Volume 7, Issue 1
Winter 2009

Recovered - Rededicated - Renewed

1 Year After "Ike"

September 19th, 2009 marked a great milestone in St. Vincent's House long history of community service. The Clinic celebrated its 40th year of providing free m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s , heal th care and education to the heart of Galveston's uninsured. As part of the annual commemoration of St. Vincent's Day, a "Service of Celebration and Rededication" was held, "2009 Houston's Heroes" were honored and Alfreda Houston was remembered in a special way. Spearheaded by St. Vincent's Executive Director Michael Jackson, the Galveston City Council and Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas voted unanimously to rename the street that runs in front of St. Vincent's House [previously known as Postoffice Street] "Alfreda Houston Place". The new signage was unveiled on Saturday to great applause. It was a fitting tribute to one of Galveston's Steel Oleanders and the Director Emeritus of St. Vincent's House, the late Alfreda Houston.

David Callendar, President of UTMB presents "Houston Hero's" Award to: Alice Ann O'Donnell, Susan Studebaker, Sharon DeAlmo Hicks, Ed Nettleton and Barbara Thompson. Board Chairman Rev. Bob Flick joins Executive Director Michael Jackson in congratulating honoree Susan Studebaker.

The celebration continued by honoring those individuals who have dedicated their time and talents over the last 40 years to help Galveston's underserved with medical care as "2009 Houston's Heroes". Those honored were: Sharon DeAlmo Hicks; Ed Nettleton; Alice Ann O 'Donnell; Susan Studebaker and Barbara Thompson, all long time supporters of St. Vincent's House Clinic. Past recipients of the "Houston Heroes" Award include: 2007: Leanna Dennings, Gloria Ellisor; 2006: Offie D. Ross; 2005: Sally Abston; and in 2004 our first recipient the late James "JB" Bolden.

Board Chairman Rev. Bob Flick joins Executive Director Michael Jackson in congratulating honoree Susan Studebaker.

As part of the celebration, St. V i n c e n t ' s House hosted a wonderful wellness fair. The WelFair offered free blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol screenings from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The grip strength contest proved to be the highlight of the fair. Healthy living, nutrition and smoking cessation information were also shared with participants. It was a joyous occasion filled with healthy snacks, face painting and a fire truck tour by the Galveston Fire Department.

Board Member Leon Phillips reads 40th Proclamation from Rick Perry, Governor of Texas.

SV CLINIC FEATURES 21ST CENTURY TECHNOLOGY

November 1st was a banner day for St. Vincent's House clinic as the new Electronic Medical Records [EMR] system got "booted up". The new system will be able to easily access and accurately keep patient records and patient history along with medication histories and other important data. "This system will offer speed, patient record security and more accurate data collection", said David Darrow, the second year UTMB medical student who spearheaded the project. The greatest foreseeable benefit of the new system for the clinic and the staff will be freeing up the time that is usually spent retrieving patient records; now the medical students can be tending to patients rather than tending to paperwork. The EMR offers St. Vincent's House the additional benefit of providing patient record continuity, a constant challenge despite yearly UTMB staff changes. In short, as "your Resident or Intern" graduates to the next level - the next Doctor who helps you will have full access to your records at his fingertips.

Lillian Sanchez, Nurse Practioner enjoying our new EMR system.

"We are so excited about his new development, "said A.J. Halvorsen, RN, "We are looking forward to seeing our patients faster and helping them with "up to minute" information."

Patricia Cardona, is always on duty for the many daily emergencies.

This exciting development could not come at a better time. After Hurricane Ike, St. Vincent's House has been extremely busy with clients from all over the island. Unfortunately, this natural disaster and its displacements, the active flu season, were combined with a national economic crisis. The result was to add more of Galveston's population to the ranks of the unemployed, under and underinsured as layoffs and closed local businesses added insult to injury. Moreover, now that UTMB has not reopened its psychiatric services, St. Vincent's House is providing medical services and medication referrals for all of those needing assistance.

David Darrow programmed our new systems

Our clinic staff members include: Ms. Lillian Sanchez, MSN, FNP, RN, Family Nurse Practitioner and Patricia Cardona, Medical Assistant. Moreover we have a wonderful and supportive part-time staff. Director A.J. Halvorsen, RN, Dr. Michael C . B o y a r s and Kathryn Fiandt, DNS, FNP, RN , have all worked especially hard on this project by obtaining the hardware and much of the clinic specific funding for this venture.

AJ Halvorsen gets a flu shot.

Our entire staff, as well as UTMB Interns, Residents and Medical Students have worked long hours in order to accommodate the needs of clients who fill our waiting room. The new EMR system will help to make all of those hours more productive by creating more "face time" for patients that need our care and attention.

We're on the Move at St. Vincent's Preschool!

The preschool at St. Vincent's House is greeting 2010 with a set of exciting new programs! "Beyond the Centers', is a readiness program by Kaplan which prepares the students for a successful entrance into elementary school. "We have started a reinforcement program where the student has a take-home folder with a book and activities that they must do daily." said Preschool Director Patricia Johnson. Our Preschool students are more than "kindergarten- ready" by the time they graduate. Along with basic skills, St. Vincent's students are exposed to science, Spanish language as well as art, all within an environmentally responsible curriculum. St. Vincent's Preschool is becoming one of Galveston's premier learning centers.

Director Patricia Johnson believes that parental involvement in the educational process is crucial. That is why part of the new "Beyond the Centers" program has such a strong emphasis on parental involvement. This new program is stressing a "back to basics" approach; children and parents are "tasked" with reading. Our hope is to make parents aware that quality time should include reading rather than allowing their children spend hours and hours in front of the television. "Now that we are starting to put Hurricane Ike behind us, we are working on the reestablishment of our parenting classes, and monthly meetings in order to fully support our families", said Director Johnson. The response to the program has been great. "Parents are realizing just how important it is to read DAILY with their children" continued Johnson.

The Galveston community has been very supportive of the reading program. Community volunteers like Dr. Sandra Sullivan, Fire Marshall Gilbert Robinson, Constable Terry Petteway and others come each Wednesday morning to the read books from the Rosenberg Library to the children. Our preschool is actively involved in Rosenberg Library's Summer Reading Program.

Despite the past year's disrupt ions, the Preschool staff remains steadfast in their commitment to provide the students with the latest learning techniques and skills. The result of all of this effort is truly paying off as 2 - 5 year olds are moving toward kindergarten knowing their numbers, alphabets and even words in English and Spanish. "My goal is to successfully teach all of our students age two and up, to read and spell at least 10 or more words by May", said Director Johnson.

It's that kind of goal setting and positive attitude which works to ensure our Preschool students start their educational careers with a firm foundation. At St. Vincent's, we believe that a firm foundation is the key to continued success in school, which leads to healthy, productive and "hopeful" lives.

STANFORD'S LEGACY LIVES IN "MATT'S MIC AND MORE"

Community renewal has always been a powerful component of the St. Vincent's House vision. We are dedicated to creating and continuing programs that can and will lead to real "Community Renaissance". With its debut at the Fall 2009 Artwalk, "Matt's Mic, Poetry and More" is one of those programs. Matt's Mic and More invites the community to share the soulful sounds, beats and personal expression of art, words and more to heal and uplift. The program is named after the late Matthew Stanford II, beloved Galveston writer/director/producer, actor, educator, and community activist. As St. Vincent's House Educational Outreach Specialist, Mr. Stanford initiated many intergenerational outreach programs utilizing artistic endeavors. "Matt's Mic Poetry and More" seeks to continue his legacy to offer the community a venue for art and self-expression.

Bobby J. Wilson

The program consists of St. Vincent's House staff, skilled volunteers and paid amateur and professional artist and entertainers. Bobby J. Wilson, acting Art and Education liaison, will be coordinating our current programming. This newly formed program was well attended and is staying part of the "Galveston flow".

Matt's Mic and More is feature devery third Friday of the month and in in select Galveston "Artwalks".

Hope Notes

One year later, we remember the unforgettable, and what should not be forgotten. Much has happened to help Galveston recover; much is still left to be done. We have much to be thankful for, especially at St. Vincent's House. We have been blessed with being able to restore our physical campus and become an even better social services provider than before, even offering new services. As most have done in rebuilding after Ike, we also have built to be better prepared for the next storm. Ike taught us many lesson, hopefully we have learned some of them.

Tree Planting Spring 09

Hope Notes is the usually the section of our newsletter where I give seasonal greetings of Hope & Best Wishes for the coming Holiday Season and New Year from all of us here at St. Vincent's House. Although there have been many blessings this year, it also has been one of tremendous loss for Galveston and for St. Vincent's House. In April, we lost Matt Stanford who was a creative voice and spirit for our community, and in September, we lost Brenda Burnside, longtime cook for the preschool and volunteer at St. Vincent's events. We were blessed by their Mission. Both will be and are missed!

Hope Tree Fall 09

Holidays bring memories of times past, of those we love and hope of the things to come. As you make your preparations for the holiday season, remember the reason for the season. Remember the gift we have been given, remember to love, to show it and share it. May you have a most blessed Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or whatever special occasion you celebrate this holiday season, always knowing we can't do anything without each other.