Resources

Hypertension Screening, Attitude & Approach

Prior to training, all HAPPY volunteers must watch this training video on how to read blood pressure.

All volunteers must also watch this Attitude & Approach training video prior to volunteering. Additionally, HAPPY volunteers can learn more about the community members they are serving by reading this short paper on barriers to care.

Educational Material

Please find the attached posters and educational pamphlets for volunteers to use at community hypertension screenings. Additional materials are available from the HAPPY executive board.

Referrals for Follow-up

Without follow-up care, the impact of hypertension screenings is limited. At HAPPY, all volunteers should make every best effort to connect community members with primary care, which is our ultimate goal of service.

Note: While all the information on our old referral sheet regarding Cornell Scott Hill Health Center (CSHHC) remains technically accurate, unfortunately the center now has far fewer resources to devote to the uninsured. This means that for people with insurance, we should continue to direct them to CSHHC, but the following information will be helpful for referring those without insurance:

Contact a homeless case manager to help them get insured (the homeless can be insured, and many are!). Ronald Dunhill, RN (“Ron”) gave HAPPY his phone number and information for just this purpose. His number is 203-824-8784. Our online referral sheet also lists Doris Cherry (203) 503-3164 and Judith Rothstein (203) 503-3166.

For free medication and other health services (not limited to hypertension), refer them to the Community Health Care Van, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with clinicians available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It can be found at:
- Congress & West from 8:00-11:00 a.m.
- Chapel & Day from 11:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (except on Thursdays)
- Ferry & Chatham from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Community Health Van is for ages 16+. It is staffed by Yale clinicians and nurses who have been doing this for many years.

Referrals to Hill Health Center

Remember that CSHHC is NOT a free clinic. As a federally qualified community health center, it instead has a sliding-fee scale, which means you pay only what you can afford
CSHHC accepts all insurance including Medicare, Medicaid (Title 19), SAGA, HUSKY, Charter Oak and most commercial insurance plans
- If the community member is uninsured and a low-income patient, he/she may qualify for reduced fees based on the income; this is called a sliding fee scale
- The community member may apply for one of five discount levels, based on annual income and family size
Most importantly, CSHHC has grants dedicated for homeless community members
- CSHHC staff will support homeless community members by providing free outpatient healthcare services while they are homeless and up to one year after they have found permanent housing; The services are provided regardless of income and length of homelessness
- please emphasize to all community members that CSHHC will not turn any patients away

Encourage patients to use Hill Health Center as a means of establishing routine primary health care instead of simply coming in when necessary and then leaving

- Remind them that once they are in the system, they will have access to many resources, such as specialty care and counseling (for diet, diabetes, etc.) through the Health Promotion program.
If someone you screen is a suspect for hypertension, ask them these questions:
- Do you have a healthcare provider?
- Do you have anywhere that you can go?
- Do you smoke? Are you actively using alcohol?
If someone is already in the health care system (with insurance), you may help them schedule appointments at CSHHC for primary care at (203) 503-3000 (Only for community members already under the care of CSHHC
If someone does not have any health care provider and is uninsured, you should help them to get back into primary care. The Walk-in clinic at CSHHC (main location: 428 Columbus Avenue) is the ideal starting place for such community members to get back into the health care system
- The Convenient Care walk-in clinic provides urgent, non-emergency medical care for anyone in the community. Services are available without an appointment and patients are seen as quickly as possible
Lastly, do not limit our referral efforts only within hypertension. If someone’s blood pressure is within the normal range, regardless of whether they are insured or not, you may still direct them to seek care if they have complaints of other (chronic) illness

President’s Volunteer Service Award

HAPPY volunteers can log their volunteer hours through the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Please click here for instructions.

United For Sight Global Health Resources

Unite For Sight® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit global health delivery organization that empowers communities worldwide to improve eye health and eliminate preventable blindness. Founded at Yale, Unite For Sight applies best practices in global health and social entrepreneurship to achieve the goal of high quality eye care for all. In addition to being a leader in providing cost-effective care to the world’s poorest people, Unite For Sight’s Global Impact Corps and Global Health University develop and nurture the next generation of global health leaders.

All co-presidents and board members of HAPPY are highly suggested to attend a Unite For Sight Global Health Idea Incubator Workshop conducted by Jennifer Staple-Clark, Founder and CEO of Unite For Sight. The workshop will focus on effective healthcare delivery and the importance of best practices in global health, successful strategies of social innovation and social entrepreneurship, and mentoring and guidance on how to establish new initiatives and organizations. The workshop will be a small, intimate roundtable forum.

All executive members of the HAPPY board are required to complete the following readings in order to ensure high quality and best practice of the HAPPY program, and crucially, to prevent good intentions from turning into harmful practices.

Additional resources may be found from Unite For Sight on Facebook and blog.

Lastly, the video below depicts real examples of students practicing beyond their abilities and engaging unauthorized, and extremely harmful, practice of medicine in developing countries. All HAPPY members should strive to become vocal advocates against such harmful practices domestically and abroad.