The Cahaba Newsletter: November / December 2022
CAHABA MEDICAL CARE NEWS
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CAHABA MEDICAL CARE NEWS 〰️
CAHABA MEDICAL CARE - ALABASTER NOW OPEN!
In November, Cahaba Medical Care opened a new clinic in Alabaster, located in the Shelby Baptist Medical Plaza. While Shelby County is one of the most wealthy counties in the state, it has also been identified by State and Federal agencies as having the fewest resources for a growing population of the uninsured and marginalized. The new clinic will provide primary care, pediatric care, women’s health services, mental healthcare and more.
CHRISTMAS AT CAHABA
Christmas is always a fun and eventful time at Cahaba Medical Care, and this year was no different. On December 9, we came together for a company-wide Christmas party at the Boutwell Auditorium. In addition to our 2nd annual talent show won by Dr. Peters and Dr. Posey's "Dance of the Decades with JP & Lil PoPo," we were honored to hear from Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Just Mercy, which has received several honors and was recently adapted as a major motion picture.
Cahaba was also blessed to be able to participate in several community Christmas events, including the West Blocton Tinsel Trail at the Coke Ovens, Maplesville's Old Fashioned Christmas, Alabaster's Festival of Trees, Breakthrough Charter School's Holly Jolly Festival in Marion, and Christmas on the Lawn in Camden!
NP RESIDENCY GRADUATION
Cahaba Medical Care is proud to announce our 5th class of Nurse Practitioner Residency graduates. Residents completed a 15-month-long Nurse Practitioner Residency program, which is housed in Cahaba’s urban- and rural-underserved federally qualified healthcare clinics. On Thursday, December 8th, guests and graduates of the Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner Residency Program gathered at Birmingham’s Ensley Live Entertainment Loft to celebrate the achievements of the 6 latest graduates; Katelyn Connell, Pamela Lewis, Katy Miller, Roshundra Murphy, Neil Postier, and Marija Sidrys.
THANKSGIVING MEALS
Each year at Thanksgiving, Cahaba identifies patients at each of our clinic locations who are experiencing ongoing food insecurity, and we provide them with a Thanksgiving meal to share with their loved ones. This year, we were able to provide meals to 37 patients and their families thanks to the generosity and hard work of our staff!
MOBILE DENTAL CLINICS BACK IN SCHOOLS
After having to take a long pause due to the pandemic, Cahaba was finally able to bring our mobile dental clinics back to the schools in Bibb County. The mobile dental equipment was purchased with funding from the Ryan White Part C Capacity Development Grant. Our plan is to implement these mobile dental clinics in each of the school-based health centers, as well as in various locations throughout the communities we serve. Thanks to Jen Wright and Karen Sessoms for leading the team, as well as Amanda Deerman and the rest of the dental team who have supported this work to make it possible!
CHRISTMAS ON THE LAWN IN CAMDEN
Cahaba Medical Care - Camden teamed up with community partners to spread holiday cheer to underserved families at the Christmas on the Lawn hosted by J. Paul Jones Hospital on December 15, 2022. The nonprofit community health center partnered with J. Paul Jones Hospital and Rural Health Clinics and the UAB Department of Sanitation Health. This free event featured pictures with Santa, fellowship with local community organizations, caroling, free food, and more! Cahaba Medical Care - Camden engaged kids in a Santa Workshop where they made Christmas ornaments or wrote a letter to Santa. In addition, door prizes donated by local community organizations were given out throughout the night, and two bicycles donated by International Paper of Pine Hill and Cahaba Medical Care were given to a lucky boy and girl at the end of the event.
RESIDENCY NEWS
GLOBAL MISSIONS HEALTH CONFERENCE
Residents from our tracks recently attended the Global Missions Health Conference (GMHC) in Louisville, KY. Our residents and faculty always enjoy their time at GMHC. They are able to connect with students, listen to incredible speakers, and fellowship with other programs and individuals with our passion for service across the globe.
FALL AT CAHABA
What a celebration! The Fairfield School District Celebrated Homecoming with a community-wide parade. The streets were lined with students, parents, faculty and community members. Cahaba's SBHC staff participated in the parade. What a great time to fellowship with our Fairfield Community!
In celebration of Halloween, Cahaba's West End clinic hosted its annual Trunk or Treat event, and our Maplesville clinic set up a "super" booth at the annual Treats on Main community event!
CHRISTMAS ON THE LAWN IN CAMDEN
In a survey of 483 U.S. healthcare facilities published Sept 8th, more than 5,200 nursing personnel were assaulted in the second quarter of 2022, with patients being the largest source of violence. That translates to about 57 assaults per day, or two nurses being assaulted every hour.
Earlier in 2022, Cahaba partnered with Gracie Combatives to offer free a free a 45 minute self-defense class, specific to the workplace, covering:
How to disengage from a patient who is trying to control you
How to defend against strangulation
How to neutralize a patient who may resort to striking you with a fist or blunt object
How to defend against someone who has taken you to the ground and is striking you
Ways to stay safe when stuck in close quarters until backup help arrives
Safety strategies when arriving or leaving work
Methods for safe intervention when a colleague is being assaulted
In October, Cahaba partnered again with Gracie Combatives to host a 2.5-hour free community self-defense workshop at the BMC Wellness Center.
Interested in attending one of these self-defense classes? Check out the additional opportunities below in the Centreville and Birmingham areas! Each class is designed to be accessible for the total beginner - all you need to do is show up in a t-shirt and shorts and you'll fit right in!
Sign up at one of the following links, or just show up at one of the classes listed below:
We are a community-based non-profit healthcare organization that aims to follow Christ in becoming an incarnation of love, peace, and justice for our patients on their journey towards physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being