YOUR MONTHLY NEWS

Welcome to our newest edition of our e-newsletter! The HCAN Hub is a monthly publication for Nebraska Community Health Centers and their partners. Each month we will have a different focus topic and feature best practices, resources, trainings, and much more!
PROMISING PRACTICES: ORAL HEALTH 
This promising practice is shared by
Bluestem Health in Lincoln, NE

Please give an overiview of the work completed:
In July 2018, Bluestem Health applied for the Safety Net Solution In-Kind Dental Program Technical Assistance. This opportunity was first brought to our attention by Jenna Thomsen, Director of Training and Technical Assistance at HCAN. Bluestem Health's dental clinic was one of ten programs selected to receive this technical assistance. The process included:

  1. Practice Analysis (practice management data survey, key practice data, site visit)
  2. Findings and Discussions (presentation, discussion, strategy)
  3. Improvement Plan (action steps, road map, timelines)
  4. Supported Implementation (coaching, guidance, motivation, accountability)

Beforehand, we were required to submit key practice data. The whole process was run very efficiently. Dr. Russell and Caroline from Dentaquest served as project managers. They came for a site visit and met with dental staff, billing staff, and the leadership team. Bluestem is currently in the 'Improvement Plan' stage, with some action steps completed and some in progress. This technical assistance will end February 15th, 2021. The advice that I would give other dental programs considering this process, is to apply. We received helpful guidance from Dr. Russell and Caroline and gained access to resources such as templates, advice, and reminders. Getting your dental program evaluated from an outside perspective is helpful and can result in a cascading effect of other positive outcomes similar to what Bluestem experienced, such as the HRSA grant and revenue cycle analysis technical assistance from HCAN.

To read more about this promising practice, click here.
Do you have a promising practice you'd like to share? Please email Jenna Thomsen at JLT@hcanebraska.org .
GIVING KIDS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT:
ADA PRESIDENT DR. CHAD GEHANI ON NATIONAL CHLIDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH
This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter welcome Dr. Chad Gehani, President of the American Dental Association which is observing National Children’s Dental Health Month. Tooth decay is the largest unmet health need for children in America, they discuss the ADA’s Give Kids A Smile program in which thousands of dentists and other dental health professionals provide free care to tens of thousands of kids every year. They also discuss the impact of water fluoridation as a successful public health intervention against tooth decay and the need for improving access to care for all Americans.

To listen to the broadcast, click here.
WEBINAR: 2019 ANNUAL UPDATE ON
THE UDS SEALANT MEASURE

This webinar highlights the most successful strategies to increase the percentage of children receiving sealants and increase the HRSA UDS Sealants Measure percentage. Results and trends from the first four years of data for the measure will be shared. Work-arounds to address data collection and reporting will be briefly described for those health centers that are not yet using an EDR vendor-developed solution to collect the data elements of the measure (age, patient of record, risk status, exclusions, and sealants placed). Commwell Health, an FQHC, will also discuss how they have improved their UDS Sealants Measure through their work in the NNOHA Sealants Improvement Collaborative. Bring your HRSA UDS Sealants Measure questions! This webinar also reviews content from the NNOHA Annual Conference session.

To listen to the webinar recording, click here.
WEBINAR: THE ORAL HEALTH IMPACT
TOBACCO, MARIJUANA, AND VAPING IN PATIENTS
IN PUBLIC HOUSING
DATE: Friday, February 21st, 2020
TIME: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm CST

This webinar will be presented in partnership with the National Network for Oral Health Access. Tobacco, marijuana, and vaping have long-term effects on oral health. Tobacco use is an ongoing challenge for patients who live in public housing. With emerging issues like marijuana and e-cigarettes, health centers that serve patients in public housing need to learn how to address these issues to improve health outcomes. This webinar will review data of tobacco use in public housing and the oral health effects of tobacco use. Zufall Health Center will discuss their programs to reduce smoking and vaping with their patients.

To sign up for the webinar, click here.
DATE: Tuesday, March 31st, 2020
TIME: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm CST
LOCATION: Hyatt Place Lincoln/Downtown Haymarket in Lincoln, NE*
REGISTRATION FEE: $75/attendee**

Please join Dr. Steve Geiermann with the American Dental Association and Dr. Bob Russell of the Iowa Department of Public Health for a one-day workshop in Lincoln, NE, on Operational Site Visit (OSV) readiness and interdisciplinary, community-based approaches for oral health programs. 5.75 ADA CERP Continuing Dental Education credits will be available.

Questions? Please reach out to Jenna Thomsen at JLT@hcanebraska.org .

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Click here to register now.

* A discounted hotel block is reserved for this workshop. Details to book hotel accommodations will be provided once you successfully register. Room reservations are due no later than March 10th, 2020.
** Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack are included in registration fee.
HCAN MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Alex Bakke, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN
Director of Clinical Quality | HCAN


What would you like to accomplish in your role?
I hope to help health centers enhance their ability to provide high quality, holistic care through working with leadership and front line staff to remove barriers and provide technical assistance to achieve their goals.

What resources do you use most in your role?
The most important resource in my role is the full support, trust and openness of health center leadership and staff. With leadership and staff engagement, I can utilize Six Sigma and Lean methodologies to enhance clinical capacity, improve quality metrics, and drive value based care efforts. I have experience in facilitating large improvement teams as well as project management to ensure we meet our targets and goals. I am also continuing to work as an emergency department nurse on the weekends to stay in touch with the challenges and realities that our patients and clinicians face daily.

What is the best part of your job?
The best part about my job is being able to highlight previous unseen opportunities for improvement and leading staff to create solutions that work best in their clinic.

Tell us a little more about you.
Family: I am married with 6 rescued fur-babies; 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 guinea pigs! They are as sweet as can be. Community Involvement: Graduate of Leadership Omaha (Class 41), STOP THE BLEED Instructor (Train the community how to control bleeding in trauma situations), "Big Couple" with my husband for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, I am honored to serve on the Young Professionals Board for March of Dimes in Omaha, as well as the All Holy Spirit Greek Orthodox Church Board of Directors and Strategic Planning Committee. Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, Hockey (Go Bruins!), Dog Obedience Training, and Being a Animal Rescue Foster Home, puzzles, and of course binge watching the latest TV show!
Dental Kits provided to Nebraska Health centers!

Thanks to HCAN’s 2019 annual sponsors, we were able to purchase nearly 3,500 pediatric dental kits for Nebraska health centers this winter. This was a wonderful opportunity to support the health centers, pediatric patients and their families following needed trips to the dentist! The Quantum Labs patient kit includes: 

  • Kids' toothbrush
  • Floss
  • Toothpaste
  • 2-minute sand timer
2020 NCDHM CAMPAIGN
 
The February 2020 National Children's Dental Health Month is brought to you by the American Dental Association.
 
This month-long national health observance brings together thousands of dedicated professionals, healthcare providers, and educators to promote the benefits of good oral health to children, their caregivers, teachers and many others.
 
This year's NCDHM campaign slogan is:
"Fluoride in water prevents cavities!
Get it from the tap!"
 
Downloadable resources, fun activity sheets, posters, and flyers can be found here.
UPCOMING: MARCH IS NATIONAL COLON CANCER MONTH

The Nebraska Cancer Coalition is working to ensure that at least 80% of adults 50 and older in your community receive lifesaving colon cancer screenings. Nebraska Cancer Coalition's new TIME TO FIGHT BACK campaign educates and empowers patients to talk to their healthcare provider about screening options. As their most trusted source of healthcare information and guidance, we need your help to accomplish our goal. In addition, Friday March 6th is wear blue day for colon cancer awareness.

Resources to download can be found here.
Health Center Association of Nebraska | Website
The HCAN Hub 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 $745,450 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. 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.