July 2019 edition
Note from DCPCA CEO, Tamara Smith
Summer Greetings,

On June 18th I attended a meeting with Dr. George Sigounas, HRSA Administrator. He outlined HRSA’s strategic priorities and initiatives and the role of PCAs in supporting value transformation. 

In his full presentation, Dr. Sigounas noted the following as priorities: value-based care, health insurance reform, drug pricing, and the opioid crisis. Other initiatives include behavioral health, HIV, Maternal mortality, workforce, obesity and oral health. These are all in alignment with the work of DCPCA. 

I hope the information is helpful and provides some insight into the impact FQHCs have and the future focus of HRSA funding and programs. 

Member Spotlight
Mary's Center Receives Seven Awards for Excellence
Mary’s Center’s excellence of care and leadership have been recognized with seven awards in the last two months. The accolades include the Washington Post Top Workplaces, DC MAP Community Partner of the Year, and DCPCA Health Center Quality Award.

Mary’s Center’s president and CEO, Maria Gomez, also received the Washington Post’s Large Employer Leadership Award, the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s (GWHCC) Hispanic Business Hall of Fame Award, and the YWCA National Capital Area’s Empowering Every Woman Award, and lastly, Mary’s Center’s Addiction Specialist Maria Paige received el Tiempo Latino Powermeter 100 Award.
Whitman-Walker Health Highlighted for HIV Care
For HIV Testing Day, HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) chose to highlight the work of our District's very own Whitman-Walker Health (WWH) in the national primary care digest bulletin . During HRSA's visit to WWH, their team interviewed WWH's team and created videos on WWH's HIV outreach, testing, and prevention program from those who know it personally.

In Washington, D.C., it’s estimated that one in every 20 adults is HIV positive. DC Health reports that 1.9% of the population is known to be living with HIV, and 5% of D.C. residents aged 50-59 are living with HIV. Furthermore, one in seven gay or bisexual men in DC has HIV, and one in three Black gay or bisexual men has HIV. 
DCPCA Department Round-Up
DC Connected Care Network (DC CCN)
Hospital Discharge Innovations to Improve Care Transitions
DCPCA and the CCN are collaborating with the DC Hospital Association, George Washington University Hospital,and several external stakeholders to improve the discharge planning and transitions of care process. 

CCN health center representatives recently participated in a series of deep dives aimed at getting FQHC recommendations for discharge planning. The outputs will be used to help create a standard set of variables necessary for effective care coordination. 
Transitions of Care
The CCN continues to work on transitions of care initiatives aimed at decreasing low-acuity non-emergent ED visits, hospitalizations and readmissions. In the short term, the CCN plans to place ED Liaisons at George Washington University Hospital and MedStar Washington Medical Center.  
We are Hiring!
The CCN is currently recruiting for an ED Liaison and Health Center Program Manager.  Click here for more information or contact Brandon Batiste, CCN COO, at bbatiste@dcpca.org.
HIT/Technology
Enhancement to CRISP DC Clinical Query Portal
CRISP DC is enhancing the Clinical Query Portal Unified Landing Page with a new tab titled Health Records. Health Records is the new and improved portal that will allow users to easily review and print labs, radiology, and transcription reports and view their patient’s imaging worklist all within a single window.
 
With Health Records, the portal now provides:

  • A more visually streamlined experience to make data more consumable.
  • Easier access to lab, transcription and radiology clinical data.
  • Reports within a single view with fewer clicks and less scrolling to access patient records.
 
Once the new Health Records option is available (June 2019), the current Query Portal option will be removed shortly thereafter, since that functionality will now be included within the Health Records option.
 
If you would like to learn more about Health Records or need a refresher on CRISP DC and the other tools available, please log on to userguide.crisphealth.org or contact CRISP DC Customer Care Team at support@crisphealth.org or call 1-877-952-7477.
 Graphic for District Health Information Exchange (HIE)
DCPCA's HIT team created this graphic to assist in understanding how health care practices are integrated in to the District's HIE. Check it out here.
Quality Improvement
 Value-Based Payment News: FQHC P4P Program
Be on the lookout for an invitation from DCPCA and the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) for our August 13th meeting to discuss the latest progress on the FQHC P4P program including Q2 FY19 results and next steps. DHCF has released two transmittals on key program components:


Check out the new web page to house all FQHC P4P materials: https://www.dc-medicaid.com/dcwebportal/providerSpecificInformation/clinicsFqhc
 Tobacco Cessation Training
DCPCA and Community Wellness Alliance, with the support of DC Health's DC3C program, partnered to deliver a tobacco cessation training entitled Ask, Advise and Refer Provider Training: Helping Your Clients Quit Tobacco. The training covers District smoking cessation programs and resources, including methods to link patients to services. Participants discuss how to implement the Ask-Advise-Refer model, including techniques to use for successful counseling. Thanks to our training facilitator Charles Debnam and Breathe DC East of the River Smoking Cessation Program for making this training a great success.

For those who are interesting in attending or hosting this training contact Berlinda Olivier at  bolivier@dcpca.org . 
Expanded Emergency Preparedness Capacity
DCPCA received support via HRSA's Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) to purchase an emergency preparedness planning software for our member health centers! DCPCA has been seeking to reduce the burden of plan maintenance and improve overall utility of these plans for preparedness. 
 
BOLDPlanning is cloud-based, secured software that designs a customized EOP and Business Continuity plan that is designed specifically for each of your healthcare facilities. The software features a number of capabilities including:

  • Emergency communications/alerts
  • Inventory/maintenance of supplies
  • Emergency contact information for staff
  • Maintenance of pre-existing plans and verification that plan meets requirements of CMS Preparedness Rule

We look forward to working with our health centers to implement this software over the next 6 - 9 months. For more information, please contact Megan Loucks, Director of Quality Improvement, at mloucks@dcpca.org.
Policy and Advocacy
Launch of Maternal Health Equity Action Lab
On June 21, DCPCA brought together 7 women with experience in the District’s maternal health system and 13 providers working in that system to launch the Maternal Health Equity Action Lab . The Lab, which is the next phase of our Human-Centered Solutions to Improve Reproductive and Maternal Health project, will support context and content experts to identify and test innovations they believe will make a difference in maternal health outcomes in the District. Interest in the Lab has been extraordinary, and we know there are some amazing leaders we were not able to include in this round . We hope you will stay connected to us, and to the work of the Lab, so that we can pull you in on the next round! 
CoRIE Survey to Impact District Investment in Health-Related Social Needs Technology
District stakeholders who develop, maintain, and utilize resource inventories are all too familiar with the challenges and costs associated with keeping community resource information accurate and useful. The Community Resource Inventory Exchange (CoRIE) Planning Initiative invites stakeholders to explore pathways to improve the quality of available data and decrease the burden on any one agency to gather and maintain robust information. 

With support from DHCF, DCPCA is working to understand priorities regarding how to best share social determinants of health data, use technology to bridge sector divides, and facilitate shifting from a reactive system of care to a more proactive response. Building on DC PACT and the existing District health information exchange infrastructure, we're working through September 2019 to answer these questions:
  • How can we gather and share data in a way that allows us all to do the work we're doing better?
  • What technical solutions should DHCF prioritize in order to strengthen connections between clinical and community supports? And
  • How will this result in better individual and community well-being?


We invite you to complete our survey of heath-related social needs
by July 26th .

We want to hear from you about how we can build a system that enables better, more coordinated systems of care. The survey takes 15 minutes to complete. We are interested in your feedback on current and future efforts to address the social needs of your patients and clients, including specific questionnaires or screeners, or technical tools used.

If you or someone in you know produces a resource inventory for use in referring your patients or clients, or if you would like to learn more about the CoRIE project, please contact David Poms at DPoms@dcpca.org or 202-552-2305. 
Funding Opportunities
Dental Health Funding Opportunity - NNOHA
The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) has a new quality improvement opportunity available to health centers. We are currently recruiting 40 health centers to engage in a 9-month Sealants Improvement Collaborative.   Past Collaborative participants have utilized these methods to help improve their UDS Sealants rate.

The aim of the Sealants Improvement Collaborative is to engage health centers in conducting quality improvement in dental programs. Health centers will provide patient-centered and evidence-based oral health care and use quality improvement methods to improve the oral health of health center patients under 21 years old.  To access the application, view additional details, and read what past Collaborative participants had to say about their experience, please visit our website .   Applications are due by Thursday, August 1st. 
News - District
Mayor Announces Commission on Healthcare Systems Transformation
On June 3, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced establishment of a Commission on Healthcare Systems Transformation chaired by former Councilmember David Catania and Sister Carol Keehan of the Catholic Health Association. The Commission is charged with making recommendations to the Mayor on strategies and investments necessary to transform healthcare in the District by December 2019.

Comprised of representatives from every hospital serving in the District, as well as community partners (including 3 FQHCs,) the Commission also includes government representatives and the DC Hospital Association and DC Primary Care Association CEOs serving as ex officio non-voting members. The Commission will focus on equitable access, emergency room overcrowding, over reliance on hospital care, care transitions and geographic distribution of services. It’s work also includes examination of value-based payment and innovative health care financing that leads to better outcomes. 
Survey of District Residents’ Health Needs
DC Health and DC Hospital Association are seeking your assistance to encourage District residents to share their lived experience, priorities, and opinions on living in DC. The goal of the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) survey is to better identify the needs and strengths of our city in order to better serve residents and improve opportunities for community health. The survey takes 10 minutes to complete, and those who complete it are eligible to enter a raffle for a $100 gift card.

Share these links to help ensure the CHNA reflects the diversity of our city!



If you have events or opportunities to survey District residents in the coming months, please contact Yolette Gray at the DC Hospital Association ygray@dcha.org
Patient Resource: Free 12-week Online Diet and Physical Activity program
GW's School of Public Health is partnering with Alice Bender, MS, RD and the American Institute for Cancer Research to offer a free, 12-week, online diet and physical activity program this summer specifically designed for DC residents called the New American Plate Challenge DC . 

The program is designed to help participants adopt healthy diet and physical activity behaviors aimed at decreasing risk of cancer, but the recommendations apply to the prevention of most chronic diseases. Participants will receive a weekly e-mail with the challenge of the week, and will have access to a private Facebook group where they can interact with local DC area Registered Dietitian/Nutritionists who will be serving as health coaches.  
Mayor Muriel Browser's National Maternal & Infant Health Summit: September 2019
Join Mayor Muriel Bowser at the National Maternal & Infant Health Summit to build on the growing public awareness and interest in this important issue and the District's new approach to ensure the health of women, babies and families.
  • The summit is an opportunity for elected officials, health officials and DC residents to explore strategies to improve perinatal health and address racial disparities in birth outcomes.
  • The event will feature panel discussions, a luncheon, and workshops focused on successes from around the country that could serve as models for best practices.

Tuesday, September 10, 2019 | 9:00 am
Walter E. Washington Convention Center | 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW | 3rd Floor Ballroom Washington, DC 20001

Federal News and Resources
Resources for CHWs in Support of Diabetes
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Diabetes Translation (CDC/DDT) has just released three critical resources to build infrastructure that can finance and sustain community health workers (CHWs) over the long-term, maximizing their impact on diabetes management and type 2 diabetes prevention outcomes. 

Please see CDC’s report from its meeting with CHWs, its j ob aid designed for those who wish to more effectively engage community health workers with better financing and long-term sustainability, and its webinar with innovative technical approaches and an inspiring success story.
HRSA News and Resources
HRSA delivered a presentation on strategic goals and what this means for PCAs and health centers. To download this infographic and to read about HRSA's strategies moving forward, click here.
EHBs Diabetes Action Plan User Guide for Health Centers
Health centers receiving an Operational Site Visit or diabetes targeted TA visit in 2019 will participate in a performance analysis review of the health center’s UDS diabetes measure. The health center will identify three performance improvement actions to reduce the percentage of patients with uncontrolled diabetes. HRSA will monitor the health center’s diabetes performance improvement actions using the EHBs Action Plan Module. Access the Diabetes Action Plan User Guide within the EHBs Help and Knowledge Base to learn the system steps.
Free E-Learning Program on Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals
HHS’ Office of Minority Health (OMH) announced a new, free and accredited e-learning program: Improving Cultural Competency for Behavioral Health Professionals. The program is designed to develop behavioral health providers' knowledge and skills related to culturally and linguistically appropriate services (CLAS).
To catch up on HRSA news, check out the latest edition of the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Primary Care Digest.
Training and Events Spotlight
ACU Annual Conference July 28-31, 2019, Washington, DC
The ACU Annual Conference will bring together hundreds of clinical leaders from across the country, all with an interest in expanding access and improving care for the underserved.

Elevate 2019 Regional Outreach Worker's Conference August 1-2,2019, Washington, DC
This annual conference is the only one that brings together Community Health Workers (CHWs) and other Health Outreach Workers from across the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia region to network, receive continuing education and promote a cooperative approach to the Community Health Outreach Worker industry.

Topic Areas:

  • National & regional CHW association work
  • State-based certification policy status
  • Working with clients with comorbidities
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Mental health crisis intervention
  • Substance abuse and dependency
  • Immigration and health
  • Food insecurity
  • Region-specific breakout sessions

August 1, 2019 9 AM - 5 PM
August 2, 2019 9 AM - 2 PM

O'Connell Hall
Catholic University
597-599 Minnesota Ave NE
Washington, DC 20064

$25 per registrant

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DCPCA Upcoming Events and Trainings
For all events, trainings, and Peer Groups, check out our website at http://dcpca.org/events . The calendar includes group trainings, often available to all members. Trainings specific for a member organization will not appear on our website. 
DCPCA offers an array of on-site trainings, customized to member needs, which include the following opportunities:
  • Blood Pressure Control
  • Billing & Coding
  • Data Analytics via BridgeIT
  • Data Visualization via Tableau
  • EHR Optimization
  • Emergency Preparedness, including active shooter/active threat, stop-the-bleed, de-escalation, and CPR/First Aid/BLS.
  • Front Desk Excellence
  • Meaningful Use
  • PCMH
  • Quality Improvement Techniques and Tools
  • Trauma-Informed Care

There are numerous ways for our members to engage in our ongoing trainings and technical assistance opportunities - so many that it warrants a separate newsletter! See the latest edition of our monthly Training and Technical Assistance Newsletter . For more information, contact Megan Loucks at mloucks@dcpca.org
We Want to Hear From You!
Do you have a great article, story, or health center highlight that you would like to be included in next month’s newsletter? Send to communication@dcpca.org . Seeking past editions of DCPCA Connections? Click here !
| DC Primary Care Association (DCPCA) | http://www.dcpca.org

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.
News - District