PEOPLE FIRST, JUNE '21 - BHG Company Newsletter

You Could Earn Up to $750 When You Refer a Friend

by Linda Ballard, Chief Human Resources Officer

We’re looking for people with a servant’s heart, a passion for care and a desire to make a difference in people’s lives. We want more people like you to work for BHG. Because you are our best recruiters, BHG will reward you for qualified candidate referrals.

$750 for management (RDs, PDs, etc.)
$500 for counselors with master’s degrees
$250 for all other positions

When you refer a friend for a job opening, you’ll receive a referral bonus after they’re hired and complete the first 90 days of employment. The bonus will be paid the first pay period after the referred employee completes 90 days. Your friend gets to work for a great company, you get a bonus and we grow our ability to serve more patients and communities.

If you know someone who you think would be a talented team member, please let us know.

For more information about our employee referral bonus program, please contact [email protected]

What are You Doing for Your Self-Care?

by Shari Garceau, MSN, RN, CMAC, CCM, ACM-RN, CRCR, CLSSGB, Director Quality Management and Auditing

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut our world down last year, Marlin Martin, SVP of Regulatory Affairs, recognized our employees needed a regularly-scheduled, guilt-free reprieve from the intense stress. So, he started facilitating 30-minute self-care sessions once per week and continued until December. With 400 to 500 people in attendance early on, it was clear that this needed to become a permanent part of how we nurture staff and a culture of health and well-being at BHG.

America is in the midst of a stress epidemic. According to a survey conducted by Everyday Health, approximately one-third of people visited a doctor about something stress-related and 57 % admitted they’re paralyzed by stress.

“Our teams often provide encouragement and support for one another in the form of team meetings or one-on-ones as a way to process the stressful work we do,” said Marlin. “When we lost in-person connection during the pandemic, I became keenly aware of how used to being a part of a team we are. I thought, ‘let’s start self-care sessions through this crisis and take all of the energy and anxiety and pause for a moment.’ You have to think about what you need. If you’re not healthy, you can’t provide care for people. That was the real catalyst for these sessions.”

Refuel Your Tank

All of us at BHG experience stress in our jobs from time to time because of the kind of work we do. It can be mentally and physically exhausting. Our counselors and nurses chose their careers to take care of others. They thrive on making other people feel better. They give and give and give until their tanks are empty. When self-care is regularly practiced, the benefits are broad and have even been linked to positive health outcomes such as reduced stress, lower blood pressure, improved immune system, increased productivity, and higher self-esteem.

“Last July, I realized how important it was to stick to a routine, not only for our mental and physical health, but also for our social and relational health,” said Marlin. “If we don’t take care of our relationships with those we love, we suffer. Even introverts felt good at first in the pandemic, but the isolation got to them. Isolation can cause people to spiral into negative things like addiction in various forms. Self-care makes us better partners, spouses and parents.”

“I’m a member of a collective of OTPs in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri and peers asked about my self-care presentations because they didn’t have anything. I ran it by BHG leaders first and then shared our presentations for three months. Now, they’re all doing self-care activities. I feel fortunate BHG allowed me to not only serve our staff, but also our competitors.”

What You Can Do

Now, as we’re transitioning out of the pandemic, it’s important to accept that there will still be stressors. The overriding message here is that self-care isn’t selfish.

“Self-care means different things to different people. For some, it can mean taking a sabbatical, a vacation or a spa visit. While those things can be a part of self-care, there are certainly other things we can do that don’t cost a thing,” said Marlin.

So, make investing in your self-care a priority. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Accept the Self-Care calendar invitations we send you and fiercely protect that time, barring emergencies in your life or center.
Set aside at least 15-30 minutes every day to center yourself. Go outside. Look at the sky, the landscape. Listen to the wind and the birds or sounds of nature.
Find what brings you joy and do it often.
Check out more resources below where you can be encouraged and inspired by evidence-based information to motivate your commitment to self-care.
Share your ideas for future session at [insert email – who/contact info?]

Self-Care Resources

Reducing Stress – American Heart Association

National Institute of Mental Health/National Institute of Health

American Institute of Stress

Ten Attitudes for Reducing Stress – American Heart Association

Everyday Health: Self-Care

Forbes: Self-care isn’t just good for you, it’s also good for your productivity

Very Well Mind: Self-care strategies for overall stress reduction

Welcome to the Team

We are thrilled to have many new team members join BHG over the last month.

Home Office

Chelsea King, Human Resources Inter

BHG Asheville

Chantay Davis, Medication Nurse
Courtney Ingram, Nurse Supervisor

BHG Berea

Maranda Dunn, Medication Nurse
Micha Pike, Office Manager
Rachel Cress, Case Manager

BHG Bessemer

Abigail Gambles, Billing Specialist
Ashley Carter, Counselor
Jasmine Chambers, Counselor

BHG Chesapeake South

Keidra Cabiness, Counselor
Khadijah Nelson, Counselor
Kaitlyn Seminerio, Counselor

BHG Chesapeake

Mark Chandler, Patient Monitor
Michael Whipple, Program Director

BHG Colorado Springs

Sara Wimberly, Office Manager

BHG Corbin

Bridget Marlow, Medication Nurse

BHG Cullman

Wendy Saye, Medication Nurse

BHG Denver Downtown

Kristine Coffin, Independent Placement Support Employment Specialist
Samantha Heredia, Medication Nurse

BHG Dyersburg

Melissa Elliott, Medication Nurse
Angel Larson, Counselor
Kimberly Wright, Counselor

BHG Fort Collins

Krista Sheets, Counselor

BHG Gadsden

Alexis Devereux, Counselor
Kendra Homesley, Counselor

BHG Glen Allen

Kevin Bland, Patient Monitor
Jeremy Kirk, Counselor
Curstavia Lomas, Counselor
Patrick Nicolas, Clinical Supervisor

BHG Grand Bay

Gina Powe, Counselor

BHG Hazard

Teresa Adams, Medication Nurse
Delma Amburgey, Medication Nurse
Emily Hall, Counselor
Stephany Spicer, Case Manager

BHG Huntsville

Genoria Crews, Counselor
Crystal Hunter, Counselor
Sharie Millsap, Regional Community Partner

BHG Jackson, TN

Evelyn Henning, Counselor
Tonya Maxwell, Medication Nurse

BHG Joplin

Lindsay Boman, Medication Nurse
Stephen Garman, Counselor

BHG Kansas City

Paul Linville, Counselor
ShaTonda Porter, Office Manager

BHG Knoxville Bernard

Melissa Canedy, Counselor
Eric Fletcher, Counselor

BHG Knoxville Citico

Tamara Martin Henson, Counselor
Kayla Matlock, Medication Nurse
LaVercia Porter, Patient Registration Coordinator

BHG Lexington

Claudia Bell, Case Manager
Chanel Blue, Counselor
Valeria Carter, Medical Assistant
Shamara Huguely, Counselor
Elijah Lawson, Case Manager

BHG Medical Services – Conway

Brae’Auna Major, Counselor

BHG Medical Services – Knoxville

Kendra Coger, Senior Counselor
Emily Moriarty, Patient Registration Coordinator

BHG Medical Services – North Little Rock

Jorge Gonzalez, Patient Registration Coordinator
Jennifer Neave, Medication Nurse

BHG Memphis North

Tyler Franklin, Medical Assistant
Jessica Logan, Medical Assistant

BHG Memphis South

Lisa Torres, Nurse Practitioner

BHG Mobile

Terica Williams, Medication Nurse

BHG Nashville

Khadijah Griffis, Counselor
Charlie Haglund, Counselor
Carissa Keating, Counselor

BHG New Orleans Westbank

Yvotta Brown, Medical Assistant
Tanaka Gill, Patient Registration Coordinator

BHG Newport News

Alecia Ball, Nurse Practitioner
Takima Simmons, Counselor

BHG Overland Park

Nate Eikmeier, Counselor

BHG Paducah

Lacie Bondurant, Patient Registration Coordinator

BHG Pikeville

Michael Ratliff, Counselor

BHG Shoals

Sheila Hopper, Program Director
Chana Johnson, Counselor

BHG Spartanburg

Demond Harris, Counselor
Virginia Underwood, Counselor

BHG Stevenson

Jaquita Norwood, Counselor

BHG Tifton

Kelly Gray, Medication Nurse

BHG Tuscaloosa

Justice Curtis, Counselor
LaShunda Nolden, Counselor

BHG Virginia Beach

Jay Youmans, Program Director

BHG Washington D.C.

Trinita Lattimore, Clinical Supervisor
Isaiah Smith, Medical Assistant

BHG West Plains

Brittany Jackson, Medication Nurse

BHG Westminster

Scott Mirto, Medication Nurse

Rock’n a New Role