We hope you find this an efficient, useful tool and we welcome your feedback and comments. --Elizabeth Swain, CEO
If your health center has a training or technical assistance that you'd like to share with others around the state, or would like to subscribe others at your health center to Your CHCANYS please email the pertinent information to Libby Post at lpost@commservices.net. Thank you.
CHCANYS UPDATE Tipping the Scales: Fresh Ideas to Combat Obesity Thursday, February 18, 2010, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern Time Guests: David Kessler, MD, FDA Commissioner (1990-1997), Professor, UCSF School of Medicine; Charles J. Homer, MD, MPH, President and CEO, National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ); Rachelle Mirkin, Executive Program Director, National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality (NICHQ)
Where can health professionals make a difference? And what do we do about the foods in restaurants and grocery stores that get us hooked on salt, sugar, and fat? We don't have complete answers on the next WIHI, but we have a menu of approaches to talk about that are starting to be models - in health care practices and in communities - worth emulating. Dr. David Kessler will draw from his new book, The End of Overeating, and describe how his research points to the necessity of helping people turn away from foods that act as "superstimulants." Charles Homer and Rachelle Mirkin from NICHQ are supporting a vast network of improvers across the country who are integrating prevention strategies and weight loss interventions into daily practice.
WIHI host Madge Kaplan welcomes the opportunity to focus on a serious public health issue with a panel of experts who are eager to hear about your strategies as well. Please join us. To enroll, please click here.
Funding Growth Drives Community Health Center Services Federally qualified health centers play a major role in providing health care to the underserved, and will remain an important part of the health care safety net even under reforms that will increase the number of Americans with health insurance. To read the abstract on the issue from Health Affairs, click here. The full article is available with a subscription to Health Affairs or you can purchase the full article. Click here to see NACHC's press release. Another paper, The Economic Stimulus: Gauging the Early Effects of ARRA Funding on Health Centers and Medically Underserved Populations and Communities has been published on the impact of stimulus funding on health centers by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative. Click here to read the paper which has been co-authored by Peter Shin, PhD, MPH, Brian Bruen, MS, Emily Jones, MPP, PhD [cand.], Leighton Ku, PhD, MPH and Sara Rosenbaum, JD. The paper was just released today.
The Jobs Bill CHCANYS has written both Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kristen Gillibrand to respectfully request that Congress include an additional $2 billion for facility investments in health centers in the Senate's Jobs Bill. The funds would be used for grants for construction, renovation, equipment, and for the acquisition of health information technology at community health centers. For more information, contact Darryl Ng, CHCANYS' Director of Government Affairs, at mailto:dng@chcanys.org .
National Health Service Corps Expands Availability of Loan Repayment Awards There has never been a better time to recruit and retain clinicians through the National Health Services Corps. Clinicians working in NHSC-approved sites with HPSA scores as low as zero have greater opportunities and access to funding than ever before in the history of the program. Visit www.nhsc.hrsa.gov for more details and for an online application. You can also find NHSC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nationalhealthservicecorps.
Community Health Center Workshops Now Available PMG is offering a comprehensive list of WebEx presentations for early 2010 designed for the CHC market. For a comprehensive list, please click here.
Tracking Your Health Center on Facebook If your community, homeless or migrant health center has a Facebook page please let us know! We'd like to promote your page on the CHCANYS Facebook page and website and help spread the word about the great work health centers are doing. Please send your Facebook page link to Libby Post, CHCANYS' Communications Director, at lpost@commservices.net. If you would like to establish a Facebook page and don't know where to start, feel free to drop Libby a line.
Satellite Radio - Two Way Radio Interest The New York State Department of Health Department of Emergency Preparedness is currently assessing interest from health centers in obtaining Satellite Telephone and Two Way Radio equipment to improve interoperable communications in events of disaster, where normal communications devices would be unavailable. The radios would be provided to the centers at no charge with expectations that the centers will maintain equipment and incur the cost of the Satellite telephone service. Please contact Jon Maskin, Project Manager NYS Department of Health at 518-408-5163 with questions.
2010-2011 Influenza Vaccine Pre-Booking NYSDOH is encouraging vaccine providers to plan ahead for the 2010-2011 influenza season by pre-booking influenza vaccine now, to ensure that sufficient amounts of vaccine are available for your vulnerable patients and staff. Pre-booking is taking place now through February.
NYCON Strengthening Communities Fund The New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) received a $1M, two-year stimulus grant from the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF), created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. $600,000 of the grant will be awarded to community-based nonprofits in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx that are providing services vital to the economic recovery efforts. Applications will be accepted during two competitive funding rounds that will take place in the Spring and late Winter of 2010. The first application deadline is March 15, 2010. For more information and an application, please click here.
Clinical Committee Call The Quality Initiatives Team at CHCANYS continues to host monthly Clinical Quality calls to discuss issues that matter to the health centers statewide. We welcome clinicians of all disciplines (e.g., physicians, PAs, NPs, nurses, social workers, health educators, etc.) to join in on the discussions that have a dynamic impact on all health centers statewide.
When: 3rd Friday of every month (unless otherwise announced)
Time: 9am-10:30am EST
Dial-in number: 1-866-504-8504
Conference Code: 2127103817
Invitation to Press Event for New CDE Study The New York State Health Foundation's Diabetes Policy Center and the Center for Health Workforce Studies, School of Public Health University at Albany cordially invite you to attend a press conference and discussion on the results of a statewide market analysis of Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs). We will release the findings from our analysis and announce recommendations for strengthening the CDE field and improving access to diabetes self-management education and services in New York State. Representatives from the Department of Health, health plans, and practitioners will be present.
The event will be held in Albany on March 4th at 1 p.m. in the LCA Room of the Legislative Office Building. To RSVP, please send an email to info@nysdiabetes.org.
Enlist Your Health Center The NYS Diabetes Campaign, sponsored by the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) in partnership with the Institute for Family Health, is an initiative designed to reverse the diabetes epidemic in New York State by improving clinical care, mobilizing communities, and promoting policy. CHCANYS has been chosen as one of the clinical hubs to participate in this effort and help primary care providers across New York State achieve high standards of care and improved patient outcomes. CHCANYS is now enlisting health centers to participate in the campaign.
The Campaign and CHCANYS will work with providers at whatever level they are ready to participate and assist health centers in applying for national diabetes recognition programs (National Committee for Quality Assurance's (NCQA) Diabetes Recognition Program and Bridges To Excellence's Diabetes Care Link program). To access information on how you can adopt seven standard practices that characterize high-quality clinical diabetes management at your health center, contact Kathy Alexis at kalexis@chcanys.org or 212-710-3817.
Chronic Disease and Diabetes Self-Management Program Interested in offering chronic disease self-management group workshops but don't have the people to do it? Establishing lay leaders in the community is important when working with those who have chronic diseases. The Quality Initiatives team at CHCANYS has been trained to be Master Trainers of the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program and will be available to lead 4-day peer leader trainings for staff and/or community champions.
Now offering Diabetes Self-Management workshops! This program gives patients with diabetes and their caretakers the skills needed to manage their health and to maintain a healthy and active life. For more information, contact Candy Magana at cmagana@chcanys.org or 212-710-3816.
Join a Project to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) invite NYC FQHCs to join a collaborative project to increase colorectal cancer screening in underserved communities. Participation in the project may offer continuing education credits, fulfillment of Maintenance of Certification requirements for family physicians, and progress toward achieving medical home objectives such as coordination of care. Modest compensation for participating clinics will be provided.
The focus of this effort is the implementation of a direct referral system for colonoscopies. Direct referral helps to fast-track eligible patients by eliminating unnecessary consultation appointments, thus reducing barriers to care for patients and increasing colonoscopy capacity. This practice has already been successfully implemented in health centers in New York City. If your clinic is interested in joining this project, please contact Jessica Jacobs at 212-361-2147 or jjacobs6@health.nyc.gov.
Fitness Walk-A-Thon 2010 Body Sculpt of New York, Inc., a not-for-profit health and fitness organization, educates parents and children about childhood obesity and offers healthy alternatives in fitness and nutrition. To draw attention to childhood obesity and to raise funds for their upcoming event, Children's Sports & Fitness Expo, Body Sculpt of New York will present its 2nd annual Walk-A-Thon for Children's Health in Prospect Park on Saturday, March 27th. Body Sculpt of New York is seeking the support of companies, organizations, schools and churches to join the Walk-A-Thon on March 27th. Spread the word to other agencies and organizations about this event with the hopes that they will join the Walk-a-Thon on March 27th.
Click here for more information. If you have any questions, please contact Vincent Ferguson, President and Founder of Body Sculpt of New York, Inc., at (718) 346-5852 or (917) 523-7379. You can also visit the website at www.bodysculpt.org.
UHF Service Award Nominations - March 1 Deadline The United Hospital Fund is accepting nominations for the 2010 Distinguished Community Service Award to be presented at their annual gala on October 4, 2010. Click here to read about all previous award winners. and to learn more about the submission process and criteria.
Region II Conference New Jersey Primary Care Association (NJPCA) hosts this year's Region II primary care conference for health centers in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The conference will take place June 1-3, 2010 at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. The theme is Community Health Centers...A Pathway to Health Care Reform. To learn more, click here or contact Dr. Selina Haq at 609 689-9930, Shaq@njpca.org or ACS (program consultants) at 914-378-1899.
CHCANYS Clinical Forum & Statewide Conference Hold the dates October 3-5, 2010 for the CHCANYS annual conference at The Desmond Hotel in Albany, NY. Health centers are still invited to contribute curriculum ideas and join the planning team. The conference will focus on timely policy, clinical, reimbursement, health information technology, operational issues and more. To learn more about becoming a part of the planning team, please contact Roxanne Wynn-Trotman at rwynn@chcanys.org or (212) 710-3806. The call for proposals, awards nominations, and sponsor/exhibit opportunities are coming soon to www.chcanys.org. For these and other events and trainings, please visit CHCANYS' training and events calendar.
Workforce Opportunity: SEARCH The SEARCH (Student/Resident Experiences and Rotations in Community Health) Program, coordinated by the New York State Area Health Education Center (AHEC) System, provides an opportunity for health centers to expose medical and other health profession students to the critical work of health centers. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. Through SEARCH, centers will receive practice site support for each student placement during the four to six week rotation period. The program provides an opportunity for health centers to reach qualified students and to expose them to a career path of commitment to underserved populations. For more information or an application, contact: Megan Vaughan, Project Manager NYS AHEC System at mv48@buffalo.edu, www.ahec.buffalo.edu 716-898-4699.
Text4baby-Mobile Info Service Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote healthy birth outcomes. Text4baby is the largest mobile health initiative to date, and is being launched by an unprecedented group of public and private partners, including the White House and Health and Human Services.
Text4baby will help women have safe and healthy pregnancies by providing them with information they need. Women may sign up for this free service by texting BABY to 511411 or (BEBE for Spanish). They will receive 3 free SMS text messages each week timed until their due date.
NYSDOH NEWS NYSDOH program on office-based treatment of Opioid dependence announced. On Saturday, February 27, 2010, the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute and the Institute for Family Health is offering free certification training for all primary care providers in NYS on Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Dependence. The training will take place at Casperkill Recreation Center, 2330 South Road (Rt. 9), Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Registration preference will be given to physicians outside of New York City. The program, presented in collaboration with the American Psychiatric Association, is entitled, "Buprenorphine and Office-based Treatment of Opioid Dependence". For more information, please click here.
CALL TO ACTION IS NEEDED! The NYS Department of Health Cancer Services Program has screening slots available to provide vital cancer screening services at no cost to participants! We need your help to recruit men and women in need of cancer screenings.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? Encourage uninsured men and women to get their age-appropriate cancer screening services. Spread this message to your organization, friends and family.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES? Women 40-64 years old and men 50-64 years old who are uninsured or underinsured (high deductible, no screening coverage, etc.). Women < 40 at high risk or with clinically significant findings for breast cancer and persons < 50 at high risk for colorectal cancer may be eligible for services.
WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE?
Mammograms & Clinical Breast Exams
Pap tests & Pelvic Exams
Colorectal Cancer Screenings
Medicaid Cancer Treatment Program for Eligible Men and Women
HOW CAN MEN AND WOMEN ACCESS THESE SERVICES? 1-866-442-2262 (1-866-442-CANCER)
The NYSDOH Health Commerce System (HCS) As a result of an extensive and collaborative input process the HPN and the HIN have been redesigned and recreated as The NYSDOH Health Commerce System (HCS). The existing HPN and HIN sites will still be available to ease the transition to the new site. By March 1, 2010 a link from the HPN/HIN web pages will allow a test drive of the new portal. Self paced training modules will also be available on the HIN/HPN home pages by February 8, 2010. Please click here for important information about new HCS features and upcoming portal training opportunities. You may also sign up in advance for live webinar training sessions here.
NACHC UPDATE NACHC recently released its 2010 Policy Agenda. Click here to read what NACHC is saying about a host of federal issues that impact community health centers--health care reform, federal appropriations, workforce development, Medicare reimbursement and capital financing.
HRSA UPDATE New information available from HRSA on the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program The Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program is a selective program of the U.S. Government that helps alleviate the critical shortage of registered nurses currently experienced by certain types of non-profit health care facilities by helping nurses working at them to repay their student loans.
In exchange for two years of service, participants receive 60 percent of their total qualifying nursing education loan balance. For an optional third year of service, participants may receive 25 percent of their original total qualifying nursing education loan balance.
Participants also receive the salary and benefits they have negotiated with their employing facility. To learn more about the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program, please click here.
HRSA PAL 2009-12 This updated PAL describes the accrediting organizations that are contracted to provide surveys and educational services under the Accreditation Initiative Program for the new three-year contract period. This PAL also outlines the processes and requirements for applying for accreditation and highlights the broad array of technical supports that are available under the Accreditation Initiative. For more information, please click here.
