NEWS: NOAH Celebrates Emerging Leader Dora Correal
NOAH is thrilled to share that one of our own dedicated and caring team members, Dora Correal, Director of Community Access, received the Emerging Leader Award from the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy.
This national award honors young, emerging leaders within community and farmworker health centers who have made a career in the health center family and personify the enduring strength of health centers.
Dora joined NOAH in 2015 as an Eligibility Specialist, where she quickly established herself as a subject matter expert in government assistance programs and customer service. She has led the growth of our Community Resource Department as the first Supervisor, Manager, and now Director of that department. It has been through her leadership that a four-member team providing application assistance has grown to a 30-person team helping our patients and organization with crucial functions for our mission.
“Dora inspires and motivates us to keep finding innovative ways to help and serve our patients, NOAH team members, and community,” said Julia Nierad, NOAH CFO. “Leading with compassion and empathy, she is a champion for ensuring our community obtains access to resources in an efficient, dignified, and friendly manner. We are so grateful to have her passion and dedication on our team as we continue to address community need, particularly for those severely impacted by the pandemic.”
Dora inspires and motivates us to keep finding innovative ways to help and serve our patients, NOAH team members, and community.
Compassion, empathy, and strength are how Dora leads her team to deliver for NOAH patients every day. She sees opportunities and finds ways for the Community Resource Department to help bridge gaps for patients, the community, and for NOAH’s own team.
“The Emerging Leaders selected each year represent the future of health centers. The policy and program champions, clinicians, health educators, and clinic administrators recognized each year truly will become the next generation of senior leaders.” – Feygele Jacobs, President, and CEO of the RCHN Community Health Foundation
Emerging leaders like Dora are celebrated for the work they do to help further the mission of healthcare and better health for medically overlooked patients, communities, and special populations.
The future of NOAH and community health centers looks bright with leaders like Dora sharing their talents and passion with organizations serving the medically overlooked populations. Congratulations, Dora!
Learn more about the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy Emerging Leader Award here.
NEWS: Latest COVID Surge Impacting Local Healthcare
The newest wave of COVID cases are impacting people, families, businesses, and organizations throughout our community, including NOAH. Staff across NOAH’s eight health center locations are working hard to ensure patients have access to healthcare and that staff are able to provide the best care possible in a safe and supportive environment.
NOAH health centers will be making changes over the next few weeks as cases continue to rise. We ask our patients and community to help us in the following ways:
- Be patient with the NOAH team as we are working with fewer staff. NOAH team members may be out caring for sick loved ones, monitoring symptoms, and following isolation and quarantine guidelines.
- Switch appointments to virtual appointments if possible. Some appointments must be in-person. However, it is better for everyone if appointments that are able to are switched to virtual
- Limit to just one visitor accompanying a pediatric patient, or patients with varied abilities or mobility issues for in-person appointments.
- Use MyChart to schedule an appointment or COVID test, ask your provider questions, request a prescription refill, and more.
- Understand temporary changes, including reduced hours/availability for appointments, longer hold times when calling for an appointment, longer wait times for return call/email from our team.
We are all working to keep our community healthy and safe, but we are working with fewer staff. Please be patient as we remain flexible to the surges and to supporting our staff during this challenging time.
Some Helpful Links:
- Schedule an Appointment
- Request a COVID Test or Vaccine
- Log into MyChart
- Arizona Department of Health Services COVID Dashboard
To talk to a NOAH team member, call 480-882-4545.
MyChart Now In Spanish
MyChart, the patient portal used by NOAH and many other healthcare organizations in Arizona and around the country is now available in Spanish as well as English.
NOAH patients or their family members for whom Spanish is their primary or preferred language will now have better access to their healthcare. Having information and communications with your provider team in the language you prefer is an important step for patients to live their healthiest life.
MyChart is free and available as an app on your phone or tablet and is accessible via web browser as well.
Benefits of MyChart
Patients can use MyChart from anywhere to:
- Schedule or cancel appointments with your provider.
- Review test and lab results.
- Email your provider with non-urgent medical questions and get a response within two business days.
- Request prescription refills from your provider.
- Review your medications, immunizations, allergies, and health history.
- Access patient education resources through nationally recognized sources.
- Review post-visit instructions.
- Securely pay your bills online for your NOAH account.
Learn more about MyChart, or sign into your MyChart account and get started!
NOAH Awarded Grant to Address Rising HIV in Arizona
NOAH was awarded a grant recently to be part of the solution to the rising cases of HIV in Maricopa County. The program, called Partners in Prevention, is an important way communities across the country are coming together to address the HIV epidemic in the U.S., with the most focus on places like central Arizona.
Maricopa County is recognized as one of the 57 HIV “hot spots” by Health and Human Services. The goal of the program is to work together to reduce new transmissions by 75% by 2025 and by 90 percent by 2030.
The two-year grant NOAH received is from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is part of the first phase to reach the HIV reduction goals nationwide. During those two years, NOAH will launch a specialized team to address the rising cases in Maricopa County by:
- Increasing HIV testing to identify individuals currently living with the virus. People can call NOAH at 480-882-4545 to make an appointment to get tested!
- Reducing HIV spread by prescribing PrEP – a medicine that prevents the virus – for people who are at high risk. Learn more about PrEP here.
- Treating patients. NOAH will connect patients who test positive with high-quality, compassionate, on-going care with partner organizations including Valleywise and Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS.
- Working with organizations including Sonoran Prevention Works to expand prevention efforts and testing in key areas.
Solving this important issue will take collaboration between individuals and groups with years of experience in healthcare, community outreach, HIV treatment, impactful prevention efforts, and more. NOAH is honored to be able to work with leaders in Maricopa.
New and existing patients can request a test with NOAH online or by calling 480-882-4545.
NEWS: COVID Vaccines for Children Age 5 – 11 at NOAH
The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for use in children ages 5 to 11. NOAH has the vaccine available to begin scheduling COVID vaccines for children and is kicking this off with a vaccine event on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at NOAH Palomino Health Center.
The approval came after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was studied in approximately 3,100 children. The study shows the vaccine to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children 5 through 11 and there were no serious side effects found during the study.
While the same vaccine, the dosage children 5 to 11 will receive is 1/3 the dose those 12 and older receive. The second dose of the vaccine will be 21 days after the first dose. NOAH will schedule the second dose appointment when patients schedule the first dose for their child.
More Questions About COVID Vaccines for Children?
NOAH has put together some of the most common questions about COVID vaccines for children.
Schedule An Appointment
Parents or guardians of patients ages 5 to 11 can request a vaccine appointment at NOAH. The first vaccine opportunity is:
- Date: 11/20
- Time: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Location: NOAH Palomino Health Center, 16251 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix 85032
COVID-19 vaccines are free, and no insurance is required. For individuals under 18, parental consent is required. ID is required for parent or guardian and can include any government-issued ID.
If you have questions about COVID-19 or the vaccines, NOAH has answers here, or you can make an appointment to talk to your healthcare provider.
NEWS: NOAH’s Nurse Triage Line Now 7 Days a Week
NOAH launched the Nurse Triage service in August of 2021 to help reach more patients and community members. The Nurse Triage service helps people answer urgent medical or other health questions with an RN on the other end of the line. This service is free and helps patients avoid costly and unnecessary emergency department or urgent care visits with a highly-trained and caring medical professional just a phone call away.
Phoenix’s ABC15 came to NOAH to learn more about Nurse Triage and talk to the team behind it.
Profile in Leadership
Get to Know Kavita Bernstein From NOAH’s Board of Directors
Kavita is NOAH’s new Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and shares her vision for community health through NOAH.
Q: Tell us about yourself and when you joined the Board of Directors.
A: I recently became the Director of Relationships and Solutions at Candelen, an Arizona nonprofit that provides resources and support to parents, caregivers, and educators to help every kid achieve the brightest outlook possible. I joined NOAH’s Board of Directors in 2019.
Q: Why are you interested in supporting community health?
A: In my eyes, health and wellness are basic needs. When our health is impacted, it has the capacity to impact other parts of our life, including our ability to work, our capacity to have relationships with others, and so much more. My passion has always been with those that are in need of healthcare but may not have it readily available to them. Community health is the perfect answer to that.
Q: What motivated you to serve at this level on NOAH’s Board of Directors?
A: The mission of NOAH falls right in line with my vision for community health – to find quality health care that is provided in a compassionate manner. Truly, that is what we all want when we are feeling unwell – to find medical care that is not only high quality but also to find providers that are willing to sit with us, listen, and then act on our behalf to get us to better health.
Q: What do you like about working with your fellow board members?
A: We are all in. We are here to serve the NOAH staff and patients. I regularly hear in Board meetings and from Board members, “How can we help?” and “What do you need from us?” because our board members are not content to just sit and listen. We are ready to serve NOAH. It’s this dedication in the form of action that I truly value in the Board.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish during your term as Vice Chair?
A: To support the growth and development of NOAH, to support the team in meeting the goals of the strategic plan, and to continue to help cultivate our board culture.
Q: What about NOAH motivates you the most in your role on the Board of Directors?
A: Helping the most vulnerable in our community through access to quality healthcare.
The NOAH Board of Directors is a mixed group of volunteers who contribute to the mission of transforming the health of our community. Patients from the communities we serve make up 51% of our board. Learn more about NOAH’s board of directors and how they drive the organization.
NEWS: NOAH Offering COVID Vaccine Booster
Recently the CDC approved a booster shot for the Pfizer COVID vaccine. NOAH will begin offering booster shots for specific groups starting Monday, Oct. 4. To schedule your Pfizer booster, contact NOAH at 480-882-4545 or request an appointment online.
All boosters should be given at least six months after the initial doses.
The CDC recommends booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for people:
- Age 65+ and residents in long-term care settings
- Age 50-64 with underlying medical conditions
- Age 18-49 with underlying medical conditions, depending on their individual benefits and risks
- Age 18-64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and spread because of school, work (including healthcare), or housing situations (including shelters), based on their individual benefits and risks.
Many of the people who are now eligible to receive a booster shot received their initial vaccine early in the vaccination program, between December 2020 and May 2021, and will benefit from this additional protection. Read more about the CDC’s guidelines on boosters here.
The initial two-dose Pfizer mRNA vaccines provides excellent protection against COVID, but the data shows that the effectiveness of the vaccines at preventing mild to moderate infection decreases by around 20% over time. Regardless of whether people get the booster or not, the initial two-doses of Pfizer are still more than 80% effective at preventing COVID-19 hospitalization or death.
Did you get the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
At this time the CDC has not recommended booster shots for either the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The CDC will continue to monitor the safety and effectiveness of all COVID-19 vaccines and evaluate data to make any new recommendations for other vaccines or groups of people to receive boosters.
If you have any questions about the COVID vaccine, are unsure whether or not you qualify for the booster dose, or want help deciding which vaccine is right for you, make an appointment to talk to your NOAH provider.
Profile in Leadership
Meet Yvonne Moss of NOAH’s Board of Directors
Yvonne is the new President of NOAH’s Board of Directors. She shares her passion for NOAH and commitment to community service.
Q: Tell us about yourself and when you joined the Board of Directors.
A: I’m the Assistant General Counsel at Make-A-Wish of America which is headquartered here in Phoenix. I joined the NOAH Board of Directors in December of 2016, so it has been almost five years of serving the organization.
Q: Why are you interested in supporting community health?
A: Supporting community health just makes sense to me. I believe access to quality healthcare should be a universal human right, everyone deserves the dignity of compassionate care. Good healthcare also impacts the overall community. When people are healthy, it positively impacts their family, their jobs, their schoolwork, and more.
Q: What made you decide to serve on NOAH’s Board of Directors?
A: I was working at a Phoenix law firm before joining Make-A-Wish and NOAH worked with the firm. I got to know NOAH and the leadership team and it really motivated me to do more for community health. I trust the NOAH leadership and love being able to support the organization and the patients with my time.
Q: What do you hope to accomplish during your term as President?
A: We have a terrific group of talented, passionate, interesting, and fun people serving on the Board of Directors. Together, the board is working to increase access to whole person care at NOAH. When I joined the board, we used to lovingly say “NOAH is the best kept secret” but I don’t think that’s the case anymore. We aren’t a secret anymore, and the more people get to know NOAH, the more we can impact lives, families, and communities.
Q: What about NOAH motivates you the most in your role as President of the Board of Directors?
A: It is hard to pick just one thing, but if I had to narrow down my passion for NOAH it is truly about the whole person care approach. Including physical health, mental and emotional wellbeing, and access to resources like health insurance into how we work with patients changes lives. Add that to the compassion the whole team brings to their job, and it’s just not like everywhere else. NOAH is different and it shows in how we treat each patient.
The NOAH Board of Directors is a mixed group of volunteers who contribute to the mission of transforming the health of our community. Patients from the communities we serve make up 51% of our board. Learn more about NOAH’s board of directors and how they drive the organization.
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