May 15, 2009
Pilot Station clinic staff and community well-wishers gathered for a celebratory lunch recently when the clinic met its Well Child exam goals for three consecutive months.
Village clinics meet Well Child goals
by Kurt Kuhne, EPSDT/Well Child Coordinator
Every month, The Well Child program tracks the Well Child exams performed around the organization. For the villages, goals are set for individual EPSTD-trained Health Aides to perform Well Child exams.
Generally, the goal is set to two Well Child Exams per trained Health Aide per week, or eight per month. Those goals can change depending on circumstances such as short staffing, large volumes of sick or emergency patients, or not enough children due that month. The Supervisor/Instructor and the Well Child program coordinator work together to make sure the goals are reasonable.
Recently, a new recognition program went into effect. If a village meets or exceeds their goal for three consecutive months, the Well Child Coordinator and the Supervisor/Instructor will travel to that village and throw a lunch party.
Pilot Station won the free lunch and last month, Sheila Minock, Supervisor, and Kurt Kuhne and Matt Scott from the Well Child program traveled there to celebrate their success. Many members of the community, as well as representatives from the Pilot Station Tribal organization were in attendance. Following a discussion of the importance of Well Child exams and other preventative health initiatives in their community, the group enjoyed fresh pizza from Brother's Pizza.
Through an agreement with the State of Alaska, YKHC performs Well Child/EPSDT (Early, Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis, Treatment) exams for Medicaid and Denali Kid Care eligible children, ages 0 to 21. In addition to Medicaid and Denali Kid Care eligible children, the YKHC Well Child program wants all children to be screened.
Russian Mission, Grayling, Shagluk, Chefornak, Newtok, Nunapitchuk, Napakiak, Napaskiak, Nunam Iqua, Chevak, Hooper Bay, Scammon Bay, Eek, Akiak, Kwigillingok all made their goal for April.
