HEALTH SUMMER 2023 y Lifestyle: Your home and workplace. –Are you smoking, drinking or using drugs, or are you around people who do? –Are you in a healthy and supportive relationship? y Medications that are prescribed or not. Also any supplements you use, like vitamins or herbs. y Vaccines: Are you up-to-date with your shots? Standard U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 88 Well-child checkups We can help if you need a ride! What to know about STIs In this issue 7Page 3Page 2Page y How to keep up a healthy weight and how to stay active. y What to eat and how much folic acid to take every day. After you visit your doctor, see your dentist! Routine care can help prevent dental emergencies during a pregnancy. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Planning for pregnancy Trying to have a baby? Take time to prepare for pregnancy! Preconception care focuses on things you can do before getting pregnant. This will help increase the chances of having a healthy baby. Talk to your doctor about: y Health conditions such as STIs (see page 7), diabetes and high blood pressure. FOR MORE INFORMATION on pregnancy care, scan the QR code to check out our Baby Steps Program page.
EARN GIFT CARDS for making healthy choices, including wellness exams for children. Visit our website for a list of rewards at kernfamilyhealthcare.com/members/health-and-wellnessservices/member-rewards-programs. Keep up with well-child visits Well-child visits with your doctor are important. Why? They help keep your child healthy. And they can help catch health problems early. How often should my child see their doctor? In the first two years of your child’s life, well-child visits are frequent. y Within the first month after your child is born, you may see your child’s doctor several times. y After your baby turns 1 month, visits are usually two to three months apart. y After your child turns 3 years old, they will see their doctor about once a year. y Well-child visits generally last until age 21. What things will my child’s doctor check? Every visit will include a physical exam. Your doctor will also: y Check weight and height. y Recommended vaccinations. y Check vision, hearing and other functions. y Discuss any concerns you have. How should I prepare for a well-child visit? Prepare by making a list of SEE CDC’S SUGGESTIONS for immunizations at the URL below or by scanning the QR code. questions. These could relate to your child’s health, diet, sleep, school or social life. Encourage your kids to ask questions of their own. This will help build trust between them and their doctor. cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/ child-easyread.html FAMILY HEALTH 2
Need a ride? KFHC offers free, round-trip rides for eligible members. The rides are for you to go see your doctor, dentist or to your mental health office visits. Don’t forget you can get a ride to pick up a prescription or to pick up your durable medical equipment (DME) supplies. We also cover travel costs such as meals, parking fees and lodging when needed. To get a ride, you must attest (confirm) that you do not have a ride. Transportation and travel costs are covered for you and a caregiver. If you are going to receive an organ transplant, costs are covered for you and your Major Organ Transplant (MOT) donor, and for your MOT donor’s caregiver when needed. Non-medical transportation Transportation and travel costs include non-medical transportation (NMT). NMT is a private or public transport such as a car or a bus. Your options might include: y Bus passes offered by KFHC. y GET On Demand and Dial-A-Ride. y Greyhound. y Mileage reimbursement. y Rideshare (Like Uber or Lyft). Our Transportation Team will help find you the best transportation for you. A ride should be asked for at least five working days before your office visit. Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) NEMT is medically needed transport by litter (gurney) van or wheelchair van. NEMT is offered to those who have a health or physical health issue that limits their ability to ride in a public or private car or van. Your doctor must fill out a “Physician Certification Statement” (PCS) form and send it to KFHC for a NEMT wheelchair or gurney van. A ride should be asked for at least five working days before it’s needed. Travel costs or fees when away from your home Travel expenses are covered for meals when your Let us help you set up your next ride For a ride: The Transportation Team can help Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. They can also help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for urgent or after-hours visits. Call 800-391-2000 and choose option 3. You must have your KFHC member ID number or Medi-Cal CIN ready when you call. For travel costs and fees: The KFHC Member Services Team can help you Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 800391-2000. If you are a member in the Major Organ Transplant program, your case manager can help you. Travel expenses can be provided before your scheduled trip or paid to you after your trip. SCAN THE QR CODE for transportation benefits. trip to your office visit keeps you away from home for more than four hours. Lodging (hotel or motel) is covered when your health care service keeps you away from home overnight, and for fees such as parking. FAMILY HEALTH 3
Get help in your language KFHC gives easy access to interpreter services at no cost to our members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our Member Service Team can help you set up an interpreter for your next doctor’s visit. Give us a call at 800-391-2000, or TDD/TTY 711 for the hearing-impaired. KFHC has many ways to help meet your needs, such as: y Staff who speaks English and Spanish. y Over-the-phone language interpreters who speak more than 200 languages (OPI). y American Sign Language interpreters (ASL). y On-site, in-person interpretation. y Video remote interpreting (VRI). y After-hours interpreting. You can also check out our Provider Directory to find the languages spoken by our doctors and their staff. Call us before your next visit if you need for us to arrange for an interpreter. Tools for those with Alzheimer’s Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging. Memory problems are often one of the first warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Getting checked early can help you and your doctor set up a care plan. When you or a loved one are told that you have Alzheimer’s, you will need to have someone who is allowed to help. This person should be on file at your doctor’s office to help you fill out any form. Many times, family and friends want to help look after the person with Alzheimer’s, from making office visits, picking up prescriptions and making sure day-to-day actions are done safely. These tools can help you be ready for the new demands: y English: cdc.gov/aging/caregiving/ index.htm y Spanish: cdc.gov/aging/spanish/caregiving/ index.html You will find a helpful caregiver’s plan form that can help guide you on what you will need during this time. FAMILY HEALTH 4
NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE Discrimination is against the law. Kern Family Health Care follows State and Federal civil rights laws. Kern Family Health Care does not unlawfully discriminate, exclude people, or treat them differently because of sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Kern Family Health Care provides: y Free aids and services to people with disabilities to help them communicate better, such as: Qualified sign language interpreters Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats) y Free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: Qualified interpreters Information written in other languages If you need these services, contact Kern Family Health Care at 1-800-391-2000 between 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. If you cannot hear or speak well, please call the California Relay Service at 711. Upon request, this document can be made available to you in braille, large print, audiocassette, or electronic form. To obtain a copy in one of these alternative formats, please call or write to: Kern Family Health Care 2900 Buck Owens Boulevard Bakersfield, CA 93308 1-800-391-2000 711 (California Relay Service) HOW TO FILE A GRIEVANCE If you believe that Kern Family Health Care has failed to provide these services or unlawfully discriminated in another way on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation, you can file a grievance with Kern Family Health Care’s Discrimination Grievance Coordinator. You can file a grievance by phone, in writing, in person, or electronically: y By phone: Contact Kern Family Health Care’s Discrimination Grievance Coordinator between 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday by calling 1-800-391-2000. Or, if you cannot hear or speak well, please call the California Relay Service at 711. y In writing: Fill out a complaint form or write a letter and send it to: Discrimination Grievance Coordinator Kern Family Health Care 2900 Buck Owens Boulevard Bakersfield, CA 93308 y In person: Visit your doctor’s office or Kern Family Health Care and say you want to file a grievance. y Electronically: Visit Kern Family Health Care’s website at www.kernfamilyhealthcare.com. OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES You can also file a civil rights complaint with the California Department of Health Care Services, Office of Civil Rights by phone, in writing, or electronically: y By phone: Call 916-440-7370. If you cannot speak or hear well, please call 711 (California Relay Service). y In writing: Fill out a complaint form or send a letter to: —Continued on the next page
Deputy Director, Office of Civil Rights Department of Health Care Services Office of Civil Rights P.O. Box 997413, MS 0009 Sacramento, CA 95899-7413 Complaint forms are available at http://www .dhcs.ca.gov/Pages/Language_Access.aspx. y Electronically: Send an email to CivilRights@dhcs.ca.gov. OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS – U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES If you believe you have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex, you can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights by phone, in writing, or electronically: y By phone: Call 1-800-368-1019. If you cannot speak or hear well, please call TTY/TDD 1-800-537-7697. y In writing: Fill out a complaint form or send a letter to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201 Complaint forms are available at http://www .hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html. y Electronically: Visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal at https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ ocr/portal/lobby.jsf. —Continued from the previous page TAGLINES TAGLINES English Tagline ATTENTION: If you need help in your language call 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Aids and services for people with disabilities, like documents in braille and large print, are also available. Call 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). These services are free of charge. اﻟﺸﻌﺎر ﺔ ��� بﺎﻟﻌ (Arabic) �� ﻳُﺮ اﻻﻧتبﺎە: إذا اﺣﺘﺠﺖ � إ اﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪة بﻠﻐﺘﻚ، ﻓﺎﺗﺼﻞ بـ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711) . ﺗﺘﻮﻓﺮ ﺎ � ﻀ � أ اﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪات واﻟﺨﺪﻣﺎت ﻟﻸﺷﺨﺎص ذوي اﻹﻋﺎﻗﺔ، ﻣﺜﻞ اﻟﻤﺴتﻨﺪات ﺔ �� اﻟﻤﻜﺘ ﻘﺔ �� بﻄ ﻞ �� ﺑ واﻟﺨﻂ ي . � ﺒ � اﻟ اﺗﺼﻞ بـ 1-800-391-2000 .(TTY: 711) ﻫﺬە اﻟﺨﺪﻣﺎت ﺔ . � ﻣﺠﺎﻧ Հայերեն պիտակ (Armenian) ՈՒՇԱԴՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ: Եթե Ձեզ օգնություն է հարկավոր Ձեր լեզվով, զանգահարեք 1800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)։ Կան նաև օժանդակ միջոցներ ու ծառայություններ հաշմանդամություն ունեցող անձանց համար, օրինակ` Բրայլի գրատիպով ու խոշորատառ տպագրված նյութեր։ Զանգահարեք 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)։ Այդ ծառայություններն անվճար են։ �� ស�� ល់���ែខ� រ (Cambodian) ចំ�ំ៖ េបើ អ�ក ្រតវ� �រជំនួយ ��� របស់អ� ក សូម ទូរស័ព� េ�េលខ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)។ ជំនួយ និង េស�កម� ស្រ�ប់ ជនពិ�រ ដូច�ឯក�រសរេសរ�អក្សរផុស ស្រ�ប់ជនពិ�រែភ� ក ឬឯក�រសរេសរ�អក្សរពុម� ធំ ក៏�ចរក�នផងែដរ។ ទូរស័ព� មកេលខ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)។ េស�កម� �ំងេនះមិនគិតៃថ� េឡយើ ។ 简体中文标语 (Chinese) 请注意：如果您需要以您的母语提供帮助，请致电 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)。另外还
7/21 ស្រ�ប់ជនពិ�រែភ� ក ឬឯក�រសរេសរ�អក្សរពុម� ធំ ក៏�ចរក�នផងែដរ។ ទូរស័ព� មកេលខ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)។ េស�កម� �ំងេនះមិនគិតៃថ� េឡយើ ។ 简体中文标语 (Chinese) 请注意：如果您需要以您的母语提供帮助，请致电 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)。另外还 提供针对残疾人士的帮助和服务，例如盲文和需要较大字体阅读，也是方便取用的。请致 电 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)。这些服务都是免费的。 (Farsi) ﻓﺎرﺳﯽ زﺑﺎن ﺑﮫ ﻣطﻠب ﺗوﺟﮫ: اﮔر ﻣﯽ ﺧواھﯾد ﺑﮫ زﺑﺎن ﺧود ﮐﻣﮏ درﯾﺎﻓت ﮐﻧﯾد، ﺑﺎ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711) ﺗﻣﺎس ﺑﮕﯾرﯾد. ﮐﻣﮏ ھﺎ و ﺧدﻣﺎت ﻣﺧﺻوص اﻓراد دارای ﻣﻌﻠوﻟﯾت، ﻣﺎﻧﻧد ﻧﺳﺧﮫھﺎی ﺧط ﺑرﯾل و ﭼﺎپ ﺑﺎ ﺣروف ﺑزرگ، ﻧﯾز ﻣوﺟود اﺳت. ﺑﺎ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711) ﺗﻣﺎس ﺑﮕﯾرﯾد. اﯾن ﺧدﻣﺎت راﯾﮕﺎن اراﺋﮫ ﻣﯽ ﺷوﻧد. िहंदी टैगलाइन (Hindi) �ान द� : अगर आपको अपनी भाषा म� सहायता की आव�कता है तो 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711) पर कॉल कर� । अश�ता वाले लोगों के िलए सहायता और सेवाएं, जैसे ब् रेल और बड़े िप् रंट म� भी द�ावेज़ उपल� ह�। 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711) पर कॉल कर� । ये सेवाएं िन: शु� ह�। Nqe Lus Hmoob Cob (Hmong) CEEB TOOM: Yog koj xav tau kev pab txhais koj hom lus hu rau 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Muaj cov kev pab txhawb thiab kev pab cuam rau cov neeg xiam oob qhab, xws li puav leej muaj ua cov ntawv su thiab luam tawm ua tus ntawv loj. Hu rau 1-800391-2000 (TTY: 711). Cov kev pab cuam no yog pab dawb xwb. 日本語表記 (Japanese) 注意日本語での対応が必要な場合は 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)へお電話ください。点 字の資料や文字の拡大表示など、障がいをお持ちの方のためのサービスも用意していま す。 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)へお電話ください。これらのサービスは無料で提供し ています。 한국어 태그라인 (Korean) 유의사항: 귀하의 언어로 도움을 받고 싶으시면 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711) 번으로 문의하십시오. 점자나 큰 활자로 된 문서와 같이 장애가 있는 분들을 위한 도움과 서비스도 이용 가능합니다. 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711) 번으로 문의하십시오. 이러한 서비스는 무료로 제공됩니다. ແທກໄລພາສາລາວ (Laotian) ປະກາດ: ຖ້າທ່ານຕ້ອງການຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອໃນພາສາຂອງທ່ານໃຫ້ໂທຫາເບີ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). ຍັງມີຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອແລະການບໍລິການສໍາລັບຄົນພິການ ເຊັ່ນເອກະສານທີ່ເປັນອັກສອນນູນແລະມີໂຕພິມໃຫຍ່ ໃຫ້ໂທຫາເບີ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). ການບໍລິການເຫຼົ່ານີ້ບໍ່ຕ້ອງເສຍຄ່າໃຊ້ຈ່າຍໃດໆ. Mien Tagline (Mien) LONGC HNYOUV JANGX LONGX OC: Beiv taux meih qiemx longc mienh tengx faan benx meih nyei waac nor douc waac daaih lorx taux 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Liouh lorx jauv-louc tengx aengx caux nzie gong bun taux ninh mbuo wuaaic fangx mienh, beiv taux longc benx nzangc-pokc bun hluo mbiutc aengx caux aamz mborqv benx domh sou se mbenc nzoih bun longc. Douc waac daaih lorx 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Naaiv deix nzie weih gong-bou jauv-louc se benx wang-henh tengx mv zuqc cuotv nyaanh oc. ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਟੈਗਲਾਈਨ (Punjabi) ਿਧਆਨ ਿਦਓ: ਜੇ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਭਾਸ਼ ਾ ਿਵੱਚ ਮਦਦ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ ਤ� ਕਾਲ ਕਰੋ 1-800-391-2000
Русский слоган (Russian) ВНИМАНИЕ! Если вам нужна помощь на вашем родном языке, звоните по номеру 1-800-391-2000 (линия TTY: 711). Также предоставляются средства и услуги для людей с ограниченными возможностями, например документы крупным шрифтом или шрифтом Брайля. Звоните по номеру 1-800-391-2000 (линия TTY: 711). Такие услуги предоставляются бесплатно. Mensaje en español (Spanish) ATENCIÓN: si necesita ayuda en su idioma, llame al 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). También ofrecemos asistencia y servicios para personas con discapacidades, como documentos en braille y con letras grandes. Llame al 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Estos servicios son gratuitos. Tagalog Tagline (Tagalog) ATENSIYON: Kung kailangan mo ng tulong sa iyong wika, tumawag sa 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Mayroon ding mga tulong at serbisyo para sa mga taong may kapansanan,tulad ng mga dokumento sa braille at malaking print. Tumawag sa 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Libre ang mga serbisyong ito. แท็กไลน์ภาษาไทย (Thai) โปรดทราบ: หากคุณต้องการความช่วยเหลือเป็นภาษาของคุณ กรุณาโทรศัพท์ไปที่หมายเลข 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711) นอกจากนี้ ยังพร้อมให้ความช่วยเหลือและบริการต่าง ๆ สําหรับบุคคลที่มีความพิการ เช่น เอกสารต่าง ๆ ที่เป็นอักษรเบรลล์และเอกสารที่พิมพ์ด้วยตัวอักษรขนาดใหญ่ กรุณาโทรศัพท์ไปที่หมายเลข 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711) ไม่มีค่าใช้จ่ายสําหรับบริการเหล่านี้ Примітка українською (Ukrainian) УВАГА! Якщо вам потрібна допомога вашою рідною мовою, телефонуйте на номер 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Люди з обмеженими можливостями також можуть скористатися допоміжними засобами та послугами, наприклад, отримати документи, надруковані шрифтом Брайля та великим шрифтом. Телефонуйте на номер 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Ці послуги безкоштовні. Khẩu hiệu tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) CHÚ Ý: Nếu quý vị cần trợ giúp bằng ngôn ngữ của mình, vui lòng gọi số 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Chúng tôi cũng hỗ trợ và cung cấp các dịch vụ dành cho người khuyết tật, như tài liệu bằng chữ nổi Braille và chữ khổ lớn (chữ hoa). Vui lòng gọi số 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Các dịch vụ này đều miễn phí. 7/21 LONGC HNYOUV JANGX LONGX OC: Beiv taux meih qiemx longc mienh tengx faan benx meih nyei waac nor douc waac daaih lorx taux 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Liouh lorx jauv-louc tengx aengx caux nzie gong bun taux ninh mbuo wuaaic fangx mienh, beiv taux longc benx nzangc-pokc bun hluo mbiutc aengx caux aamz mborqv benx domh sou se mbenc nzoih bun longc. Douc waac daaih lorx 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). Naaiv deix nzie weih gong-bou jauv-louc se benx wang-henh tengx mv zuqc cuotv nyaanh oc. ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਟੈਗਲਾਈਨ (Punjabi) ਿਧਆਨ ਿਦਓ: ਜੇ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੀ ਭਾਸ਼ ਾ ਿਵੱਚ ਮਦਦ ਦੀ ਲੋੜ ਹੈ ਤ� ਕਾਲ ਕਰੋ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). ਅਪਾਹਜ ਲੋਕ� ਲਈ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਸੇਵਾਵ�, ਿਜਵ� ਿਕ ਬ�ੇਲ ਅਤੇ ਮੋਟੀ ਛਪਾਈ ਿਵੱਚ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜ਼, ਵੀ ਉਪਲਬਧ ਹਨ| ਕਾਲ ਕਰੋ 1-800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). ਇਹ ਸੇਵਾਵ� ਮੁਫਤ ਹਨ|
California Children’s Services California Children’s Services (CCS) is a state program for children with certain diseases or health problems. Children up to 21 years old can get the health care and services they need through this program. CCS connects you with doctors and a trained health care team who know how to care for your child with special health care needs. If your child is approved for CCS, your child will still be a KFHC member while in this program. CCS covers chronic medical conditions such as cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, heart disease, traumatic injuries and other severe health problems. CCS also provides physical and occupational therapy services that are offered at public schools. Case management is offered to assist families with navigating the health care system and coordinating medical care with specialists and children’s hospitals. Transportation assistance is also offered. To learn more, talk to your child’s PCP or call the Kern County CCS Program at 661-868-0504. Sources: California Children’s Services; Kern County Public Health Services Department Kern Regional Center Kern Regional Center (KRC) is a private nonprofit social service agency that provides supports and case management services to individuals with developmental disabilities residing in Kern, Inyo and Mono counties. To receive KRC services, a person must have a developmental disability, such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, cerebral palsy or autism, with substantial handicapping conditions related to their developmental disability. KRC also provides services and supports for infants and toddlers up to age 3 who demonstrate developmental delays and/or have established risk conditions. KRC’s services are based on the individual’s needs and intended to maximize their independence, full potential, and quality of life. KRC services include: y Free diagnosis and assessment of eligibility. y Help with planning and accessing services and resources. y Case management services, early intervention services, respite, supported employment/day program for adults, residential placement and more. To find out more information, call KRC at 661-327-8531 or visit kernrc.org. Source: Kern Regional Center FAMILY HEALTH 5
Q Who is at risk for anxiety disorders? The risk factors for the different types of anxiety disorders can vary. For example, generalized anxiety disorder and phobias are more common in women, but social anxiety affects men and women equally. There are some general risk factors for all types of anxiety disorders, including: y Certain personality traits, such as being shy or withdrawn when you are in new situations or meeting new people. y Traumatic events in early childhood or adulthood. y Family history of anxiety or other mental disorders. y Some physical health conditions, such as thyroid problems or arrhythmia. Flor Del Hoyo Galvan, MPH Health Education Supervisor Source: National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus Q Are mental illnesses more common among men or women? Mental illnesses affect both men and women. But they are often more common among women. Men with mental illnesses are also less likely to have received mental health treatment than women in the past year. Yet men are more likely to die by suicide than women. Catching the signs that you or someone you love may have a mental disorder is the first step toward getting treatment. The sooner that treatment begins, the more effective it can be. If you or someone you know is in a crisis, get help right away. You can call 911 or call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Carlos Bello, MPH, CHES Health and Wellness Supervisor Source: National Institute of Mental Health Q My partner is bipolar. Can he or she have other conditions? People with bipolar disorder may and can have other mental health issues or health problems like: y ADHD. y Anxiety . y Eating issues (over- or under-eating). y Feeling down. y Feeling restless. y Feeling slow. y Misusing alcohol. y Misusing drugs. y Having trouble focusing. y Feeling very grouchy. Having a mental illness can keep people from being able to tell what is real from what they imagine. This can cause a false belief or intense fear to a loved one or the people around them. Talk to your doctor and have an open talk about any new health issues you are going through. Bernardo Ochoa, MPH Member Health Educator FAMILY HEALTH 6 Health Education Corner
Chlamydia: What I need to know Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. You can have chlamydia and show no signs. Rarely do men have health problems from chlamydia. In rare cases, it can lead to infertility. If you are having sex and younger than age 25, get tested! Studies have seen a higher risk of cervical cancer in women whose blood tests and cervical mucus showed past or current chlamydia infection. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Office on Women’s Health; UpToDate HIV: How much do you know about testing? HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It weakens a person’s immune system by killing important cells that fight off disease and infection. HIV is 114% higher than 20 years ago in Kern County. About 1 in 6 people with HIV do not know they have it. An HIV infection may not cause any warning signs at first. This means the only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Knowing your HIV status gives you strong information to stay healthy. If you do test positive, getting care right away can help keep the virus under control for many years. It can also lower your chances of passing the virus on to someone else, even during pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges that any person who is 13 to 64 years old get tested for HIV at least once. To get tested, please talk to your KFHC doctor. Cervical cancer and HPV Almost all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common virus that can be passed from one person to another during sex. Some HPV types can cause changes to a woman’s cervix that can lead to cervical cancer over time. Other types can cause genital or skin warts. Getting a Pap smear test, an HPV test, or a combination helps protect you. Most people should start at age 21. Ask your doctor what’s right for you. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Office on Women’s Health; UpToDate GET TESTED, get a reward! FAMILY HEALTH 7
We post current health care news and tips to help you and your family stay healthy. You can also get important member updates and see what Kern Family Health Care is doing in your community. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/_KFHC Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/KernFamilyHealthCare Watch the Kern Family Health Care channel on YouTube HEALTH FAMILY HEALTH is published as a community service for the members, friends and patrons of Kern Family Health Care, 2900 Buck Owens Blvd., Bakersfield, CA 93308, telephone 800-391-2000. Information in FAMILY HEALTH comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. Editorial Board Chief Executive Officer Emily Duran Chief Medical Officer Martha Tasinga, MD Chief Operating Officer Alan Avery Chief Compliance and Fraud Prevention Officer Deborah Murr, RN Senior Director of Marketing and Member Engagement Louis Iturriria Director of Health Education, Cultural & Linguistic Services Isabel Silva 2023 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Help stop fraud! Help us stop health care fraud. Here are some kinds of fraud: y Someone who uses a KFHC Member ID Card that does not belong to him or her. y Someone who gives the wrong information on forms on purpose. y Someone who visits many doctors and/or pharmacies for the same drug. y Someone who tries to get medicines that a doctor didn’t order. Do you know someone doing these things? If so, call KFHC’s Member Services Department at 661-632-1590 or toll-free at 800-391-2000. Ask for the Compliance Department. MISSED OUR PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS? Scan the QR code to check them out! What do you know about WIC? Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) is a program that helps families here in Kern County. By participating in WIC, pregnant and birthing members may have longer and safer pregnancies and better health. Children who are part of WIC tend to get sick less and have a lower risk of death and over time may do better in school. What does WIC offer? y Helpful nutrition and healthy living tips for you and your family. y Experts who work in nutrition for mothers and their children. y Breastfeeding support for you and your baby. y Aid to buy healthy foods—such as fruits and veggies, whole grains, milk, eggs, bread, cereal, juice, peanut butter, soy milk, tofu, and more! y Help in finding useful programs near you. You may join WIC if you: y Are pregnant, breastfeeding, just had a baby (or recent pregnancy loss) or y Have a child or care for a child under age 5 and y Have low-to-medium income or receive Medi-Cal or CalFresh (SNAP) benefits and y Live in California. Source: California Department of Public Health, Women, Infants, & Children Program
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