In January, contracted providers, members of the state team and the MCO Coordination Team participated in the OneCare Kansas Learning Collaborative. During the Learning Collaborative attendees learned more about the appropriate use of certain OCK program forms and reviewed Item 18 of the OCK Audit, Identifying Community Health Goals. The group heard examples of OCK Partners who are engaged in their communities, shared challenges that they experienced in gathering and sharing documentation of the good work that is being done in all partner organizations, and brainstormed strategies to make progress in these areas.
In February, WSU-CEI will host its next Community of Practice session for Social Workers and Care Coordinators. Keep an eye on your inbox for registration details. Contact Vanessa Lohf for the complete calendar of events in 2023.
This month, the state team added new language and guidance to the OCK Program Manual in Appendix B. Please see the OCK Program Manual for more details on the updates listed below.
Page 33: OCK Forms Table
- The manual now includes an OCK Forms Table that lists most situations in which each program form should be used.
Page 63: OneCare Kansas Refusal Form
- The Refusal Form has been revised to be fully fillable and more user-friendly. The revised form is now posted on the OCK website.
- New refusal reasons were added to address inactive members, or members not engaging in services.
Page 64: OCK Member Discharge Notification Form
- The Discharge Form has been revised to be fully fillable and more user-friendly. The revised form is now posted on the OCK website.
- Section Three was updated to reflect additional discharge reasons.
Everyone faces challenging or difficult times in their lives, but individuals often cope with stressful situations differently. When an individual’s response to stressful situations is not adequately managed, it can escalate to a crisis situation. This applies to civilians, active-duty personnel and veterans alike.
Some veterans and active-duty personnel may show apparent signs of being in crisis. These crisis signs could include thoughts and dialogue surrounding self-harm and suicide, planning of suicide, and/or engaging in self-destructive behaviors. Others may not exhibit these signs of crisis. However, there are certain actions and behaviors that may indicate an individual still requires crisis support. These behaviors are considered warning signs and may include:
- Feelings of sadness, depression, and hopelessness.
- Symptoms of anxiety, agitation, insomnia, or mood swings.
- Feeling there is no reason to live.
- Feelings of guilt, shame, or sense of failure.
- Increased rage or anger.
- Risky behaviors.
- Increased alcohol or drug use.
- Losing of interest in daily activities.
- Self-neglect.
- Self-isolation.
- Violent behavior.
- Purging of possessions.
- Getting end of life affairs in order.
For veterans or active-duty members experiencing any of these crisis or warning signs, there is a hotline that can help. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is accessible to anyone in crisis 24-hours a day, seven days a week. A specific extension of the lifeline provides crisis support to veterans, active-duty personnel, and loved ones who support these individuals. This extension is known as the Veterans Crisis Line and it provides free and confidential support in an immediate crisis through counseling, as well as referrals to other resources that can assist individuals in distress. The Veterans Crisis Line is dedicated to assisting all who have served, even if they are not currently enrolled in VA or health care programs.
Those in this population group who require crisis support can dial 988 and then press 1 to reach a qualified counselor through the Veterans Crisis Line. The Veterans Crisis Line can also be accessed by texting 838255 or by engaging in a live online chat with a qualified VA responder. Veterans and active members can also access the Veterans Crisis Line via phone oversees in Europe, Korea, Afghanistan and the Philippines.
Thanks to the Veterans Crisis Line, veterans, active-duty members, and their families do not have to endure difficult times and crises alone. Stressful life events and crises can be better managed with the services and resources provided by the Veterans Crisis Line to support those in need. More information can be reviewed on the Veterans Crisis Hotline homepage and the Signs of Crisis webpage.
In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death. Coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to a heart attack, is the most common type of heart disease in the United States. Individuals can take preventive measures to reduce their risk for heart disease by making lifestyle changes.
Heart disease can be "silent," which means an individual may not realize they have it until they experience a heart attack, heart failure or an arrhythmia. Various symptoms can occur when these conditions are present. The symptoms of a heart attack may include chest pain, pain in the upper back or neck, indigestion, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, extreme fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Shortness of breath, fatigue, and edema of the abdomen, legs, feet, ankles, or veins in the neck may indicate an individual is experiencing heart failure. Symptoms of an arrhythmia include fluttering sensations in the chest.
There are various risk factors for heart disease. The most significant risk factors include smoking, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Certain medical conditions and lifestyle choices may also contribute to heart disease. Managing one’s medical issues, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, may help reduce the risk of developing heart disease. Some methods to manage these conditions may include:
- Work with a health care team.
- Take medications as directed.
- Routinely checking cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
- Adhering to a diabetes treatment plan.
Heart disease and its complications can be avoided in numerous ways, including:
- Consuming more fresh vegetables and fruits and fewer processed foods.
- Maintaining a healthy weight to reduce strain on the heart and blood vessels, which increases the risk of heart disease.
- Engaging in regular physical activity to maintain a healthy weight, and lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels.
- Limiting alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
- Abstaining from smoking.
Understanding the risk of heart disease and making healthier choices are essential to living a healthy life. Preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of developing heart disease, which could lead to a heart attack. More information on heart disease and living a heart healthy lifestyle can be viewed on the CDC's Heart Disease webpage.
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