Maryland Community Health 
Resources Commission
September 29, 2017 | Issue 30
Larry Hogan,  Governor 

Boyd K. Rutherford, Lieutenant Governor

Dennis R. Schrader, Health Secretary
CHRC Commissioners
Allan Anderson, MD
Elizabeth Chung
Maritha R. Gay
Scott T. Gibson
J. Wayne Howard
Surina Jordan, PhD
Barry Ronan
Erica I. Shelton, MD
Carol Ivy Simmons, PhD
Julie Wagner
Anthony C. Wisniewski
Tools and Resources
SAMHSA Releases Reports and Detailed Tables From the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)

On September 7, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the reports and detailed tables from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  These reports are part of the First Finding Reports series for the 2016 NSDUH, an annual survey of the population of the United States ages 12 years or older. The main First Findings Report contains a cross-section of NSDUH data on substance use and substance use disorders, mental health issues among adults and adolescents, and co-occurring disorders. The other reports focus on specific topics, such as receipt of treatment among adults, substance use initiation, and risk and protective factors.  

CDC Releases New report entitled "Preventing stroke deaths"

After more than four decades of decline, progress has slowed in preventing stroke deaths, according to the latest  Vital Signs report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Not only has progress slowed among most demographic groups and states, stroke death rates have increased among Hispanics and people living in the South.
This new report found that the stall in progress is true for 3 out of 4 states across the U.S., not just in the " stroke belt." While the report does not specifically address the reasons behind the slowdown, other studies point to increased numbers of Americans with risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability, but it doesn't have to be. Almost 800,000 people have a stroke each year and more than 140,000 die, even though about 80 percent of strokes are preventable.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Call for Proposals: Building Trust and Mutual respect to Improve Health Care.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Building Trust and Mutual Respect to Improve Health Care. This program will fund empirical research studies to better understand the level of trust patients have across the many facets of the health care system, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations. Deadline is  October 13, 2017.

For more information, click here.

CHRC News
The FY 2018 Request for Proposals to be Released in October

The CHRC Commissioners met on September 12, 2017 to discuss this year's Call for Proposals, which will be released in late October, following the CHRC's next meeting (call) on October 18, 2017.  Letters of intent will be due in mid-November, and final applications will be due in late December.  Following a review period in January 2018, grant award decisions are expected to be made by CHRC Commissioners in mid to late February 2018.  

Inclusion of Medications in SUD Care: Paving the Way to Uncover Opportunities and Challenges

Earlier this summer, the Commission released the second of three white papers that explore the impact of behavioral health programs supported with CHRC funds.  The second white paper, "Inclusion of Medications in SUD Care: Paving the Way to Uncover Opportunities and Challenges" focuses on CHRC's efforts to increase access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in outpatient, short-term inpatient, and telehealth settings throughout Maryland. Kimá Taylor, M.D., MPH, the author of these white papers, summarized the key findings of her analysis in a presentation to the CHRC Commissioners on September 12.
 
The grants highlighted in the second white paper include:
  • Outpatient substance use treatment programs at Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore City and Calvert County Health Department;
  • Short term inpatient treatment at Potomac Healthcare Foundation's facility in Baltimore City;
  • Telehealth substance use treatment services provided by the Garrett County Health Department. 
The first white paper in the series, "Building a Base for Integrated Care," was published in June 2017 and can be found here.

Grantee News
Charles County Health Department launches the Mobile Integrated Health Partnership 
 
In August, the Charles County Health Department (CCHD) began enrolling patients in the Mobile Integrated Health project, an innovative "public health-EMS-hospital" partnership that seeks to address utilization of EMS and ED services in Charles County. The project assists frequent ED/EMS users to manage their chronic conditions in a primary care setting or at home. Funded by the CHRC in 2016, the project is a collaboration between the Charles County Health Department, Charles EMS, and University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center. Program participants receive home visits from a Mobile Integrated Health (MIHealth) team comprised of a registered nurse, paramedic, and community health worker. The MIHealth team can monitor patients at risk for re-admission due to chronic illness and connect patients with community resources, which improves health outcomes, reduces repeated trips to the emergency room, and reduces calls to 9-1-1. The program was highlighted in the  Maryland Independent on September 13.

Pictured from left to right:
Pamela Gantt, Paramedic, Charles County Department of Emergency Services, EMS; Jennifer Hunt, RN, Charles County Department of Health; Wanda Mahoney, Community Health Worker, Charles County Department of Health
The Asian American Center of Frederick and Frederick Memorial Hospital Host the Frederick Community Health Fair 2017

The Asian American Center of Frederick and Frederick Memorial Hospital are hosting the Frederick Community Health Fair on October 28, 2017 at the Great Frederick Fairgrounds from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM.  Providers will be on site to provide FREE health services including screening for blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, bone density, Hepatitis B, and HIV.  Flu shots and tests for vision and hearing will also be available.  On hand will be a wide range of specialists, and Community Health Workers will work to make sure those with needs will be connected with proper resources.  For more information about the event, click here.