March 2023 HCH Newsletter
The Connection
In this newsletter:
- Program Highlights
- HCH Program Staff Changes
- Cass Lake Indian Health Services
- Learning Update
- Congratulations to Certified and Recertified HCH!
- Do you have a Health Equity Story?
- Noteworthy
Program Highlights
The first quarter of 2023 was a busy time for the Health Care Homes (HCH) team. We welcomed two new staff (see below) and wished Bonnie LaPlante well as she retired in January. Rosemarie Rodriguez-Hager is serving as Interim Director during the search for a new director. A few highlights:
- HCH staff are working on a new benchmarking process that will improve the way that we measure clinical quality performance. This initiative was designed with input from HCH clinics, and we are excited to introduce it later this year.
- Learning Days 2023 will be the first time we are back live and in-person since 2019, and we are looking forward to the opportunity to connect in-person on May 18, 2023, in St. Cloud.
- Implementation of a new legislative rule, creating three levels of HCH certification, is rolling out smoothly. Since the rule was adopted last fall, several clinics have certified at Levels 2 and 3, and many more clinics are interested in moving to advanced certification levels.
- Information on advanced certification levels may be found on the HCH website. The HCH learning team will soon release an updated Health Care Homes certification e-learning course on the MDH Learning Center with updated information to address Level 2 and Level 3 certification.
As always, we thank you for all the work you are doing to advance health equity and improve the health of all Minnesotans!
HCH Program Staff Changes
Rosemarie Rodriguez-Hager is serving as Interim Director for the HCH Program until the Director position is filled. Rosemarie joined the Minnesota Department of Health in 1998 and has held several roles over the years. She joined the HCH program in 2017 as Community and Integration Partnership Unit Supervisor, overseeing practice transformation for clinics and organizations. Prior to HCH, Rosemarie was MDH’s State Innovation Model (SIM) Project Coordinator, and Latino health coordinator for the Office of Minority and Multicultural Health.
Lisa Behr, Registered Nurse, is joining our team as a Practice Improvement Specialist. Lisa graduated from Lakewood School of Nursing with an Associate of Science degree in Nursing in 1996. She continued her education at Metropolitan State University, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2005 and her Master of Science in Nursing in 2013. Since receiving her advanced nursing degree, she has taught nursing as an adjunct community nursing instructor at Metropolitan State. Lisa came to us from Ramsey County Public Health. There, she provided management for various Clinical Services departments and served as the Director of Grants Management for Clinical Services federal and state grants. In her spare time, Lisa enjoys reading, traveling, learning to bake and taking long walks with her dog Al.
Sadie Anderson recently joined the HCH team as a Management Analyst. Prior to joining HCH, she was employed at Minnesota State University Mankato for over 11 years and served in a variety of roles including Advising Assistant for the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology Advising Center, teaching First Year Seminar, and Assistant to the Dean of Library & Learning. Sadie also earned both her bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, and her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Minnesota State, Mankato. Sadie enjoys volunteering in her community and currently serves on the board of directors for the nonprofit Committee Against Domestic Abuse (CADA).
Cass Lake Indian Health Services
In December of 2022, Cass Lake Indian Health Services (CLIHS) became a Level 3 certified Health Care Homes clinic. CLIHS is owned and operated by the Federal Government as a Public Health Service Indian Health Service facility. It is located within one of seven federally recognized reservations in Minnesota. The organization’s mission is to, “Raise the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level.” Their goal is to, “Ensure that comprehensive, culturally acceptable personal and public health services are available and accessible to all American Indians and Alaska Natives.”
Their awareness and respect of the race, ethnicity and language of those they serve is reflected in workflows, policies and actions of staff. The organization has an effective, standardized process for screening patients for social determinants of health including food, transportation and housing. For those individuals who screen positive, the team has access to a manual containing a full compilation of patient resources within the organization and the community. The first eight pages of this manual provide background related to the patient population’s history and culture, as a means to educate and remind staff of the importance of respectfully taking both into consideration.
Living in and serving a rural community, CLIHS recognizes the importance of health equity and its impact on patient care. Many of the individuals CLIHS serves struggle with finding reliable transportation. As a result, patients often seek care in the walk-in clinic or the Emergency Department rather than the primary care setting. Without consistent utilization of the primary care team, patient non-compliance has been prevalent and continues to be an ongoing challenge within the community.
To meet individuals where they are at and address one area of non-compliance, a care coordinator developed a biking club for staff members and interested patients. Patients can bring their bike or rent one from the community’s Diabetes Center and join members of their care team for bike rides, conversation, and time together. This activity encourages exercise and ongoing patient compliance. The care team developed a customized exercise routine for a patient with morbid obesity. They exercised daily with him by going on short walks, increasing the distance over time. This individual lost over 200 pounds through the process, an incredible health outcome and source of pride for both the patient and care team members!
Jeff Krona, RN Care Coordinator, shared, “At the core of patient centered care, healthcare professionals who meet their patients where they are at, engage in active listening, and understand who and where their patients come from, will have more successful patient outcomes.”
The HCH program thanks Cass Lake Indian Health Services for sharing their experiences and insight.
Learning Update
All Systems are Go for Learning Days 2023!
Don't miss this annual opportunity to learn and network with HCH peers and partners “in person” on May 18, 2023, at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. Limited scholarships available! Promote your product or service with HCH 200+ stakeholders from throughout Minnesota by participating as an exhibitor or vendor. Visit the Learning Days web pages for more information.
Register by March 31 for FREE Motivational Interviewing Skills Refresher in Mankato or St. Cloud. 7 CEU Credit Hours.
HCH is pleased to offer this special training led by MI trainer, Susan EckMaahs. Register now for full day workshops on April 19, 2023, in Mankato, MN or June 22, 2023, in St. Cloud, MN. Enrollment capped at 30 per workshop; preference given to certified HCH. No more than 2 individuals per organization, please. Visit the HCH Learning Center web pages for more information. To register, please contact Health Care Homes and include names and contact information for the individual(s) you would like to enroll. We will follow up with you.
RSVP for Peer-to-Peer Networking - April 27 at Noon!
Join us online on April 27 at noon, when Penny Danger-Fye and Kayla Witzman from St. Luke’s Health System will lead a one-hour networking session on “Mental Health Screening and Referral.” Take a break, grab your lunch, and catch up with your peers! RSVP at health.healthcarehomes@state.mn.us and we’ll send you a meeting invitation.
Congratulations to Certified and Recertified HCH!
Clinics certifying and recertifying January - March 2023 are listed below. Congratulations to these and other certified clinics working every day to provide better health and better care at lower costs!
For more information regarding HCH certification levels, please go to the Level Progression webpage.
For a complete list of HCH certified clinics, please go to the Find Certified Health Care Homes webpage.
Certification
Axis Medical Center
- Foundational Level - three clinics
Cass Lake Indian Health Services
- Level 3 - one clinic
Recertification
Burnsville Family Physicians
- Foundational Level - one clinic
Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
- Foundational Level - four clinics
Madison Healthcare Services
- Level 2 - one clinic
St. Paul Family Medical Center
- Foundational Level - one clinic
Do you have a Health Equity Story?
Certified Health Care Homes -
Do you have a Health Equity Story that you would like highlighted in the HCH newsletter?
Download the Health Equity Story Form and follow instructions for submission.
Noteworthy
- TIME SENSITIVE: Register by March 31 to attend one of the free Pediatric Care Coordination Community of Practice Regional meetings: Building Connections and Managing Reactions. Lunch will be provided.
- 4/18/23 Central/West Central - Staples, MN
- 4/20/23 Southeast - Rochester, MN
- 5/2/23 Northwest - Park Rapids, MN
- 5/4/23 Southwest - New Ulm, MN
- 5/8/23 Northeast - Duluth, MN
- 5/11/23 Twin Cities Metro - Eden Prairie, MN
- TIME SENSITIVE: Free Suicide Prevention Workshop for service providers in rural communities held on May 23 or July 25. This online half-day workshop is for service providers in rural communities and includes a special focus on youth, substance use, and Indigenous communities. Seats are limited.
- Spring Ahead of the Allergy Season! The Asthma Program collaborates with clinics to help expand asthma care, patient education, identify outreach opportunities, and discuss the benefits of the asthma home based services program. For more information, please email the Asthma Program at health.asthma@state.mn.us .
- In January 2023, Minnesota Community Measurement (MNCM) released the Minnesota Health Care Quality Report, Part 3: Top Performing Medical Groups Across All Quality Measures for Measurement Year 2021. Five of the top nine medical groups have certified HCH clinics. Congratulations!
- CentraCare Health
- Entira Family Clinics
- HealthPartners Clinics
- Mankato Clinic, Ltd.
- Park Nicollet Health Services
- The 2023 MN Rural Health Conference will be held June 12-13 in Duluth, MN.
- The 2023 Many Faces of Community Health Conference will be held August 10-11 in Bloomington, MN.
- Read the 2022 HCH Year End Report, which highlights the great work done by the HCH program and partners in 2022.