Grants provided by MHS as part of Provider Accessibility Initiative
INDIANAPOLIS – (January 28, 2021) – MHS, in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), has awarded 12 healthcare providers across Indiana with grants to make their facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. The awardees applied for grants which are part of the health plan’s Provider Accessibility Initiative (PAI), with the full list of grantees including:
Porter Starke Services DBA Marram Health Center
Eric A Yancy, M.D.
Forniss Optometric P.C.
Walker Medical Group
HealthLinc, Inc.
Open Door Health Services
Edgewater Health
Tulip Tree Health Services of Gibson County
Montgomery Medical Associates LLC
Southern Indiana Community Health Care
Community HealthNet Health Centers
Goshen Family Physicians
The goal of the PAI is to increase the number of practitioner locations that meet minimum federal and state disability access standards. Providers in the MHS network selected to receive grant funds submitted applications to NCIL, explaining their need for more accessible facilities. MHS selected recipients based on the impact of the improvements on its disability access network adequacy, as well as the number of MHS members with disabilities impacted.
In the application process, providers proposed a list of potential improvements for each of their facilities. Upgrades like doorway and restroom modifications, more accessible exam tables and procedure chairs, and braille signage are just some of the improvement additions intended to be made with the additional funds. Some providers submitted multiple applications for several of their facility locations to make improvements.
“We are very excited to receive this funding. We will be able to serve a much larger segment of our community with dignity. I don’t want any patient, particularly kids, to feel like their care is an extra burden to staff or family. Everyone’s experience when going to the doctor should feel comfortable. A wheelchair should be able to enter a room easily. A transport chair should be able to go up a ramp easily. More importantly, a patient, should not even notice their experience is different than any other patient. I am proud to play a part in maintaining the dignity of others,” said Dr. Roland Walker, M.D. of Walker Medical Group.
COVID-19 affects everyone, not just those who have caught the virus. Even if you haven’t been physically infected, you most likely have been affected by it emotionally in one way or another. And the longer the pandemic lasts, the more challenging it can be to find ways to cope with the feelings it has caused.
How you deal with COVID stress depends on your background, your level of social support and many other factors. But by using these five tips, you will be better equipped to deal with the current situation as well as other stressful times in the future.
Acknowledge your emotions.
It’s important to recognize and acknowledge what you’re feeling. It’s natural to feel anxious, afraid, frustrated or lonely. And don’t be surprised if your feelings change over time. One day you may feel full of energy and the next day be unable to focus. Accept how you are feeling and practice good self-care: eating healthy foods, exercising and getting enough sleep.
Feeling helpless? Remind yourself that there are steps you can take to reduce the odds that you will contract the virus, such as following the CDC guidelines: wearing a mask, practicing social distancing, avoiding crowds and washing your hands.
Take a breath and a break.
Take those deep breaths. It may sound like it’s too simple to really have any impact, but deep belly breathing not only gets oxygen into your body but can also slow your heartbeat and help stabilize your blood pressure. This counteracts the negative impact of stress breathing (short, shallow breaths) that can lead to symptoms like chest tightness, heart palpitations or dizziness.
Also, during the day, take periodic breaks and practice relaxation techniques. This will help generate a sense of calmness and relaxation.
Connect with friends and family members.
One of the biggest challenges with the pandemic is that it has increased feelings of isolation. No longer can you meet a friend for dinner to talk over your problems, since doing so would put both of you at risk. However, there are ways you can share how you feel with those you trust. Phone calls or video chats can help replace in-person get-togethers. Even occasional walks (with masks and practicing social distancing) can make you feel less alone. Sometimes when you share your emotions, you find out others feel the same way, too.
Develop a routine.
COVID-19 has undoubtedly disrupted your schedule and way of life, forcing you to try to adjust to a new “normal” that seems to change every day. When everything around you seems out of control, creating a routine can actually give you a sense of power. Make it simple and do-able—for example, eating and exercising at established times or setting small goals to work toward. While your COVID routine may bear no resemblance to the one you had pre-pandemic, the objective is to follow a schedule, which will then give you a feeling of security. An additional benefit is that by having a routine, you will also be taking better care of yourself.
Shut off the info flow.
While you may think it’s a good idea to stay on top of all the latest virus developments, this can actually increase your stress level. Periodically, give yourself a mental break by shutting off the info flow. Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to virus news stories, including those on social media. Instead, seek out pockets of calm: read a good book, go for a walk, listen to music or find activities that engage your mind and body.
And when you are ready to catch up on pandemic news, make sure that you are getting it from a reputable source like the CDC. You’ll have a better understanding of the risks and will be less likely to spread misinformation.
Let Us Help You
While COVID-19 is unlike any health crisis we have faced before, it’s important to remember that it is a temporary situation. Thanks to medical research, vaccines are now available to combat the virus and new treatments have been developed to help those who contract it.
However, if you have trouble coping with your emotions, develop physical ailments that last for several days, or turn to unhealthy coping mechanism such as drinking or drug use, then consider seeking professional help.
Here at Southern Indiana Community Health Care, our offices include a mental health counselor as part of our care team. This allows us to treat the whole individual, physically and mentally. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SICHC has expanded our behavioral health services to include virtual visits, offering the same high-quality care from your trusted provider. We have also added two virtual group sessions: substance use and anxiety.
For more information, contact one of our four offices, and a staff member will help schedule you for the type of appointment that best fits your needs. You can also request appointments through your FollowMyHealth account.
Trust our team to help you through the emotional challenges caused by COVID-19. Reach out to us. We’re here to help you. Remember, we are all in this together.
Pregnancy is a joyous time but pregnancy can be stressful for expectant mothers. This stress is natural. After all, during pregnancy, everything is changing: from the way you look to the way you feel physically and emotionally. And now with COVID-19 complicating nearly every aspect of your life, your stress level is may be even higher if you worry about being pregnant during a pandemic.
What steps can you personally take to lower stress levels and stay healthy during your pregnancy, in spite of COVID?
Eat Healthy
Good nutrition is important for both you and your baby. That means avoiding a lot of sweets and following a well-balanced diet with fruit and vegetables, dairy, good carbs with fiber (like oats and other whole grains) and healthy protein: nuts, chicken, fish and beans. Want help planning a healthy meal? Check out the guidelines at Choose My Plate.
As for the old saying “eating for two,” the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends skipping that in favor of thinking of eating twice as healthy. Try practicing mindfulness in all your activities- including eating. Become aware of your habits, do your research, work with your provider, and let your focus rest on being healthy.
Having twins? You only need about 600 extra calories extra a day to support your growing babies. Make them good calories and you won’t have to worry about overeating (and by the way empty calories tend to leave you hungry). Overeating during pregnancy means more stress on your body and more weight to lose after birth. Good meals and snacks leave you feeling satisfied and content—and healthy.
Exercise Regularly
According to the American Pregnancy Association, just 30 minutes of mild to moderate exercise several days a week can help lower cortisol levels—the hormone that fosters anxiety. Exercise also eases constipation, reduces back pain and promotes healthy weight gain as well as improves your overall fitness, says ACOG. Even just simply taking a walk every day can make a difference, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Get Enough Sleep
Sometimes it can be a challenge to get good quality sleep as your body adjusts to the growing baby. While in the first trimester you may feel drowsier than normal and may even have to take naps, physical changes in the second and third trimester can make it harder to get the shut-eye you need. Between the kicks and the bathroom trips, you may find you’re just as tired when you get up in the morning as when you went to bed the night before.
Tips from the Sleep Foundation include reducing your fluid intake in the evening, avoiding spicy or acidic foods if you’re prone to heartburn, using pillows to support your body in a comfortable position and trying relaxation techniques to help calm your mind. ACOG offers a simple breathing technique to try: Breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and breathe out for 8 seconds. Repeat three times. Still having trouble sleeping? Talk to your doctor if your insomnia persists.
Seek Social Support
Social support during this time is very important, but COVID-19 has conversely made it harder to spend time with friends and family members. Find ways to be with others while staying socially-distant—perhaps taking a “masked” walk together or even having virtual get-togethers, when you can talk about what is happening during your pregnancy. You can also reach out to other expecting and new mothers through online groups.
Monitor Your Stress Levels
In the same way you are watching how much you eat and exercise, you need to watch how much stress you’re exposing yourself to, and as much as possible, limit your contact to it. The March of Dimes recommends taking periodic breaks from watching or listening to the pandemic news stories or limiting your time on social media to help reduce anxiety. Experiencing extreme feelings of sadness, hopelessness or despair? Talk with your doctor or other health care professional so you can get the extra support you may need.
Now that you have some ideas in what you can do to stay healthy for your sake and the wellbeing of your baby, here’s what we at SICHC will be doing to make this wonderful time easier for you.
We do everything we can to create a safe environment for our mothers and babies. We take special care to ensure that all six SICHC locations are frequently sanitized and cleaned according to CDC guidelines, and we limit the number of patients to keep interaction at a minimum.
We’ve also temporarily opened an office on Cherry Street in Paoli for obstetrics and newborn care only, in addition to our pregnancy care services at our Shoals and Salem locations.
And when appropriate, we can schedule a virtual visit to reduce your in-office time. For more information about this option, contact one of our offices, and a staff member will help schedule you for the type of appointment that best fits your needs. You can also request appointments through your FollowMyHealth account.
We encourage you to trust our team to provide not just a safe environment, but also to walk with you through both the physical and the emotional challenges of your pregnancy.
This is a special time for you, your baby, and your family. Our experienced team stands ready to share and support your journey – contact us today.
SHOALS and SALEM, Indiana – Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) new obstetrics services for expectant mothers and families is “being well-received and making good progress in reaching mothers, babies and women,” according to Yolanda Yoder, MD, SICHC medical director. The new services include general obstetrics, pregnancy, well-baby, and well-woman services here and in other areas of southern Indiana, including expanded services in Crawford county.
“Rural areas traditionally present a number of unique challenges that expectant mothers or women who seek OB-related services may face, including limited service” said Dr. Yoder. “We have expanded our strong OB service offerings with our physicians and Melissa Ray, a family nurse practitioner, to meet these important needs in Washington, Martin, and Crawford counties, as well as the patients we serve in Orange and elsewhere in southern Indiana.”
“Pregnancy is a very special time for expectant mothers and families, and I count it a privilege to help support them with OB, well-baby, pediatric, and well-woman services,” Ray said. “Every pregnancy is different, and our entire medical staff recognizes the uniqueness of each patient and goes beyond to ensure great care is delivered.”
Melissa Ray, MSN Family Nurse Practitioner
Ray provides OB services at the Choices Life Resource Center in Salem and at the Martin County Health Department/WIC facility in Shoals, as well as SICHC’s other locations in Orange and Crawford counties when appropriate.
In addition to being a family nurse practitioner, Ray holds a master’s degree in Nursing.
Ray directly cares for expectant mothers through in-person visits (observing COVID-19 precautions) and by telehealth connectivity. At 36 weeks into a pregnancy, Ray’s patients are transferred and then served directly by SICHC physicians, including Dr. Sean Salés, Dr. Karen Farris, and Dr. Yoder. Babies are normally delivered at the IU Hospital in Paoli by SICHC physicians with visiting privileges.
SICHC secured a grant from the Indiana State Department of Health earlier in 2020 to specifically help provide obstetrics services to counties that had been designated as medically underserved for OB.
Ray presently travels between SICHC medical offices in Shoals, Salem and elsewhere to see patients and provide general OB services. “Missy Ray offers our expectant mothers and their babies superb depth and first-hand experience,” said Dr. Yoder. “In addition to being a qualified and experienced nurse practitioner caring for OB patients and families these past four years, she served in the hospital delivery room for 16 years and as a general RN.”
“It’s very exciting to provide these services and help mothers, babies, families and women in general lead healthy lives,” said Ray. “I especially appreciate working with the OB and extended medical team at SICHC, because everyone here puts patients first, treating and supporting them as people, not a set of chronic conditions – there’s a very high commitment to service.”
Ray also appreciates being able to offer general women’s health services, including preventive measures like mammograms and pap smears. “We want to elevate the level of woman and family health, which can be a challenge for woman and families living in rural areas,” she said.
Serving as a nurse practitioner has special moments, including once when Ray helped with a delivery that was being securely streamed by video to a military serviceman serving in Afghanistan. “That was an amazing moment, giving a father serving across the world the chance to see his baby being born in southern Indiana – those are priceless experiences.”
# # #
About the Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) nonprofit organization – Well-known as a high-impact health care provider committed to continuity of care, the nonprofit Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) organization is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive, community-sensitive health care utilizing Christ-centered principles to medically underserved, rural communities. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), SICHC serves as a “safety net” provider for vulnerable populations and focuses on increasing access to primary care services for Medicaid and Medicare patients in rural communities. SICHC offers medical care in medically underserved areas of Crawford, Martin, Orange, and Washington counties. SICHC is a member of the National Health Services Corps and receives program funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SICHC offers services to all persons, regardless of the person’s ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://sichc.org/
With stark images of urban hospitals overrun with patients, the national media coverage of COVID-19 has focused largely on cities. Less discussed and less understood is the impact on rural communities, which have been grossly underprepared for a pandemic. As we contemplate an additional wave of the virus, now is the time to assess how rural communities can achieve greater resilience.
We now know that having an adequate supply of ventilators, testing, and PPE is essential, but this alone won’t be enough. Just as important are the structures we have in place — specifically, community partnerships around health. In hindsight, it is increasingly clear that communities that developed relationships within their health network were able to respond faster and more effectively than communities where organizations operated in isolation.
Given the realities facing rural America — physician shortages, a dearth of health care resources, and a population that’s highly vulnerable to chronic disease — these partnerships were always important, but increasingly so during a pandemic. This virus has served as a wake-up call to strengthen these partnerships and tackle rural health challenges in a more committed and enduring way.
Building more resilient rural communities means maximizing existing resources, staging health interventions that address root causes, and thoughtfully sharing information. Partnerships are at the core of these interventions. We must find ways to incentivize and support community health networks that include health care providers, local and national nonprofits, businesses, and local government officials. Such partnerships, whether they are formal or informal, can help rural America whether the next wave of the virus and address underlying health challenges.
Fundamentally, rural health partnerships enable communities to more effectively address social determinants of health. As America’s experience with the pandemic has made clear, populations that were already experiencing health disparities have fared worse than those that were not. Rural health partnerships can help address social determinants of health that lead to disparities and remove some of the strain from health care providers.
When community health organizations band together to holistically address social determinants of health — as we have seen in Orange County and Daviess County, Ind., through the development of community health improvement plans — we can free up practitioners within the formal health care system to do what they do best. When patients are receiving help gaining access to housing or food from community partners, doctors and nurses are able to concentrate on treating the most serious cases. In rural America, where the proportion of providers to the general population is far below the federal recommended level, this type of coordination is especially needed.
Such coordination also applies to sharing resources like in-demand PPE between community health organizations. As we prepare for a potentially prolonged economic downturn, we need to extend this model to address other social determinants of health. If one community’s food pantry stock is bare, another town may have a surplus. We need to expand rural health partnerships to enable this type of coordination.
The impact of rural health partnerships can also be felt in less obvious ways. One of their most important functions is information sharing. Rural health practitioners often wear many hats and lack the ability to focus deeply on any one area of their practice. Health partnerships can ease this burden by delivering customized solutions. The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement and Southern Indiana Community Health Care recently developed a new app to track the spread of COVID-19 in consultation with local physicians and public health leaders. Moving forward, it will provide surrounding communities with advance warning of an outbreak.
Information sharing can be as simple as sending daily or weekly updates and COVID-19 safety recommendations. Other groups have developed an online directory of financial and physical resources such as food and medication delivery services for individuals and families. Some respond directly to inquiries and manage social media channels dedicated to informing organizations and residents and supporting local needs.
Rural health partnerships yield tremendous value that we cannot afford to ignore. As we expand our work, we need local governments and community-based organizations to help us better shape our approach to fit individual rural communities. But this is just a start. We need continued investment and partnership from government to strengthen rural health networks.
If necessity is the mother of invention, then crisis is the mother of adoption. Rural health partnerships were providing value for rural Americans before COVID-19. Now that the pandemic is here, such partnerships are indispensable and should be greatly expanded.
Dr. Priscilla Barnes, Ph.D. is an associate professor at Indiana University Bloomington School of Public Health and an affiliate faculty member at the IU Center for Rural Engagement.
Dr. Yolanda Yoder, M.D. is a physician of family medicine at Southern Indiana Community Health Care.
NEW OB TEAM – Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) launches new OB services for expectant mothers and families in Crawford, Martin and Washington counties. From left: Dr. Karen Farris, Dr. Yolanda Yoder (SICHC Medical Director), Dr. Sean Sales, and Missy Ray, FNP.
New family practice physician will also join SICHC in August, serving families and OB patients in Orange County as SICHC also opens new facilities in Shoals and Salem.
PAOLI, Indiana – Long-time medical provider Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) formally launched its new obstetrics services in Crawford and Martin counties in early August. The new OB service will now provide a full spectrum of services, including well-woman visits, female health, birth control, pregnancy care (pre-natal and post-partum), well-baby care, tobacco cessation and other OB-related services.
“We are very pleased to introduce these new services locally in what has sometimes been described as a medical desert for critical OB services for pregnant mothers and babies,” said Dr. Yolanda Yoder, MD, SICHC Medical Director. “We are excited that our medical professionals will begin seeing obstetrics and gynecology patients this month in Crawford and Martin counties.” SICHC is also planning to bring OB services to the Salem area in Washington county later in August.
The new OB services will be provided at rural facilities in English, Marengo, and Shoals. The facilities provide convenient access and reduce barriers of transportation in securing quality health care, including being closer to under-served Hoosier mothers and segments of Indiana’s Amish population. The services in Shoals will take place at the Hoosier Uplands Health Department/WIC site, which is partnering with SICHC to provide a broad spectrum of services.
“Rural Indiana faces real challenges in combating infant mortality and securing quality pre-natal, pregnancy, post-partum and well-baby care, and we are grateful to see SICHC stepping up to deliver these important health care services where there is a demonstrated critical need,” said Indiana State Health Commissioner Kris Box, MD, FACOG. “SICHC’s demonstrated commitment to provide health care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay represents a real asset in these medically underserved and economically challenged areas of southern Indiana.”
A traveling Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Missy Ray, MSN, will serve OB patients in the three offices. In addition to holding a master’s degree in nursing with her FNP certification, Ms. Ray has considerable experience in obstetrics. SICHC has also secured the services of Dr. Karen Farris, a family practice physician, who will begin taking appointments in mid-August for OB patients in the SICHC Valley Health Care office in West Baden Indiana (Orange County).
Service to OB patients will be directly coordinated with the selected delivering physician, including secure video, phone, and electronic connectivity with the physician during prenatal visits. Patients will transition to direct physician care at 36 weeks in SICHC’s Paoli or West Baden offices until delivery, which will take place at the IU Health hospital in Paoli, according to Dr. Yoder. Transportation assistance is available for patients in need.
“SICHC has a demonstrated passion for providing medical services to communities and regions in southern Indiana that sometimes face serious challenges in securing access to health care,” said Nancy Radcliff, SICHC CEO. “We are privileged to continue to do what it takes – even seeing patients in our facilities parking lots during this time of COVID-19 – to support the patients, families and rural communities in our southern Indiana region.”
SICHC OB services will be offered at three locations:
Uplands Health Department/WIC – 127 West Water Street, Shoals, IN
Patoka Health Care – 307 S Indiana Ave, English, IN
Crawford County Health Care – 5604 E. White Oak Lane, Marengo, IN
Hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (EDT), with offices closed for lunch between noon and 1 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call 812-723-3944 and specify the location.
Another new SICHC OB service site will be operational this fall in Salem, Indiana in Washington County.
# # #
About the Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) nonprofit organization – Well-known as a high-impact health care provider committed to continuity of care, the nonprofit Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) organization is committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive, community-sensitive health care utilizing Christ-centered principles to medically underserved, rural communities. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), SICHC serves as a “safety net” provider for vulnerable populations and focuses on increasing access to primary care services for Medicaid and Medicare patients in rural communities. SICHC offers medical care in medically underserved areas of Crawford, Martin, Orange, and Washington counties. SICHC is a member of the National Health Services Corps and receives program funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SICHC offers services to all persons, regardless of the person’s ability to pay. For more information, please visit https://sichc.org/
Karen D. Farris, DO
Dr. Karen Farris is a full-spectrum family medicine doctor. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and Indiana Osteopathic Association. She is excited to have the opportunity to provide primary care to patients of all ages. She holds a particular interest in women’s health, pregnancy care, pediatrics, and osteopathic manual manipulation. She also provides inpatient and delivery care at IU Health Paoli.
Dr. Farris earned her Bachelor of Arts at North Park University in Chicago, Ill. with a major in Spanish; she also completed additional extensive studies in business, communication studies, and biology. She spent several years working in Wyoming and then completed further studies with Dominican University’s post-baccalaureate premedical studies program in River Forest, Illinois. She then earned her osteopathic medical degree at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. and completed her Family Medicine Residency with Northern Light in Bangor, Maine. She and her family have moved to Paoli in the fall of 2020 and she is excited to practice with SICHC.
Laci Parcell Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Laci received a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a concentration in Sociology from Indiana University and went on to earn a Master’s of Social Work with a specialization in mental health and addictions from IUPUI. Laci is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She began her career working in Orange County in community mental health. Laci has worked in residential, hospital, and primary care settings. She has experience working with adolescents, adults, and specialized training in working with eating disorders.
In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Sports Medicine
Of all the sports injuries, the brains of our young athletes are exquisitely complex. A concussion leaves the brain vulnerable to devastating second-impact trauma. Our ImPACT certified caregivers can help athletes through their concussions and determine the earliest time to get safely back into play.
Mental Health Care
We are happy to have two Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW) on staff; Teresa Faulkner, LCSW and Brandy Terrell, LCSW. Teresa sees patients at our Paoli and English offices and Brandy provides care at our Valley office.
Sherrie Anderson, LSW is also on staff as our Behavioral Health Coach. Our entire mental health team is also available virtually. In order to better treat the whole individual, both physically and mentally, SICHC uses an integrated care approach so your doctor and therapist can work together to help you feel better. To learn more about our mental health team and their services, visit our Mental Health Page
Dental Referrals
SICHC has an agreement with Orange County Family Dentistry to refer patients for preventative dental care. OCFD accepts Medicaid and most major insurance carriers and provides a discounted rate for SICHC patients who qualify for our CHAP program.
Preventative services include basic screenings, recommendations for intervention, oral hygiene instruction and education, fluoride rinses, and sealants for children.
Insurance Navigation
Insurance is confusing. We get it. Jessica Cooper, SICHC’s own Certified Insurance Navigator is here to help you through the process of insurance enrollment. Jessica will guide you through the enrollment process, answer questions, and explain what happens after you submit your application. Navigator appointments are available over the phone, or in-person at any of our four offices. Navigator services are FREE and open to any individual. You do not have to be a patient of SICHC to use our navigator services. Call any of our four offices to schedule your appointment today!
Curtis Thill
From Bethany Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, Dr. Thill went to Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, where he earned his Medical Doctorate. He then trained further with Allegheny Family Physicians and is board certified in Family Medicine. Maintaining his fellowship with the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Thill is committed to excellence for his patients at our Marengo Office and provides care to residents in long term care facilities in Orange and Crawford Counties. Dr. Thill is also published in medical literature for his research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.
Dr. Thill is married to Dr. Yoder with whom he has had 3 wonderful daughters. He enjoys running and bicycling. Dr. Thill has a keen ability for gardening, and creates recipes using home grown produce and edible landscape fruits.
Dr. Thill is the presiding physician at our English, Marengo, and Valley offices.
Brandy Terrell, LCSW
Brandy received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University Southeast in 1999 and her Master of Social Work Degree from the University of Southern Indiana in 2004. Having the credentials, she has taught Master Level Courses in Human Behavior and the Social Environment Group and Community Based Practice with Children and Families, as well as Special Topics in Social Work Practice with Children and Families at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
Brandy attained her International Gambling Counselor Certification in 2007 and for the past 16 years she has worked within community mental health arena in numerous capacities. She is an alumni of National Health Service Corps. She has worked closely with a number of Orange County community services including Orange County 4-H Club, Orange County Safe Kids Member and SHCC Christmas Family Sponsorship Program.
Brandy sees patients at our Valley Office.
Sean Salés, MD, Family Practitioner
Dr. Salés received his B.A. in History at Wheaton College in 2008, and his Medical Doctorate in Chicago at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Memorial Hospital in South Bend in 2018. Dr. Salés is Board Certified in Family Medicine and offers full service primary care. He is excited to be part of the obstetrics team at Paoli where he sees patients in the clinic, and delivers babies at IU Health Paoli Hospital.
He married Rebekah, the love of his life, during medical school, and is thankful for her support through the training process. Together, they have two rescue dogs and have recently purchased a small farm where they eventually hope to be able to rescue and train horses, raise farm animals, and keep a sizeable garden. His other personal interests include hiking, canoeing, reading, swing dancing, chess, history and genealogy.
Dr. Salés sees patients at the Paoli office.
Valley Health
Our Valley Health practice was started in 2003. The top of French Lick Hill served as an unique setting for SICHC to extend its mission of total family care to the French Lick and West Baden communities. In 2017, Valley Health moved offices to a beautiful historic building right across from the dome in West Baden.
The medical office continues to thrive with Brittany Stout, FNP as a local, enthusiastic nurse practitioner. Rebekah Berry, FNP has recently joined the Valley Health team and is currently taking new patients! Primary care services continue to be offered as the practice extends it’s range of services including: well-child exams, vaccinations, acute care, PFT Testing, sports physicals and much more. Our mental health counselor Teresa Faulkner also sees patients at Valley Health.
FollowMyHealth
Once you are scheduled for a Virtual Visit, please follow the following steps;
Log in to your account 5-10 mins before scheduled time
Next to your scheduled appointment, you will see Check IN/ Join Visit option
Press that option and follow all the steps to check in
A message confirming your approximate start time will appear and your provider will be with you shortly
Family Medicine
We believe primary care is fundamental to our health care system. We believe a relationship with an excellent Family Medicine Provider is vital to your good health. We believe the relationship between you and your Family Medicine Provider should span all ages, multiple generations in a single family and multiple health care settings. We believe in educating and empowering our patients to better care for themselves.
SICHC has been providing quality care to all ages in Orange and Crawford Counties for over 40 years. At each of our four offices, our board certified Family Physicians and Family Nurse Practitioners consider it an honor to care for you and your loved ones.
Nursing Home Care
Sometimes our loved ones require a level of care that cannot be provided at home. This could be short term rehabilitation of just a few weeks, or long term residential care. Your healthcare provider, who knows your history, home situation, and potential for improvement, is ideal to coordinate care in this residential setting.
Our physicians and nurse practitioners care for patients at Medco in French Lick, Paoli Health and Living Community and Todd-Dickey Nursing & Rehabilitation in Leavenworth. This includes routine visits to see patients in those settings and daily phone calls to modify or update their personalized care plan.
Addiction Management
For many people, drug dependence begins with one simple prescription. The odds of long-term opioid use increase most sharply in the first days of therapy, after even a few days of taking a prescription pain killer.
Prescriptions for opioids have nearly quadrupled since 1999 and it is no coincidence that drug overdose deaths have also quadrupled in that same time period. Opioid use can often lead to other substance use as well.
SICHC has providers on staff that are certified by the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine to prevent, identify and treat substance use disorders with a focus on opioid use disorders.
If you or someone you love is trying to break free from drug or alcohol dependence, we can help! Our providers are trained to help you recover and work closely with area recovery groups to find the right fit for your specific needs. All of our offices have information about local AA/NA meetings, just give us a call!
Transportation
Need help making it to an appointment? We can give you a referral for free or low-cost transportation services. Just call your doctor’s office for details.
Obstetrics
At First Breath…
As our patients know, traveling near your delivery date is risky, and closer is better. All of your OB care is available right here in your own home community. Dr. Yolanda Yoder and Dr. Sean Salés both deliver babies at IU Health Paoli Hospital so that your office care flows smoothly with hospital services.
We hear often from those who have delivered elsewhere then come here for the next, that obstetric services in Paoli are “the best kept secret of the county”. The kind, dedicated team of medical professionals and flexibility of birth choices creates a quality, unique birth center-like experience.
And to top it off, you don’t need to find a new doctor for your baby. The same caretaker who already knows your family well is prepared and certified in neonatal care to be ready for your beloved, At First Breath.
Our OB Services Also Include:
Pregnancy Tests
Ultrasounds
Fetal Non-Stress Tests
C-Sections
Neonatal Care
Pay-Plans
Melissa Ray, FNP
Melissa is a 2017 graduate of Simmons College of Boston, MA and is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Melissa had 20 years of nursing experience prior to becoming an FNP. Her work experience includes Special Care Nursery, Labor and Delivery, and Occupational Health.
Originally from Orleans, Melissa now lives with her husband and four children in Mitchell. She enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Melissa see patients at our Paoli and Marengo offices where she offers primary care and OB Workups.
Teresa Faulkner
We are happy to welcome Teresa as our Staff Therapist at SICHC to provide seamless, coordinated care with our medical team.
Teresa received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Indiana University and went on to earn a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Southern Indiana. Teresa is both a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Substance Abuse Professional. She is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy; an integrative psychotherapy that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma and numerous other psychological disorders including addiction, anxiety/panic attacks, depression, phobias and complicated grief. She has spent the past 14 years of her career in community mental health and the last 10 years have been serving the residents of Orange and Crawford County. Teresa serves on the Fatality Review Team, Child Protection Team and Multidisciplinary Team, all of Crawford County. She also serves on the committee for SWICAC (Southwestern Indiana Child Advocacy Center). To learn more about Teresa and the services she provides, visit our Mental Health page.
Teresa and her husband have 3 children: two daughters and a son. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, canning, and spending time with her family
You can see Teresa at our Paoli, Valley, and English offices.
Jennifer Shafer
Jennifer graduated from Indiana University in 2006 with her bachelor’s degree. She then completed a Masters in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2012, from the University of Southern Indiana. Her work experience includes ER, ICU, oncology, and psychiatry units. We have been fortunate to have her services in since 2012. Jennifer is Board Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Jennifer is active in her church and has taught English as a second language for Hispanic populations.
You can see Jennifer at our English office, where she offers in-house PFT and CDL/DOT exams.
Kathryn Poole, Family Nurse Practitioner
After graduating from the University of Southern Indiana with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Kathryn began her nursing career in 2009. She worked primarily in Medical/Surgical nursing which helped her gain a vast array knowledge regarding a wide variety of both chronic and acute health conditions. Wanting to further her education, she pursued a Master of Science in Nursing and graduated in May of 2018 from Ball State University. She is credentialed as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Kathryn was born and raised in Orange County and now resides with her husband and two children in Paoli. She is honored to have the opportunity to serve her hometown community as an NP.
Kathryn sees patients at our Paoli and English offices.
Chronic Disease Management
If you suffer from a chronic disease, such as COPD or diabetes, your health care team will help you to track and manage your condition. We’ll also help you find diet and exercise choices that help you stay fit.
Many of the diagnostic tests you need are available right in our offices. SICHC offers multiple in-house screenings such as: pulmonary function testing, A1c tests, lipid profile testing and more!
Patoka Family Health Care
Since 1997 Patoka Family Health Care has served Crawford County and its surrounding communities. Located in the “new town” of English, Indiana, our mission continues to be to provide primary health services close to the homes of our patients. Our Nurse Practitioners Jennifer Shafer and Kathryn Poole provide well child exams, immunizations, school physicals, women and men’s health care, urgent illness care, office-based surgery, basic lab testing, and coordination of post-hospitalization care.
For those with multiple medical problems, our goal is to provide a medical home where specialist care and referrals can be managed. DOT/CDL physicals and PFT Testing are done in house with Jennifer Shafer. Obstetric care is arranged through providers at our Marengo or Paoli offices. Mental Heath Counselor Teresa Faulkner also sees patients at our English office on Wednesdays.
Comprehensive Health Care
Our Paoli office provides full service Family Medicine and Obstetrics. We are especially pleased to welcome Dr. Sean Salés as a full time Physician specializing in family medicine. Working closely with board-certified physician Dr. Yolanda Yoder, our obstetrics team brings your care full circle. Certified Family Nurse Practitioners Shannon Dooley, Stephanie Frye, Melissa Ray and Kathryn Poole offer primary care for every member of your family.
Our services include women’s health with obstetrics, and fetal non-stress tests in our office. Our pediatric care is comprehensive, including vaccines. We are the sports-clinic for area schools, certified in Concussion-care with in-office ImPACT testing. We seek to serve all age groups, and work closely with area specialists when needed. Other procedures offered in-office include basic fracture care, DOT/CDL physicals, gynecology, PFT Testing and other office-based surgical procedures.
License Clinical Social Worker Teresa Faulkner is integrated into our offices at Paoli, West Baden and English. Teresa offers traditional and trauma-based mental health counseling.
Crawford Family Health Care
Since December 1995, Crawford County Family Health Care has provided primary health care services to Marengo, Indiana and the surrounding communities of Crawford, Orange and Harrison Counties. From this rural setting, Dr. Curtis Thill and Nurse Practitioner Melissa Ray continue to provide health care services. Well child exams, immunizations, school physicals, women and men’s health care, urgent illness care, office-based surgery, OB Workups, and basic lab testing.
We also coordinate home nursing care and post-hospitalization care. For those with multiple medical problems, our goal is to provide a medical home where specialist care and referrals can be managed.
Rebekah Berry, FNP
Rebekah graduated from Indiana University in 2011 with her Bachelor’s degree. She worked as a nurse at a variety of Indianapolis hospitals. Her work experience includes Med/Surg, Hem/Onc, Organ Transplant, and Pediatric units. She then completed a Masters in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner and graduated with honors in 2017. Rebekah is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
She is active in her church and enjoys doing anything outdoors. Fishing, kayaking, softball, volleyball, camping, and racing four wheelers are just a few of the things she does in her free time. She also has a six year-old son that races and is involved in sports.
Rebekah is new to Paoli but grew up in a small, rural community. She feels “at home” here and is excited to have the opportunity to care for patients within Orange County.
Rebekah sees patients at our Valley office.
Nutrition & Lifestyle
Let us help you regain control over your health with solid advice on nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes that make a real difference. We help patients become better focused on what we eat to prevent and reverse disease.
Shannon Dooley
After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1999 from Purdue University, Shannon worked as a register nurse (RN) at University of Louisville and Norton’s Hospital. She then attended Spalding University where she earned her Masters of Science in Nursing. Shannon has been certified in the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners since 2003. Southern Indiana Community Health Care has been delighted to have her services in Paoli since 2004.
Originally from Paoli, Shannon is married to Chip Dooley. They have one son, Aidan. She enjoys spending time with family, camping, traveling, and her pets. She loves working in Family Medicine and treating members of the community where she was born and raised.
Shannon is a member of our Paoli team.
Christi Self
Receiving a bachelor of science in nursing form University of Louisville in 2003, Christi then graduated with honors from Spalding University in 2009 with her Master of Nursing degree. Her internships during the master’s program included: family practice, allergy and asthma, pediatrics, cardiology, and hand care, as well as a medical mission trip to Guatemala. She has extensive experience as a nurse and a nurse supervisor, has served at Southern Indiana Community Health Care in Marengo since 2009, and provides Saturday hours at the English location. She is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the ANCC.
Christi enjoys being a mother and wife. She also likes being active in her church and community outreach.
Christi is part of our team at the Marengo office.
Stephanie Frye
Stephanie first became a registered nurse in 2005. Determined to further her career she completed her BSN from the University of Southern Indiana in 2013 followed by her Master’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2016. Stephanie is accredited by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. During her career as a nurse she spent time working in Surgery, Obstetrics, and Infection Prevention.
Personal lifelong learning, evidence-based practice, and patient education are a few of her passions. She finds it rewarding to provide patient centered care and finding ways to empower the patient to take an active role in their healthcare.
Born and raised in Bedford, she is excited to work in family practice and care for patients across the spectrum. Stephanie is married and has two children and one step-daughter. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, photography, baking, and crafting.
You can see Stephanie at our Paoli office
Yolanda Yoder
Dr. Yoder received her Bachelors of Science in Biology at Eastern Mennonite College in 1982, and she earned her Medical Doctorate at Penn State/Hershey in 1987. In Altoona, Pennsylvania, she specialized in Family Medicine and moved to Paoli in 1990. She has served the community with pediatric care, obstetrics, adult medicine, women’s health, inpatient and nursing-home care. She has also sat as Medical Staff and Executive President, and sees patients at IU Health Paoli’s hospital. Dr. Yoder is Board Certified in Family Medicine.
She and her husband have raised 3 daughters. Her personal interests include reading, and gardening. In her spare time, she hopes to learn to play the dulcimer and to expand her cooking skills, to include knowing how to cook healthier foods in interesting ways.
Dr. Yoder sees patients at our Paoli office.
Brittany Stout
Graduating with her Associate’s Degree in Nursing in 2010, Brittany worked as a medical-surgical RN while furthering her education. She received her Masters of Science in Nursing from Kaplan University in 2016 and is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is an excited new provider ready to care for patient’s of all ages as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Born and raised in Paoli, she is excited to get to serve her community in which she grew up and considers it a great privilege to work for a non-profit community organization. Brittany is married to Danny Ross and has two beautiful children, a boy and a girl. Besides a passion for nursing, Brittany enjoys fishing, reading, and spending time with her family.
Brittany is also our Quality Control Manager and sees patients at our Valley office.
Becky Johnson
Becky Johnson received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from IU Southeast in New Albany, IN in 1999 and worked as a nurse locally for 15 years before returning to pursue an advanced practice degree at Frontier Nursing University. She received her MSN in 2015 and is certified through the American Midwifery Certification Board as a Nurse Midwife. Midwives are specialized nurse practitioners who deliver babies for low risk mothers. As your health care provider Becky can take care of you from early adolescence throughout your life for well women and GYN care, contraception, sexual health, pregnancy, labor, delivery and post-partum. She sees babies up to 1 month old, and treats male partners for STIs. She lives in Paoli with her husband Bill and their 3 children, Erin, Kyle and Lily. She enjoys being creative in the kitchen, knitting, and playing with her children. Becky values the arts and studied theatre at Goshen College in Goshen, IN. While at Goshen she spent 3 months living in the Dominican Republic where she learned to speak Spanish.
Becky is currently seeing patients at our Paoli and English offices.
Translation
Clear communication between you and your doctor is vital. Many of our providers speak a second language and are happy to work with you. If you need a translator or sign language interpreter, we are happy to coordinate translation services through IU Health Paoli Hospital.
Inpatient Care
A familiar face is a welcome sight when you need to be in the hospital. Our physicians are board-certified and highly skilled at coordinating with hospital staff to manage your inpatient care. Once you recover, we look forward to seeing you back in our office to facilitate your recovery and continued good health!
CDL Exams
A CDL, or Commercial Driver’s License is required by state law in order to drive commercial vehicles. A CDL physical consists of a thorough health history and physical exam. SICHC has certified CDL examiners at all four locations.
Pediatrics
Our wee ones are special little treasures. We work them in as a priority when they are sick. We support breast feeding and manage newborn jaundice from the hospital onward. Their Wellness visits include vaccinations if they need them.
When your child outgrows the baby visits, you can bring them to our office for kindergarten roundup, school vaccines and low cost sports physicals.
Even after you turn 18, you can keep coming to see your family physician! We are with you every step of the way.
Comprehensive Health Care, Paoli
Our Paoli office provides full service in Family Medicine and Obstetrics. We are especially pleased to welcome Becky Johnson on staff as the area’s first Certified Nurse Midwife (a Nurse Practitioner specialized in women’s health). We have two board-certified physicians: Dr. Faisal Khatri, and Dr. Yolanda Yoder. We are pleased to have Certified Nurse Practitioners Shannon Dooley and Stephanie Frye offer routine primary care and CDL physicals.
Our services include women’s health with obstetrics, and fetal nonstress tests in our office. Our pediatrics care is comprehensive including vaccines. We are the sports-clinic for the schools, certified in Concussion-care with in-office ImPACT testing. We seek to serve all other age groups as well, and we work closely with area specialists when needed. Other procedures we do in office include basic fracture care, DOT physicals, gynecology, and other office-based surgical procedures.
Dr. Khatri conducts nutrition classes and offers functional medicine, which invites individuals to take steps in recognizing that what they eat greatly impacts their health. Teresa Faulkner LCSW, employed by Southern Hills but integrated into our offices in Paoli and English, offers traditional and trauma-based counseling.
You can reach this office at 812-723-3944
Comprehensive Health Care
420 W. Longest St.
PO Box 270
Paoli IN 47454-8821
Get Directions
Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday and Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Closed daily from 12-1 for lunch
Patoka Family Health Care, English
Since 1997 Patoka Family Health Care has served Crawford County and its surrounding communities. Located in the “new town” of English, Indiana, our mission continues to be to provide primary health services close to the homes of our patients. Dr. Curtis Thill provides well child exams, immunizations, school physicals, women and men’s health care, urgent illness care, office-based surgery, basic lab testing, and coordination of post-hospitalization care.
For those with multiple medical problems, our goal is to provide a medical home where specialist care and referrals can be managed. DOT/CDL physicals are arranged through providers at our Marengo or Paoli offices and Obstetric care through our Paoli office. Nurse Practitioner Christi Self has Saturday office hours for our established patients for follow-up visits on chronic conditions and for acute illnesses. Nursing care is also available on Saturday for blood pressure checks, labs, and allergy shots.
Certified Nurse Midwife Becky Johnson and Mental Heath Counselor Teresa Faulkner also see patients at our English office.
You can reach this office at 812-338-2924
Patoka Family Health Care
307 S Indiana Ave,
English, IN 47118-0066 Get Directions
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM to 1200 PM
Closed 12-1 for lunch
Crawford Family Health Care, Marengo
Since December 1995, Crawford County Family Health Care has provided primary health care services to Marengo, Indiana and the surrounding communities of Crawford, Orange and Harrison Counties. From this rural setting, Dr. Curtis Thill and Nurse Practitioners Jennifer Shafer and Christi Self continue to provide health care services. Well child exams, immunizations, school physicals, women and men’s health care, urgent illness care, office-based surgery, DOT/CDL physicals, and basic lab testing.
Obstetric services are arranged through physicians at our Paoli offices. We also coordinate home nursing care and post-hospitalization care. For those with multiple medical problems, our goal is to provide a medical home where specialist care and referrals can be managed.
You can reach this office at 812-365-3221
Crawford County Health Care
5604 E. White Oak Lane
Marengo, IN 47140-8413 Get Directions
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed daily from 12-1 for lunch
Valley Health, West Baden
Our Valley Health practice was started in 2003 by Dr. Matt Waldron. Together with a dedicated staff, they used a remodeled home on top of French Lick Hill as the unique setting for SICHC to extend its mission of total family care to the French Lick and West Baden communities. In 2017 Valley Health moved offices to a beautiful historic building right across from the dome in West Baden.
The medical office continues to thrive with Brittany Stout, FNP as a local, enthusiastic nurse practitioner. Dr. Curtis Thill currently lends his expertise on a part-time basis, bringing 25 years of rural practice experience to the staff at Valley Health. Obstetrical care is co-managed with the Paoli providers and primary care services continue to be offered as the practice looks to grow it’s range of services in the future.
You can reach this office at 812-936-2425
Valley Health Care
8163 West State Road 56, Suite A
West Baden, IN 47469 Get Directions
Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Tuesday, Friday: 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Closed daily from 12-1 for lunch