NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER
Recognizing National Physician Assistant Week - October 6-12 2024
Physician Assistant week, or PA week, is a celebration of those who assist doctors in their work. This important event, begun by the American Academy of Physician Associates, aims to raise awareness of the PA profession and their impact to the community. The first PAs began training in 1967 at Duke University in North Carolina. The program began to assist Vietnam veterans who had served as medics. It allowed them to transition into civilian life by gaining credentials to use their training and extraordinary experience.
Working interdependently with physicians, PAs provide diagnostic and therapeutic patient care in a variety of medical specialties and settings. They take patient histories and perform physical examinations, order laboratory and diagnostic studies, prescribe medications, and develop patient treatment plans. Their job descriptions include clinical practice, patient education, team leadership, medical education, health administration, and research.
Precision would like to appreciate our own Physician Assistant: Vanna-Marie Sheppard MS, PA-C, Clinical Healthcare Director. Clinically and administratively, she is highly involved in developing and implementing health and safety protocols, clinical training in Documentation Improvement, Medical/Hospital Coding, and tailored health education and promotion of Good Clinical Practices (GCP). Her dedication to ensuring regulatory compliance in clinical settings is essential to Precision's reputation for maintaining exceptionally high standards of care.
Many of us may have already met a PA on our last clinic or hospital visit. We may also know someone personally who is a PA. May we take a moment to appreciate the work that they do and say “thank you” the next time we see them. Who knows, they may have already saved our lives before and we never even knew they did!
Vanna-Marie Sheppard
MS, PA-C, Clinical Healthcare Director.
As Physician Associates, we are not just providers; we are advocates, educators, and innovators. Our strength lies in our compassion, our resilience, and our unwavering commitment to making a difference—one patient at a time. It’s truly an honor to work with such talented clinicians and professionals at Precision, and to contribute to initiatives that have a meaningful, global impact on the health and well-being of people everywhere.
Honoring Vanessa Best on National Boss Day October 16, 2024
Boss: 1640s, American English, from Dutch baas "a master". The Dutch form baas is attested in English from 1620s as the standard title of a Dutch ship's captain. It is not difficult to ponder the reason it was adapted to the English language, considering the Navy of the Dutch Republic was one of the most powerful naval forces in the world. These “Baas” made an impact not only to their own crews but the world, in general. Fast forward to today, whether we have a boss or are our own boss, they continue to affect our own personal lives, our personal world.
Our boss can make or break our job experience. A great boss does not just lead – they invest in our growth, support our goals, and create a positive environment that allows us to thrive. This day offers each one of us an opportunity to say “thank you” for their hard work and leadership.
Here at Precision, we would like to honor: Vanessa Best, an award-winning CEO of Precision Healthcare Consultants, who was recognized this year as JP Morgan Chase Woman of Impact through Women’s President Organization (WPO), and in 2023 as one of the top 50 Women in Business in Long Island, NY, and named one of the Most Influential Top Black Women in Business in New York. Vanessa has built a global team dedicated to protecting the health and safety, particularly for marginalized individuals.
Note how some of Precision employees feel about Vanessa:
I'm incredibly fortunate to have a CEO like Vanessa, who leads with integrity, kindness, and a clear vision. Whether through small gestures or big decisions, she consistently makes a meaningful impact. - TL
Ever since coming to Precision, work doesn’t even feel like work, I just get to do something great with my friends. She has truly become like family to me and my wife. - TL
Vanessa is not the typical boss—she’s compassionate, thoughtful, and patient, always making me feel valued and appreciated. Even with her busy schedule, she takes time to check in on my work challenges and offer support, and we often connect on a personal level as well. - SD
I am proud to say that my boss can find balance between excellent work ethic and warmth. This combination inspires, encourages, and moves individuals like me to develop the exact same values. - MM
You will never see a more dynamic, spiritually attuned, and exceptionally brilliant leader whose compassion and thoughtfulness truly set her apart and it is an honor to work for her every day! She has certainly changed my life in many ways since joining the Precision team and continues to be a vessel for positive change, both inside and outside the boardroom. #BestBossEver— it truly doesn’t get any better! - LH
Just as a camera is limited in capturing the fullness of a truly breathtaking sight, these beautiful expressions are not enough to describe Vanessa’s influence and accomplishments.
Receiving appreciation from our boss goes a long way but appreciating leadership is just as important. It allows us all to continue to improve our working environment and even more so, develop a grateful spirit.
An autumn garden has a sadness when the sun is not shining…– Francis Brett Young
As many people look forward to the change of season: the foliage, and chilly mornings, millions around the world share the sentiment of the quote mentioned above. The shorter days and reduced sunlight during this time of year can contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a type of depression among many other types that is related to changes in seasons.
In a 2018 study, researchers conducted a survey to assess the public’s knowledge of depression and the severity of stigma surrounding it. Note the key findings: 30% reported believing a “weak personality causes depression; 58.9% reported believing that pharmaceutical interventions or medications are not an effective treatment; and over 70% reported understanding the importance of rest and that a person may appear happier than they are when living with depression. A Brief Survey of Public Knowledge and Stigma Towards Depression - PMC (nih.gov)
Depression Awareness Month helps to increase the general population’s knowledge and understanding of it and some other mental health conditions. During the month, different organizations host live and online events, use social media tags, and promote awareness. This year, October 5 is National Depression Screening Day, and its purpose is to encourage people to seek out screening and treatment. October 10 is World Mental Health Day, and the official theme is: “It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace”. This theme underscores the critical importance of mental health in professional settings.
What can we do to observe Depression Awareness Month? Reach out to loved ones, friends or others living with depression and help with daily tasks, start conversations, and express support, spend time, and have fun with them. Share your story if you live with depression, living with people with depression, or survivors of victims of suicide to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Get educated by learning more about depression to help others remove the stigma surrounding the condition, its causes and effects, and treatments.
The following websites offer more information on depression and how to seek help:
Note What The PRECISION Expert Has To Say
Interview of
Michael Fagan, MPA, LCSW-R
As a mental health social worker, what are some early signs of depression that you encourage people to watch for, and why is it important to recognize them early?
- Low mood or increased irritability
- Feeling empty or numb
- Loss of energy or motivation
- Loss of interest in regular or recreational activities
- Feelings of guilt, restlessness, hopelessness, worthlessness or fear
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Changes in appetite or eating behavior
- Poor concentration
- Suicidal thoughts
With Mental Health Screening Month highlighting the importance of screening, what advice would you give to individuals who may be hesitant to seek help or undergo a screening for depression?
Primary Care practitioners now routinely screen all patients for depression, when they come in for any type of medical care or just a wellness visit. The screenings have been implemented in these settings both to remove the stigma around mental health conditions and to increase the number of people screened. So, if you are concerned that you might be experiencing symptoms consistent with depression, you can simply make an appointment with your medical provider, and they (or a member of their staff) are likely to ask you some mental health questions as part of the intake process. The screening questions may be verbal, or via a form such as this one: https://www.apa.org/depression-guideline/patient-health-questionnaire.pdf Patients who score high on the screening are then offered additional time with staff, and asked additional questions to ensure that depression is the likely cause, as opposed to another condition that has similar symptoms. The Beck Depression Inventory is an example of a more in-depth screening and can help determine the severity: https://www.talkspace.com/mental-health/conditions/articles/beck-depression-inventory/. If the situation warrants, the patient may then be encouraged to seek mental health treatment such as life style changes, counseling or medications. While the screening tools are interesting, they should not be used to self-diagnose or used by persons untrained in asking follow-up or clarifying questions. For example, periods of sadness do not indicate depression unless they significantly impact the quality of ones life over time. And, symptoms of depression can be vague and open to interpretation. For instance, what could be classified as depressed to one person, could be typical functioning for someone else. As a result, only trained professionals can reliably identify the symptoms of depression.
In your experience, how can mental health screenings positively impact long-term mental health outcomes, and how can we reduce the stigma around seeking help for depression?
Depression screening is important because psychological well-being affects every area of a person’s their life. And, the sooner a condition of any kind is addressed, the less impact it is likely to have on one’s life. The bulleted “early signs of depression” listed above can be addressed before they become more severe.In addition, having depression increases the risk of developing physical illnesses: https://www.webmd.com/depression/how-depression-affects-your-bodyThe routine depression screenings are a great first step toward reducing stigma, and steps are being made by all medical professionals to their increase knowledge of mental health conditions. For example, depression medications are now routinely prescribed by Nurse Practitioners and Primary Care Physicians; one no longer needs to see a Psychiatrist. Likewise, receiving treatment from a mental health professional (psychologist, licensed mental health counselor or licensed clinical social worker) can be helpful, but individuals may decide that the “treatment” they need to fight their depression (ie reduce the severity of their symptoms) is by adapting habits like these: https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/how-to-fight-depression#today-vs-tomorrow.So, I see everyone as has having the responsibility to listen non-judgmentally to persons who state that walking their dog, hiking, doing yoga, etc. “is what works for me to treat my depression in addition to therapy and/or medications”.And, that same courtesy should be extended to those who state “this how I treat my depression INSTEAD of therapy and/or medications”. Our role is to assure them that we would think no less of them if they increased their use of medication and therapy, and to help them obtain it if they want it, or clearly need it.