What's New
Frequently Asked Questions Now Available for New Access Points Notice of Funding Opportunity
Do you have questions about your New Access Points (NAP) application? Two Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) documents are now available on the NAP Technical Assistance (TA) webpage to assist you:
Recordings from the NAP and UNS Q&A sessions are also available on the NAP TA webpage. The recording of the second NAP Q&A session and additional TA resources will be available soon.
Join the Conversation: I Keep Patients Safe By…
In recognition of Patient Safety Week, HRSA challenges all health center staff to think about how their work contributes to patient safety. Join the conversation in three easy steps:
- Think about how your job contributes to patient safety, and write it on this sign.
- Take a photo of you holding the sign.
- Email the photo and this signed photo release to BPHCpatientsafety@hrsa.gov. NOTE: If multiple people are pictured, we need a completed photo release for each person.
Your photo may be featured in an upcoming issue of the Digest. Thank you for keeping patients safe!
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80% by 2018 National Achievement Award Grand Prize Winner: NOELA Community Health Center
The 80% by 2018 National Achievement Award recognizes individuals and organizations who dedicate their time, talent and expertise to advancing needed initiatives to reach the national goal of regularly screening 80% of adults age 50 or over for colorectal cancer. The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) recently recognized six honorees with the 80% by 2018 National Achievement Award, including awarding HRSA-funded NOELA Community Health Center the grand prize.
NOELA Community Health Center, a nationally recognized Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), provides comprehensive primary and preventive health care services to underserved communities in and around the New Orleans East area. In 2012, NOELA Community Health Center discovered that their colorectal cancer screening rate was 3%. They committed to making colorectal cancer screening a top priority and aimed for an 80% screening rate, aligning their goal with NCCRT’s target. They reached that goal in November 2018 after implementing several evidence-based changes:
- Patient navigation
- Patient and provider reminders
- Practice assessment and feedback
- Improved data analysis and reporting
- Reduced colonoscopy wait times through an Open Access Endoscopy agreement with two area hospitals
Notice of Funding Opportunity for Rural Providers: Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program
HRSA recently released a notice of funding opportunity that will support up to 32 public or private nonprofit health care providers located in rural areas to improve patient care in their communities. HRSA expects to invest approximately $6.4 million for this program, which aims to improve the quality of rural health care through an evidence-based approach to primary care that has proven effective in rural areas.
Previously funded organizations under this program designed and carried out projects focused on coordinated care for patients, chronic disease management, integrated care delivery systems, and reduced admissions for emergency rooms and hospitals, among other issues for rural providers. Objectives for this program, which is competitive every three years, include improved health outcomes, better engagement of patients and their caregivers, and continuous improvement to chronic disease management. Grantees also are encouraged to implement quality improvement activities that measure value by outcomes, establish and maintain PCMHs, and integrate behavioral health into the primary care setting.
View the announcement on Grants.gov to learn more. Applications are due by Monday, April 22.
CMS: Beyond the Policy Podcast
Don’t have time to read lengthy policy documents or participate in training? CMS created a podcast to present important, up-to-date information to inform the broadest audience possible about changes and updates.
The first episode focuses on Evaluation and Management Coding. Last November, CMS finalized changes in the calendar year (CY) 2019 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) to help create a more accessible, affordable, and innovative health care system that delivers quality for patients and empowers them to make the best decisions. The CY 2019 PFS included significant changes to how doctors and other clinicians document office and outpatient visits billed to Medicare.
In the coming months, new episodes will address new proposals, policies, and programs. The first episode of CMS: Beyond the Policy will soon be available for download on iTunes and Google Play.
Substance Use Disorder & Behavioral Health
Building and Sustaining the Behavioral Health Workforce in Health Centers
HRSA’s National Center for Health Workforce Analysis released its Behavioral Health Workforce Projections, 2016-2030, late last year. Analyses include a series of factsheets with national-level health workforce estimates for eight selected behavioral health occupations, state-level projections of supply and demand for behavioral health occupations, and estimates of new entrants into the behavioral health workforce.
The Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center at the University of Michigan, supported by HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce, offers a range of policy briefs and reports covering practitioner characteristics and roles in integrated care. Check out their data visualization tool to explore each recognized type of practitioner and their respective credentialing standards and scopes of practice within each state.
Mapping in Public Health: Opioids and Social Determinants of Health
Please join this upcoming webinar, part of HRSA’s Data for Decision-Making Speaker Series, which will feature Esri’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Este Geraghty, and the Director of the Robert Graham Center, Dr. Andrew Bazemore. They will lead a timely discussion on how organizations can use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map, track, and address public health issues. We will discuss how to use innovative technology in mapping the opioid epidemic and explore the integration of social determinants of health to inform policy decisions.
Thursday, March 7
11:00 a.m.-noon ET
Join the webcast the day of the session
Call-in: 888-233-9404
Passcode: 5100622
SAMHSA Funding Opportunities
These SAMHSA funding opportunities may be of interest for health centers:
Workforce
Building and Sustaining the Behavioral Health Workforce in Health Centers
See this item above in the Substance Use Disorder & Behavioral Health section.
Oral Health
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
Health centers play a pivotal role in increasing access to oral health care for our nation’s most vulnerable populations and underserved communities. In 2017, HRSA-funded health centers provided dental services to 6.1 million patients and dental sealants to over 266,000 children, ages 6 to 9 years with elevated caries risk.
Within their communities, health centers have implemented innovative strategies to address the oral health needs of children. Read a few examples of promising practices from HRSA-funded health centers that may be useful to other health centers interested in enhancing their oral health programs.
Infection Prevention and Control in Dental Settings
HRSA and CDC will host a webinar focusing on infection prevention and control for dental settings. We will review recent documented transmission of infectious agents in dental settings and discuss the implications, as well as standard precautions (emphasis on sterilization and disinfection of patient care items and devices). We’ll share infection prevention and control resources designed to increase adherence with existing recommendations.
Thursday, March 14
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Register here
American Heart Month
Help Your Patients Become Heart Healthy
In observance of American Heart Month, here are some resources health centers can use to encourage their patients’ heart healthy habits:
Additional Resources
Learning Collaboratives from National Center for Equitable Care for Elders
Health centers are invited to join these four-session learning collaboratives offered by The National Center for Equitable Care for Elders, a HRSA-funded National Cooperative Agreement (NCA).
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Addressing Common Geriatric Syndromes Associated with Diabetes
Diabetes in older adults is associated with an increased prevalence and incidence of geriatric syndrome: functional disabilities, depression, fall, urinary incontinence, malnutrition and cognitive impairment. Participants will learn about the unique characteristic of older adults with diabetes in goal setting, risk of hypoglycemia and its complications, geriatric syndromes, and effective strategies including how to simplify complex insulin regimens.
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Developing an Environmental Scan of Social/Enabling Services for Older Adults
To improve health equity, health centers must be able to access and address the social needs of the most vulnerable, especially older adults. Participants will develop and conduct an environmental scan around enabling or support services targeted at social determinants of need for older adults with co-morbid chronic diseases.
Her Health, Her Housing: Improving Services for Women Experiencing Homelessness
Learn how to improve services for women experiencing homelessness through trauma-informed, quality care in eight CME-accredited webinars from The National Health Care for the Homeless Council, a HRSA-funded NCA. Their virtual training series features national experts and explores a variety of topics including the intersection of violence against women and homelessness, how to improve care for pregnant women who are homeless, and more. Learn more and register for individual webinars.
The 2019 Community Health Center Chartbook
This new resource from the NACHC, a HRSA-funded NCA, features graphs, figures, and maps showing health centers' services, patients, finances, workforce, economic impact, challenges, and more.
Social Media in Healthcare: Lessons for the Digital World
In today’s digital age, it is easier than ever to share information and reach a massive audience within seconds. However, it is also easier than ever to share incorrect, sensitive, or private information in a way that is public and permanent. Misuse of social media can impact a health center's reputation, violate patient privacy, and even impact patient care. A webinar from ECRI Institute, presented on HRSA’s behalf, will address some of the most common topics related to social media, including:
- Implementing a social media plan in your health center
- Responding to negative reviews about the health center posted online
- Addressing smartphone risks other than social media (e.g., distractions, texting)
- Responding to patients who record office visits
Real-life scenarios and case studies will highlight the potential pitfalls of social media use as well as important risk management strategies.
Join one of these two sessions:
Tuesday, March 5
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Wednesday, March 6
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
Patient Safety Week Webcast: Improving Diagnosis in Primary Care
Patient Safety Week is March 10-16. HRSA will host a webcast featuring Dr. Gordon Schiff, a general internist and Associate Director of Brigham and Women’s Center for Patient Safety Research and Practice, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Quality and Safety Director for the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care. Dr. Schiff will speak on improving diagnosis in primary care.
Wednesday, March 13
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Join the webcast the day of the event
Patient-Centered Medical Home Office Hours
HRSA contracts with The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to provide TA and training to health centers on the NCQA PCMH recognition process. We encourage health centers to attend an upcoming open forum hosted by NCQA’s Government PCMH Recognition Programs (GRIP), which will address questions related to NCQA’s PCMH standards, applications, and survey process.
Monday, March 4
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Register here
For more information, visit the HRSA Accreditation and Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition Initiative webpage.
Laying the Foundation for Obesity Assessment and Management: An Introduction to the AAP Obesity Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment Algorithm
Save the date for a Bright Futures webinar presented by HRSA. A member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Obesity Leadership Workgroup will address these topics:
- Key components of a comprehensive obesity assessment (for patients ages 2-21) in the context of a well visit
- Ways to engage patients and families in treatment
- Obesity-specific family history, physical exam and review of systems
- Potential laboratory and diagnostic tests for those at risk of co-morbidities
- Key Bright Futures anticipatory guidance
Thursday, March 7
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Join the webcast the day of the session
Call-in: 888-399-8606
Passcode: 6921792
Building a Foundation for Healthy Active Living: A Focus on Childhood Obesity Prevention during the First Five Years
During this recorded webinar, HRSA offered an opportunity for providers to learn about childhood obesity prevention:
- Why are the first five years of life critically important from an early obesity prevention perspective?
- How can health care providers support families in establishing and maintaining healthy, active living-related behaviors?
Dr. Sandra G. Hassink, previous president of the AAP and internationally recognized expert in child obesity prevention, discussed key anticipatory guidance and counseling techniques and desired actions (for the health care provider and parent). She also highlighted tools and resources to support implementation. Visit the Health Information Technology, Evaluation and Quality Center webpage (HITEQ, a HRSA-funded NCA is hosting this resource) to watch the webinar recording and download presentation slides.
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