Dear Colleagues,
We hope you're doing well, as we round the corner on Labor Day weekend, this edition of Northeast Connections aims to help you digest the multitudes of things happening across the telehealth landscape. We want to start by sharing some exciting news from the NETRC Team: We are pleased to announce that we have been re-awarded the Northeast Regional Telehealth Resource Center Funding, and we're thrilled to continue serving our stakeholders for another 3 years! The NETRC team is also elated to announce that we were awarded the opportunity to collaborate with University of New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy and Practice
and several other regional partners on a regional Telehealth Technology Learning Grant Program, also funded by HRSA! You can read more about both grant efforts here.
Before we dive in, we recognize that the emergence of the COVID-19 Delta Variant has caused us all to once again consider our workflows and operational efforts, and we want you to know that the NETRC team is here to help as you focus on continuing to deliver care to your patients and communities. On a similar line of thought, The NETRC team is excited to announce our upcoming conference will be live streamed, and new Virtual Attendance options are now available! See below or our conference website for more information.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with your telehealth questions or success stories, or just to say hello!
On behalf of the entire NETRC Team – Be well,
Reid Plimpton, MPH - Project Manager
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Annual Conference Updates |
Open Funding Opportunities |
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NETRC's 2021 Regional Conference is Going Hybrid! |
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Registration Rates and Additional Event Information
The NETRC 2021 Conference is ready for lift off! In an effort to ensure as many regional stakeholders are able to participate, the NETRC team has chosen to host the event in a hybrid format, and we are now offering both in person and virtual attendance options! CME & CEU Credits will be available for all attendees.
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Who should attend: Clinicians (CME & CEU available), C-Suite and Administrators, Telehealth Directors/Managers/Coordinators, Payers, Government Agencies, Policy Makers, Students, and anyone interested in learning, networking, and collaborating!
Please note: The NETRC team is carefully following changes in COVID-19 numbers and recommendations from state and federal agencies as the date approaches. We have chosen to pivot to a hybrid (virtual & in-person) format but have contingency plans to further pivot fully virtual event as needed if the scenario indicates that is the best option for participants and speakers at the time. Click Here for the Event COVID-19 Protocols that will be in place for those attending in person. Feel free to contact us directly with questions or concerns.
Questions about the conference? Email our conference coordinator Phonse Allen-Laney at aralaney@mcdph.org
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Attendance Options In Person Virtual
Pre-Conference Workshops- $40 $20
Day 1 (9/23) Only- $95 $50
Day 2 (9/24) Only- $200 $75
Both Days (9/23-9/24)- $250 $100
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NETRC 2021 Speaker Highlights |
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Veena Channamsetty, MD is a Family Physician and the Chief Medical Officer of Community Health Center, Inc. In this role, she is responsible for the clinical leadership of a large staff of medical providers and caregivers for Connecticut’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center. She is responsible for the delivery of evidence-based medical standards, high quality medical care, medical staff recruitment and retention, and provider affairs. Dr. Channamsetty oversees the clinical and non-clinical training, orientation, and onboarding for all new CHC medical providers. With the vision of a stable and solid medical staff, Dr. Channamsetty coordinates clinical care with provider professional interests, promoting provider well-being and work-life balance. Dr. Channamsetty is the President of the Medical Staff and the Chair of the Medical Quality Improvement Committee. She is a clinical preceptor for the APRN residency. Dr. Channamsetty works closely with the chiefs of Behavior Health, Dentistry, and Nursing to promote patient centered interprofessional team based care.
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Michael Hasselberg, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Clinical Nursing, and Data Science at the University of Rochester. He is a leader in telehealth, digital innovation, and technology-enabled solutions required to transition to high value consumer-focused care. Board certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Hasselberg completed his PhD degree in Health Practice Research at the University of Rochester and is also a graduate of The Academy for Healthcare Leadership through the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. Dr. Hasselberg is the first Senior Director of Digital Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center and is the co-Director of the UR Health Lab, the health system’s innovation incubator.
His expertise expands health and technology as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar Fellow and advisor on telehealth modalities to the New York State Department of Health, the Department of Health & Human Services, and the National Quality Forum. He is also a health expert for the XPRIZE Global Visoneering Brain Trust and serves as an independent consultant to several digital health start-up companies and private foundations.
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We've planned an exciting agenda for 2021, with over 20 Breakout Sessions and 5 Keynote or Plenary Speakers! |
Our full program begins at 1:00 pm on September 23rd with plenary and breakout sessions followed by the grand opening of the Exhibit Hall and a Networking Reception at 4:30 pm. September 24th will feature a keynote address, plenary sessions, and a variety of breakout sessions. Our last in person conference in 2019 brought over 200 healthcare providers, administrators, payers, policy leaders, and vendors from across the region to Portland, Maine. We’re excited to be hosting in a new location in our region, and to return to in-person discussions and interactions!
The COVID Public Health Emergency Landscape has necessitated a plethora of new programs to highlight throughout the Northeast, and as we move closer to our new healthcare landscape, there are indications of exciting policy developments on both the national and regional level; given all of this, we are confident that the 2021 event will be our largest conference yet. We hope to see you there in either medium!
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Join us in Participating In ATA's Telehealth Awareness Week! |
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The NETRC is proud to be an Endorsing Partner of The American Telemedicine Association's First Ever Telehealth Awareness Week, September 19-25, 2021. Our 2021 Regional Telehealth Conference on September 23-24 is one of the many excellent ways to join the conversation, network with ATA Leadership, and connect with fellow Telehealth Champions!
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Many Thanks to the Industry Partners & Sponsors for Supporting #TelehealthLaunchpad2021! |
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The Annual NETRC Conference would not be the same without our valued Industry Partners & Sponsors, and we're beyond grateful for their continued support over the years! As the conference planning continues, the NETRC Team is sure this list will grow, we'd like to express a big thanks to our current Industry Partners for their participation, and can't wait to see these folks in September!
Don't miss out on your chance to join our event, there's still plenty of space available in the Event Exhibit Hall, and we'd love to see you there! Additionally, as mentioned previously, the NETRC team is excited to be adding a new feature to our 2021 event, the "Industry Partner Pre-Conference Technology Showcase" featuring participating Sponsors and Telehealth Industry Partners
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NEW NETRC Open Access E-Learning Module:
Telehealth Basics for Community Health Workers
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We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to NETRC’s TelehealthClassroom.org, Telehealth Basics for Community Health Workers!
The design of this course was directly informed by interviews and focus groups with community health workers (CHWs), community health teams (CHTs), and a national survey of CHWs conducted during the early months of 2021. This self-paced training is intended for CHWs, CHTs, patient navigators, health coaches, health educators, peer counselors, and other individuals who assist clients in the prevention, management, and self-management of chronic health conditions using technological tools and telehealth. This course is not intended to replace CHW core competency training, but rather to complement it, and provide CHWs and others with added education, skill building, and access to resources in aiding their clients with technology and telehealth.
The course takes approximately 90 minutes to complete and covers topics such as:
- What is Telehealth
- Telehealth Modalities
- Assessing Technology and Telehealth Readiness
- CHWs: Roles and Implications for Telehealth
- Community Health Worker Skills
- Technology and Telehealth Activities
Like all resources available on TelehealthClassroom.org, Telehealth Basics for Community Health Workers, is available with free registration to this Portal.
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National FQHC Telehealth TTA Partners Roundtable Final Report |
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Through its activities, the Roundtable aimed to maximize the impact of HRSA-funded TTA activities undertaken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as facilitate a timely and evidence-based response to the emerging telehealth TTA needs of health centers as they expand their competencies and capacities in telehealth operations.Three large Roundtable convenings were held in 2021, with a July 29, 2021 Final Report webinar offered to share findings with the community at large. To Read the Final Report, Click Here and you can find the slides from the final session of this workgroup Here
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Open Funding Opportunities |
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FCC/ USAC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program- Program Updates
On August 30th, the FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced over four million households have enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, the nation’s largest broadband affordability program to date. The $3.2 billion
subsidy program initiated by Congress provides a temporary $50 to $75 discount on eligible households’ internet bills during the duration of the pandemic.
program. The benefit is available to eligible new, prior, and existing customers of participating
providers. Customers can sign up by contacting a participating provider, enroll online at
https://www.getemergencybroadband.org, or sign up via mail. To learn more or learn where to
access a mail-in application, call (833) 511-0311.
We invite you to continue working with us to spread the word about this timely program. As a reminder, the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit outreach toolkit is a free, accessible, and effective way to add accurate information and graphics to your outreach campaigns.
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FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund Updates
In late August, the FCC announced that requests for $5.137 billion in funding to support 9.1 million connected devices and 5.4 million broadband connections were received during the Emergency Connectivity Fund Program's initial filing window. The window, which closed August 13, 2021, had applicants from all 50 states and numerous U.S. territories. Additional information about the demand at the state level can be found here.
In view of outstanding demand and the recent spike in coronavirus cases, the FCC will open a second application filing window for schools and libraries to request funding from the roughly $2 billion in program funds remaining for connected devices and broadband connections for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons for the current 2021-22 school year. The second window will open on September 28 and run until October 13. Eligible schools and libraries will be able to apply for financial support to purchase eligible equipment and services for students, school staff and library patrons with unmet needs.
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Upcoming Webinars and Events |
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NEW CCHP Medicaid Webinar Series Report & Fall Webinar Series
Check out CCHP's summary report of the 2020 Spring Medicaid Webinar Series that can be found on CCHP’s website, and the recently announced upcoming Fall Webinar Topics!
The Telehealth & Medicaid webinar series will return this Fall and will take place in September/October focusing on topics such as audio-only, policies that have been made permanent, and the Medicaid program’s reasoning for those decisions. Please stay tuned for updates on confirmed speakers for the Fall series. CCHP will send additional information and announcements about the Fall series in the upcoming weeks. For more information, and to register for future webinars, visit CCHP’s Events page.
Medicaid & Audio Only Friday, September 17, 2021 | 2:00 PM -3:30 PM EST- Register Here
Medicaid & Telehealth Data Collection Friday, September 24, 2021 | 2:00 PM -3:30 PM EST- Register Here
Medicaid & Other State Agencies Telehealth Policies for Patients with Disabilities Friday, October 1, 2021 | 2:00 PM -3:30 PM EST- Register Here
Medicaid & Permanent COVID-19 Telehealth Policies Friday, October 8, 2021 | 2:00 PM -3:30 PM EST- Register Here
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NCTRC Webinar - Thursday September 16th, 2-3pm EST Telehealth Implementation: A Guide & Case Study for Critical Access Hospitals
Hosted by: Northwest Telehealth Resource Center
Description: This webinar provides practical guidance on implementing and sustaining telehealth to optimize health care service delivery, expand access, and enhance care coordination for Critical Access Hospitals (CAH). Just as health care organizations strive to take a person-centered approach to health care, this guide seeks to take a CAH-centered approach to telehealth that keeps the patient and community at the forefront. The target audience is any individual, team or organization seeking to implement or expand telehealth services in the CAH setting.
Presented by: Trudy Bearden, Senior Consultant and Telehealth Lead, Comagine Health
Tressa Keller, Compliance Officer - HIT Director - Risk Manager, Marias Medical Center
Victoria (Tori) Leach, Program Coordinator for Flex Program of FORHP
Nicki Perisho, Program Director, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
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New England Rural Health Association Annual Conference
11/3 & 11/4
Don't miss this year's NERHA Conference, Themed: Rural Resiliency: Innovation and the Journey Forward, Hosted at the Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine.
This conference is an opportunity for rural healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, educators, students and community leaders to learn from experts in rural topics, and to network with each other.
Designed to involve all sectors that impact the health of people in rural New England, this multidisciplinary event gives attendees the opportunity to delve into specific areas of interest or participate in sessions spanning a variety of topic areas. This event is designed to meet the needs of those interested in improving the health and wellbeing of our region's rural communities. Over the past 20+ years, the NERHA annual conference has become one of the Association's largest events, attracting over 300 participants. this event will be in person this year and also offering the opportunity to join in virtually as well!
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2021 North Country (NY) Leadership
Virtual Summit
Emerging from a year of change: An opportunity to rebuild and reimagine
9/13-9/17
The AHI Leadership Summit is joining forces with the state’s premier telehealth conference, brought to you by the North Country Telehealth Partnership (a collaboration of Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization and Adirondack Health Institute).
This virtual one-week learning symposium will bring together leaders from New York’s North Country and beyond and is an opportunity to learn from experts on both telehealth, population health, and advancing whole-person care.
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Behavioral Health Survey Opportunity! |
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This survey is being conducted by the University of New Hampshire Telepractice Center (TPC). The TPC is an interdisciplinary center for telehealth learning and innovation. The TPC connects education, research, and service across health-related disciplines, both within and beyond the University of New Hampshire.
TPC will be offering professional development courses on the topic of telehealth, and they are seeking input from healthcare and allied professionals to learn more about telehealth usage and training needs within the telehealth community, and your responses will help inform their work.
Participation in this survey implies consent. All responses will remain anonymous, and participation should take less than 15 minutes. If you have any questions, please contact Samantha.Leiper@unh.edu.
Click Here to complete the survey |
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Featured Telehealth News
A larger news compilation can be found on the NETRC site here.
Remote Patient Monitoring Offers More Than Just Population Health Benefits
mhealthintelligence.com August 23, 2021 Link
For one Utah doctor, a remote patient monitoring platform is helping him and his staff make chronic care management more personal - and effective.
Telehealth, virtual care well-suited for use in behavioral health
HealthcareITNews August 25, 2021 Link
"We just don’t have enough psychiatrists and psychologists to meet the demand," said one expert during HIMSS21 Digital.
The prominent issues telehealth must tackle when the pandemic passes
HealthcareITNews August 25, 2021 Link
A physician expert talks pre-pandemic regulations, ethical telemedicine across state lines, how virtual care technologies are boosting access and more.
5 Easy Steps to HIPAA Compliant Texting
Telehealth.org August 26, 2021 Link
Providers who follow HIPAA standards will be able to text patients and clients and reap all the benefits associated with it, such as increased patient loyalty, referrals, and revenue. Patients and clients often prefer texting, but it falls on the provider to assure policies in accordance with HIPAA-compliant texting.
Telehealth Services Can Reduce Burden on Emergency Departments, Mental Health Services
Telehealth.org August 26, 2021 Link
A new study from the Bipartisan Policy Center observes a connection between telehealth services and reduced burdens on emergency departments across the country. When combined with some of the observations made by Telehealth.org in Risks & Benefits of Telehealth, this data suggests that telehealth therapy can also work to reduce some of the current burdens on mental health services in high traffic areas such as emergency departments.
Develop Your Disaster Preparedness Plan to Offer Telehealth as COVID, Wildfires & Hurricanes Surge
Telehealth.org August 26, 2021 Link
Are your telehealth services prepared for another COVID surge? Now might be the time to consider developing a telehealth disaster preparedness plan. As cities around the country are struggling to deal with the rapidly escalating COVID surge, announcements are pouring in from many different beleaguered healthcare groups.
Mass. community health centers conduct more than 1M telehealth visits
HealthcareITNews August 26, 2021 Link
The Massachusetts Federally Qualified Health Center Telehealth Consortium also announced that it had raised more than $6 million toward ensuring equitable and sustainable virtual care.
Remote Patient Monitoring & Telehealth Interventions for Loneliness
Telehealth.org August 26, 2021 Link
The COVID-19 pandemic has given remote patient monitoring (RPM) the opportunity to shine as an effective tool for socialization to help keep isolated patients healthy— mentally and physically. Using telehealth and mHealth technology, Lewiston-based Androscoggin Home Healthcare & Hospice has been monitoring patients at home for more than two decades. But in the aftermath of the Coronavirus pandemic, the role of the RPM platform has become much more crucial.
FCC Launches 2nd Round of COVID-19 Telehealth Program With 62 Awards
mhealthintelligence.com August 27, 2021 Link
The FCC has announced 62 award winners - one in each state and territory and Washington DC - for the first round of the newly revamped COVID-19 Telehealth Program.
Nonprofit Receives Funds to Continue Offering Telehealth Services
mhealthintelligence.com August 30, 2021 Link
Renewed funding allows Global Partnership for Telehealth to remain the Southeastern Telehealth Resource Center and to continue offering telehealth services to the underserved.
Virtual Platform Offers Free Telehealth Services During Hurricane Ida
mhealthintelligence.com August 30, 2021 Link
Residents in Louisiana and Mississippi who have been hit by Hurricane Ida can receive free telehealth services for non-emergent conditions.
Telehealth Reimbursement a Barrier for Rural Hospital EDs
mhealthintelligence.com August 31, 2021 Link
Emergency department telehealth services can be beneficial to small, rural hospitals, but telehealth reimbursement methods and high costs often stand in the way.
Stanford researchers: Telemedicine optimization requires training, interoperability
HealthcareITNews August 31, 2021 Link
In a new Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association article, scientists highlight the gaps they still see in telemedicine and the opportunities for growth beyond the COVID-19 crisis.
Biden Administration Earmarks $11M for Pediatric Telehealth Expansion
mhealthintelligence.com August 31, 2021 Link
The federal government is adding $10.7 million in stimulus funding to the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program, doubling the reach of a program that uses telehealth to help pediatric care providers access mental health specialists.
Tracking Telehealth Policy: Status of State Pandemic Expansions, Permanent Laws, and Top Issues
CCHP August 31, 2021 Link
While telehealth policy has always varied by state, we have now entered into a new and confusing gray area as we phase out of pandemic-era policies, leaving many unsure what is still currently allowed and what will continue to be allowed via telehealth moving forward. Federally, not much has changed and since it has been indicated that the US public health emergency (PHE) will last through the end of the year most federal emergency flexibilities will remain in place through 2021
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Recommended Telehealth Research/Resources
Check out the complete Telehealth Library Database on the NETRC site here.
Changes in Short-term, Long-term, and Preventive Care Delivery in US Office-Based and Telemedicine Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic Cortez C., Mansour, O., Qato, D.M., 2021 Link
GAO Reports on Telehealth COVID-19 Flexibilities Center for Connected Health Policy, 2021 Link
FQHC Telehealth Playbook- MA FQHC Telehealth Consortium; 2021 Link
Rapid Transition to Telehealth and the Digital Divide: Implications for Primary Care Access and Equity in a Post-COVID Era .Ji E. Chang PhD, MS, Alden Y. Lai, Avni Gupta, Ann Nguyen, Arolyn Berry, Donna Shelley 2021 Link
Addressing Inequities in Older Adults’ Health: A Role for Emerging Technologies
Alavi Z, Haque R, Felzer-Kim IT, et al. Community Ment. Health J. 57(1):57-63, 2021 Link
Anthony Jnr B. Inform. Health Soc. Care 46(1):68-83, 2021 Link
Bachireddy C, Chen C, Dar M. JAMA 323(20):2009-2010, 2020 Link
Demeke HB, Merali S, Marks S, et al. MMWR Morb. Mortal Wkly Rep. 70(7):240-244, 2021 Link
Murphy AA, Karyczak S, Dolce JN, et al. Community Ment. Health J. 57(1):111-120, 2021 Link
Nelson B, Kaminsky DB. Cancer Cytopathol. 128(12):879-880, 2020 Link
Steeves-Reece AL, Elder NC, Graham TA, et al. J. Rural Health 37(1):227-230, 2021 Link
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The Northeast Telehealth Resource Center has been made possible by grant numbers G22RH30352 and 1 U1UTH42523‐01‐00 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth: HRSA / DHHS. |
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