Health Center Workforce Well-being Survey Deadline, Flu Guidance, and More! HRSA PHC Digest

A newsletter from the Bureau of Primary Health Care

August 30, 2022

Shape the Future

Less than Two Weeks Left: Be Included in the Health Center Workforce Well-being Survey!
HRSA’s Health Center Workforce Well-being Survey will collect data from HRSA-supported health centers. This data will inform targeted technical assistance (TA) and broad national strategies to support workforce well-being. We hope that all HRSA-supported health centers will contribute their perspective.

Act NOW to be included in this national measure of health center workforce well-being. Health center leaders must commit to participate, including uploading a list of staff emails, by 8:00 p.m. ET on Monday, September 12. This critical step ensures responses are anonymous: It will allow JSI, Inc. (HRSA’s contractor) to set up a unique link for each potential respondent. Email JSI to express your interest. They will send instructions and help you if you need it.

Want to see the questions included in the survey? Have questions about how it was developed or confidentiality?  Visit our recently updated website.


Flu Season Ahead

2022-2023 Influenza Season: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices updated its flu vaccine recommendations for the 2022-2023 flu season. Influenza vaccination of persons aged ≥6 months will reduce symptoms that might be confused with those of COVID-19.

Current guidance for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines indicates that these vaccines can be co-administered with influenza vaccines. Consult the CDC webpage for updated information.


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Jump To:  COVID-19  |  National Immunization Awareness Month  |  Behavioral Health  |  HIV  | 
                Hypertension  |  Workforce  |  Additional Resources


What's New

TOMORROW: Fiscal Year 2022 Ending the HIV Epidemic – Primary Care HIV Prevention TA Session
Last week, HRSA announced a new round of Ending the HIV Epidemic – Primary Care HIV Prevention (PCHP) funding. Read the press release.

HRSA will host a post-award briefing for fiscal year (FY) 2022 award recipients:

Wednesday, August 31
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Visit the PCHP TA page for award recipient information and other resources. HRSA also released new training and TA resources that address the top HIV prevention TA areas requested by health centers.


Deadline Reminder: Service Area Competition Applications for March 1 and April 1 Starts
Service Area Competition (SAC) HRSA-23-020 applications for March 1 starts are due in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) on Wednesday, September 14, by 5:00 p.m. ET.

SAC HRSA-23-021 applications for April 1 starts are due in:

  • Grants.gov: Monday, September 12, by 11:59 p.m. ET.
  • EHBs: Wednesday, October 12, by 5:00 p.m. ET.

TA materials are available on the SAC TA webpage.


NEW Resources Available for Supplemental Funding Awardees
HRSA posted new resources for health centers that have received supplemental funding awards.

“OHCIO” refers to BPHC’s Office of Health Center Investment Oversight.


Congratulations to Community Health Quality Recognition Badge Recipients
HRSA released the 2022 Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges. View the CHQR Dashboard to see if your health center earned a CHQR badge in 2022 for the 2021 Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting period. Find CHQR badge recipient information on the Health Center Program UDS Data webpages.

CHQR badge recipients may request high-resolution badge images via the BPHC Contact Form:

  • Under the UDS category, select “Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) Badges.”
  • Select “Requesting a CHQR badge image” from the dropdown.

HRSA expects to mail certificates to National Quality Leaders and Health Center Quality Leaders by the end of October.


Fostering Workplace Wellness through the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
HRSA presents a webinar to share practical strategies for addressing burnout and promoting employee wellness and resilience. The webinar will feature the director of the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and a panel discussion with health center staff from across the country describing specific strategies they use to foster workplace wellness.

Wednesday, September 14
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page


National Health Center Program Performance Evaluation
Learn about recent Health Center Program research findings on health care access, equity, quality, and cost. Researchers will discuss how health centers have responded to emerging health priorities to better serve their communities.

Thursday, September 15
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page


Patient-Centered Medical Home Office Hours – Health Center Coaching Pilot
HRSA is piloting a Health Center Coaching program to assist health centers in gaining Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition. Learn more and get your questions answered during office hours held by The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA):

Thursday, September 8
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page


Monkeypox Updates


2023 Rural Health Network Development Program
HRSA recently announced a new funding opportunity that will address gaps in service, enhance systems of care, and expand capacity of the local rural health care system. See a bulletin from HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy for more.


Comments Due Next Week: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposes Changes to Shared Savings Program to Advance Health Equity
CMS recently released the Calendar Year 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule for public comment by Tuesday, September 6. CMS encourages all interested members of the public, including accountable care organizations, providers, suppliers, and Medicare beneficiaries, to submit comments so that CMS can consider them as they develop the final rule.

The rule proposes a number of changes to the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) to increase participation in accountable care models in underserved communities, such as providing an option for advance investment payments and smoothing the transition to performance-based risk, among other changes. CMS published materials to help you understand these changes:


COVID-19

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky on COVID-19 Fall Booster Details
Community Health Center, Inc. has a conversations series that features in-depth discussions on health policy and innovation. The hosts recently interviewed the CDC Director about COVID-19 boosters. Listen to the interview recording.


Celebration

Celebrating the HRSA Health Center Therapeutics Program
Since its launch last December, the HRSA Health Center COVID-19 Therapeutics Program has supported health centers to ensure equitable access to oral antiviral treatments for mild to moderate COVID-19. This month, the program crossed the milestone of delivering 100,000 courses of oral antiviral medications to health centers.

The program has also provided TA to all HRSA-supported health centers. We’ve shared provider prescribing guidelines, promising practices in implementing Test-To-Treat strategies, patient education resources, and more. Thank you to all health centers working to improve health outcomes for patients diagnosed with COVID-19!

If your health center would like to participate in this program, use the BPHC Contact Form to let us know. Under the COVID-19 category, select “COVID-19 Therapeutics Program.” You may also call 877-464-4772, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday-Friday (except federal holidays).


COVID-19 Response Program Office Hours
Last week’s session covered bivalent boosters and new resources on long COVID. Register to watch the recording. At the September 6 session, we’ll feature three participants in our Therapeutics Program. They will discuss best practices and community strategies and share success stories.

Sessions are 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET every other Tuesday. Register one time and you’ll have access to all Office Hour sessions from now until February 2023. Though some information may be geared toward COVID-19 Response Program participants, these sessions are open to all HRSA-supported health centers.


National Immunization Awareness Month

National Immunization Awareness Month

Is your health center operating a school-based site or partnering with schools or child care providers? These resources might help:


Behavioral Health

Caring for Women with Opioid Use Disorder: A Toolkit for Organization Leaders and Providers
As part of National Recovery Month, HRSA’s Office of Women’s Health (OWH) and Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs Regions 3 and 9 will host a webinar. This webinar is part of OWH’s Women’s Health Leadership Series, which focuses on emerging issues and innovative women’s health practices by and for HRSA-supported organizations and other safety net settings of care.

Thursday, September 15
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page


HIV

Addressing STIs: Ask. Test. Treat. Repeat.
HRSA supported an initiative to increase the screening, testing, and treatment of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI). Nine clinics in three U.S. regions implemented evidence-based interventions. Join to hear the national findings and get tips and tools from CareSouth Medical and Dental (Baton Rouge, LA) and Family Medical and Counseling Service (Washington, D.C.).

Thursday, September 15
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page


Hypertension

Million Hearts Learning Lab for Health Centers
The Million Hearts Learning Lab is a bi-monthly learning series focused on cardiovascular disease prevention and management topics. The series is open to clinicians, staff focused on quality improvement, and other interested staff, but with a focus on health centers. See session details on the registration page.

**Clinicians may earn 1.0 CME credit per session and up to 5.0 credits for attending the full series through the American Medical Association's EdHub.**

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) co-hosts this series (through a cooperative agreement with Million Hearts) with the American Medical Association. CDC and CMS fund Million Hearts.


Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge

2022 Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge Now Open
Has your health center made significant progress in helping patients get hypertension under control? Consider submitting your application for CDC’s 2022 Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge. Applicants must have achieved hypertension control rates of at least 80% for a 12-month period. The website includes rules and eligibility requirements.


Workforce

Virtual Job Fair
HRSA’s next Virtual Job Fair will take place next month.

Wednesday, September 14
6:00-9:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

We connect health care sites with job-seeking primary care trainees and practicing clinicians. We invite clinicians and trainees to come learn about medical, nursing, dental, and mental/behavioral health job openings.


Human Resources Issue Brief: Employee Freedoms in the Health Center Workplace
This issue brief by NACHC examines employee freedoms in the health center workplace and summarizes legal issues that must be considered when establishing policies. NACHC is a HRSA-funded National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP).


Several HRSA-funded NTTAPs present learning collaboratives:

  • Health Center Remote Patient Monitoring and Digital Health
    The Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality (HITEQ) Center offers health centers support in the strategic implementation of remote patient monitoring (RPM). Through four structured sessions, participants will identify how RPM can help them and consider the best solution for their needs. They’ll discuss how to set up technology and processes, then evaluate and scale (sustainably) these operations. Visit the information page on HITEQ's website.
  • Increase Access to Care Plus
    The National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH) invites health centers to focus on addressing social determinants of health (SDOH). Participants will discuss health literacy and digital literacy for migratory and seasonal agricultural worker (MSAW) populations, as well as how to improve screening of MSAW patients using technology. Visit the registration page for details.

  • Promoting Healthy Choices and Community Changes: A Virtual Workshop for Community Health Workers (content and materials in Spanish)
    Community Health Workers (Promotores de Salud) bridge the gap between underserved community members and health care/community resources. They’re invited to join the National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) to learn how to effectively promote healthy choices and changes at individual and community levels. Sessions will focus exclusively on Hispanic communities living in public housing. Participants will be eligible for continuing education (CEU) and a certificate of completion. Visit the registration page for details.

  • Addressing Diabetes Risk Factors in School-Aged Children
    The National Nurse-Led Care Consortium and the School-Based Health Alliance invite health centers and school-based service sites to join. Sessions will highlight evidence-based programs for virtual and in-person interventions. They’ll also address how best to reach students by leveraging school and other community-based organization partnerships. Visit the registration page to apply by Friday, September 23.

  • Clinical Workforce Development Learning Collaboratives
    Community Health Center, Inc. has upcoming opportunities on comprehensive and team-based care, postgraduate nurse practitioner residency and fellowship programs, health professions student training, and HIV prevention. For each, the goal is to help health centers effectively move from planning to implementation of replicable models. Visit the registration page for details and apply by Friday, September 30.

  • Implementing & Responding to Staff Satisfaction Surveys
    Health center teams are invited to gain an understanding of, and learn action steps for, how best to conduct and follow up on staff satisfaction surveys. Visit the information page on the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s (ACU)’s STAR2 Center website and apply by Thursday, September 8.

Call for Podcast Interviewees
ACU’s  STAR2 Center is looking for health centers and Primary Care Associations interested in participating in a 20- to 30-minute interview for the STAR2 Center Talks Workforce Success podcast series. The series focuses on the importance of employee and organizational well-being to address burnout and compassion fatigue. Tell the story of how your organization approaches and supports staff well-being! If interested, please contact Michelle Fernández Gabilondo. ACU is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.


Additional Resources

Serving Veterans in Health Centers
NACHC developed a two-page fact sheet and comprehensive toolkit to orient health center administrators to the enrollment requirements and program benefits of the VA’s Community Care Network.

They also compiled 10 success stories from health centers supporting the unique needs of military veterans. Topics include oral health care, care coordination, housing, and VA outreach. These stories capture the ingenuity, advocacy, and passion of local health centers giving back to veterans.


Non-Clinical Approaches to Diabetes Prevention: Lessons Learned from Health Centers and Community Partners
In a new publication (PDF), the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) compiles lessons learned from health centers and other community-based partners implementing new strategies for diabetes prevention. These emerged from CSH’s learning collaboratives in 2021-22. Participants were all health, housing, and homeless services providers. The publication will be useful for community-based providers initiating new prevention strategies or seeking to improve their existing efforts. CSH is a HRSA-funded NTTAP.


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Training & Technical Assistance

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Visit the training calendar to learn details about or register for events.

Through September 6

Increasing Prevention Efforts and Self-Management through Community Outreach and Partnerships
Hosted by NCFH, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Tuesday, August 30
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Telehealth and Broadband Funding and Resources
Tuesday, August 30
2:00-3:15 p.m. ET
Registration page

Tobacco Cessation for Persons of Reproductive Age, Including Pregnant Persons
Wednesday, August 31
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Caring for an Aging Population Webinar Series
Hosted by the National Center for Equitable Care for Elders (NCECE), a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, August 31
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Clinicians’ Network Community Conversation: Harm Reduction Strategies for the Fentanyl Crisis
Hosted by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, August 31
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Creating Calm: Effective Engagement with People Who Are Distressed Webinar Series
Hosted by the SAMHSA-funded Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network
Registration page for the series
11:00 a.m.-noon ET on:

Thursday, September 1
Thursday, September 8
Wednesday, September 14

Essential Then, Essential Now: What the Pandemic has Taught Us about the Role of Outreach Workers
Hosted by Health Outreach Partners, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Thursday, September 1
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Fixed-Dosed Combination Antihypertensive Medications Coverage: A Review of Resources for Health Centers
Thursday, September 1
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Prepare by reviewing the FDC antihypertensive medication Medicaid coverage guide

COVID-19 Response Programs Office Hours
Tuesday, September 6
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page for all sessions

Better Assess Your Community Using the UDS Mapper
Tuesday, September 6
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page


Upcoming

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and COVID-19
Hosted by NCHPH, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, September 7
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Demystifying the Sterilization Process
Hosted by The Joint Commission
Wednesday, September 7
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Subscribe key: TJCEd

UDS Basics: Orientation to Terms and Resources
Wednesday, September 7
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Million Hearts Self-Measured Blood Pressure Forum Quarterly Meetings
Co-hosted by CDC and NACHC (with CDC funding)
Thursday, September 8
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Health Network: A Care Coordination Program for Patients Who Move During Treatment
Hosted by Migrant Clinicians Network, Inc., a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Thursday, September 8
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

PCMH Office Hours – Health Center Coaching Pilot
Hosted by NCQA
Thursday, September 8
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Communicating Across Generations: A Discussion on the Multigenerational Workplace, Conflict, and Communication
Hosted by ACU’s STAR2 Center; ACU is a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Thursday, September 8
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

HITEQ Highlights: Cybersecurity Ask Me Anything
Hosted by the HITEQ Center, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Thursday, September 8
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Rebuilding Resiliency with Health Center Leaders and Staff: Addressing Staffing Shortages, Recruitment, and Retention
Hosted by NCQA
Monday, September 12
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Care Mapping: A Valuable Tool for Working with Older Adults and Family Caregivers
Hosted by NCECE, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, September 14
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Fostering Workplace Wellness through the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Wednesday, September 14
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

The Foundation of the UDS: Counting Visits and Patients
Wednesday, September 14
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

FY 2023 NTTAP Funding Opportunity Applicant Q&A Session
Wednesday, September 14
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
If you prefer to join by phone: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 160 042 1437

Today with Macrae: Health Center Program Updates
Wednesday, September 14
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Access details coming soon

Virtual Job Fair
Wednesday, September 14
6:00-9:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

BPHC National Program Performance Analysis Contract Findings
Thursday, September 15
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Caring for Women with Opioid Use Disorder: A Toolkit for Organization Leaders and Providers
Thursday, September 15
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

The World of Motivational Interviewing within Diabetes Self-Management and Prevention (in Spanish with live interpretation in English)
Hosted by NCFH, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Tuesday, September 20
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Preventing Smoking Relapse in the COVID Era
Hosted by NCHPH, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Wednesday, September 21
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

UDS Clinical Tables Part 1: Screening and Preventive Care Measures
Wednesday, September 21
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Retention & Recruitment of Specific Populations Webinar Series
Hosted by ACU’s STAR2 Center; ACU is a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Registration page for the series
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET on:

Thursday, September 22
Thursday, September 29

Special and Vulnerable Populations COVID-19 Forum
Hosted by several HRSA-funded NTTAPs
Friday, September 23
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page (visit to see all dates and times)

Environmental Determinants of Health: Fostering Environmental Health Programs in Public Housing Primary Care
Hosted by NCHPH, a HRSA-funded NTTAP
Tuesday, September 27
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

SDOH and Cultural Humility
Wednesday, September 28
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Treating Patients with Hypertension: What's the Rx?
Co-hosted by NACHC (through a cooperative agreement with CDC) and the American Medical Association
Wednesday, September 28
3:00-3:45 p.m. ET
Registration page
**1.0 CME available**

Clinical Leaders Forum: Dental Therapists’ Impact Discussion
Friday, September 30
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

UDS Clinical Tables Part 2: Maternal Care and Children's Health
Wednesday, October 5
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

UDS Clinical Tables Part 3: Chronic Disease Management
Thursday, October 13
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Reporting UDS Financial and Operational Tables
Thursday, October 20
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Successful Submission Strategies
Thursday, November 3
1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

Webinars are hosted by HRSA unless otherwise noted.