by Vickie Jenkins

There is something exciting taking place in Bethany, OK. It is the new opening of Bethany Behavioral Health! “Today is the first day that we’re open to see patients,” says Rob Lake, CEO. “It took a lot of people to make this work and it’s nice to see everything come together so well. This is the old Deaconess Hospital so it has come a long way. The whole place has been renovated and everything is brand new, along with the latest equipment. New business, new facility, new everything,” Lake said.
Bethany Behavioral Health is a 57-bed psychiatric hospital meaning more mental health crisis beds for the Oklahoma City metro. “Of course, as our patients grow in number, our facility will grow also. Our program will help adults over the age of 55 with major mental illness disorders,” Lake states. “We will have in-patient only. There will be a 5-day stay for adults and an 11-day stay for geriatrics. That number will change as we fill to capacity and I know we are going to grow in time. The patient will receive treatment for their individual needs and there will be an assessment before discharging them. We have the highest quality of care here,” Lake adds.
Lake attended school at Texas Tech University, where he got his Bachelors and his Masters. Beginning his career in the medical field in 1987, he spent 20 years as CEO of different hospitals in different states. “This is the 7th hospital that I have been at,” Lake says. “I’ve been at hospitals in Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico and several cities in Oklahoma. Traveling to different states gives me the chance to join in on a progressive and innovated opportunity to motivate companies for healthcare. With this being a new healthcare facility, it gave me the chance to hire all new people. Recruiting all new people was fun, yet challenging. Right now, we have 45 employees. We have high quality employees and they were all hand-picked. I am very proud of each one of them. Our main concern here at Bethany Behavior Health is to help the patients with their problems. We will focus on the patients and the quality of medical care as we see them. Right now, we have the chance to make this the best hospital it can be. Everyone needs to work as a team, doing their very best and we can make it happen. I think this is what makes everything run so smoothly,” Lake said.
Some warning signs that could indicate a senior should seek help are: anxiety/agitation, confusion/disorganization, depression, fear/paranoia, fluctuations in weight, hallucinations/delusions, memory loss, mood swings, sleep disturbances, social withdrawal, suicide thoughts and wandering.
“Do you see any challenges that you might face as time goes on?” I ask Lake. “Well, like any new facility, I’m sure we’ll face a few problems but nothing that we can’t handle. I know I have the best employees and I see how well things have gone so far. I look forward to the future and watching how much Bethany Behavioral Health is going to grow. I like my job and I like the way it makes me feel, even if I do face some challenges ahead, I can do it,” Lake commented.
When not working, Lake stays active in many ways. Triathlons, golf, tennis and cycling. “Exercise is very important to me,” says Lake. “My wife is an occupational therapist and she stays active too. We have 2 sons, Cody, 24, and Kyle, 23. Both boys will graduate in May of this year. We are so proud of both of them.” Lake comments.
“Do you have any words of wisdom that you pass along to others?” I ask Lake. “Yes, I do. I always tell my employees to make sure to give 3 smiles a day. 1. Make a patient smile. That is why we are here. 2. Make a physician smile. That is how we get our patients here. 3. Make the staff smile. This is your hospital. Make it what you want it to be; the best!”
Bethany Behavior Health is located at 7600 N.W. 23rd (formerly Deaconess Hospital) Their goal is to increase functioning and improve the quality of life. For any questions, call 844-243-1331 or 405-792-5360.

by Bobby Anderson
Staff Writer

Gloria Ceballos, RN, PhD has worked in just about every nursing area you can imagine. From the operating room to home care to the classroom, Ceballos’ 40 years in nursing has taken her to places she never thought possible.
Now, as the Chief Nursing Office of AllianceHealth Midwest, Ceballos is lending that experience to growing local nurses who want to work for their hometown hospital.
Ceballos has helped transition the former Midwest Regional Hospital to the new AllianceHealth Midwest name.
“It has been a great ride with committing to quality of care here at Alliance Midwest,” Ceballos said. “We’ve seen a lot of change this year, changing our name and recruiting new nurses. We’ve recruited over 25 brand new nurses where for a while this hospital was hiring just one or two new nurses.”
Growing nurses is a passion for Ceballos.
She made sure AllianceHealth Midwest awarded eight $5,000 scholarships to students in the medical field last year. Four went to high school students and the rest went to college students already in a medical program.
Ceballos assigned mentors from the hospital to help them along.
“The scholarship doesn’t tie them to us – we hope it does,” Ceballos said. “It’s more mentoring through their schooling. In the end, they could choose to work for us if they wanted to.”
By being one of the largest employers in the area, AllianceHealth Midwest is able to be a strong supporter of employment opportunities within the community. AllianceHealth employs more than 1,500 individuals, equaling to more than $70 million a year paid in salaries and benefits.
What was established in 1962 as a community hospital is now a 255-bed acute care facility. AllianceHealth Midwest was the first metro hospital to meet the requirements to be recognized as a Certified Level III Trauma Center by the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
“There are nurses that want to stay here in the community and if we encourage them they will stay,” Ceballos said. “Oklahoma needs every single nurse it can keep. Nursing is a career you can take worldwide, really. We want to keep the nurses that want to stay close to home and to their families and not have to leave.”
Formerly, Ceballos worked as a consultant in Florida. Ironically, it was that job that brought her to Midwest City.
She came to help with finding solutions but found a great opportunity in front of her.
“I saw the effort this team put in. They convinced me to come,” Ceballos said. “Most people don’t get to see their organizations from the inside before they’re hired. I got to see that and test it.”
With healthcare rapidly moving to a pay-for-performance model, Ceballos says communication of that fact to employees is critical.
Under Ceballos quality scores have improved.
“We are incrementally improving and sustaining, which is very important,” Ceballos said. “Nationally, hospitals are struggling with their satisfaction scores. Patients are not well when they come to us. Our goal is for them to understand why they are hospitalized and what they need to know before they leave.
“We want to make sure if they need us again they are sure to come back.
“I want the nurses to embrace the new healthcare environment because it’s here to stay.”
With the increasing importance of scores derived from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), Ceballos says it’s important that nurses understand how the assessment works.
The HCAHPS survey contains 21 patient perspectives on care and patient rating items that encompass nine key topics: communication with doctors, communication with nurses, responsiveness of hospital staff, pain management, communication about medicines, discharge information, cleanliness of the hospital environment, quietness of the hospital environment, and transition of care.
The survey also includes four screener questions and seven demographic items, which are used for adjusting the mix of patients across hospitals and for analytical purposes. The survey is 32 questions in length.
“Those questions are being correlated with patients coming back in the hospital,” Ceballos said. “Patients who answered poorly in some of these questions nationally are correlating maybe with readmissions, not taking their medications or not following up with their doctors. The patients still have to make the decisions but when they leave the hospital we should have given them the opportunity to have those questions answered.”
And one by one, Ceballos is answering any questions people might have about whether AllianceHealth Midwest is the right place for them.

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn  t4z@aol.com

An undiscovered intellectual and hands on treat is the Sam Nobel Museum of Natural History in Norman, Oklahoma.
Recently it was recognized for excellence by receiving the 2014 National Medal by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for services to their community. This honor was only awarded to five museums out of 17.500, and five libraries nationwide.
The honor was given in a ceremony at the White House where first Lady Michelle Obama said, “The work that you do in the summers and throughout the year is filling a crucial role n our country as we strive to give our young people a world-class education.”
Later O.U. President David L. Boren agreed, “This prestigious national award confirms that our museum is one of the most important university-based natural history museums in our nation and indeed in the world.”
As an example of the museums outreach is the ExplorOlogy program which involves promising students from schools across Oklahoma to get a hands on experience with experts in different scientific disciplines. One ExplorOlogy program took place in the high planes of Oklahoma in the Black Mesa area located in the states panhandle.
The Sam Noble Museum offers a variety of educational programming designed to engage and challenge students as they unlock the past, observe the present and consider the future though natural and cultural history. Jess Cole, head of education, says, “We are really fortunate to be a complement and supplement for Oklahoma schools with their science education.”
More information on the museum and their educational programs can be found at www.SamNobleMuseum.org. For your visit to the museum you may take in the “Be the Dinosaur!” exhibit running through June 12th, 2016. The exhibit is based on the fossils found in the Hell Creek Formations of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. You can guide a Tyrannosaurus Rex in a search for food or learn the behaviors of the Triceratops as it ambles through the Late Cretaceous from a video console. The highlight of a visit might be the video simulated pods which allow visitors to become dinosaurs.
Another attraction is the “Through the Eyes of the Lynx: Galileo and the Microscope” through August 31st. On March 10 at 7 pm, is the free “Galileo’s World Lecture Series and Sky Watch” hosted by the O.U. Observatory.
The museum is available for catered events and banquets.
Located at 2401 Chautauqua Avenue, the Sam Noble Museum is easily accessible near the O.U. Campus, and provides an educational and entertaining experience for all ages.

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
http://realtraveladventures.com/author/zinn/
http://www.examiner.com/travel-in-oklahoma-city/terry-zinn
www.new.okveterannews.com – www.martinitravels.com

For more than 20 years, many frail, elderly and disabled Oklahomans with limited means have relied on the ADvantage Waiver Program to receive at-home care. Without a line item in the next state budget, funding for these services may be cut, putting the lives of these Medicaid beneficiaries in jeopardy.
The ADvantage Waiver Program enables more than 23,000 Oklahomans to retain their independence and stay at home as long as possible, instead of being institutionalized. Under the program, qualified Oklahomans receive assistance that includes:
· Picking up groceries and medicine
· Assisting with bathing and grooming
· Providing housekeeping to maintain a clean, safe environment
· Giving respite care for other caregivers
“The ADvantage Program has been a vital part of my life, and I truly believe I would not have lived without it,” said Sarah Hadyn Smith of Norman. “It has given me a life worth living in a difficult time of serious illness.”
Funding cuts to the ADvantage Waiver Program could be devastating. Frail and elderly Oklahomans would be forced into institutions at greatly increased cost. More than 10,000 employees will struggle to deliver quality care and Oklahoma businesses will leave the program. In addition, these employees may have their wages cut or lose their jobs and turn to other state services.
“Many of our members do not have family to care for them and just need a little extra help to remain in their home. Under this program, providers deliver needed care at a much more affordable rate than nursing homes,” said Steve Goforth, president and founder of Tulsa-based Oxford HealthCare and legislative officer for the Home and Community Based Services Council (HCBSC).
“Preserving the ADvantage Waiver Program is the financially conservative and responsible choice. It prevents overuse of the emergency room and unnecessary institutionalization,” said Lola Edwards, president of HCBSC. “Cuts will create serious health and safety risks to the most vulnerable Oklahomans and cost the state more in the long run.”
The Council will hand-deliver over 500 member letters of support to legislators at the capitol on March 30.
HCBSC is asking the Oklahoma Legislature to sustain current funding to the ADvantage Waiver Program through a line item in the state budget.
About the Home and Community Based Services Council-
The Council is comprised of 10 provider agencies delivering services to Oklahoma’s elderly and disabled in 38 communities. The agencies represent 80 percent of all services delivered in the ADvantage Waiver Program and State Plan Personal Care Program.

by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

Only a few days remain before the April 15 filing deadline and there are a few items Oklahoma City Certified Public Accountant Lynne Van Blake says seniors need to look out for.
“Seniors need to be aware that they may need to file a tax return if they have income from other than Social Security,” Van Blake said. “Filing a return does not mean they will owe taxes.”
Founded in 1984, Van Blakes, is a family-owned CPA firm providing year-round accounting, tax preparation, incorporation, and other financial consulting, as well as planning services and advice—helping clients achieve their financial goals while maintaining legal and statutory compliance.
As the clock ticks down, Van Blake says it’s important that seniors pay attention to changes that will affect them.
“Seniors older than 70 may earn unlimited amounts without affecting their Social Security income,” Van Blake said. “Under age 70, a portion of their Social Security is reduced if their wages or net self employment are above certain limits. Seniors over age 70 may owe taxes on their earnings.
Van Blakes seeks to assist individuals, families, and businesses with tax preparation and accounting services that ensure they are fairly represented to tax agencies and financial institutions, while also developing long-term relationships built on cooperation and trust.
Van Blake said seniors need to pay particular attention to the special limits they have access to when it comes to padding their retirement accounts.
Seniors age 55 and older are able to add an additional $1,000 to bring total contributions to IRA’s to $6,500. These contributions can be left to heirs as part of an inheritance.
Contributions to a Roth IRA do not require minimum distributions at age 70 1/2. That, too, can be a tax planning tool.
The IRS offers this advice to seniors:
– If you do not itemize your deductions, you can get a higher standard deduction amount if you and/or your spouse are 65 years old or older. You can get an even higher standard deduction amount if either you or your spouse is blind.
– You must file using Form 1040 or Form 1040A to receive the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled. You cannot get the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled if you file using Form 1040EZ. Be sure to apply for the Credit if you qualify.
– IRS-sponsored volunteer tax assistance programs offer free tax help to seniors and to low- to moderate-income people who cannot prepare their own tax returns.
– Also see Publications 524 (Credit for the Elderly or Disabled); and 554 (Tax Guide for Seniors).
Van Blake also warns people to be cautious with their information.
Aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents remain a major threat to taxpayers, but now the IRS is receiving new reports of scammers calling under the guise of verifying tax return information over the phone.
The latest variation being seen in the last few weeks tries to play off the current tax season. Scam artists call saying they have your tax return, and they just need to verify a few details to process your return. The scam tries to get you to give up personal information such as a Social Security number or personal financial information, such as bank numbers or credit cards.
“These schemes continue to adapt and evolve in an attempt to catch people off guard just as they are preparing their tax returns,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “Don’t be fooled. The IRS won’t be calling you out of the blue asking you to verify your personal tax information or aggressively threatening you to make an immediate payment.”
The IRS reminds taxpayers to guard against all sorts of con games that continually change. The IRS, the states and the tax industry came together in 2015 and launched a public awareness campaign called Taxes. Security. Together. to help educate taxpayers about the need to maintain security online and to recognize and avoid “phishing” and other schemes.
The IRS continues to hear reports of phone scams as well as e-mail phishing schemes across the country.
“These schemes touch people in every part of the country and in every walk of life. It’s a growing list of people who’ve encountered these. I’ve even gotten these calls myself,” Koskinen said.
This January, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) announced they have received reports of roughly 896,000 phone scam contacts since October 2013 and have become aware of over 5,000 victims who have collectively paid over $26.5 million as a result of the scam. Just this year, the IRS has seen a 400 percent increase in phishing schemes.

Diverse excellence sets the standard for Newby Vance Mobility Sale

by Jason Chandler, Staff Writer

It is the business model of Newby Vance Mobility Sales in Guthrie that is unique in meeting the needs of persons living with a disability, said Jim Seeger-Newby, of Newby Vance Mobility Sales. Newby Vance Mobility Sales is the only Ford, General Motors, Chrysler dealership franchise in the United States, Newby said.
“It’s also a full-fledged comprehensive mobility dealer,” Newby said.
The business model is designed to allow people who have a family member with a special transportation need to come to a single location, Newby said. Their individual vehicle needs will be identified at the same time their mobility needs are evaluated.
“It allows people to be treated like anyone else and not have to go to a car dealership and purchase a vehicle and then have to take their vehicle to a handicapped store to have it adapted,” he said. “That is not a very user-friendly way to have their needs met.”
The Newby Vance Mobility Sales business model allows people to bring their vehicle here for its service work and body shop work to be taken care of at a single location.
“That is the strength of our business model,” he said. “So what we offer is a comprehensive mobility/automotive business model that allows people to have their entire set of automotive, transportation mobility needs met in a single location.”
The business was founded 20 years ago and with a lot of hard work became one of the largest 15 mobility dealers in the United States. He runs the business with his son, Marcus Newby. Its success is not only due to its business model but also by the way Newby Vance Mobility Sales treats customers with individualized service. Newby Vance Mobility Sales dwells on the relationships it cultivates with every customer.
“Once you do business with us, unless you move away or unless I move away, we’re probably going to know each other for the rest of our lives,” Newby said. “Because you’re going to be contacting us and bringing your vehicle in for special service, special care when the equipment or adaptions require special service or repair.”
Customers bring their needs back to where they have a trusted relationship at Newby Vance Mobility Sales. Relationships have been developed with more than 7,000 customers, Newby said. So reoccurring business is common.
Although Newby Vance Mobility Sales is located at an automobile dealership, it is important for customers and potential customers to function on a scheduled basis. The company serves clients from all across the state.
People go to typical car dealership stores sometimes on a whim, but 95 percent of Newby Vance Mobility Sales meeting with customers is on a scheduled basis, he said.
“When you come, one of the things we help you do is to identify what your short-term or long-term needs are,” Newby continued. “And that takes time to do. It’s not much fun to try to do that when you have people walking in and out on an unscheduled basis.”
The location is west of the 153 exit on Interstate 35, making it an easy to find business in central Oklahoma at the northern edge of the Oklahoma City metroplex.
“We’re right on the I-35 artery, and so it’s real easy to get to us no matter what direction you’re coming from,” Newby said. “You don’t have to suffer if you will congested city street driving to get to us. We’re a little bit farther for some people but it’s actually an easier drive for the majority of people who come to us.”
The BraunAbility manufactures a conversion that is installed on several different mini vans. This conversion lowers the floor of a vehicle to provide adequate head room for those people entering the vehicle in a wheel chair.
“The conversion also consists of a ramp that can operate electrically or manually,” he said
A person can literally push a button for the ramp to deploy and bring the person into the vehicle while they are in their chair. The flexibility of the product allows a person to drive from a wheelchair, ride in their wheelchair or transfer from their wheelchair.
“Not all people need a special mini van. It’s very individualized,” he said. “It’s what a person’s needs are and how you can help them determine what is in their best interest.”