September 2024 HCH Newsletter
The Connection
In this newsletter:
- Director's Message
- Holistic Care at People's Center Clinics & Services
- Learning Update
- HCH program new staff
- Congratulations to Certified and Recertified HCH!
- Do you have a Health Equity Story?
- Noteworthy
Director's Message
Partnership and collaboration are fundamental to the work of Health Care Homes (HCH). This starts, of course, with the close relationship between HCH and certified clinics, which is vital; but it includes many other collaborations as well. Health Care Homes works with payers, community organizations, professional associations, and other government agencies, to name a few. Examples of our recent and ongoing partnerships include:
- Working with HealthPartners Institute on analyzing and disseminating the results of the MNCARES study.
- Regular meetings with the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Integrated Health Partnerships (IHP) program around the continued coordination of our mutually supportive work.
- Co-facilitation of the Minnesota Primary Care Stakeholders Group, a multi-disciplinary body that is united in efforts to support and strengthen primary care.
- Partnering with the State Employee Group Insurance Program (SEGIP) to recognize certified clinics during open enrollment for state employees.
Our newsletter includes a number of articles that showcase the value of collaboration, including a feature on People’s Center Clinics and Services as well as information on a number of new learning opportunities that were developed in partnership with external subject matter experts.
Thank you, and Happy Autumn!
~David
Holistic Care at People's Center Clinics & Services
People's Center Clinics & Services (PCCS) is a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center (FQHC) located at 425 20th Avenue South in the Cedar Riverside area of Minneapolis. For the past 12 months, PCCS has worked hard to provide more holistic and comprehensive health care for their patients and community. To accomplish this, PCCS focused on improved collaboration between the various specialties they offer: Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Dental and Behavioral Health.
PCCS serves an immigrant community; many of whom have never seen a dentist and have come to accept dental pain as a part of life. When a provider sees a patient in need of dental care, they can refer their patients to the dental clinic for walk-in, same day dental services, if available. Here, dentists can treat their problems and allow them to live a life without constant pain. By working closely together, the team of providers can treat the “whole” patient and start them down a healthy path as they adjust to a new country and their new life.
Even though walk-in dental services are greatly needed at PCCS, it is not without its challenges. At PCCS, the demand for quality dental care is so great that the dentists, advanced dental therapists, and hygienists have been typically booked out for two to three months. In an exciting new development, PCCS has entered into a multi-year agreement with the University of Minnesota’s School of Dentistry to serve as a training site for their 4th year students. The clinic hosts up to four students who work with their Faculty Advisor to care for many patients every day. With each student schedule offering six appointment slots per day, they have added capacity with more than 100 visits available per week. Although these slots fill quickly, it has allowed them to reduce the overall wait time for an appointment significantly, resulting in improved patient satisfaction. Additionally, the students gain valuable experience treating both common and uncommon conditions, as well as experience in a Public Health FQHC setting. This new arrangement has been a wonderful experience for staff, students, and the patients and provides a much-needed resource for the Minneapolis community.
Collaboration amongst health care services include the integration of behavioral health as well. For example, if a dental patient has significant “dental anxiety”, the dentist can refer them to the behavioral health service, located in the same building. In extreme cases, a therapist can be in the exam room with the patient while they undergo dental work, dramatically decreasing their concerns and fears. PCCS remains dedicated to working together to serve the community and will continue to pursue new and innovative ways to increase access and deliver patient care for all patients they serve.
The HCH Program thanks PCCS for sharing their story and for the work they continue to do to improve health equity in Minnesota.
Learning Update
HCH is excited to announce a major upgrade in accessing e-learning courses. Instead of navigating through the Learning Management System, all Health Care Homes courses can now be found on our dedicated e-learning tab under the Learning section of our website. This transition aims to streamline your learning experience, making it easier to locate courses in one centralized location. Check out all of the e-learning courses on a variety of primary care topics!
We hope you can join us this fall for an array of engaging webinars, all designed to enhance your knowledge and skills. Upcoming webinar topics include:
- Guiding Principles and Innovative Ideas for Engaging Patients and Families
- Health Equity 3-part series
- The Case for Weight Inclusive Healthcare
Visit the Learning Collaborative webinars page on the HCH website to explore our upcoming webinars and register for the sessions that best fit your professional goals.
HCH program new staff
Catherine Johnson - Learning Manager
Catherine Johnson recently joined the HCH team as Learning Manager. Bringing over 23 years of healthcare experience, she previously served as the EMS and Education Coordinator for the Stroke Team at MDH focusing on cardiovascular health for eight years. Prior to coming to MDH she spent over 15 years working as a paramedic, primarily in rural Minnesota. Catherine earned her bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Minnesota Morris, and an associate degree in Emergency Health Services and Nursing from Inver Hills Community College. She is mom to two young boys who keep her very busy, and when she does have a spare moment, she loves to sew and take photographs.
Welcome Catherine!
Congratulations to Certified and Recertified HCH!
Clinics certifying and recertifying July - September 2024 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
Minneapolis Health Clinic
- Foundational Level - one clinic
Recertification
Genevive
- Foundational Level - one clinic
Hutchinson Health
- Level 3 - two clinics
Scenic Rivers Health Services
- Foundational Level - seven clinics
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 (PDF) and follow instructions for submission.
Noteworthy
- The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians partnered with the Minnesota Department of Health Long COVID Guiding Council and Stratis Health on a three-part series focusing on recognizing, managing and treating Long COVID. Sessions are now available to watch on demand: Long COVID ECHO Series for Health Care Providers.
- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently released a report titled, Ending Unequal Treatment: Strategies to Achieve Equitable Health Care and Optimal Health For All. This report updates the landmark 2003 publication, Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care.
- Recognizing September is Healthy Aging month, check out the following resources:
- The MDH Healthy Brain Initiative launched the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Community Toolbox webpage as the first phase of a statewide campaign. The toolbox serves as a culturally focused resource library designed for community organizations, health workers, and individuals concerned about early-stage memory issues, as well as their caregivers.
- The Navigating Brain Health and Dementia, Science, Medicine and Public Health (ama-assn.org) developed in collaboration with the AMA, CDC and Alzheimer’s Association, equips physicians and other care team members with crucial insights into dementia screening, treatment and risk reduction, enhancing patient care.
- Watch HealthFinders Success Story on YouTube, showcasing HealthFinders Collaborative’s use of Community Health Workers. This success story aligns with the goals and strategies outlined in Minnesota's Action Plan to Address Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes 2035.
- MDH’s Statewide Quality Reporting and Measurement System (SQRMS) has released new data to its suite of Public Use Files (PUFs). The PUFs contain data on six measures of asthma care, mental health screening, colorectal cancer screening, diabetes care, and vascular care. For more details, visit the Health Care Quality Measures Public Use Files webpage. Questions and feedback may be sent to health.sqrms@state.mn.us.