Employee Health Center

Dr. Yelena Tarasenko completed her medical education at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton campus. She went on to train in Family Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment at Largo Medical Center in Largo, Florida. Post-residency, her passion for medical education led to a position as Family Medicine Core Faculty at Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville where she provided a full spectrum of care from newborns to geriatrics. Dr. Tarasenko is very passionate about mental health care and believes that the key to a great relationship with patients is establishing good rapport. Therefore, she makes every effort to embody the osteopathic philosophy of incorporating the mind, body and spirit as a unit into the evaluation of every single patient. Dr. Tarasenko also provides guidance in preventative care to prevent future disease states.

Dr. Tarasenko has truly enjoyed residing in Tampa Bay and as a result has chosen to stay and practice in the area. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and young daughter. She also loves to cook and stay active as much as possible.

Physician Assistant Yolanda Terrell is joining the city of Clearwater Onsite Health Clinic as a full-time member after working part-time since October 2018. She received her medical training through the Air Force starting as a medic and then going through an Interservice PA program to complete a Bachelors Degree, then Masters Degree in Physician Assistant Studies through the University of Nebraska. She served 10 years in the Air Force, with last station at MacDill Air Force Base, before completing her commitment. She now enjoys time with family, having met her husband in the Tampa Bay Area. Her parents and brother also migrated to Florida. Free time is now spent enjoying the Florida winters outdoors and pool time in the summer.

Amanda "Mandi" Houessou has been in the medical field since 2005, starting as a Certified Nursing Assistant, then became a Licensed Practical Nurse and then she obtained her nursing degree. After receiving an Associates of Science in Nursing degree, she worked in family practice for year. From there, she moved into a leadership role as the clinical supervisor for six orthopedic surgery offices. She managed their clinical operations for almost five years prior to moving Tampa. Once in the Tampa area, she began working for a large hospital organization as the office nurse and was quickly promoted to Practice Administrator as her most recent position that she held for two years prior to joining Evernorth. As the Practice Administrator, she managed the operations of five primary care offices.

She currently has her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and is in school for a dual Master of Science in Nursing/Master of Business Administration.

Ali is a native Floridian. She is technically a second-generation Floridian as both of my parents were born and raised here as well. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for ten years now and has two beautiful daughters. She has been an MA since 2010 within Pinellas County using her skills in internal medicine and nephrology. She loves helping others. She really enjoys being with her family, going to the beach and going to her favorite place, Disney World!

Nancy Core is a Registered Medical Assistant and also works the front desk at the Employee Health Center. Her educational background is extensive. She has a AS in Forensics, Crime Scene Certification, and RMA Certification and a BS in Public Safety Administration. She has had 10 years of experience in the field. Her areas of expertise include patient care and customer service. Nancy loves adopting animals that are less fortunate. Her hobbies and interests include gardening, cooking and painting ceramics.

Denise has a degree in Associated Sciences, and is Phlebotomy Certified. She has 8 years of experience as a Medical Assistant. Her specialized areas are in phlebotomy and EKG services. Denise wants her patients to know that she uses a loyal code of ethics in her approach with her patients. Outside of work Denise enjoys swimming and going to the beach.

Are you aware of all the in-house services our Employee Health Center provides?

The EHC provides primary care, urgent & episodic care, and ancillary services. Included in those are vaccines, biometrics and lab draws. A dispensary is also available for easy access to certain medications.

We are here to help you stay on top of your health.

There are thousands of retail pharmacies in your plan’s network. They include local pharmacies, grocery stores, retail chains and wholesale warehouse stores – all places where you may already shop.

Every pharmacy in your plan’s network can fill 30-day prescriptions, and a select number of pharmacies can fill 90-day prescriptions. This is a list of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the United States that participate in the Cigna 90 Now network. It’s not a complete list of in-network pharmacies. You can go to Cigna.com/Rx90network to find more pharmacies in your plan’s network.

Remember that with the Cigna 90 Now program, all 90-day prescriptions must be filled at a retail pharmacy approved to fill 90-day supplies, or through Express Scripts Pharmacy®, our home delivery pharmacy (if your plan allows). In this list, pharmacies that are approved to fill 90-day supplies have this symbol 90 next to them.

Consider using Express Scripts Pharmacy. Home delivery is a convenient option when you’re taking a medication on a regular basis. With just a few simple clicks of your mobile phone, tablet or computer, your important medications will be on their way to your door (or location of your choice). To learn more, go to Cigna.com/homedelivery. To get started using home delivery, go to my.cigna.com/choosehomedelivery and follow the online instructions for how to move your prescription.

• Easily order, manage and track your medications on your phone or online
• Standard shipping at no extra cost4
• Fill up to a 90-day supply at one time
• Helpful pharmacists available 24/7
• Automatic refills and refill reminders so you don’t miss a dose
• Payment options if you need help paying for your medications

During the initial phase of COVID, the city's Employee Health Center was able to lift dispensing guidelines, including the ability for customers to stop in and pick up prescriptions without an appointment with the provider. The Employee Health Center is no longer able to do this.

Per the state of Florida and Evernorth Direct Health Policy, the clinic is reverting back to its previous policy. All patients receiving dispensed prescriptions must have a visit with the provider and have an associated medical record entry for the visit.

• This means if you have to cancel your appointment, have lost your medications or need to push your appointment back, the clinic will call in a short supply of your medication to the pharmacy of your choice, as a one-time courtesy, until you have your appointment with one of the providers in the health center.
• The clinic is unable to fill these prescriptions from our on-site dispensary without an associated appointment. This is for the safety of your health and a state requirement.
• You will be responsible for any charges from the associated pharmacy.

Please reach out to the city of Clearwater's Employee Health Center at (727) 298-1788 or email to clearwateremployeehealthcenter@evernorth.com with questions.

Ordering COVID tests through the free at-home test program was suspended on Friday, September 2 because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests.

Learn more: covidtests.gov

The Employee Health Center offers COVID testing for travel.

We offer rapid testing only, so make certain this fits your travel requirements. We can also test you for exposure without symptoms. Call to schedule your appointment at (727) 298-1788.

Learn more at covidtests.gov/faq.

Love yourself and your loved ones by getting vaccinated.

Clearwater's Employee Health Center offers several adult vaccines at no cost to you:

• COVID Vaccine & Boosters: 2 doses initially, 1 dose booster
• Flu Vaccine: 1 dose annually
• Hepatitis A Vaccine: 2 doses
• Hepatitis B Vaccine: 3 doses
• Shingles Vaccine: 2 doses (age 50 )
• Tdap Vaccine: 1 dose every 10 years or with each pregnancy
• Pneumococcal Vaccine (Pneumovax 23*): (age 65 or individuals 19 with certain chronic medical conditions, alcoholism, or cigarette smoking)

Schedule your vaccine appointment today by calling (727) 298-1788.

Regarding COVID Vaccines

The vaccine supply and eligibility for the vaccine are determined by the state, and we’re proud to be part of the effort to vaccinate all who meet the state's current guidelines. It’s important that we follow state guidelines to ensure that we are able to receive additional vaccines. We will communicate additional vaccine availability as applicable.

As your trusted health care provider, the employee health center encourages you to get vaccinated when you’re able to do so. The city will not require employees to be vaccinated.

COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccine is Fully Approved by FDA

For details on the FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioBTech vaccine approval, view this brief informational flyer.

(Note: this link will work only for city of Clearwater employees who are signed on through the city's network.)

Like so many people, you may have questions about Covid-19 vaccinations.

Where can I get vaccinated? Does the CDC consider the vaccines safe? Do I need to do anything else once I receive the first dosage? To get answers to these questions and more, download an informative sheet that will provide guidance.

(Note: this link will work only for city of Clearwater employees who are logged on through the city's network.)

See below section for links to a video series that discusses facts and myths about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Questions?

Billie Woodard, Education and Training Manager
Billie.Woodard@gehringgroup.com | (800) 244-3696

During the 2018-2019 flu season, the flu vaccine prevented an estimated 4.4 million flu illnesses, 58,000 hospitalizations, and 3,500 flu deaths, according to CDC research. With the spread of COVID-19 during flu season, it’s especially important to get a flu shot this fall.

The flu vaccine is both safe and effective — you’ll not only protect yourself and your loved ones, you’ll also help slow the spread of the flu in your community and save health care resources that are needed in the fight against COVID-19.

Who should get the flu shot?

The CDC recommends that everyone age 6 months and older should get an annual flu shot. Talk with your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.

When should you get a flu shot?

The CDC recommends getting the flu shot as soon as possible. Flu season typically begins in October.

Healthy workplace, healthy community.

Organizations are doing everything they can to make workplaces safer for employees. You can do your part to help the community, especially high-risk populations, by getting your annual flu shot.