May Mental Health Awareness Month
With Mental Health Awareness month coming to an end , it’s important to reflect on ourselves.
Sometimes, we may need some extra help with our mental health. And that’s okay! Normalizing taking care of our bodies and minds is something that GHC-SCW encourages and embraces.
At GHC-SCW, we have many behavioral health services available to help you take the first, second, third or even fourth step to taking care of your mental health and well-being. Although May is coming to an end, every day is a good day to start taking care of yourself.
GHC-SCW Behavioral Health Department
You can learn more about GHC-SCW’s behavioral health programs here. Different options are available to help with your behavioral health needs, including class options, resources, programs, crisis hotline information and more.
Primary Care Behavioral Health
Our Primary Care Providers (PCPs) and Behavioral Health Consultants work together on your care team to support your overall physical and emotional health..
Working with Primary Care Behavioral Health means making the right plan for you. Once you’ve identified your needs, the Behavioral Health Consultant and your PCP will work with you to help you get those needs met and accomplish your goals.
GHC Foundations – Intensive Outpatient Program
GHC-SCW also has a program called GHC Foundations Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). This new program benefits patients who are either stepping down from higher levels of care or could use more intensive services than outpatient therapy and medication management.
The GHC Foundations Intensive Outpatient Program features group therapy, psychotherapy, wellness and more elements. Patients will have the opportunity to practice skills while exploring symptoms and experiences in a safe environment. You can learn more here.
GHC Care OnDemand Teletherapy
As a GHC-SCW member, you also have 24/7/365 access to behavioral health services through GHC Care OnDemand*, which makes therapists accessible via virtual therapy appointments, also known as teletherapy. Therapists specializing in addiction, stress, depression, child and adolescent issues and much more are available through GHC Care OnDemand. Visits are free* for most members.
Learn more about GHC Care OnDemand and Teletherapy here.
*Members with BadgerCare, Medicare or HSAs have restrictions or limitations. Members with HSA-eligible plans must reach their deductible before visits are free.
May is Women’s Health Month! At GHC-SCW, we have a wide variety of providers passionate about women’s health and ensuring the best care for our patients, both young and old. In honor of Women’s Health Month, we will be highlighting two GHC-SCW providers that are currently accepting new OB patients and what makes them passionate about women’s health.
We sat down with Dr. Stefen McVoy, M.D., to find out more about his practice and what makes him passionate about women’s health.
Hometown: Robinson, Texas
Undergrad: University of Texas at Austin
Medical school: University of Texas Medical Branch
Residency: Waukesha Family Medicine Residency – I completed the maternity care track
What’s your ultimate goal working in OB?
My ultimate goal is to really connect with individuals and families. I take great pride in being an advocate for my patients and essentially holding their hand through their reproductive/pregnancy adventures and beyond with the hopes that they feel empowered and supported throughout these nerve-racking and exciting (or as I like to say, “nerviciting”) times in their lives.
What influenced you to want to work in OB?
I’m a bit ashamed to admit this, but in all honesty, I went into medical school with a very closed mind in that I thought there was absolutely no chance I would be interested in pursuing a career with an obstetrical focus. I initially had every intention of becoming a pediatrician with hopes of primarily caring for LGBTQ youth. My mindset completely changed during my third year of medical school when I was rotating through the labor and delivery unit. I was very fortunate in being allowed to assist with a patient’s birth experience. Bearing witness to the birth process and assisting that patient was so unexpectedly joyous and exhilarating. The experience of helping that family grow and seeing their instant bond was such a special, tear-jerking moment that was quite literally life changing for them and myself. The experience was most certainly the pinnacle moment of my medical school years, which ultimately lead me down the path of pursuing a career in family medicine where I’ve been able to combine a passion for obstetrics, pediatrics and LGBTQ health. It’s been 10+ years since that encounter and I continue to feel the same degree of excitement and emotion with each and every family that has afforded me the honor of caring for them.
Do you have a favorite part of your practice in OB?
Outside of the thrill and joy that comes with providing care and serving as a cheerleader during the labor and delivery process, making connections with the expecting mothers and family in general is really what makes the practice of family medicine with obstetrics the highlight of my profession. I especially cherish when families choose me as the doctor for their newborn as well – being able to foster those professional relationships and witness both child and parents grow and develop over the years is such a treasured experience that is quite unique to this particular practice of medicine. The bonus part comes when I get to help members of the LGBTQ community in their family-growing journeys, especially given my firsthand insight into some of the adversities with which these individuals and families are often faced.
If your patients could know one fun fact about you, what would you tell them?
I’m a total nerd – I was drum major in my high school marching band, love anything and everything Marvel, and it’s not unusual for my husband and I to spout out random movie quotes at one another on a daily basis. Additionally, my spouse and I are hoping to adopt a baby in the near future, but in the meantime, we are already proud parents to our fur babies – two rambunctious border collies and two sassy kitties.
May is National Blood Pressure Awareness Month. Ensuring a healthy blood pressure is essential to overall health, and a high, uncontrolled blood pressure puts you at a higher risk for stroke, heart disease, heart attack, and kidney failure.
We spoke with GHC-SCW clinical pharmacists to better understand the importance of managing your blood pressure!
What is the importance of checking your blood pressure?
Checking your blood pressure is the only way to know if you have high blood pressure or hypertension. Usually, people do not feel any different when their blood pressure is high.
Can I check my blood pressure at home?
Checking blood pressure at home is a great idea! The American Heart Association recommends choosing a blood pressure monitor that inflates automatically and has an upper arm cuff. Here is a list of blood pressure monitors that have been validated, meaning they are clinically accurate. It is essential to closely follow the instructions included with your blood pressure monitor.
GHC pharmacies carry validated blood pressure monitors for sale, and GHC clinical pharmacists have blood pressure monitors to loan to patients.
What is a healthy blood pressure level?
Healthy blood pressure is systolic (upper number) less than 120 and diastolic (lower number) less than 80.
What can I do to improve my blood pressure?
- If you are overweight, losing weight can decrease your blood pressure.
- Regular physical activity like walking, jogging, and swimming. Anything that gets your heart rate up! The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of exercise per week.
- DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet:
- Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and low-fat dairy.
- Minimize fatty meats, full-fat dairy, oils that are solid at room temperature, high-sugar foods and drinks
- Limit sodium (salt) in diet.
- Don’t add salt to your food (use herbs and spices instead!)
- Decrease processed foods (full of sodium)
- Read food labels and ask for nutritional information at restaurants to see how much sodium is in foods before you purchase.
- Limit alcohol to 2 drinks per day for men or one drink per day for women. Drinking more than these amounts can increase blood pressure.
- Quit smoking. If you would like assistance, GHC can help with counseling or medication.
- Limit caffeine to 200mg per day, about two eight-ounce cups of coffee.
What is the risk of high blood pressure?
If high blood pressure goes untreated, it can cause damage to your organs and blood vessels over time. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, vision loss, sexual dysfunction, angina, and peripheral artery disease.
If you have any questions about your blood pressure or any questions about managing your blood pressure, reach out to GHC-SCW clinical pharmacists,
May is Women’s Health Month! At GHC-SCW, we have a wide variety of providers passionate about women’s health and ensuring the best care for our patients, both young and old. In honor of Women’s Health Month, we will be highlighting two GHC-SCW providers that are currently accepting new OB patients and what makes them passionate about women’s health.
First, we sat down with Dr. Katherine Porter, D.O, to find out more about her practice and what makes her passionate about women’s health.
Hometown: Madison, WI
Education & Training (Undergraduate, Med School, Residency Locations):
Undergraduate – University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Medical School – Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency – University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine
What’s your ultimate goal in working in OB/Women’s Health?
To provide high-quality low-risk obstetrics to patients within our GHC home. As a Family Medicine Doctor, I enjoy taking care of the whole family. Being able to provide help to pregnant people and then immediately care for their newborns is a really fun circle of life to witness.
What influenced you to want to work in OB/Women’s Health?
I am a woman, so I am naturally curious about women’s bodies and health. Taking care of the female reproductive lifespan is an extraordinarily important issue for our community and our planet. Making that care accessible and approachable by all is near and dear to my heart.
Do you have a favorite part of your OB/Women’s Health practice?
I enjoy all parts of OB and women’s health, from the early years of menarche and discussing reproductive health through post-menopause. The female body is so complex and interesting. Everyone is different, and this poses a great challenge, which constantly keeps me intrigued and striving to learn more.
Is there something you wish more patients knew about reproductive health?
There are always options and choices. I encourage patients to have the confidence to ask questions.
If your patients could know one fun fact about you, what would you tell them?
I am a mother of two squirrely little boys who keep me on my toes. In becoming a mother, I experienced being an OB patient in our local healthcare system. I think my firsthand experience gives me experiential knowledge about how to care for my patients.