Note from DCPCA CEO, Tamara Smith
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Welcome to our launch of the new DCPCA Monthly newsletter – “Connections.” Our goal is to share useful, relevant and timely information with you and to highlight the great work our hea
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th center members are providing. We welcome your feedback.
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Meet Naseema Shafi, the new CEO for Whitman-Walker Health
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On January 10, 2019, Whitman-Walker Health announced the appointment of Naseema Shafi, as the new Chief Executive Officer of Whitman-Walker Health. She was previously the Deputy Executive Director and will replace Don Blanchon, who will now serve as the founding CEO of Whitman-Walker Health System. Read more in their
Open Letter to the Community
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Meet Catalina Sol, the new Executive Director for La Clinica del Pueblo
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Catalina Sol was appointed as the Executive Director for La Clínica del Pueblo on December 1, 2018. Previously, Ms. Sol served as the Chief Programs Officer where she oversaw over La Clínica’s mental health, language access, and community health promotion departments; program integration; and monitoring and evaluation.
Read More.
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Unity's Columbia Road Clinic Achieves Gold Status
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DCPCA’s QI Team is partnering with AHA to provide training on blood pressure control techniques.
If you are interested in trainings, or would like your site to be recognized via Target: BP, please contact Berlinda Olivier at
bolivier@dcpca.org
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DCPCA Department Round-Up
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DC Connected Care Network (DC CCN)
DC CCN Receives Start-Up Funding from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
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DC CCN is grateful for the $500,000 in start-up funding received from A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation to support the development of the clinically integrated network organized by the 7 FQHCs. The DC CCN is supported by the DCPCA who provides administrative services and serves as its fiscal agent. The DC CCN is currently hiring operations and analytic staff and negotiating partnerships with AmeriHealth Caritas and other MCOs. By combining services, creating partnerships and sharing best practices, the CCN will establish a continuum of care that addresses the diverse needs of its patients while improving quality and increasing efficiency of care delivery systems. The CCN will provide a structure, methodology, and resources to support coordinated care to avoid hospitalizations, readmissions and reduce duplication of services and address gaps in care.
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HIT/Technology
Check out the new EHealthDC Website
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eHealthDC
is a multi-year technical assistance and outreach program, operated through DCPCA and funded by the DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF). The program helps eligible Medicaid professionals to effectively use their certified electronic health record (EHR) technologies in compliance with the District’s Promoting Interoperability (PI)/Meaningful Use (MU) program goals. Our team serves as DHCF’s technical assistance arm, providing free support to eligible professionals to help them meet PI/MU objectives and attest to collect annual incentive payments through the District’s Medicaid EHR Incentive Program (MEIP). eHealthDC serves as an important Meaningful Use resource for all District health care professionals, providing guidance on how to use and exchange EHR data data to better serve patients.
For more information about the free services we offer, please visit us at
www.e-healthdc.org.
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Quality Improvement
PCMH Standards and Guidelines Have Been Updated
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On January 29, NCQA released PCMH 2017, version 4, the latest version of the PCMH 2017 Standards and Guidelines. Version 4 adds Behavioral Health Annual Reporting options and updates to the audit process and fee schedule, as well as guidance clarifications.
PCMH 2017 Edition, Version 4, is available for download
via NCQA's Download Center
. Log in using your email address and password.
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New NACHC Partnership for Preventing Heart Attacks and Strokes
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Our
Qual IT Care Alliance Health Center Control Network (HCCN)
has been awarded by NACHC to participate in 3 Million Hearts projects between January 1, 2019 – July 31, 2019! Qual IT is facilitated by DCPCA and HealthEfficient. Through this grant, our member health centers now have access to advanced technical assistance and training to address blood pressure control and cholesterol management. DCPCA would like to acknowledge the following health centers: Family Medical Counseling Services, Unity Health Care, Elaine Ellis and Community of Hope for participating in this Million Hearts initiative.
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DCPCA hosted first De-Escalation Training
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DCPCA hosted a training on de-escalation techniques for member health center staff at La Clìnica d
el Pueblo on January 17, 2019. The training was facilitated by Kevin O’Brien, former Director of Disaster Behavioral Health Services of the DC Department of Behavioral Health. This training was interactive and skills-focused, equipping participants with verbal de-escalation techniques that can be implemented in a potentially dangerous situation in an attempt to prevent a person from causing harm to us, themselves or others. Attendees included members of the DCPCA Behavioral Health and Emergency Preparedness Peer Groups, as well as staff from La Clínica del Pueblo, Unity Health Care, Catholic Charities, and Community of Hope. Given the overwhelming positive feedback to this pilot, DCPCA will be refining this training and offering it on-site at health centers.
To bring this training to your clinic, contact Michelle Ezeofer at
mezeofer@dcpca.org
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- UDS Sealant Measure: Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the sealant measure for children between the ages of 6-9 years at risk for dental caries.
- Health Center Resource Clearinghouse: The Clearinghouse is designed as a one-stop online repository of training and technical assistance resources developed for health centers by the 20 NCAs. Topics include finance, operations, workforce, quality improvement, capital development, HIT/data, governance and emerging issues. Click here to take a look!
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Policy and Advocacy
DCPCA testimony to the DC Council, Committee on Health at DHCF Oversight Hearing
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DCPCA presented testimony to the DC Council, Committee on Health at the DHCF Oversight Hearing. Testimony touched on FQHC payments and rate setting concerns, Health Information Exchange, the Alliance FQHC payment issues, 1115 Medicaid waiver, telehealth and the DC Connected Care Network.
Read More.
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Second Annual #DCPACTLOVE Speed Dating Event Was a Hit!
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DC PACT, a Collective Impact coalition to build connection between clinical and community supports to address social determinants of health, held its second Valentine’s Day Speed Dating event on February 14th. More than 60 participants from social service, clinical, and government partners came together to share their passion for their work and forge new connections with other organizations in the District. In 4-minute speed-dating blocks, participants answered guiding questions such as “What do you love most about your clients?” and “What is your agency best at doing ” Participants made connections to build a community of providers bringing love into their work, their organizations, their clients, and the city. Special thanks to our DC PACT partners at the Institute for Public Health Innovation and AmeriHealth Caritas DC for pitching in and bringing the fun! For more information on how you can join this DCPCA-facilitated coalition, contact David Poms, at
dpoms@dcpca.org
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PHSCOF Grants for Public Health Projects
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The Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Foundation (PHSCOF) is making $5K-10K grants available to non-profit organizations for public health projects, including oral health.
See this webpage
for how to apply by February 22. Grants will be announced in June 2019. The grants are open
to all areas of public health
, with priority given to projects that align with the Surgeon General’s priorities: Opioids and Addiction, Tobacco, Community Health and Economic Prosperity, Health and National Security, Oral Health, and Emerging Public Health Threats. Funds may be used for any type of public health project and may include such things as community initiatives, strategic public health plans, or "proof of concept" intervention projects.
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New Applications for Health Professional Loan Repayment Program (HPLRP)
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The new cycle for accepting new applications for the HPLRP will open on March 15, 2019. Applicants must submit their completed applications by
April 30, 2019
. DC’s HPLRP provides loan repayment (up to $66,809.92) to eligible providers practicing in underserved areas of the District for at least two years. Eligible participants include those practicing at HPLRP-certified Service Obligation Sites (SOS). Applicants must be already employed or have a signed employment contract with a certified SOS at the time of application. A list of approved site can be found here:
here
. Applicant materials are available at:
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HIV-Focused Funding Opportunities Available
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HRSA’s HIV/AIDS Bureau has recently released two NOFOs and updated TA resources for an older NOFO:
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DC Health Releases "Health Equity Report for the District of Columbia 2018"
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The Health Equity Report for the District of Columbia 2018
focuses on the social and structural drivers of health in the District, including education, employment, income, housing, transportation, food environment, medical care, outdoor environment, and community safety. The data in the report shows stark differences in health outcomes rooted in income, race, and geography. We must ask ourselves as a city if we are comfortable with the fact that a District resident in Ward 8 is likely to die 16 years before a resident in Ward 3.
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DC Health and Medical Coalition: Highly Infectious Disease Full-Scale Exercise
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On December 12, 2018, the DC Health and Medical Coalition (HMC) hosted a Highly Infectious Disease (HID) Full-Scale exercise for select healthcare facilities throughout the DC area. The exercise was an opportunity for district agencies and healthcare facilities to work together to support healthcare system preparedness and response in the event of a disaster involving highly infectious diseases. The exercise assessed capabilities in relation to operations, communication, and Personal Protective Equipment for patients presenting with HID symptoms. Thanks to participants from La Clínica del Pueblo, Howard University Hospital, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, and DC Fire/EMS. Findings will support the finalization of the DC Health Ebola Concept of Operations Plan, a plan written in response to Ebola Outbreaks in 2016.
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DC FEMS Right Care, Right Now
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DC Fire+EMS new Right Care Right Now initiative has a
handy FAQ page
to help get your most important questions answered quickly. Beginning March 1, 2018, for some non life-threatening emergencies, a first responder will assess your symptoms and connect you with a registered triage nurse so you can discuss your best options for care. Depending on your needs and symptoms, the nurse may refer you to a local clinic, instead of the hospital, for care.
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March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
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- For tips on promotional messages to use at your site for March, check out this resource from ACS.
- Check out the NCCRT’s fantastic resource repository for tools and webinars to advance your colorectal cancer screening.
- 80% in Every Community is a national initiative to advance colorectal cancer screening and reemphasizes our dedication to partnership, collective action, and the pooling of resources. Our shared efforts are working, community health clinics, health plans, employers, counties, and others are seeing 80% screening rates and higher. Take the Pledge Here.
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DC on Tap to Get New Resources to #ENDHIV
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Citing data that show progress in reducing new HIV infections has plateaued, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching an ambitious effort to reduce new HIV infections by 75% in the next five years, and 90% in the next 10 years. HHS plans to focus its efforts on African Americans, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indians and Alaska Natives, and people living in the southern U.S.
The plan includes
:
- Increased investment in geographic hotspots, including DC
- Using data to track where new infections are spreading and rapidly deploying resources for effective programs
- Funding expansion of the provider workforce prepared to treat HIV and promote prevention
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Report on Role of Health Clinics in Medical Surge Activities
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Nearly 1,400 HRSA-funded health centers, 4,200 rural health clinics, and 1,200 free/charitable clinics deliver affordable healthcare to millions of patients. Their extensive geographic coverage, strong community ties, and ability to serve medically underserved areas suggest that health clinics may play essential roles in ensuring a coordinated response should an emergency strike the communities they serve.
Read More.
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HRSA encourages health centers to visit the
Program Requirements section
of our website. It includes resources that address questions about compliance and Operational Site Visits (OSV), for example:
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DCPCA Training and Events Spotlight
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Join us on May 16th for the 2019 DCPCA Health Summit and Annual Meeting.
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This all day health summit will provide workshops and speakers on various topics related to technology, quality improvement, health equity and workforce development.
Lookout for more information and registration details.
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Upcoming events and trainings
sponsored by DCPCA are on our website at
http://dcpca.org/events
. These are group trainings, often available to all members. Trainings specific for a member organization will not appear on our website.
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DCPCA offeres an array of on-site trainings, customized to member needs, which include the following opportunities:
- Quality Improvement Techniques and Tools
- Blood Pressure Control
- Billing & Coding
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Emergency Preparedness, including active shooter/active threat, stop-the-bleed, de-escalation, and CPR/First Aid/BLS.
- EHR Optimization
- Data Analytics via BridgeIT
- Data Visualization via Tableau
- Meaningful Use
There are numerous
ways for our members to engage in our ongoing trainings and technical assistance opportunities, which include our DCPCA-facilitated Peer Groups - so many opportunities that it warrants a separate newsletter! See the latest edition of our monthly
Training and Technical Assistance Newsletter! For more information, contact Emily Long at
elong@dcpca.org
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We Want to Hear From You!
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Do you have a great article, story, or health center highlight that you would like to be included in next month’s newsletter? Please send to Emily Long, Training and Program Manager at
elong@dcpca.org
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This publication is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $565,223. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
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