health HSCSN connection · health connection HSCSN HSCSN's Newsletter for Families with Children and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs Summer 2017. Your Back-to-School Health

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HSCSN's Newsletter for Families with Children and Young Adults with Special Health Care Needs Summer 2017

Your Back-to-School Health Checklist

Doctor CheckupStart the school year off right! Take your child to the doctor and dentist for checkups before school starts. Pediatricians say children should see the doctor every year from ages 3 to 21. The new school year is a good time to remember to schedule this visit.

DentistTake your child to the dentist by age 1. Then bring them back every 6 months for a checkup.

Eyes and EarsVision: The doctor should check your child’s vision every year from ages 3 to 6, then again at ages 8, 10, 12 and 15.

Hearing: Check children’s hearing with the doctor when they turn 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10. Then, check hearing again during middle school age, high school, and after they turn 18.

Better CheckupsBe ready for doctor’s visits so you don’t have to go back as much. Bring a list of questions or information you have for the doctor. For example, tell your doctor if a recent medicine change didn’t work. Or, write down if your child has symptoms that worry you. Ask the nurse for a printed copy of your paperwork to take home. Bring it back to your next appointment to see if anything changed.

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side 2 6 Ways Obesity

Hurts Your Health3 Free Summer Fun 4 Back-to-School

Festival Aug. 12U T I L I Z AT I O N M A N AG E M E N T

6 Ways Obesity Hurts Your Health

Obesity doesn’t happen overnight. Your weight

creeps higher and higher over time. It also damages your body.

You might not notice it’s happening until you have a serious health problem. As your body mass index (BMI) goes up, you have a greater risk for:

1. Coronary Heart DiseaseWaxy buildup called plaque in your blood vessels can block blood and oxygen to your heart. You can end up with chest pain or a heart attack.

2. Type 2 DiabetesNormally, your body makes insulin to help turn sugar into energy. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin correctly. High blood sugar causes dangerous health problems. You could die or have a stroke, kidney disease, blindness, or coronary heart disease.

3. High Blood PressureWhen your heart pumps blood through your blood vessels with

more force than normal, you have high blood pressure. It can lead to:• Kidney disease• Eye damage• Heart attack

4. CancerObesity can lead to higher risk of cancer. Your risk is higher for breast cancer and colon cancer.

5. OsteoarthritisCarrying around extra weight puts a lot of pressure on your knees, hips, and lower back. This causes your joints to wear down. It may lead to a painful condition known as osteoarthritis.

6. Sleep ApneaPeople who are obese have a higher risk for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea means you stop breathing for a few seconds or up to a few minutes while you sleep. It makes you feel more tired during the day. Over time, sleep apnea can cause:• Diabetes• High blood pressure• Heart attack• Stroke• Weight gain

Talk with your doctor to find out how you can lose weight and get control over obesity.

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Get Started: Weight-Loss TipsLosing weight can reverse your health risks. Here’s how to start:

Keep a food diary. Write down everything you eat, when you ate it, and how you felt. Look at your diary to find ways to cut calories. You can also see what makes you eat when you’re not hungry.Plan meals. Make your favorite meals with lower-calorie ingredients. Choose reduced-fat dairy products, meats with less fat like ground turkey breast, and low-fat salad dressings and mayonnaise.Watch your portions. The more food you put on your plate, the more you’ll eat.Snack smart. Cut up fruits and veggies to have on hand. Other healthy options: air-popped popcorn, dry-roasted nuts, and nonfat yogurt.Add exercise. Try different activities to find out what you like

Spring 2017and what fits your schedule. Get at least 2 ½ hours of moderately intense exercise every week.

Summer 2017

Why You Shouldn’t Skip Regular Doctor VisitsIt is easy to put off an appointment

with the doctor when you’re not sick. Whatever your excuse is, remember these important reasons for seeing your doctor regularly.

Reason #1: Talk About PreventionGoing to the doctor when you are healthy can help you stay healthy. You might talk about ways to:• Get exercise• Eat well• Lose weight

• Quit smoking• Drink less alcohol

Reason #2: Get Vaccines and ScreeningsRegular doctor visits also help make sure you receive all the vaccines and screenings you need. Your doctor can tell you which tests you need, when to have them, and where you can have them done.

Reason #3: Manage Chronic ConditionsHow often you see your doctor depends on your health. For example, let’s say you have type 2

diabetes. When you feel well, you might need to see your doctor twice a year. You may see your doctor more often if you have a problem or start a new medicine.

Reason #4: Be Ready for New ProblemsYou never know when an unexpected health problem might come up. It’s good to have a doctor you trust oversee your care and guide you in the right direction. That’s the kind of relationship built up through regular doctor visits.

Free Summer FunExplore Rock Creek ParkRock Creek Park is open every day from sunrise to sunset. At the Nature Center, join a free Ranger-led program. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 5200 Glover Road NWMETRO: Friendship Heights, then E-2, E-3 bus to Glover & Military Rd.

Find Some Animal FriendsThe National Zoo is free! More than 1,500 animals call the Zoo home.

Meet the animals at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily in the Kids Farm exhibit.3001 Connecticut Ave., NWMETRO: Cleveland Park

Play in a FountainKids will love splashing in the Yards Park fountain at Capitol Riverfront.355 Water St. SEMETRO: Navy Yard/Ballpark, New Jersey Avenue exit

Health CheckVisits to your child’s doctor can help keep your child healthy. At an EPSDT HealthCheck visit, your child’s doctor will: • Do a physical exam. • Weigh, measure, and check growth.

• Give shots to prevent certain diseases.

• Test for illnesses. • Check sight, hearing, and teeth.

• Answer questions you have about your child’s health.

• Ask questions about your child’s behavior and development.

• Take a family history and medical history.

• Talk with you about what to expect and how to care for your child at home.

If your child’s doctor is not doing all these things during a visit, speak up! Your child’s doctor is there to help your child and you.For children ages 3 to 21, HSCSN will cover two well-child visits a year. Also make sure your child sees the dentist. Choose a primary dentist provider (PDP).

Face-to-Face VisitsAt HSCSN, Care Managers must do at least one yearly face-to-face visit. Visits are best done in the home. If you are the caregiver, your child should be there. The goal is to work on care plans, talk about needs, and give you help. Care Managers may also meet you at doctor’s appointments, IEP/IFSP or Family Team Meetings, and HSCSN events.

www.hscsn-net. org

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Keep Your Benefits Call Today!Is this the month you lose Medicaid eligibility? If you lose eligibility, you will not be able to:

• take your child to the doctor; • get medicine your child needs; • use transportation services.

HSCSN can help so that you do not lose your medical benefits. Call us Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at

202-467-2737.

Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Inc. (HSCSN) 1101 Vermont Avenue NW, 12th FloorWashington, D.C. 20005

Postmaster: Please deliver between August 7 and 12.

Nonprofit Org.U.S. POSTAGE PAIDHEALTH SERVICES

FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, INC.

This program is funded in part by the Government of the District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance.

NATHANIEL BEERS, MD, MPA, FAAPChief Executive Officer and President,

The HSC Health Care System

H. BRADLEY WEAVERExecutive Vice President & Chief Operating

Officer, HSCSN

RAYMOND VICKSVice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer,

The HSC Health Care System

KHALIL BOUHAROUNChief Information Officer, The HSC

Health Care System

LYNNE HOSTETTER PIPERChief Human Resources & Compliance Officer,

The HSC Health Care System

CYNTHIA O’NEILLVice President, Information Technology,

The HSC Health Care System

STEPHANIE TAYLOR, JD, MAVice President Quality/Risk Management, HSCSN

ANNE CONWAY, RN, BSN, MSVice President, Care Management, HSCSN

M. ROBERT BESWICKSenior Director, Claims Operations, HSCSN

DAWN ALEXANDER, LICSW, LCSW-CDirector, Care Management, HSCSN

CECIL DOGGETTEDirector, Department of Family &

Community, HSCSN

HSCSN Health Connection is published by Health Services for Children with Special Needs to provide general information. It is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician. © 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Developed by StayWell.

Printed on Recyclable Paper 548M

STAY TUNED: UPCOMING EVENTS

Back-to-School Fair August 12, 2017

Ferebee Hope Back-to-School Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Ferebee Hope Recreation Center3999 8th Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20032. HSCSN will also participate in the Back-to-School Festival. We hope to see you there!Featuring:• When Asthma Attacks! (An Asthma

Management Zone)• Vaccine and child health screening

information (immunization and EPSDT)• Nutrition Education• Fitness Activities• Community Organizations• Healthy Treats• Fun Surprises!

HSCSN Prenatal Care ServicesIf you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant, please let your Care Manager know as soon as possible. Your Care Manager can help you and your baby get the care you need. Doctors can spot and treat health problems early. Together we can help you give your baby a healthy start in life.

…What you eat for breakfast could help you live longer? Eating whole-grain cereal can be healthier for your heart. Two to six times servings each week can lower your risk of heart failure by 22 percent. When shopping for whole grains, check the list of ingredients. Look for the word “whole”—like whole wheat flour—as the first ingredient on the list.

We Will Come Visit YouHSCSN wants to make sure that members get great home care service. The District of Columbia and HSCSN are looking closely at home health agencies. We will ask you if it is OK for our quality department nurse to visit you in your home. We want to make sure that you are getting the right care that your doctor ordered. These visits will only be done during the time you are getting care at home.