiting entrances to allow for health and temperature checksupon entering. Face masks are to be worn at all times and face shields are

made available as needed. Wipes and antibacterial stations arestrategically placed throughout each building. In addition, pro-tocols have been developed for reporting positive tests and forcontact investigations.All plans are subject to change as COVID-19 conditions war-

rant. For more information or to see the full “Stormer Safe +Ready: MATC’s Plan for Safety and Learning During COVID-

19,” visit matc.edu/fall.Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most di-

verse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee AreaTechnical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’seconomy and has provided innovative education in the regionsince 1912. Nearly 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four cam-

puses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offersaffordable and accessible education and training opportunitiesthat empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 150 academic programs; and

transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than35 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and busi-

nesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited bythe Higher Learning Commission.

MATC Announces Plans to Offer a Mixture of Online,In-Person and Hybrid/Blended Courses for the FallSemester, Receives Health Department Approval


position Froedtert Hospital as one of the premieracademic medical centers in the nation.”The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wis-

consin regional health network is a partnershipbetween Froedtert Health and the Medical Col-lege of Wisconsin supporting a shared missionof patient care, innovation, medical research andeducation. Its health network operates eastern Wisconsin's

only academic medical center and adult Level ITrauma Center at Froedtert Hospital, Milwau-

kee, an internationally recognized training andresearch center engaged in thousands of clinicaltrials and studies. The Froedtert & MCW health network, which

includes five hospitals, nearly 2,000 physiciansand more than 40 health centers and clinics,draws patients from throughout the Midwest andthe nation. In the most recent fiscal year, outpatient visits

exceeded 1.3 million, inpatient admissions to ourhospitals were 52,855 and visits to our networkphysicians totaled 1,059,268.

health administration degree. Thus, another family member—a first cousin of the daughters--- who was

employed by Metro as a nurse, assumed that responsibility until Johnson se-cured her degree.Over the last four years, the Metro leadership team has put its stamp on the

agency, updating technology including its interactive web system, while prepar-ing for the next stage of the agency’s development. The new marketing materials provide an extensive and comprehensive

overview of the agency’s ever-growing services.“Metro’s future goal is to encourage self-care and service the whole person-

-- physical health and mental wellness,” Johnson explained. “In Winona’s words, ‘how we treat our young and elderly are reflections of

our own character.’” The Healthcare delivery community is rapidly changing in light of COVID-

19, forcing the Metro team to adjust on the fly. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services oversight agency has waived

a central requirement and now allows home health care agencies to performMedicare-covered initial assessments remotely, or by telephonic record review. This would include waiving the requirements for a nurse or other profes-

sional to conduct onsite visits. “We encourage our clients and staff to stay connected to family during this

challenging time,” Johnson said, offering that staff will explain how best tovisit while maintaining safety protocols. “We also know the importance of reviewing the state Department of Health

Service’s website daily to stay updated and informed.“Remote working has been instituted. We had to adapt rapidly to support

best practices to carry forward in our new environment.” Professionalism and a highly trained staff have kept Metro among the top

agencies in the state.As a result, Metro has, over the years, become a model agency whose prac-

tices are emulated by other agencies. "We pride ourselves on seeking perfection through service," Johnson noted. "Our clients are treated like family. We take to heart what our mother meant

when she came up with our motto."Metro will make our families healthier as we unite around the village con-

cept, a paradigm that means we do our part to come together for the bettermentof our community."

METRO HOME HEALTHCARE(continued from page 11)

(continued from page 5)

New president, promotions at Froedtert Hospital

In 1944, Vivien T.Thomas (picturedabove) assistedthen John Hop-kins surgery chiefAlfred Blalock insuccessfully op-erating on theheart of an 18-month-old child, a‘blue baby,’ with aprocedure

Thomas per-fected. Prejudice longkept Thomas’ cru-cial role unac-knowledged. HBO made amovie of thisstory titled,‘Something theLord Made.’

Experiencing the death of a loved oneis inevitable, and grief is a natural re-sponse. Most grieving adults are re-silient and recover their pre-lossfunctioning within a year; however,about 10 percent develop intense anddebilitating grief, also known as pro-longed grief disorder, or complicatedgrief. Those individuals face detrimental medical and

cognitive health outcomes and have an increasedrisk of suicide and premature death.The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) has

received a five-year, $2.6 million grant from theNational Institutes of Health (NIH) National Insti-tute of Mental Health (NIMH) to study howchanges in brain activity might signal which be-reaved individuals are at high risk for a compli-cated grief symptom trajectory and development ofprolonged grief disorder. This is the first such com-prehensive brain imaging study on grief and loss inthe country to receive NIMH funding. Principal investigator on the study Joseph S.

Goveas, MD, associate professor in the Departmentof Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and Insti-tute for Health and Equity and director of geriatricpsychiatry at MCW, and his research team will en-roll 115 participants aged 50 years and older whohave experienced the loss of a loved one within thelast six months. Each participant will complete multiple clinical

assessments and brain scans over the course of oneyear, with the goal of identifying any changes inthe brain that signal whether or not the individualwill experience a complicated grief trajectory. Acomparison group of 55 non-grieving individualswill also complete clinical assessments and brainscans.“Despite the magnitude of this problem, we are

currently not able to distinguish the biological dif-ferences between those who are resilient from thosewho are prone to complicated grief trajectories,”said Dr. Goveas. “Brain imaging-based markersthat can characterize the clinical course during thefirst year for those experiencing acute grief are crit-ically needed.”

Based on the results of a pilot study by Dr. Gov-eas’ team that began in 2016, the researchers be-lieve that in adults with acute grief, features ofemotion dysregulation in the brain are early andcritical measures of complicated grief symptom tra-jectories and development of prolonged grief disor-der. The pilot study looked at brain scans ofgrieving individuals and revealed that increased ac-tivity between the amygdala, a region of the brainthat processes negative emotions, and the frontallobe signaled a greater risk for future complica-tions.“The goal of this latest NIH-funded study is to

validate the findings of the pilot study and identifybiomarkers of prolonged grief disorder,” Dr. Gov-eas said. “Ultimately, we aim to use this knowledgeto test treatment or prevention strategies in themost at-risk grieving individuals to prevent futurecomplications, like prolonged grief disorder, de-pression, cognitive decline and suicide.”“Dr. Goveas’ dedication to serving patients who

are grieving is admirable and inspiring,” said JonA. Lehrmann, MD, chair and Charles E. KublyProfessor in psychiatry and behavioral medicine atMCW. “In utilizing the most current and innovativeresearch and prevention methods, Dr. Goveas’ ef-forts continue to enhance the health and wellbeingof many people here in our region.”Dr. Goveas is joined by a team of MCW co-in-

vestigators, including Shi-Jiang Li, PhD, professorof biophysics and psychiatry and behavioral medi-cine, and Yang Wang, MD, PhD, associate profes-sor of radiology. Other MCW personnel include Gang (Jeff) Chen,

PhD, research scientist in the Department of Bio-physics; B. Douglas Ward, imaging biostatisticianin the Department of Biophysics, and Stacy Claes-ges, clinical research coordinator in the Departmentof Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine.Charles F. Reynolds III, MD, Distinguished Pro-

fessor of Psychiatry and Endowed Professor inGeriatric Psychiatry emeritus at the University ofPittsburgh School of Medicine, adjunct professor ofpsychiatry at the Tufts School of Medicine andMaine Medical Center, and editor-in-chief of theAmerican Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, serves asa consultant. Funding for the pilot study was pro-vided by the Costigan Family Foundation.

MCW to Study Brain Changes Following Loss of Loved One to Prevent Grief-Related ComplicationsNow Enrolling Participants in Landmark Brain Imaging Study

BLACKHEALTH HISTORY


As COVID-19 cases continue torise in 44 states and fear of calling 9-1-1 or going to the hospital persists,new data from a survey conductedonline by The Harris Poll on behalfof the American Heart Association.The world’s leading nonprofit or-

ganization focused on heart andbrain health for all, found that His-panics and Black Americans aremost likely to stay home if experi-encing medical emergencies, like aheart or a stroke, to avoid the risk ofcontracting COVID-19 at the hospi-tal.New data from the survey found

more than half of Hispanics (55%)would be scared to go to the hospitalif they thought they were having aheart attack or stroke because theymight get infected with COVID-19,and 41% would stay home if theythought they were experiencing aheart attack or stroke rather than riskgetting infected at the hospital.That survey also found that nearly

half of Black Americans (45%) saythey would be scared to go to thehospital if they thought they werehaving a heart attack or stroke be-cause they might get infected withCOVID-19, and a third (33%) wouldstay home if they thought they wereexperiencing a heart attack or strokerather than risk getting infected at thehospital.Comparatively, less than half of

whites (40%) would be scared to goto the hospital if they thought theywere having a heart attack or strokebecause they might get infected withCOVID-19, and less than a quarter(24%) would rather stay home thanrisk getting infected at the hospital.Heart attacks and stroke haven’t

stopped during to the pandemic. To help alleviate fears, the Ameri-

can Heart Association created a pub-lic education and awarenesscampaign in English and in Spanishcalled Don’t Die of Doubt that re-minds Americans, especially in His-panic and Black communities, thatthe hospital remains the safest placeto be if experiencing symptoms of aheart attack or a stroke.“This finding is yet another chal-

lenge for Black and Hispanic com-munities, who are more likely tohave underlying health conditionssuch as cardiovascular disease and

diabetes and dying of COVID-19 atdisproportionately high rates,” saidRafael Ortiz, MD, American HeartAssociation volunteer medical expertand Chief of Neuro-EndovascularSurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital,Northwell Health. “I am proud of thework the American Heart Associa-tion is doing to address this criticalissue with the Don’t Die of Doubtcampaign. Health care professionals know

what to do even when things seemchaotic, and emergency departmentshave made plans behind the scenes tokeep patients and healthcare workerssafe even during a pandemic.”These historically excluded com-

munities are dying of COVID-19 atdisproportionately high rates, asthey’re more likely to have underly-ing health conditions, like cardiovas-cular disease and diabetes.Cardiovascular disease is still the

leading cause of death in the UnitedStates, and heart attack and strokesymptoms are always urgent. The hospital is still the safest place

to be, so don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1and don’t stay home –- don’t die ofdoubt.Symptoms of a heart attack can in-

clude:• Chest discomfort. Most heart at-

tacks involve discomfort in the cen-ter of the chest that lasts more than afew minutes — it may go away andthen return. It can feel like uncom-fortable pressure, squeezing, fullnessor pain.• Discomfort in other areas of the

upper body. Symptoms can includepain or discomfort in one or botharms, the back, neck, jaw or stom-ach.• Shortness of breath. This can

occur with or without chest discom-fort.• Other possible signs include

breaking out in a cold sweat, nauseaor lightheadedness.• Women’s most common heart at-

tack symptom is chest pain. Somewomen are more likely to experienceshortness of breath, nausea/vomitingand back or jaw pain.Use the letters in "F.A.S.T." to rec-

ognize signs of a stroke:• Face Drooping. Does one side of

the face droop or is it numb? Ask theperson to smile.

• Arm weakness. Is one arm weakor numb? Ask the person to raiseboth arms. Does one arm drift down-ward?• Speech difficulty. Is speech

slurred, are they unable to speak, orare they hard to understand? Ask theperson to repeat a simple sentence,

like “the sky is blue.” Is the sentencerepeated correctly?• Time to call 9-1-1. If the person

shows any of these symptoms, evenif the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1and get them to the hospital immedi-ately.For more about the American

Heart Association’s “Don’t Die ofDoubt” campaign, visitwww.heart.org/dontdieofdoubt.Additional Resources:• View this release in Spanish.• Don’t Die of Doubt website

(Spanish)• American Heart Association

COVID-19 resources (Spanish)• Heart attack symptoms (Span-

ish)• Stroke symptoms (Spanish)• Visit the Support Network for

peer to peer support for patients• Follow American Heart Associ-

ation/American Stroke Associationnews on Twitter @HeartNews

******The Association receives funding

primarily from individuals. Founda-tions and corporations (includingpharmaceutical, device manufactur-ers and other companies) also makedonations and fund specific associa-tion programs and events. The Association has strict poli-

cies to prevent these relationshipsfrom influencing the science con-tent. Revenues from pharmaceuticaland device corporations and healthinsurance providers are available athttps://www.heart.org/en/about-us/aha-financial-information.Survey MethodologyThis survey was conducted online

within the United States betweenMay 29 - June 2, 2020 among 2050

adults (aged 18 and over) by TheHarris Poll on behalf of the Ameri-can Heart Association via its HarrisOn Demand omnibus product. Results were weighted for age

within gender, region, race/ethnic-ity, household income, education,employment, marital status and sizeof household where necessary toalign them with their actual propor-tions in the population. Propensityscore weighting was also used toadjust for respondents’ propensityto be online. All sample surveysand polls, whether or not they useprobability sampling, are subject tomultiple sources of error which aremost often not possible to quantifyor estimate, including samplingerror, coverage error, error associ-ated with nonresponse, error associ-ated with question wording andresponse options, and post-surveyweighting and adjustments. Therefore, the words “margin of

error” are avoided as they are mis-leading. All that can be calculatedare different possible sampling er-rors with different probabilities forpure, unweighted, random sampleswith 100% response rates. These are only theoretical be-

cause no published polls comeclose to this ideal. Respondents forthis survey were selected fromamong those who have agreed toparticipate in our surveys. The data have been weighted to

reflect the composition of the adultpopulation. Because the sample is based on

those who agreed to participate inthe online panel, no estimates oftheoretical sampling error can becalculated.

Fueled by COVID-19 fears, approximately half of Hispanics and Black Americans would fear going to the hospital if experiencing symptoms of a heart attack or stroke

HealthySTART · 2 days ago · healthystart vol.xvvi • summer • free you havethepower i n s i d...

Documents

Transcript of HealthySTART · 2 days ago · healthystart vol.xvvi • summer • free you havethepower i n s i d...