Hayward, Wisconsin—NorthLakes Community Clinic – Hayward is excited to announce the addition of Michael Lawler DDS to the dental team.  Dr. Lawler will see patients of all ages at the dental clinic in Hayward. 

Of this position, Lawler says, “I’m passionate about dentistry and wanted to go to an area that I can serve all the patients. I also heard NorthLakes has a great team.”

Lawler received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Since 1980 he’s been practicing dentistry at Lawler Dental in Lake Nebagamon and more recently in Iron River.  He is an expert in complex extractions, impressions and bites, denture related services, and prosthodontics.

When he’s not working, Lawler enjoys softball, hunting, fishing, spending time with grandkids.

Iron River, Wisconsin—NorthLakes Community Clinic – Iron River is excited to announce the addition of Dr. Amy Roberts. Dr. Roberts is a family medicine physician who will see patients of all ages in the Iron River clinic. 

Of this position Roberts says “I decided to join NorthLakes because I share a passion for excellent health care for all people. The staff is genuine and dedicated, and of course there’s the therapy dogs!”

Roberts received her BA in Global Studies from the University of MN – Twin Cities.  She went on to complete an Adolescent and Sports Medicine Externship from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas; a Primary Care Sports Medicine Externship from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Minnesota Medical School.  She completed a Residency in Pediatrics and Family Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.  Most recently, she’s completing her Family Residency via the Montana Family Medicine Residency program in Billings, Montana.  While Roberts enjoys treating a variety of patients, she especially enjoys helping adults and children live well with chronic conditions, women’s health, and musculoskeletal medicine. 

Prior to joining NorthLakes, Roberts worked as Medical Director at the Klamath Tribal Health and Family Services Clinic in Chiloquin, Oregon and at Northland Community Health Center in Rolla, North Dakota.  She was also a physician at Presentation Medical Center in Rolla, North Dakota.

When she’s not working, Roberts enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and dog, along with spending quality time with her extended family.

She is currently accepting children and adults in her practice. If you are interested in establishing your primary care with Roberts, please call (715) 372-5001.

In anticipation of National Health Center Week (August 4-10, 2019) we thought we’d share this editorial written by NorthLakes Community Clinic CEO Reba Rice.

Each year, National Health Center Week provides an opportunity to highlight the work Community Health Centers are doing to move beyond the political battle over health care and provide preventative and primary care services to all.

Currently, health centers serve 28 million people or 1 in 12 Americans.  Community Health Centers are locally run and provide care to people who disproportionately suffer from chronic disease and lack access to affordable, quality care.  While our approach is community-based and local, collectively we generate a nationwide ripple effect.  Nationally, we lower health care costs (to the tune of $24 billion a year), reduce chronic diseases, and stimulate local economies.

At NorthLakes Community Clinic, we’re committed to finding quality, innovative and cost effective ways to actively remove barriers to care.  Our end goal is to create healthy engaged communities where everyone thrives.  While this vision is ambitious, it is one we work towards daily by finding ways to help people get access to the care they need and deserve—either in our clinics or through community partners and collaborations.

This year, we’re proud to say we have clinics in 13 communities throughout northern Wisconsin.  We employ more than 370 people with an annual payroll of $26 million.  That’s a lot of good jobs in small communities. Also, it results in our creating access for a lot of individuals who might not otherwise have access—whether it is financial, geographic, provider shortages or another barrier that once prevented them from seeking care.

So far this year, more than 17,000 individuals have received services in our clinics.  In addition to direct patient services, many of these individuals receive additional services coordinated through our health support services. These supports range widely based on the patient need: it isn’t unusual for our team to assist patients overcome barriers around housing, insurance, child care, transportation, and care coordination all in one day. 

Our commitment to community extends well beyond our walls. During the 2018-2019 school-year, we served 15,386 children in our Seal-A-Smile program, making it the largest in the state both by geography and patients. In the meantime, we continue to grow our School Based Behavioral Health program to ensure more students have access to this critical service right at their school.  We’re currently in 16 school districts and saw over 275 kids in the past school year.

I share these numbers because they show our commitment to serving northern Wisconsin both through providing great health care and great jobs.  We recognize that improving the overall health of our communities extends beyond medical charts.  We’re committed to exploring ways to address many of the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, poor nutrition, and unemployment. We collaborate and partner with hospitals, local and state governments, social, health and business organizations to improve health for people who are vulnerable.   

Community Health Centers are proven models of health care. As part of National Health Center Week 2019 (August 4-10^th), we invite you to take a moment to learn more about NorthLakes Community Clinic and why local health centers are a great prescription for good public health; and ask you to encourage our legislators to continue their bi-partisan support of Community Health Centers.

Reba Rice, CEO

NorthLakes Community Clinic

Hurley, Wisconsin—NorthLakes Community Clinic – Hurley is excited to announce the addition of Brandy Craig, MSW. Craig joins Michaela Perlberg, MSW on the Behavioral Health Team. Craig will be seeing students at area schools and children and adults in the Hurley clinic.

Of this position, Craig says “I decided to join NorthLakes because of their excellent reputation for treating their patients with not only respect, but in ensuring access to all patients in multiple areas of need. They treat the whole person. In addition, I could not be more blessed to be able to serve patients in Hurley whose residents are near and dear to my heart.”

Prior to joining NorthLakes, Craig worked both in inpatient and outpatient settings and for county human services.  She takes an eclectic approach utilizing therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, brief solution focused therapy, play therapy, and the integration of some expressive arts techniques. Craig’s primary interests include working with all types of people, but particularly in persons with anxiety, PTSD, and trauma patients. She greatly enjoys working with young children and using play therapy. 

Craig received her BS in Human Services from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. She went on to receive her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Indiana University in Indianapolis.  She’s worked in a variety of roles, most recently serving as an Inpatient Social Worker and Outpatient Psychotherapist at Memorial Medical Center in Ashland.

When she’s not working, Craig enjoys being the momma of two teenage boys and two Weimaraners, a cat and a sugar glider. She loves exploring area beaches for agates, fishing, boating and discovering new waterfalls. She also dabbles in the arts and uses watercolors, acrylic, and mixed media to create many types of drawings or paintings. Craig is currently taking new patients. To schedule an appointment please call the Hurley clinic at (715) 329-1288.  

Birchwood, Wisconsin—NorthLakes Community Clinic – Birchwood is excited to announce the addition of Sean Inderbitzen, MSW as a Behavioral Health Therapist.  Inderbitzen will see students within the Birchwood and Winter School District and also patients at our Birchwood site.

Of this position, Inderbitzen says “I joined NorthLakes Clinic to provide counseling in a healthcare and school based setting.”

Inderbitzen received his Master’s in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.  He’s received additional training around motivational interviewing, trauma informed care, vocational rehabilitation ethics and program evaluation.  He has a special interest in providing therapy to youth and adults with co-occurring mental health and pervasive developmental disorders (Autism).

Prior to joining NorthLakes, he worked for the State of Wisconsin within the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Serving Hands in Chippewa Falls and most recently as an organizational consultant. He was also appointed to serve on former Governor Scott Walker’s statewide council on independent living.

When he’s not working, Inderbitzen enjoys raising his two sons, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and competing in triathlons.  One of his favorite regional spots to kayak is the Boundary Waters.

He is currently accepting children and adults in his practice. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment please call the Birchwood clinic at (715) 354-3369.

Written by Chris Gilbaugh, DC

As we slowly drift back into school mode, many athletes are turning their attention back to getting in shape. Participating in sports can be a great way to become more physically fit, develop friendships and grow as a person. This makes it all the more important that injuries are avoided. When an activity is too intense, too long or too repetitive, injury is likely. Set the stage for a successful new season by practicing moderation, being prepared and using correct technique.

The following are a few basic tips to mind when increasing physical activity. Be aware that many sports have specific guidelines to help direct you further. If you have any concerns or unique considerations be sure to seek out advice from a professional.

1: Be prepared.

At least at a basic level, prepare yourself for what you are about to do. Wear appropriate gear and stay hydrated. Learn the requirements of your activity and plan your time and efforts accordingly. Carefully build up to more advanced exercise routines, warmup and stretch.

2: Work within your ability.

While this may seem obvious, there can be a lot of pressure to perform well and out of your comfort zone. Injury occurs when a tissue becomes overwhelmed and fails. This can occur abruptly or over time. The trick is to recognize this limit and stay within its bounds. Since there are many variables involved, common sense is often one of our better guides, though exhaustion can be a strong indication that you are close.

3: Move well before moving often.

When we ignore or lose good form, stress created by our activities can impact joints, bones and muscles in ways they may not be prepared to handle. It is often when the body has unexpected demands that injury occurs. Perfect a task before increasing frequency or intensity. Make an effort to do things right the first time as it can be hard to unlearn bad habits later. Try to avoid the extreme limits of training or fighting through exhaustion as these situations make injury more likely.

4: Diversify your activities.

Although we are taught muscles one at a time, they never work alone. How well and how promptly the different components work together strongly affects our overall efficiency and function. Participating in a variety of exercises or types of sports helps to balance strength, distribute stress and improve coordination. Along the same lines, warmups should replicate the activity or sport to prepare groups of muscles to work together.

5: Take regular breaks.

Regular breaks help reduce the risk of injury by restoring some of our capacity for work, like letting a little water out of a bathtub before it overflows. While this is healthy in general, it also helps protect our joints. A certain amount of tension can be beneficial to our joints by maintaining healthy limits and preventing excessive motion. When they become too loose we lose part of our natural defense against injury. You can help maintain healthy joint tension by regularly taking breaks in a relaxed and “neutral” position (not flexed or bent, extended, twisted etc.). Try to allow yourself at least two minutes during these periods to rest.

6: Address problems quickly if they arise.

Finally, it is important to address injuries as soon as they occur. Watch for sharp or lingering pain, excessive fatigue, generally decreased performance or any unusual symptoms. Get evaluated if you are suspicious of a problem. Young athletes have an amazing ability to compensate for pain and dysfunction. However, if that compensation persists it can cause problems on its own. Remember that pain is your body telling you that something is wrong.

Whether the goal is to gain a competitive edge, lower the risk of injury or recover from one, chiropractic care may help young athletes succeed by improving mobility, coordination and body awareness, addressing compensations and offering drug free pain management options. After all, there has to be a reason that every NFL team utilizes chiropractic care!

Chiropractic is a form of integrative health care that focuses on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems and their relationship to health and wellness. Special consideration is given to the spine where distortions caused by poor alignment may interfere with other body functions, cause pain or limit mobility. Dr. Gilbaugh is a chiropractor based in Ashland.  NorthLakes Community Clinic also offers chiropractic care in Park Falls, Hayward, Hurley and Iron River.

NorthLakes Community Clinic is assisting the Long Lake Property Owners Association this summer with their Clean Boats, Clean Waters grant. As a token of their gratitude, the Association recently presented NorthLakes with a check for $300. The funds will go NorthLakes’ Community Outreach Program which supports non-billable programs that get to the underlying causes of disadvantage and barriers to well-being. Shown here are Cheryl and Charles Burbul and Shirley Welty of the Long Lake Property Owners Association, along with NorthLakes CEO Reba Rice and NorthLakes Executive Assistant Renee Britain.

Lakewood, Wisconsin—NorthLakes Community Clinic – Lakewood is excited to announce the addition of Jacob William Malone, DMD to the dental team.  Dr. Malone will see patients of all ages at the dental clinic in Oconto. 

Of this position, Malone says “I joined NorthLakes Community Clinic to better serve the Wisconsin community and to provide the best of care.”

Malone received his BA in Biochemistry and Music from Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon. He went on to complete his Doctor of Dental Medicine with a certificate in Public Health from the Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health in St. Louis, Missouri.  As part of the Dental team, Malone looks forward to helping people with their general operative and oral surgery needs.

When he’s not working, Malone enjoys running, biking, rock climbing and playing guitar.  If you are interested in scheduling an appointment to see Dr. Malone, please call the Oconto clinic at (920) 516-7107.

About NorthLakes Community Clinic:

NorthLakes Community Clinic is a regional Community Health Center, with clinic locations in Ashland, Balsam Lake, Birchwood, Hayward, Hurley, Iron River, Lakewood, Minong, Oconto, Park Falls, Turtle Lake, Washburn and White Lake.  We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization managed by a patient majority board of directors. Services we offer include: medical, chiropractic, dental, behavioral health counseling including substance use disorder and recovery services, optometry, psychiatric services, pediatric speech and occupational therapy, physical therapy and prescriptions for patients.

NorthLakes Community Clinic provides care to individuals with Medicaid and Medicare, those without insurance, and also those with private health insurance. We also provide a Sliding Fee Scale available for patients who qualify. 

Written by Adele Thomason, RNC-OB, IBCLC, C-EFM
OB RN Clinical Care Coordinator
NorthLakes Community Clinic – Ashland Downtown and Iron River

Did you know NorthLakes Community Health Centers offer integrated prenatal care, using a patient-centered medical home model? And, what does that actually mean? I thought I’d take a few moments to break it down for you.

What is integrated prenatal care? And, why does it matter to you? We all see these buzzwords thrown around, “integrated healthcare,” “medical home,” “patient-centered,” but they are not often explained, and even less often is it explained what this means to you. So, let’s break it down starting with “integrated prenatal care.” Prenatal refers to the medical care that is provided to you when you are pregnant (Pre=before, natal=birth). “Integrated healthcare” refers to different health specialties working together to address all of your healthcare needs. So, it stands to reason that “integrated prenatal care” just means that different specialized health professionals (for example: your doctor, your mental health therapist, your chiropractor, your physical therapist, your addiction doctor, your dentist, your lactation consultant, etc) are working together to meet all of your pregnancy needs. Integrated OB care is easier to do when many of your providers are under one roof, and all of your providers are working together. NorthLakes is unique in having most of these providers located under in one place.

Now, let’s move on to what “patient-centered” means. Patient centered means that you, the patient, work with all of your health care providers to meet your healthcare needs. Or put another way, your healthcare providers work with you to put together a plan to meet YOUR needs that takes into account what it is that you value, and what your goal is. They know that what you might need is not the same thing that your next-door neighbor needs, or what your 3^rd cousin twice-removed needs. Your team cares about and for you, gets to know you, and as your needs change, so does your plan.

Finally, what exactly is a “medical home?” A medical home just means that your care is coordinated from one place. Your medical care team works together across organizations to make sure that you are getting the health care that you need, without judgment. You don’t have to see all of your healthcare providers in one building/town/health system (though when that’s possible, it does make it easier), but your healthcare team is committed to helping you figure out what happens next on your healthcare journey, and how to accomplish it.

The evidence shows that having health care during pregnancy results in better health outcomes for both parent and baby. NorthLakes Community Health Centers offer integrated prenatal care, using a patient-centered medical home mode, with most of the providers you might need under one roof. During your first prenatal visit, your provider will help you start figuring out your pregnancy plan. Our resource coordinators can help you get connected with health insurance, rides to appointments, even helping you figure out options for where to live (if you need help with that). When it feels overwhelming, the resource coordinators and community support folks can help you prioritize what to do next. Pregnancy can be a stressful time – we can connect you with a mental health counselor to help you figure out ways to deal with that stress. If you struggle with substance use issues, we have a program for that. All of your care coordination will be done in a non-judgmental way. The staff at NorthLakes Community Health Centers recognize your humanness, and help you to become your healthiest through your pregnancy and beyond.

To schedule an appointment and establish care in Iron River or Ashland with one of our family medicine and obstetric physicians, call 888-834-4551.

Hurley, Wisconsin—NorthLakes Community Clinic –Hurley opened on Monday, June 17. The clinic brings new Behavioral Health and Chiropractic services to the area, as part of NorthLakes Community Clinic’s commitment to reducing barriers to care throughout northern Wisconsin. The clinic is located at 210 5th Avenue North and will be open from 8:30 am – 5 pm.

Michaela Perlberg, LCSW will be seeing patients in the Hurley School District and at the clinic. In addition, members from the chiropractic team based in Park Falls will be offering services several days per week.
NorthLakes Community Clinic is a federally qualified health center (FQHC) with locations throughout northern Wisconsin. As an FQHC, they work with patients to ensure they can receive quality services regardless of their ability to pay. This is done through a variety of ways including a Sliding Fee Scale for patients who qualify.
If you are interested in learning more about the clinic or scheduling an appointment, please call (715) 329-1288.
About NorthLakes Community Clinic:

NorthLakes Community Clinic is a regional Community Health Center, with clinic locations in Ashland, Balsam Lake, Birchwood, Hayward, Hurley, Iron River, Lakewood, Minong, Oconto, Park Falls, Turtle Lake, Washburn and White Lake. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization managed by a patient majority board of directors. Services we offer include: medical, chiropractic, dental, behavioral health counseling including substance use disorder and recovery services, optometry, psychiatric services, pediatric speech and occupational therapy, physical therapy and prescriptions for patients.

NorthLakes Community Clinic provides care to individuals with Medicaid and Medicare, those without insurance, and also those with private health insurance. We also provide a Sliding Fee Scale available for patients who qualify.