The magazine annually identifies key business executives in the Kansas City metro area who are under age 40 and demonstrate leadership in the community.

Ingram’s notes: “A key differentiator for recognition each year is the depth of commitment to civic and philanthropic endeavors—the kinds of activities that add strong fibers to the weave of healthy communities.”

The award was welcomed by the Swope Health team.

“We are so excited to see him receive this recognition,” said Robin Sanders, Chief People Officer. “His energy and vision are invigorating to the entire team of associates. We are all proud of  Swope Health’s achievements in battling health injustices in our community under his leadership.”

Here’s how the April 2021 Ingram’s describes Ravin:

Talk about sudden impact: Jeron Ravin, 39, arrived in Kansas City in the summer of 2019 to lead an organization that delivers health-care services to more than 15,000 patients—many of them among the most vulnerable, at-risk and medically underserved populations. That’s a tall ask of anyone in health-care administration, but especially tall over the past year.

“During COVID-19, we responded by testing nearly 20,000 people and provided much-needed masks, groceries, and other critical needs during this economic downturn,” Ravin says. He also directed the set-up of two COVID clinics and numerous testing clinics, retooled the agency’s children’s services unit and expanded it into community-based and school-based programs. And coming up: construction of a $15 million senior-services clinic.

He was named to the Mayor’s Vaccine Task Force in the COVID-19 battle, has a seat on the Kansas City Public School Education Foundation board, is board chair for BLAQUE Kansas City, is a part of the Kansas City Tomorrow initiative and a member of the Missouri Primary Care Association, and he’s a member of the National Association of Community Health Centers’ task force addressing racism. That’s the way it goes for someone who says he centers his life “around the concept of joy through service, using God-given talents to impact people. This requires civic engagement, immersing yourself in this community, listening intently for areas you can lend your experiences and skill sets.”

A Howard University journalism graduate, he also has a law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern, and he is completing an executive master’s degree in health-care administration at Brown University.

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The three awards total $143,464. The awards are:

• National Quality Leaders award, for $72,714. This award goes to the top 1 to 2 percent of health centers that meet or exceed national benchmarks. Swope Health was awarded in the area of Behavioral Health. The winning health centers performed depression screening and follow-up on at least 75.9 percent of patients; performed screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment on at least 5 percent of patients; and increased medication-assisted treatment by at least 10 percent from 2017. Swope Health was one of three centers in Missouri to receive this award.
• Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality, for $10,750. This award recognizes health centers that optimized health information technology (HIT) services for advancing telehealth, patient engagement, interoperability and collection of social determinants of health to increase access to care, and to advance quality of care between 2018 and 2019.
• Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition, for $60,000. Swope Health was designated a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) in 2018. The PCMH program focuses on the coordinated organization and delivery of primary care, emphasizing access to quality and safety in comprehensive care services.

“This is a recognition of our achievements in providing high quality healthcare and a demonstration of our commitment to excellence in all aspects of our service,” said Jeron Ravin, JD, president and chief executive of Swope Health. “This recognition places Swope Health in the top rankings of the nation’s health centers.”

Dr. Kenneth Thomas, Director of Pediatrics, who helped spearhead the quality initiatives at Swope Health, said: “These awards illustrate a true integration between Behavioral Health and Primary Healthcare in caring for our patients. It’s the result of significant efforts from the entire team, from frontline clinical associates to department leadership – a genuine team accomplishment.”

Swope Health will reinvest these award funds into additional quality initiatives.

Swope Health also was recognized recently as part of the University of Missouri School of Medicine’s Asthma program, which won the American Board of Medical Specialties “Outstanding Achievement in Quality Improvement Award.”

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Dr. Haluck is part of the University of Missouri School of Medicine’s Asthma program, which won the American Board of Medical Specialties “Outstanding Achievement in Quality Improvement Award.” The award recognizes a focused program that successfully decreased the rate of uncontrolled asthma in urban areas.

“We are working to lower the rates of asthma and the number of kids with uncontrolled asthma,” she said. “The approach was first to teach primary care providers the asthma care guidelines and then make it a standard part of our practice at Swope Health.”

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that causes wheezing and difficulty breathing. It is a common long-term disease in children, affecting nearly 30,000 kids in the Kansas City area. Asthma can be controlled by limiting environmental triggers and with medications.

The guidelines Dr. Haluck teaches include simple steps to help kids better control their asthma. It starts with a questionnaire, based on standards from the National Institutes of Health, to identify problems. The clinical exam includes a check of lung function and gathering objective data on allergies or triggers for asthma. There’s also a step to verify the right kind of asthma medicine is provided – both long-term and quick-relief medications are available, and not all patients receive the same medications.

“Then, we spend time teaching parents and kids about asthma,” she said. “We coach kids on how to use their inhaler and make sure they understand how important it is to take their medication. We want them to get their asthma under control.”

Having asthma “under control” means no visits to an emergency room or urgent care center, and regular visits to a doctor twice a year. Students also get an “asthma plan” for school, assuring medication at hand at the school.

In the program at Swope Health, Dr. Haluck showed a 31 percent improvement in quality of care of asthma control from 2018 to 2019. More than 75 percent of the 200-plus kids were able to control their asthma.

Dr. Haluck’s efforts are part of the Asthma Care Accelerator in the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (or ECHO) program. Dr. Haluck has presented her program research and outcomes at a national ECHO conference in 2019, and since then has been named co-lead of the 2020 Asthma Care Accelerator ECHO program. Her current efforts, in light of COVID-19, are in asthma telehealth best practices.

Now, Dr. Haluck is engaged in training an even broader community of healthcare providers through the University of Missouri Telehealth Network. In April, Dr. Haluck participated in a national ECHO conference on “Asthma Telehealth and Asthma Day.” The program teaches the same proven guidelines for asthma care, through use of telemedicine.

She noted that some of the steps – like checking lung function – may still require an in-person visit, but much of the standard can still be accomplished in a video visit. “I will ask the child to show me how they use the inhaler,” she said, “and I can coach them if I see them using it improperly.”

Dr. Haluck also keeps an emphasis on the Kansas City community, serving on the executive committee of BreatheUP, a consortium of local stakeholders dedicated to improving asthma control. The consortium’s  goal is to reduce the rate of uncontrolled asthma by 25 percent in the next five years.

In all her efforts, Dr. Haluck’s real focus is on taking care of children with asthma.

“All children coming to Swope Health are getting the same care as if going to a specialty asthma clinic,” she said. “We are helping kids stay out of the emergency room. We are providing preventive care and helping our patients get the prescriptions and care they need. That’s what we stand for.”

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He couldn’t have predicted the journey that followed.

In April, he sought dental care but learned he had high blood pressure that needed treatment first. While receiving care for high blood pressure, his provider did a routine screening for Hepatitis C based on his age. Baby boomers (born between 1945 – 1965) make up about 75 percent of those positive for the virus. Larry learned he also had Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, sometimes leading to serious liver damage and long-term health problems including liver cancer. There are an estimated 2.4 million people living with Hepatitis C, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many people may have Hep C and not know they are infected, as they may not have symptoms.

Enter Rachel Melson, DNP, Nurse Practitioner and Director of Outreach Clinic at Swope Health. When Larry was referred to Dr. Melson, she determined he would benefit from a new Hep C treatment. The only barrier was the cost – roughly $74,000 for a 12-week course of treatment.

Dr. Melson went to bat for him. She petitioned the drug manufacturer and secured the treatment for him at no cost.

“Thank God,” Larry said. “This helps me live a little longer.”

Swope’s Pilot Program for Treatment of Hep C

Larry was part of Swope Health’s Pilot Program for treatment of Hep C. Traditionally, patients required a referral to a specialist outside of Swope Health to receive treatment. For most, this created additional obstacles to their treatment, such as transportation, and the financial requirements of the outside agency. The Hep C Treatment Program was launched in Spring 2019 to provide treatment for hundreds of identified patients, many who have been referred but still had not gone to receive treatment for various reasons.

Dr. Melson led Swope Health efforts to establish an effective primary-care Hep C treatment program. Swope Health is committed to developing specialized services for patients and delivering these services on site – no need for additional transportation or financial considerations. Now patients can be screened, tested and treated for Hep C all on-site at Swope Health. Dr. Melson performs an evaluation including blood test to determine whether a patient requires treatment by a specialist. Unless a patient is too sick for treatment by a primary care provider – for example, if cirrhosis is present or if the patient has had an organ transplant – Dr. Melson will manage their treatment.

Since March, Dr. Melson’s Hep C Clinic at Swope Health has seen more than 100 patients. She leads a team that works closely with patients as a champion to help them get the medication they need and follow their treatment plan.

What Does “Cured” Mean?

“I am already able to say that we’ve cured patients, and we rarely get to use the word ‘cure’ in medicine,” she said. “But this is such an effective treatment that we have actually been able to cure Hepatitis C.”

In this case, “cured” means the patient has no active Hep C virus in the body three months after finishing the medication.

“This service gives us another way to connect with and help take care our patients,” she said. “I love being able to develop that trust and a stronger rapport with patients through education about their health including Hep C. The more we build that relationship, the more we can care for them in the way that they need.”

Larry said he appreciates what Dr. Melson has done for him.

“Rachel is a very good doctor and a very sweet person,” he said. “There are a lot of doctors who could learn a lot from her. Not just her smarts, but her mannerisms, her way of being people to people. She’s very caring.”

Now Larry is completing his last few weeks on the antiviral drug and looking forward to the end-of-treatment blood test.

“I’m feeling pretty good now,” Larry said. “I’d recommend Swope Health to anyone. And I have.”

Do you have questions about Hepatitis C? We encourage you to talk with your provider. Call 816-923-5800 to schedule an appointment at Swope Health.

About Hepatitis C

• About 75 percent of people with Hep C were born between 1945 and 1965, commonly known as the Baby Boomer generation. Most boomers are believed to have become infected in the 1970s and 1980s when rates of Hepatitis C were the highest, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Hep C is rapidly increasing, it’s growth tied to the opioid epidemic. The virus is now found in all ages, with sharp increases especially in younger Americans age 18 to 39. There is no vaccine to prevent Hep C.
• The Hep C virus spreads when infected blood enters the body of an uninfected person. It can spread with shared use of needles, spoons, even razors or nail clippers. The virus stays alive and active on surfaces, making it easier to transmit. And once you have been infected, even if you have cleared the virus, you can be re-infected.
• The current treatment for Hep C is an antiviral drug that is taken as one pill a day for 12 weeks. There are several types of antiviral drugs available, and these drugs cure more than 90 percent of people who use them.
• The drugs, however, come with steep price tags. There is high demand, and the cost to bring drugs to market is expensive – up to $900 million to develop, test and market. Prices may come down as generic versions come to market and if more companies enter the market.
• At the end of treatment, a blood screen determines if the medication has cleared the virus from the body. In most cases, there is a dramatic reduction in the active virus. Patients are tested again after three months to verify that the virus is still inactive – what is called a “sustained virologic response.”

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This award is given to an individual, organization or company who has contributed to economic growth in the area and has shown exemplary service to their community. The IRC, through a release announcing the award stated:

“For 50 years, Swope Health, seeing global health as a field with broad reach and important local implications, has worked to serve the underserved and address health disparities in and around the Kansas City community.”

The IRC is located in Kansas City and its mission is to bring a global perspective to our community through strategic partnerships with businesses, universities, community organizations, and K-12 schools. The Council brings world leaders and dignitaries to the metro region, hosts forums for high-school students to interact with and learn from foreign-policy experts, and creates opportunities for area business leaders to strengthen relationships abroad.

Global Health

The Council’s event this year focused on the theme of Global Health, which it describes as a field with broad reach and important local implications. The council noted: “Significant work remains in our own communities and around the world to combat health disparities and challenges around infant and maternal mortality, chronic and infectious diseases, and the health of immigrant and refugee populations. New, innovative approaches and collaborative efforts in research, health system delivery strategies, and community-based health are essential to equalize access to health for everyone everywhere.”

Past Recipients

Past recipients have included the Consular Corps of Greater Kansas City (2017); Julián Zugazagoitia (2014), director of the Nelson-Atkins Musuem of Art; R. Crosby Kemper III (2013), executive director of the Kansas City Public Library; Sporting Kansas City (2012), Seaboard Corp. (2010), and John P. McMeel (1998), chairman of Andrews McMeel Universal.

In addition to Swope Health’s award, the Council presented the Academic Leadership award to Dr. Sarah Finocchario Kessler, an associate professor with the University of Kansas Medical Center, and the Distinguished Service Award for International Statesmanship to Ambassador Deborah Birx, M.D., who is the coordinator of U.S. Government activities to combat HIV/AIDS and a U.S. Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy.

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Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt heard first-hand from Swope Health providers, peer counselors, social service providers, rehabilitative housing specialists, public defenders and the police department about needs in combatting the opioid abuse issue in the Kansas City area.

The discussion, held at Swope Health Central, was part of the Attorney General’s listening tour to better understand what is working – and what is needed. The attorney general is gathering the information in advance of an expected settlement from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers who are alleged to have misled doctors and patients about the highly addictive nature of their drugs.

Missouri joined other states in lawsuits against Cardinal Health, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, Johnson & Johnson and Teva, as well as other pharmaceutical companies. In October, a settlement framework was announced, which could lead to millions of dollars coming to Missouri in the next few years.

Opiod Related Overdoses

In his comments to the audience of more than 40 participants, the Attorney General noted that there were nearly 1,000 deaths caused by opioid related overdoses in Missouri last year.

“We want to do everything we can to help as many people as we can,” he said.

Dr. Naiomi Jamal

Dr. Naiomi Jamal of Swope Health spoke as a family physician as well as a specialist in preventive medicine and public health. She noted that one in three families are affected by opioid abuse, with vulnerable populations at disproportionately higher risk. Nationally, opioid addiction has killed more people than HIV at its peak in 1995.

“We have to recognize that addiction is a chronically treatable brain disease that requires medical intervention, not moral judgment,” she said.

Dr. Derek Brown

Dr. Derek Brown, psychiatrist at Swope Health, described the Medication-Assisted Treatment program and noted how it can help break the cycle of opioid use, opioid withdrawal. He called for support taking treatment programs out into the community and for caseworkers to help provide the ancillary services – like transportation and housing – so critical to recovering patients. Andrea Buford, Director of Clinical Operations and the Swope Health Imani House, envisioned a world with services to support sober living after opioid treatment, ranging from fully staffed residential housing, to sober community group homes and individual housing with community support groups and services built in.

Greg Smith, Greg Mermelstein and Detectives

The Attorney General also heard from Greg Smith, speaking for Healing House Inc. and the Missouri Recovery Network; Greg Mermelstein from the Missouri State Public Defender System; as well as detectives from the Kansas City Police Department. They spoke of a need for better connections to physical and behavioral health care service, access to medications and therapy, housing support, child care, education, case workers and peer counselors to assist with the journey from addiction to recovery.

Mark Stringer

“Far too many people in Missouri are dying from opioid disorders,” said Mark Stringer, director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health. “Addiction has been considered separately from medical care for decades, but it’s time to bring them together.”

Would you like to comment to the Attorney General? The Attorney General’s office has established a website – Real Opioid Pain – to invite Missourians to share their experiences with opioid addiction and recovery, to assist the state in pursuing litigation against manufacturers.

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Here are some early questions we had for Jeron:

What attracted you to the position?

Without question, it was the chance to work at Swope Health. I have always found FQHCs at the intersection of mission-driven work and the fight for health equity. Swope Health embodies that.

What attracted you to Kansas City?

I’ve never lived in the Midwest. More importantly, it’s an exciting time to be in KC.  The city’s population has grown year over year. New development is sprouting up throughout the city, and KC has a rich history of music, great food, technology, and civil rights – things I have an ardent interest in.

Why do you think you are the right person for this job at this time?

I believe in leadership that is centered in integrity and collaboration. My career has demonstrated that this approach builds effective teams. Swope Health is at an interesting precipice. As the best, we now get to decide what our next level of care looks like. To me, this is continuously pushing the envelope to give our patients the very best–and changing lives in the process. Not only am I passionate about this approach but I have a history of achieving it.

What are you most looking forward to in your new role and as a new resident of Kansas City?

Working with the team here at Swope Health. I’ve been in community health for some time and instantly realized that Swope Health is special. This was clear to me after meeting the Board of Directors and numerous Swope Health associates. As far as KC is concerned, I’m looking forward to sampling the BBQ, art, music, festivals, snow, college basketball and Arrowhead Stadium.

What is your management style or philosophy?

Lead honestly, collaboratively, and unselfishly, with purpose and vision. Surround yourself with smart people and work with them to make a difference.

What are some of your hobbies? What do you like to do in your spare time?

Traveling. It’s a big world. I like to experience as much as possible. Live music and concerts are also something I really enjoy. I also read often and workout.

Swope Health is celebrating 50 years and many have said it is the perfect time for this change. What do you see for Swope Health in the next 50 years?

I see growth, and an opportunity to forge genuine connections with the communities we serve. I truly want Swope Health to become the healthcare provider of choice for all of the Midwest. Keep watching –I have a few things up my sleeve. J

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At Swope Health, associates use trauma-informed care techniques to offer support and coping skills to help people who feel depressed, frightened, angry, helpless, overwhelmed or stressed.

“Trauma-informed care is an awareness that everyone experiences trauma in their lives, in some way or another,” said Laurie Cox, Director of Integrated Recovery Services. “We understand that trauma can take a variety of forms and can cause a variety of responses. We recognize how common trauma is and we know that anyone who’s experienced trauma needs support and understanding.”

We See Trauma

All too frequently, associates at Swope Health see clients facing trauma, involving physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate about one in seven children will experience abuse each year, and the number increases for children in lower socioeconomic status.

Additionally, the CDC notes that one in four women experiences domestic violence, and one in five women experiences rape.

Trauma Reactions

Reactions to trauma can vary widely. Some people may withdraw or feel depressed while others may respond with anger or violence. Recognizing the range of reactions is part of understanding trauma and providing care, Laurie said.

“We are here to help you manage your mental health and learn good strong coping skills,” she said.

Trauma Transformers

With that awareness, Swope Health has formed a team called the “Trauma Transformers” to use the techniques of trauma-informed care with the community and associates.

“We all need self-care,” said Carla Lee, Patient Community and Education Specialist and one of the Trauma Transformers leaders. “If we are not healthy mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually, we will not be able to help others be successful.”

Peaceful Pause

To demonstrate self-care at Swope Health, the Trauma Transformers host periodic events and activities for associates. In May, the team sponsored a “Peaceful Pause” – relaxation stations set up to allow associates to take a break from their work to achieve a moment of peace and mindfulness. The event used color therapy, aromatherapy, play therapy and coloring stations for associates to explore. Associates also were treated to healthy snacks– reminders of the importance of physical health, too.

More than 70 associates took advantage of the peaceful pause, which featured soothing music and soft lighting during the two-hour event.  Some wore colored sunglasses to experience differing energy levels while reading inspirational notes; others experimented with the sensations caused by a variety of aromatic oils.

“We want you to know that we care about you, and we want you to take care of yourself, too,” Carla said.

Every day, someone feels depressed, frightened, angry or helpless. Every day, Swope Health stands ready to offer assessments, treatment, support and coping skills. You can visit or call the Behavioral Health team at (816) 922-1070 for an appointment.

Resources:

• Access-Crisis-Intervention Mental Health Crisis Hotline at 1-888-279-8188
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at
  1-800-273-TALK (8255).
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center

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