In a high-stakes, ever-changing environment like health care, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with multiple stressors. Patients’ health is at stake, and sometimes, we are the only ones who can help put them on the right track. Regardless of how stressful our work is, we must find a way to unplug, decompress, and get back to it the next day. For the good of our patients. For the good of our own mental health. Kim Shuler, LCSW, Chief Executive Officer at the Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network, says that stress is a part of life, but it’s also something we can learn to manage.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. You know the statistics, the risk factors, and the latest treatments. But how do you educate your patients and do what you can to keep them well-informed on stroke prevention? The Arkansas Minority Health Commission (AMHC) has taken initiatives to educate the public and facilitate screenings and referrals to local low-cost providers, making it easier for patients to regulate their numbers and prevent their risk of stroke.

In 2016, the CDC ranked Arkansas first in the U.S. in stroke-related deaths. The most recent rankings (2021) reveal that Arkansas has improved to 21st nationally. Much of this improvement can be attributed to renewed focus among statewide leaders over nearly a decade. The governor began focusing funding efforts on preventing stroke deaths. The Arkansas Department of Health created a division focusing on stroke prevention. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences began partnering with hospitals across the state to identify stroke symptoms via telehealth and recommending new medications to treat stroke, including a recently FDA-approved drug called Tenecteplase.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screenings have become more common in practices and hospitals as a way to identify the needs of patients so that providers can begin addressing their underlying needs and improve their health. Many times, providers screen for anxiety, depression, food insecurity, housing issues, substance abuse, family and community support, and connections. They may not realize, though, that some of these factors are also the causes and results of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). While providers may be asking the right questions, acting on patient responses to these questions is essential to fully address a patient’s needs.

Though efforts have been made to support women before, during, and after pregnancy, the number of OB-GYNs and obstetricians is steadily declining across the state. New research has revealed the most drastic increase in child and adolescent mortality rates in nearly half a century. Recent trends reveal an urgent need to address the underlying causes of these crises and a change in practice to enhance the health outcomes for mothers and their children.

Children across the U.S. don't have a parent at home who can ask them one simple question: "How was school today?" Some kids we interact with daily don't have fresh cooked meals at home or clean clothes to wear the next day. Whether we know it or not, many children, and even some adults, are negatively affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs are traumatic experiences brought about by several factors, some far beyond a child's control. If we can work to build a community where people belong — a culture of safety, connectedness, and support — we can prevent and heal the impact of the negative.