What's New
TWM Wrap-up
If you missed last week’s TWM webcast, access the slides and the recording on our website. The resources we shared are included in the “Did You Miss It?” section.
Our thanks to former BPHC Associate Administrator Dr. Marilyn Gaston for joining Jim for a wide-ranging and spirited discussion of her experience leading the program in the 1990s. We expect the Health Center Program history video we shared and the related web content to be available later this month. Don't worry — we'll let you know!
Upcoming TWM webcasts will be on Thursday, June 27, and Thursday, July 11. More details soon.
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NEW DATE: First Annual Emergency Management Process Webinar
Health center staff, you can now register for our first annual emergency management process webinar:
Tuesday, June 25 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Registration page
We’ll cover communications, grant-related actions, CMS’ emergency preparedness rule, and resources.
COVID-19 Survey Availability
We have received a lot of questions related to the timing of the Health Center COVID-19 Survey. It typically opens between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. ET on the first Friday of the month and closes the following Thursday at 11:59 p.m. local time. We included an example and details on how to get notified when the survey opens in last week’s Digest. Read that announcement.
LESS THAN ONE WEEK LEFT: Participate in the Grantee Satisfaction Survey
HRSA’s Grantee Satisfaction Survey closes next Monday, June 10. Your feedback is critical to ensuring we continue to improve and support your work in the best way possible. Your insights are invaluable to us, and taking the survey will only take 20 minutes.
Project Directors received the survey and reminders by email. Questions or concerns about the survey? Email HRSA Grantee Survey. Together we can make a difference!
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Quality Improvement Fund Primary Care Innovation Forum
We’ll feature the first Quality Improvement Fund (QIF) cohort, the Optimizing Virtual Care awardees, at our first-ever forum. We’ll use the event to launch new TA to support innovation. Presentations will focus on virtual care strategies using technology and innovation to enhance access to care, improve clinical quality and coordination, and promote health equity. We strongly encourage health center staff interested in providing virtual care to register — you’ll receive updates about the forum, and the presentations and recording afterwards.
Tuesday, June 25 12:30-5:00 p.m. ET Registration page
Patient-Centered Medical Home Health Equity TA Symposium
Registration is now open for this annual symposium, which we host in partnership with The Joint Commission. Join your peers and experts to hear about and discuss best practices and lessons learned in health equity, quality improvement, and accreditation and recognition. Visit the event website (link is below) to learn more and register.
Tuesday, July 16, and Wednesday, July 17 Noon-4:00 p.m. ET Symposium website
Participate in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
Each year, CDC invites selected health centers to participate in the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) Health Center Component. They launched this year’s effort in March. If your health center received an invitation, we encourage you to participate!
NAMCS results highlight the important work and needs of health centers and inform research, policy, and actions to address emerging public health challenges. The survey provides detailed insight into ambulatory care at the level of individual visits — complementing the aggregate, health center-level information from UDS. NAMCS data is confidential, and its use is limited, with public data aggregated for confidentiality.
If your health center is invited, contact CDC by email or phone (800-307-0134 or 301-458-4050) to confirm participation and continue to respond to emails and phone calls for further instructions. Participants may be eligible for compensation of up to $10,000 to help defray related expenses. Learn more on CDC’s website.
Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to CEO Succession Planning
CEO succession planning is an important board role, but one that may challenge boards. Visit the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse to see a new resource from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) that defines this planning. It also identifies obstacles to planning and offers solutions.
Value-Based Payment Learning Series
NACHC designed this learning series to meet health centers and their partners wherever they are along the value-based payment readiness continuum, whether that’s in the planning, implementing, or optimizing stage. This is for leadership and those who work in financial, clinical, or quality improvement roles. Visit the series page on NACHC’s website for details and registration.
New CDC Heat and Health Index
The Heat and Health Index — a complement to other recently released HHS heat-related tools — helps identify communities where people are most likely to feel the effects of heat on their health. It incorporates information on community characteristics, such as pre-existing health conditions, socio-demographic factors, and features of the natural and built environment. Visit CDC’s website to access the index.
USDA’s Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids
These USDA programs can help your health center tackle childhood hunger during the summer months. Families now have more choices and convenience to support their children and teens’ nutrition needs. The programs offer free summer meals for kids 18 and under and new grocery benefits for eligible school-aged kids. Visit USDA’s SUN Programs website to find out more and access campaign materials to get the word out in your community.
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Behavioral Health
HRSA Program Ensures More Eligible SUD Disciplines for Loan Repayment
HRSA’s SUD Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program expands access to SUD treatment by extending loan repayment opportunities to providers such as bachelor’s-level SUD counselors, behavioral health paraprofessionals, and clinical support staff. The STAR Loan Repayment Program provides up to $250,000 to eligible health professionals in exchange for a six-year, full-time service commitment. Visit HRSA’s website to apply by 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27.
Loan Repayment Available for Pediatric Specialty, Child, and Adolescent Mental Health Providers
HRSA's 2024 Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program is open to eligible clinicians who provide pediatric specialty care or mental health treatment and support to children and adolescents. Clinicians who commit to serving for three years at an approved site in a health professional shortage area, medically underserved area, or to providing care to a medically underserved population can receive up to $100,000 in loan repayment support. Visit HRSA’s website to apply by 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 9.
CDC State Tobacco-Related Disparities Dashboard
The state tobacco-related disparities dashboard, available on CDC's website, is an intuitive visualization platform. Use it to quickly explore cigarette smoking prevalence and related disparities in states by numerous factors. It can help you identify opportunities for improvement and action.
Naloxone 2.0 – Evidence-based Distribution Models
Join to learn best practices (including the best venues) for naloxone distribution and identify why needs-based naloxone is necessary to decrease overdose.
Thursday, June 13 1:00-1:30 p.m. ET Registration page **0.5 CE available for behavioral health professionals**
HIV
Ending Stigma through Collaboration and Lifting All to Empowerment
We’re collaborating with the National Minority AIDS Council and others on this webinar developed to help you recognize the signs and impact of stigma in health care. Participants will be provided with practical solutions from HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau-funded project ESCALATE on how to reduce stigma as a health care team.
Tuesday, June 11 Noon-1:00 p.m. ET Registration page
Hypertension
New Hypertension in Pregnancy Change Package
Visit the Million Hearts website to download their Hypertension in Pregnancy Change Package. This quality improvement guide is full of tools and resources gathered from and tailored for clinical teams caring for pregnant and postpartum women in outpatient settings. Share it with your colleagues and networks. Select at least one change idea to implement and collaborate with others to expand the reach of this important work.
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Workforce
Creating Policies and Processes to Support Workforce Well-being
Join us to walk through key facets of just culture (a concept that promotes open and honest discussion of safety events to support continuous improvement), psychological safety, and tools to improve workforce trust and engagement. You will gain strategies to build an inclusive workplace, prevent harm and bias, and empower staff to identify inefficiencies and co-design solutions.
Wednesday, June 26 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET Registration page
Effective Onboarding for Workforce Well-being
Are you interested in identifying onboarding strategies for your organization? View our recent webinar, “Onboarding: The Beginning of Workforce Well-being,” then join our interactive office hour session to share your questions. Our experts will also address common challenges and share strategies. You will be able to identify at least one way to improve your organization’s onboarding process.
Thursday, June 27 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET Registration page
HRSA Loan Repayment Programs for Behavioral Health Professionals
See the announcements above.
Additional Resources
Webinar Recording Available: Genital Herpes: Approaches to Diagnosis and Management
Our April 24 webinar for clinicians and other providers covered the epidemiology of genital ulcer disease (typically caused by genital herpes). Speakers used examples to teach recognition and assessment of genital herpes. They also addressed the limitation of serological testing, disease management, and prevention strategies. Complete our form to access the webinar recording.
Utilizing Pharmacotherapy to Manage Obesity and Overweight Conditions
Join our webinar to hear from experts on the benefits and risks of the six FDA-approved anti-obesity medications (including semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide). We will also highlight how you can use HRSA's 340B discount program to help patients access medications to help achieve and maintain a healthier weight.
Monday, June 10 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET Registration page
New Report: The Health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Served at Health Centers: An Analysis of the 2022 UDS
The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations’ (AAPCHO) report examines patient demographics and use of health services at health centers serving Asian Americans (AAs) and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders (NH/PIs). It highlights the differences between the data for these centers and the national averages from the 2022 UDS data set. Download the report (PDF).
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Community Health Center Strategies for Diabetes Prevention in AAs
AAPCHO’s report outlines considerations, context, and strategies for improving diabetes prevention among AA patients. The resources, tools, and promising practices come from health center participants and guest speakers from three learning collaboratives (2021-2023). The report includes quality improvement and prevention strategies that center cultural humility and person-centered care within and beyond the health center walls. Visit AAPCHO’s website to download.
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In case you missed it: Visit the Primary Health Care Digest archive.
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