Posts Tagged ‘Medicaid’

An Evansville pediatrics physician has received a national award for providing quality care and clinical excellence to Hoosier children and adults enrolled in Managed Health Services’ statewide health plan.

Dr. W. Michael Crecelius has received a 2010 Summit Award for Excellence in Care from MHS and parent company Centene Corp. The award honors Crecelius, a board-certified pediatrician with Deaconess Clinic in downtown Evansville, for demonstrating exemplary performance when following up with examinations and consultations after patients’ emergency room visits, providing routine preventive and well-care services for children and adults and establishing a medical home for new enrollees in the MHS statewide healthcare plan.

Crecelius graduated Indiana University’s School of Medicine and completed his pediatric internship and residency at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. He is a fellow with the American Academy of Pediatrics and  member of both the Indiana State Medical Association and the Vanderburgh County Medical Society.

Crecelius is one of three Indiana physicians to receive the award. Sixteen awards were presented this year throughout the nation by Centene Corp.

“Thumbs Up Johnnie” is a lovable cartoon character who owns The Longhorn Diner, where all the cowboys and cowgirls in Happy, Texas, gather for the best flapjacks around. He always has his hands full, flipping flapjacks, pouring milk and coffee and catering to his customers – things he couldn’t do if he weren’t physically active and mindful about his own good personal health.

Surrounded by a lively band of characters, including Lillian Pinky, Buddy, Banker Bill, Dimestore Sam and Hi Five Handy, Thumbs Up Johnnie is the creation of author Michelle Bain. Her quest to create a world where children can learn through humor and by example of virtue has been her primary motivator. Bain’s writing expression, illustration and character development encourages children to embody various virtues in their daily life.

“As a child, reading fueled my imagination and gave me an appetite for writing as an art,” said Bain, who created Thumbs Up Johnnie in 2002. “My stories are purposely structured with multi-layered humor, double entendres and idiosyncratic characters to make story lines interesting to many different types of readers.”

As part of Managed Health Services’ statewide campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of childhood obesity, a nationally known cartoon character will bring a very special message to students in Gary on Monday, one that warns them about the dangers of not living an active and healthy life. 

Bain (left) will read her latest book, “Super CENTEAM 5: The Adventures of Thumbs Up Johnnie,” written to help fight childhood obesity, to students at Longfellow Elementary in Gary on Monday beginning at 9 a.m. CST. Longfellow Elementary is located at 4500 Calhoun St.

Thumbs Up Johnnie will make a personal appearance at the school. Students will receive autographed copies of Bain’s book, character-themed bracelets and will take part in a pre- and a post-presentation test that will be issued by their classroom teachers.

Bain’s appearance Monday is part of the “Adopt a School” program sponsored nationally by Centene Corp. and in Indiana by Centene-owned Managed Health Services (MHS), one of the state’s healthcare providers for Hoosiers on Medicaid.