Proactive Primary Care

11/07/2025

It was our pleasure to drop off donations to Chaplain Lee this morning at Fort Detrick! We are so grateful for your service! We plan to make another donation drop off in January. Thank you to all that donated!

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

Please pardon our absence from the office this morning. Proactive primary care staff will be taking the morning to honor our Veterans and active duty US military by taking all of our community donations to Fort Detrick!

11/05/2025

A Valley child who lived with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome before he died wanted to spread awareness about the syndrome.

11/01/2025

“It is with great sadness that we announce the tragic loss of Jake Chandler, who lost his life this past Sunday, October 26th 2025 from a skydiving accident. Jake recently graduated RASP in Class 05-25, officially earning the title of U.S. Army Ranger, 1st Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment.

Jake’s father Jared was a Green Beret; United States Army Special Forces. Speaking with Jake’s father today, he stated the following about his son:

“Jake was a meteor, and I want to thank you for creating an organization that someone like him could show up to and see the path forward. Jake found faith as a lifeguard and he wrapped himself in God’s armor going into the Rangers. We traded Psalms and TTPs. He was gregarious and charming, but a humble friend to anyone he could help. RLTW.”

Jake first came to the SOCOM Athlete program when he was only 16 years old, and we had the pleasure of seeing him develop over the course of 4 years. He first attended our San Clemente Hell Day event on August 7th 2021, right after his 16th birthday. He returned for another Hell Day San Clemente event on November 19th of 2022 shortly after his 18th birthday. He would then return for a third SOCOM Athlete event in San Clemente on April 27, 2024 right before shipping out into the Army with his Option 40 contract. Seeing Jake develop from a teenager to an Army Ranger was such a privilege and blessing. He will forever be loved and missed.

Jake had a personality larger than life, with a powerful energy that uplifted everyone around him. He was highly motivated and committed to his goal of becoming the best U.S. Special Operator he could be, emulating the “gung-ho” personality required from members of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment is currently planning a memorial for Jake, and his family is planning a celebration of life in Jake’s hometown of Southern California.

Please keep Jake’s family in your prayers during these times, and keep Jake in your thoughts as you work hard to be the best version of yourself each day.

“Sua Sponte”

10/29/2025

We’ve been contacted by Chaplain Lee from Fort Detrick, who shared that many military families are currently in need and that their on-base food pantry could truly use our help. We’re honored to have the opportunity to support those who serve our country and their loved ones.

If you’re able to contribute, donations of non-perishable food items, household essentials, or gift cards are greatly appreciated. Every contribution—big or small—makes a meaningful difference for these families.

Together, we can show our gratitude and lend a helping hand to those who sacrifice so much for us.

10/28/2025

🎗️ Did you know the orange you see everywhere in October isn’t just for Halloween? October is also observed as Agent Orange Awareness Month.

Proactive Primary Care Staff honored our veterans today wearing our Agent Orange shirts in honor of those affected by Agent Orange. Although our veterans are no longer on the front lines, many still suffer from medical conditions that are related to the use of Agent Orange. 

🌿 What it is:
Agent Orange was a powerful herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War (primarily 1962-1971) to strip vegetation and deny cover to enemy forces. The name comes from the orange stripe on the chemical drums.
Crucially, it contained a toxic by-product called TCDD (2,3,7,8‑tetrachlorodibenzo‑p‑dioxin) (a dioxin) — a carcinogen that lingers in fat tissue and the environment for decades.

📅 When and why October?
Many states and veterans’ organizations recognize October as Agent Orange Awareness Month. For example, a resolution in Pennsylvania designated October as such. Also, several local authorities have passed proclamations in October recognizing the month. Meanwhile the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) marks August 10 as “Agent Orange Awareness Day” (the anniversary of first use) and holds events then.

📋 What you should know about dioxin & exposure:

Dioxin (TCDD) is known to be highly toxic and carcinogenic; it accumulates in body fat and remains for a long time.

For many Veterans who served in Vietnam (and in certain other locations/time periods), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) presumes exposure to Agent Orange and recognizes certain diseases as ‘presumptive’ — meaning the Veteran doesn’t have to prove the exposure caused the disease, only that the disease is on the list and service conditions apply.

🩺 Cancers and illnesses linked to Agent Orange exposure (per VA):
*Here are examples of presumptive conditions:
Cancers:
Bladder cancer
Chronic B-cell leukemia
Hodgkin’s disease
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Multiple myeloma
Prostate cancer
Respiratory cancers (lung, larynx, trachea, bronchus)
Soft-tissue sarcomas (muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, connective tissue) – excluding osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, or mesothelioma.

Other illnesses:
AL amyloidosis (abnormal protein buildup)
Chloracne (or similar acne-form disease) – must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure.
Diabetes mellitus type 2
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Hypothyroidism
Ischemic heart disease
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
Parkinson’s disease & Parkinsonism
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) – under rating regulations must be at least 10% disabling within 1 year of exposure.

📍 Important regulations & how diagnosis/benefits work:

The VA has a “presumptive” list for certain service-locations/time periods (e.g., Vietnam service between 1962-1975) where exposure to Agent Orange is presumed.

If you’ve been diagnosed with one of the associated conditions, you may be eligible for VA health care and disability compensation.

There is no simple chemical test widely available to prove Agent Orange exposure. Instead, eligibility often hinges on service records + diagnosis + regulatory criteria.

Veterans and their families should explore the VA’s resources: for example the VA page “Agent Orange Exposure and Disability Compensation” gives steps for filing claims.
Veterans Affairs

🔗 Resources for families & veterans:

VA’s main page for Agent Orange related conditions: [VA.gov – Veterans’ Diseases Associated with Agent Orange] (links above)

VA’s health encyclopedia entry: “Agent Orange Exposure for Veterans”

If you served in the applicable periods/locations, contact a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) or the VA for help filing a claim.

Stay informed, attend awareness events (for example the VVMF’s “Bring Light” ceremony on August 10) and share the story.

🧡 Why orange? Because the color evokes the striped barrels of Agent Orange — and acts as a visual reminder of this hidden legacy. When you see orange this October, pause and remember the many veterans and families still impacted.

👉 Call to action:
If you or a family member served in Vietnam (or in other qualifying locations) and have been diagnosed with one of these conditions — don’t wait. Visit the VA website, talk to your VSO, and ask: Could this be related to Agent Orange exposure?
Share this post to spread awareness. Tag a veteran you know and let them know help is out there.

10/19/2025

We are so very blessed with this huge collection for our military donations! Keyser High School should be very proud!

10/12/2025

🌟 Community Connection Spotlight 🌟

The staff of Proactive Primary Care were honored to participate in this year’s Community Resource Day for Allegany County, Maryland! 💙
We had the privilege of connecting with community members and sharing valuable health information and outreach services. Our team provided full vital screenings — including blood pressure, pulse, and temperature checks — and distributed over 100 cold lunch bags, 60+ self-care packs for both men and women, and plenty of new patient information to help our neighbors stay healthy and informed.
We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and support local wellness initiatives. 🩺💪

We are also pleased to annouce that we have been requested to return (this will be our 3rd year participating) and we already have some more awesome ideas in the works!

10/01/2025

🚨 Trigger Warning 🚨 Long post warning 🚨

Some of this information may may contain sensitive or potentially traumatic information.

When you think of the #22 what does that number mean to you? An age? A birthday? An anniversary? Something meaningful makes something like this number embed a memory like that into your brain, right?

Proactive Primary Care providers and staff would like to educate you on something that the #22 brings to mind for us!

“22 a day is too many” — because even one is unacceptable!!!

You may have heard the heartbreaking statistic: 22 veterans a day commit su***de. That number has resonated widely as a symbol of the hidden wounds many carry home.

➡️ Veterans are at 58% higher risk of su***de than those who haven't served

➡️ While the most recent data suggests the number has shifted, the core truth remains: far too many veterans are dying by su***de, and we all have a role to play in prevention.
➡️ According to the 2022 National Veteran Su***de Prevention Annual Report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, there were 6,407 veteran su***des, averaging about 17.6 per day.
➡️ But no matter whether it's 17, 22, or more, each life lost is one too many.
➡️ Veterans as a group die by su***de at a rate 1.5 times higher than U.S. civilians (ages 18+)
➡️ Fi****ms are involved in the majority of veteran su***des — a sobering reminder that lethal means safety matters.
➡️ Why we must speak up, every day The “22 a day” statistic sparked awareness. It helped put veteran su***de on many people’s radar.
➡️ Statistics change, but the imperative does not. Whether the number is 1, 17 or 22, we cannot rest until veteran su***des approach zero.
➡️ Su***de prevention is a community mission. The VA itself calls it “everyone’s business.”
➡️ Every point of contact is a chance to make a difference.

In a primary care setting, we may be one of the few professionals a veteran sees regularly. So small actions can save lives. Checking in, asking the question “Are you okay?”, For providers like us being involved and following up often and facilitating mental health referrals — are powerful!!

You know we love to educate our staff, patients and community here at PPC. So here are some helpful tips!

What can our office (and you) do to help? 🤔

⭐️ Maintain awareness and sensitivity.
⭐️ Ask gentle, open-ended questions (e.g. “How are you doing lately?”).
⭐️ Train on Lethal Means Safety. The VA offers free self-paced training for health care providers to learn how to talk about safe storage of fi****ms or medications. (If you are a provider struggling with open communication with your patient)
⭐️ Foster connections. Encourage veterans to stay socially engaged, maintain trusted relationships, and connect with veteran peer groups.
⭐️ Know the resources. Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988, then press 1; or text to 838255
⭐️ Familiarize yourself with VA outreach & su***de prevention programs
⭐️ Secure Fi****ms in appropriate firearm storage areas like gun safes/cabinets with trigger locks and keys unobtainable.
⭐️ Join hands with local outreach efforts: Over 1,000 community coalitions now partner with VA in preventing veteran su***de.
⭐️ Help spread awareness and educate those around you.

💜🩵 Su***de prevention is everyone’s job. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out today. Help is real, and healing is possible. 💜🩵

***de ***deswareness

09/19/2025

Proactive Primary Care would like to honor and remember all of our POW and MIA. Today is POW/MIA remembrance day. As of September 2025 there are still over 81,000 still listed as missing in action!

09/13/2025

Are you out and about today at Heritage days? Looking for a new Primary Care Provider? Come see our smiling faces and say Hi! We have some health information available, new patient packets, med disposal packets, and more. We also have some goodie bags for the kiddos! Come take a selfie with our mascot “Stretch the Zebra” and help spread some awareness about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. We’d love to see you all and say hi!