NorthLakes Community Clinic-Turtle Lake now offers Chiropractic Services.  Dr. Jordan Oien relocated from NorthLakes Clinic in Park Falls to serve our patients in Turtle Lake. 

“I am beyond excited to make the transition to the Turtle Lake area with my family and to serve the community with exceptional chiropractic care,” said Dr. Oien.  “I want folks to know that as a patient of mine, you can expect to be treated like family. My patients will receive a thorough examination and explanation of their condition as well as personalized treatment plans and care options that meet their needs.”

Dr. Oien received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Bemidji State University then his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University.  With a desire to care for patients of all ages and walks of life, he received additional training in infant and maternal health, pediatric care, geriatric care, and sports injuries.  As a former athlete, Dr. Jordan discovered the benefits of chiropractic care after being injured.  It sparked a passion to learn more about the science behind chiropractic care and lead him to pursue this career.

As part of NorthLakes Community Clinic, Dr. Oien will be able to see a broad scope of patients.  In addition to accepting most commercial insurances, NorthLakes accepts Forward Health/BadgerCare and provides a sliding fee scale for those who qualify.  This is particularly helpful for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Dr. Oien has immediate openings available. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, call our Turtle Lake Clinic at (715) 986-2599.

Ashland, WI—The Green Bay Packers Foundation awarded NorthLakes Community Clinic with a generous donation of $7,000 to fund its Recovery Program. Funds will support activities including sobriety events and fun recreational activities that many Recovery patients have yet to discover.

“These opportunities serve as an introduction to a healthy, substance-free way of life for people in recovery,” said Recovery Program Coordinator Britni Bolduc, Certified Addiction Recovery Nurse. “This project also allows patients to build relationships within the community. Recent activities have featured hikes on national park trails, art and music events, paddle boarding lessons and Madeline Island excursions.”

Dr. Mark Lim, MD, FASAM directs the program and oversees each patient’s care. “The Green Bay Packers Foundation award will have the opportunities to enhance and open new life experiences that could assist patients with their recovery. In the words of Fougeret de Monbron: ‘The universe is sort of a book, whose first page one has read when one has seen only ones own.’ With the award, we can turn other pages of the book that could facilitate the process of healing,” Lim said.

About the award, NorthLakes Community Clinic CEO Reba Rice said, “These dollars will go far in helping to improve the long-term outcomes of people in recovery as they make new connections in our communities. We are so thankful and honored that we were chosen for this grant and we’re excited about the opportunities this support provides for our patients.”

The Recovery Program at Northlakes Community Clinic provides integrated, whole-person care including medical services and behavioral health counseling. Community Health Workers and Employment Specialists offer local resource information and help to build skills that bridge patients to their chosen goals for health, housing, education, parenting and child care, volunteering and applying for jobs. Peer Support Specialist and Recovery Coach services increase patient engagement over the long-term recovery journey.

In 2018, 502 patients made contact with NorthLakes’ Recovery Program and 432 participated, 18 of whom were pregnant. Seventy percent cited improved quality of life because of the program. The majority of patients came from Ashland, Bayfield and Sawyer counties.

Actively removing barriers to care is the heart and soul of NorthLakes Community Clinic’s mission. Thanks to support from the Green Bay Packers Foundation, more rural Wisconsin residents can access addiction treatment and recovery services closer to home.

Ashland, Wisconsin – NorthLakes Community Clinic – Ashland is excited to announce the addition of Jackie Rupnik, LPC, SAS. Jackie is a Behavioral Health Therapist who will be seeing patients of all ages at the Ashland Downtown Clinic as well as seeing kids in the Ashland Elementary and Middle School.

“When I left my interview at NorthLakes, I was reminded of a quote by Maya Angelou: ‘People will forget what you said, People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel’. I believe this resonates with how we engage people in therapeutic services, and that all individuals do the best they can with the tools they have”, is what Jackie shared when asked about joining NorthLakes.

Jackie completed her general studies from the University of Alaska-Mat-Su, her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alaska Anchorage and her Masters in Community Counseling from National Louis University in Wheeling Illinois.

Jackie brings an array of experience to this position including working in various schools, assisting county government, coordinating alternative treatment options with the judicial system, and individual, group, and family therapy. This was accomplished in such organizations as Walworth County, Wisconsin, the Rock River Academy and the Maryville Academy both in Illinois. She has presented at the Wisconsin Psychological Association Annual Conference, the Wisconsin Municipal Court Judges Annual Conference, as well as at various county and school board events.

She has been active in her community with Career fairs, Relay for Life, Out of the Darkness, National Night Out, Adopt a Family, and Walworth Drug and Alcohol Coalition. She enjoys quilting, reading and spending time with her family and her dogs. Jackie is currently taking new patients. To schedule an appointment please call the Ashland clinic at (715) 685-2200.  

Hurley and Park Falls – NorthLakes Community Clinic – Hurley and Park Falls are excited to welcome Dr. Bucky Phelps, DC to their clinics. Dr. Phelps will be offering chiropractic care at both of these NorthLakes locations to patients of all ages.

When asked about joining NorthLakes, Dr. Phelps was excited, “I’m eager to be practicing in a clinic that is part of the integrated care that NorthLakes does so well. To be doing it with a group of people that are passionate about it just makes it even better”.

Dr. Phelps attended North Dakota State University and earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Northwestern College of Chiropractic. He attended the New York Chiropractic College to become a Chiropractic Neurologist in Seneca Falls, New York.

He has been in private practice, operating Phelps Chiropractic in Ely, Minnesota since 1989. He is licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin and has served on many boards and organizations, both professional and service oriented including the International Academy of Clinical Neurology, American Chiropractic Neurology Board, Rotary and the Knights of Columbus.

In his time outside of the clinic Dr. Phelps, his wife and two daughters are very busy raising a lab puppy. As a family they like to do anything and everything in the outdoors, be it hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, or hunting. If it’s outside, they are in!

Dr. Phelps is currently taking new patients. To schedule an appointment in Hurley call: (715)329-1280 and in Park Falls call: (715)762-2950.

NorthLakes Community Clinic – White Lake is proud to announce the addition of Behavioral Health Counseling. Dr. Shelly Gallenberg, PsyD, LPC. recently joined NorthLakes and will be providing behavioral health counseling to patients of all ages at our White Lake Clinic as well as in the White Lake School. Adding this service follows NorthLakes’ mission of responding to the healthcare needs of our communities with an integrated array of quality services.

When she was asked about joining NorthLakes, Dr. Gallenberg shared: “I believe in the power of therapy and its ability to transform lives and I look forward to providing that care in the White Lake Community. I like my practice to be client centered and solution focused. I learned first hand how powerful therapy can be in changing a person’s life and I wanted to be part of empowering people’s lives.”

Dr. Gallenberg earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point with an emphasis on Human Services. She went on to complete her Master of Arts degree from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University/Schaumburg majoring in Clinical Psychology where she also received her Doctorate of Psychology Degree.

Dr. Gallenberg is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Clinical Psychologist. She did her Post-doctoral Psychology Residency at North Central Health Care in Wausau. She has worked in a variety of settings including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, correctional settings and out-patient clinics. Dr. Gallenberg uses a cognitive behavioral approach and has experience working with a variety of individuals and concerns: mood disorders, anxiety, behavioral concerns, grief, trauma, substance use disorders and more.

Prior to joining NorthLakes Dr. Gallenberg continued her work at North Central Health Care in Antigo, Wisconsin where she provided individuals, couples, and family therapy in an outpatient setting.

In her spare time Dr. Gallenberg enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband and four children.

Our White Lake Clinic at 524 Bissel Street also offers medical and women’s health services. To schedule an appointment please call the clinic at (715) 882-2353. The clinic is open Monday 7:30am – 5pm, Tuesday 8am – 12pm, Wednesday 7:30am – 6pm and Friday 7:30am – 5pm.

 

It is generally accepted that small, locally-owned businesses serve as economic engines on which communities can succeed and thrive. This Small Business Saturday, November 30, I hope you will join me in urging lawmakers to invest in one of our own community’s economic engines – NorthLakes Community Clinic. As the Chief Financial Officer of NorthLakes Community Clinic, I am proud of the personalized approach we take to quality, affordable health care. We are a community institution – welcoming and providing care to all of our neighbors. We make sure our grandparents can afford their prescriptions; we provide Dad with cancer screenings; we provide Mom with the best prenatal care; and, we nurture their newborn’s development at every check-up.

At NorthLakes Community Clinic we proudly care for thousands of community members throughout northern Wisconsin. We provide our patients with not only medical care but also dental care, behavioral health, recovery, chiropractic, optometry, pediatric therapies, and community health workers to ensure patients can navigate the complicated landscape of health care.  We provide outreach in our schools, serving over 200 districts throughout northern Wisconsin in our Seal-A-Smile and School Based Behavioral Health program. Our staff consistently goes above and beyond the medical chart to ensure that families have access to essential resources, and simply provide a warm and comforting space. Additionally, we employ over 300 individuals, stimulating our local economy.

Today, community health centers across the country are facing uncertainty in our future. Congress has yet to pass long-term funding. Health centers are forced to operate on short-term funding patches. Small-businesses cannot survive without stability in funding. We can only continue to provide quality health care for people in our community if Congress acts – and acts now.

This Small Business Saturday consider supporting businesses like mine in other ways. Call or email your member of Congress and remind them how integral health centers are in our community.

This Small Business Saturday remember:  Community health centers – local business, keeping us healthy.

Sincerely,

Brian Ahlgren, CFO
NorthLakes Community Clinic

This #GivingTuesday we encourage you to consider a donation to NorthLakes. The easiest way to donate is via our secure weblink here: 

White Lake, Wisconsin – Patients of NorthLakes Community Clinic will now have access to limited medications via a physician dispensary.  This dispensary gives NorthLakes’ providers in White Lake access to common medications for patients. Previously, patients had to drive to Antigo or Lakewood to get their prescriptions filled.

“Physician Dispensaries are common in remote communities because it provides patients access to the most frequently prescribed medications without having to travel long distances to get prescriptions filled,” says NorthLakes Community Clinic Pharmacy Director Christine Dryer. “Patients will have access to some of the most common medications that are needed right away, such as antibiotics, topical creams and ointments, and eye drops.”

The dispensary is only available to patients of NorthLakes Community Clinic and the prescription must come from a NorthLakes’ provider.  This is one of several investments NorthLakes Community Clinic has recently made in White Lake. In addition, the clinic now offers expanded clinic hours and has added another provider, Nurse Practitioner Samantha DeBroux.  In December, the clinic will expand again by offering Behavioral Health services for individuals of all ages in the White Lake area.  Additional information about this program and the therapist leading the effort will be made available later on this month.

 

Ready or not, the holidays are here! If you are like me, every year you make some kind of resolution to slow down! Enjoy the season! Don’t get stressed! It sounds good, and I can picture it so clearly, and yet, every season results are mixed, at best.

This year, may I suggest an approach to more fully enjoying the holidays that may be a little different? That may help you enjoy the rest of the year more fully as well? That doesn’t cost a dime? Let’s talk mindfulness. Stay with me! I am not suggesting you carve time out of the holiday season to add yoga, meditation or any other wonderful yet time-consuming practice to your life. I would like to suggest two very portable, simple things to try if you, like me, would like less stress and more real satisfaction from the big days ahead.

List your priorities:

First, let’s start with what it’s all about, anyway. Try this quick exercise. Imagine you have All the money you need, and then some. I mean, piles of dough! Take a minute and imagine the Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or New Year celebration that you would create. What would you do for your family and loved ones? For your community? For the world? For yourself? Picture the things that would bring you the greatest joy and deepest satisfaction. What does the picture you paint in your mind tell you about what matters to you? Love of family? Kindness to our neighbors? The serious need to relax? There are no right or wrong answers here, just YOUR answers. Now jot down maybe three words, tops, that sum up your priorities.

Now imagine you are pretty much dead broke. You have very little cash left over from the demands of daily life to spare for the holidays. Look at the values you jotted down. Get creative. How would you live them out without the tons of money we were just imagining? What might that look like? Take a little time to imagine creatively expressing these important priorities without spending much money at all. Imagine having a deeply meaningful holiday that you remember with a smile for years to come.

I would suggest you keep those few words somewhere you can easily see them, especially at the points where you are most likely to get most stressed this holiday season (Shopping? Card writing? Decorating?)  Consider making it your phone wallpaper, even! When you start to feel overwhelmed by the details, use that little list to ground you in what really matters to you.

Take Better Breaths:

Second, serious stress management pro tip here:  I know we hear all the time “breath!” but, seriously, it’s a thing. I could write an entire article about the connection between the brain, breath and a well-balanced nervous system but for now, just trust me. As often as you can think of it, take two to three better breaths. What do I mean by better breaths? Just this – draw in a comfortably deep inhale, maybe for a count of four, then exhale a little longer, say a count of six. Pause, and repeat. The numbers don’t matter as much as just extending your exhale a little. Try it and see. Notice your shoulders drop a little, and all those little muscles in your face you weren’t even noticing soften. Especially let the muscles around your eyes get a little softer, as if you were gazing at a cute little puppy. Awww! Take these two or three breaths as often as you can remember to – maybe every time your phone pings you with some terribly urgent update.

If you make these two things a habit–keeping in mind whatever it is that really, truly matters to you and taking a couple better breaths on and off throughout the day–I really believe you will find this holiday season feels a little more like the holidays you dream of having. If so, hold onto these habits as the year goes forward, because they really are a gift to yourself that will keep on giving.

Mindfully yours!

Dr. Allison Allen
Psychologist
Chief Behavioral Health Officer

Sue Maki loves taking care of others.  In the 80s she moved to Iron River to care for her aging parents.  She also serves as a volunteer driver and always looks for ways to help friends and neighbors. 

But in the midst of helping others, Sue put her own health on the back burner. During a routine medical check-up at NorthLakes Community Clinic in Iron River she was told she needed to do a better job managing her hypertension, also known as high blood pressure.   

“Doing any sort of self-care has always been a struggle for me,” explains Maki.  “I wasn’t aware that my blood pressure was an issue and it was during this time that I realized I needed to start paying attention to my own health.”

Treating hypertension is not always easy. To do so, Sue needed help getting her blood pressure under control. In addition to lifestyle changes, blood pressure management can include starting or changing medications and using a blood pressure cuff for ongoing monitoring.  It also can mean multiple appointments which would impact Sue’s volunteer commitments.  

As she learned about the work she’d need to do to get healthy, Sue found a solution at NorthLakes Community Clinic.  The At-home Blood Pressure Monitoring program uses technology to help participants manage their hypertension at home.

Participants in the program receive a free at-home blood pressure cuff that can connect to Wi-Fi.  For those without Wi-Fi, participants receive a jetpack, or portable hot spot.  Participants take their blood pressure twice daily at about the same time. Readings are automatically sent to a registered nurse at NorthLakes Community Clinic. 

“We know that coming into the clinic for blood pressure checks can result in unnaturally high readings if you are anxious or stressed,” says Gayle Gonsior, RN.  “By monitoring home blood pressure readings over a week or two, we can identify patterns which help us verify that a patient does have hypertension and then modify medications or make alterations as needed.”

Readings are shared with the patient’s provider and other members of their health care team and a treatment plan is made or modified.  From there, the registered nurse contacts the participant with the plan.  This process can occur several times over the course of several weeks until a participant’s blood pressure readings are stable and within normal range.  This back and forth communication provides a unique opportunity that is a win-win for participants and their medical team.

“It helps the patient and it allows us to build a strong relationship with them,” Gonsior says.  “I find myself having other conversations with participants who are taking a proactive approach to their health and calling me with other health questions.  I can also use this opportunity to remind participants about other health checkups, such as mammograms, that might be coming due. It is just one more opportunity to build a better partnership with our patients.”

For Sue, the At-home Blood Pressure Monitoring program was exactly what she needed to get back on track.  And, it was just one more example of why she appreciates having access to NorthLakes Community Clinic.

“I’ve had the opportunity to use a multitude of services at NorthLakes.  I have never received such personalized care.  My providers take time to talk to me and I’ve never felt rushed.  It feels good to have a team that takes time to listen and treat me as a whole person.”

Looking ahead, Sue says this experience combined with excellent care has given her a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to taking care of herself, in addition to caring for those she loves.  

“I am so grateful to have a team on my side working together to help me get healthier,” she says. “It made me realize that I need to have a dog in this fight and care as much about my health as this team seems to care about me.”

The At-Home Blood Pressure Monitoring program is available to patients at NorthLakes Community Clinic sites that offer primary medical services–Ashland, Hayward, Iron River, Lakewood, Minong, and White Lake.  If you are interested in learning more about the program, please ask your primary medical care provider.