Resources and Links

We regularly comb the Internet to find resources that promote best practices in health center operations and administration, combat professional isolation and keep health center staff informed about issues that impact their work. Subscribe to our e-newsletter to keep updated or simply check this page on a regular basis.

Northwest ADA Center Resources

Northwest ADA Center provides unbiased, accurate information and guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and serves Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The Center is staffed with experts in disability, rehabilitation, business, rehabilitation engineering, special education, the built environment, accessibility to buildings, website accessibility, civil rights law, and the role of the ADA Coordinator. Click here to visit their website and access toolkits, fact sheets, training & technical assistance and many more resources.

NACHC Resources on Health Insurance Exchanges

NACHC has many resources available on health insurance exchanges, for example the NACHC Exchange toolkit, Issue Brief on Final Medicaid & Exchange Regulations - Implications for FQHCs, NACHC comments on health insurance exchanges, and the NACHC Policy blog.

NACHC Medicaid Expansion Calculator

NACHC State Affairs has developed a Medicaid Expansion Calculator making the business case for health centers. The calculator is designed to compute the additional revenue if Medicaid was expanded in the health center’s state and uninsured patients gained coverage. It can be used by a health center entering its own specific data or a PCA confirming the value expansion will have on its health centers in its state. This is the first iteration of the calculator; NACHC is already planning a second version which would incorporate more financial data.

AmeriCares Free Medical Supplies & Medicines for CHCs

AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health & disaster relief organization that delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world and across the US. Domestically, the organization supports more than 400 free clinics, CHCs, FQHCs, health departments and social service organizations that serve the poor and uninsured. To receive free medications & supplies your organization must be a registered 501(c)3 non-profit or govt health dept, serve a population under 200% of poverty line and have the capacity to inventory donations. Click here for an informational flyer on this program. For additional information please visit the AmeriCares website.

HRSA Offers Free Vouchers for Health IT Professional Exams

HRSA, in collaboration with The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is offering free vouchers to take the Health IT Professional Exams (HIT Pro Exams). Voucher requests must be submitted by April 1, 2013. To request a voucher or additional information, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more information visit ONC's Health IT Professional Exam website.

APHA Affordable Care Act Resources

American Public Health Association website has a number of useful resources on the Affordable Care Act, including the basics & background of the ACA, explanations of provisions, a chart showing the implementation stages and much more. Click here to access these great ACA resources.

Patient Engagement Framework: eHealth Tools & Resources

The Patient Engagement Framework is a model created to guide healthcare organizations in developing and strengthening their patient engagement strategies through the use of eHealth tools & resources. In collaboration, over 150 experts in healthcare, technology, and human behavior have produced this framework to assist organizations to become more efficient and effective in their patient models of care. For more information read NN/LM PNR's Dragonfly blog post here.

UDS Mapper Tools

The New Access Point (NAP) Funding Grant applications require using the UDS Mapper to create a service area map and data table. To help health centers with this step of the application, the UDS Mapper Team have created special materials including a video walk-through guide, step-by-step instructions and an example map/data table. These materials were released by HRSA, and can also be accessed on the Tutorials page on the UDS Mapper website.

Disaster Resources - Apps & Mobile Optimized Web Pages

The National Library of Medicine Disaster Information Management Research Center has redesigned its resources using responsive web design which allows for an optimal view of the resources across a range of devices - PC, tablet or smartphone. Click here to access an array of useful disaster resources.

Medicaid Expansion Chart

State of Refor(u)m has produced a chart that tracks state Medicaid expansion decisions. The chart includes direct links to statements from the governor or executive branch, activity in the state legislature, and fiscal and demographic analyses from the state or other institution. Click here to check the progress of Medicaid expansion in your state.

HHS Flu Shot Infographic

Click here to download a great infographic created by Health & Human Services to encourage and explains getting flu shots.

Pew Children's Dental Campaign releases 2012 report - Most states fall short in preventing tooth decay

Pew's 50 state report finds that most states are not doing enought to use dental sealants, a proven strategy for preventing tooth decay, unnecessarily driving up health care costs for families and tax payers. Click here to read the report and see the grade your state received in prevention of tooth decay.

NCBI's PubMed Central launches PubReader

The PubReader view is an alternative web presentation that offers another, more reader-friendly way to look at articles in the PubMed Central archive, a free archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature. Designed particularly for enhancing readability on tablet and other small screen devices, PubReader can also be used on desktops and laptops and from multiple web browsers. To try out the PubReader view, click here.

The Stakeholder's Project in Neuropsychological Report Writing seeks input on value of reports in Primary Care

This research project is looking for input from both physicians and patients on the value neuropsychological reports with a goal of improving report formats for more effective patient care. The Stakeholder's Project in Neuropsychological Report Writing emerged from a yearlong series in neuropsychological assessment and healthcare reform through the Massachusetts Neuropsychological Society and Massachusetts Psychological Association. To assist in this effort by taking a brief survey, click on the following links: For Physicians and For Patients.

NLM Resources for Toxicologists & About Laboratory Safety

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) Specialized Information Services has released “Especially for Toxicologists” - a guide to NLM resources on environmental health, toxicology, and chemical information for toxicologists. Also, a new Enviro-Health Links page, “Laboratory Safety” - offers links to information for clinical, academic and school laboratories, including resources for handling chemical laboratory safety, biological laboratory safety, and nano material safety. Click here for more information.

Health Center Grantees for Public Housing & Aging Populations Monthly Newsletters

North American Management provides monthly newsletters for Health Center Grantees for Public Housing and Aging populations. Their newsletters provide information and resources that can be used to help educate physicians, staff, and special populations of chronic diseases, policy changes, preventative services, and other issues affecting communities. A new section has recently been added to the newsletter called the Grantee Corner a place where health center can share their stories, challenges and successes. Click here for more information.

100 Family Health Resources

Family Nurse Practictioner Programs has compiled a great list of 100 family health resources with topics covering family health, exercise, communication and more. Click here to access.

Step-by-step guide to creating QR codes for mobile-friendly resources

NN/LM PNR's new resource is a step-by-step guide to creating your own Quick Response (QR) codes to promote mobile-friendly resources at your organization. QR codes are 2-dimensional barcodes and can be used to represent many different kinds of information, including phone numbers, map locations and text. Often, they represent web addresses. A barcode scanning application on a cameraphone can be used to quickly retrieve the resource behind the code without any tedious thumbing-in of the URL or other data. Click here to read the Dragonfly blog and learn more about QR codes and what they can do for your organization.

State "Accountable Care" Activity Map

With the support of The Commonwealth Fund, National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is tracking state efforts to lead or participate in accountable care models that include Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program populations. Accountable care models aim to address lack of care coordination and wide disparities in cost and quality of care in the U.S. health care system, perpetuated by the prevailing fee-for-service payment method, through shared incentives to manage utilization, improve quality, and curb cost growth. Click here to access.

National Library of Medicine: new resource LiverTox

NLM announces the release of LiverTox, a new resource for health care practictioners and researchers studying liver injury associated with prescription and non-prescription drugs, herbals, and dietary supplements. LiverTox provides a searchable database of about 700 medications available in the United States. Drug-induced liver injury is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the country. Click here for more information.

How to do Outreach in an Anti-Immigration Climate - new Health Outreach Partners resource

The anti-immigration climate in many communities creates a serious challenge for health centers as well as social service and education programs. The Silent Crisis: How to Do Outreach in an Anti-Immigrant Climate provides ideas and resources for how to do outreach in an anti-immigrant climate by addressing specific barriers, providing strategies, and listing resources. Click here to access the booklet.

HRSA announces release of new CHC video

Community Health Centers: Quality Care, Satisfied Patients, which describes the accomplishments of health centers working to improve the health of the nation’s underserved communities and vulnerable populations by assuring access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services. This new video details personal anecdotes and results from the 2009 Health Center Patient Survey that showcases the impact of the Health Center Program. You can view the video on www.bphc.hrsa.gov and on HRSA's YouTube Channel, HRSAtube (www.youtube.com/user/HRSAtube).

AHRQ resources for Community Health Workers

Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality focuses on community health workers in September 12th issue of Health Care Innovations Exchange. Highlights include a toolkit to help rural communities evaluate opportunities for developing a community health worker program, and an instruction manual for training community health workers. Read about the development of a new staff position for community members who assist health care teams in primary care settings and after hospital discharge, and a Minnesota consortium that developed a scope of practice, a statewide curriculum, and a certificate program for community health workers. Click here to access.

HRSA Office of Rural Health Policy Resources on Coping with Drought

The Office of Rural Health Policy has provided the following informational resources to help with the mental health challenges related to coping with the current drought this country is facing. Click on the links to access: Rural Resource List, Drought & Economic Stress Resource List,Recognize & Manage Stress of Farm Life, 10 Tips for Families in Tough Times, and Tips for Coping with Drought Related Stress.

National Food Safety Education Month Resource Materials

September is National Food Safety Education Month. Click here to access food safety education materials from the USDA, FDA and partnering organizations.

Bureau of Primary Health Care announces update of 2011 Uniform Data System (UDS) website

The BPHC UDS website has been updated with 2011 UDS data which includes National and State data comparisons, summary data, and data displayed in downloadable charts and graphs. Click here to access the website.

Commonwealth Fund New State Exchange Activity Interactive Map

The Commonwealth Fund's new interactive map allows you to follow states' progress in establishing health insurance exchanges. The map shows where states are in the continuum of establishing exchanges and provides detail about key exchange provisions in those states that have already passed exchange laws or issued executive orders.

Health Policy Brief analyzes the impact on CHC's of states’ refusal to implement the Medicaid expansion

Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative analyzes the impact on community health centers of states’ refusal to implement the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Click here to download.

Health Policy Report on the Importance of Reducing Care Fragmentation in Vulnerable Populations

The Department of Health Policy has released a new report titled "Coordinating and Integrating Care for Safety Net Patients: Lessons from Six Communities." This report, supported by the Commonwealth Fund, examines strategies by which safety net providers in diverse communities sought to integrate primary care, specialty and hospital services for low-income patients. Click here to for more information and to download the report.

SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions Website

The CIHS website is dedicated to the integration of behavioral health and primary care services. Click here to access to this valuable resource.

NLM WISER App Update for iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch

National Library of Medicine's WISER (Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders) for iOS 3.0, a universal app for Apple iOS devices, is now available. Click here for more information on this update and new features.

HRSA - Area Resource File Updated

HRSA releases 2011-2012 version of the Area Resource File (ARF) for the National County-level Health Resource Information Database. The ARF contains more than 6,000 variables with 3,225 records from more than 50 sources. The file lists the types of data and years for which the individual data elements are available, and provides links to more detailed content. Also available is a link to the Health Resources County Comparison Tool, which was built from ARF data and facilitates comparison of ARF data across counties. Visitwww.arf.hrsa.gov for a complete listing of data and instructions for downloading the file. The ARF is also available in HRSA’s Data Warehouse at http://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/ARF.aspx.

NACHC Human Resources Clearinghouse

Find resources submitted by peers on major HR topics, such as... policies & procedures, hiring/credentials, benefits/compensation and more. Click here to access this extensive HR resource.

FDA Webinar - Steps to Address Health Disparities

Access slides of the FDA Office of Minority Health's recent webinar on addressing health disparities in different populations. Click here for more information.

NLM Launches Drug Information Portal on Mobile Devices

The Drug Information Portal is a free web resource from the NLM that provides an informative, user friendly entryway to current drug information for over 32,000 drugs and provides descriptions, drug names, pharmaceutical categories, and structural diagrams. Each record also features information links to 19 other resources including NLM PubMed, NLM LactMed, and Drugs@FDA. Click here for the mobile optimized version.

Capital Link Launches Improved Website

Capital Link, a national non-profit organization, assists FQHC's & PCA's to plan and fund capital projects Register on their website to access comprehensive resources on the capital development process and use interactive tools like the debt capacity calculator.

PMG's CHC Community Website Offers Revenue Cycle Resources

Priority Management Group's website is a one-stop place for answers to all things CHC revenue cycle related. From charge setting to sliding scale fees, from chargeentry to payment posting, from UDS to FPAR reporting…the CHC Community will provide an opportunity to dialogue and connect with other CHC professionals and PMG’s experts. Visit GoPMG.com to access these valuable resources.

AHRQ Quality Indicators Toolkit for Hospitals

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released two more audio interviews in a series focused on the use of quality improvement tools in the AHRQ Quality Indicators Toolkit for Hospitals. The toolkit is a free resource to guide hospitals through the process of using the AHRQ Inpatient Quality Indicators (IQIs) and Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) to improve care.

NACHC Sponsored Healthcare Real Estate Advisors Offers Free Webinars & FAQs

CHC leadership teams often face real estate and facility issues which confront them with budget challenges, time pressure and the need for specialized expertise. Visit the HCREA website and get powerpoint & FAQ sheets, as well as, a free webinar series.

FDA Offers Free Tobacco-Related Content for Websites

The FDA has launched a new feature that allows you to easily add their tobacco-related content to your website. The content blends into your site’s look and feel, giving your site visitors a seamless experience, while providing high-quality content you don’t have to create, update, or maintain. Click here for more information.

ECRI Institute & HRSA Offer Free Clinical Risk Management Program to Health Centers & PCA's

The Clinical Risk Management Program website includes evidence-based reviews of patient safety and risk management issues, self-assessment tools, courses for continuing education credit, sample policies and tools, standards and guidelines, e-newsletters covering current topics in patient safety and risk management, and more. If you have any questions about this program, visit the website, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (610) 825-6000 ext. 5200.

2012 County Health Rankings Released

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin, Population Health Institute teamed up to create countyhealthrankings.org. This website ranks each state's counties according to different health factors and health outcomes. You can even compare different counties within the same state. Not only is this great for informational purposes, but the website also includes ideas on how to take action with the information provided.

Six Tips for Safe Guarding Against Fraud

Read more at SuccessEHS on how to detect problems and protect financials from fraud in medical practices.

AHRQ Develops Health Literacy Tools for Pharmacy Students & Faculty

Recognizing that pharmacies may need additional knowledge and assistance to improve their health literacy practices, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed four new health literacy tools for pharmacy and a set of curricular tools for pharmacy faculty. Access the modules here.

AHRQ Offers Free Communication Tools

To promote safer care and foster effective two-way communication between patients and clinicians, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is offering a free video, brochure, notepads and an interactive Question Builder tool. For more info, visit the AHRQ website. For free copies of the DVD, brochure and notepads, send an email requesting to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

NIH Launches Genetic Testing Registry

National Institute for Health unveils the Genetic Testing Registry (GTR), available here, which features a versatile search interface, links to practice guides and resources available through the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Visit the NN/LM Dragonfly blog for more information.

Hesperian Health Guides Launches New Digital Tools

The Hesperian Digital Commons provides simplified and expanded access to extensive health information, including, digital resources in 26 languages, tools such as a mobile app, 10-language HealthWiki, access to over 10,000 Hesperian images, language hubs and more.

BPHC Releases New Search Engine on Technical Assistance Website

The new database system will enable free searches, dropdown menus, key word/topic/phrase searches, and easier upload of new resources. In addition, this new website enhancement makes it easier to explore hundreds of valuable tools, topical guides, and resources that have been organized and linked to relevant federal sites, BPHC National Cooperative Agreement materials, and many other tools that health center grantees may find useful. Visit BPHC technical assistance website here.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine – Announcing Journal of eScience Librarianship

This open-access and peer-reviewed journal focuses on librarianship services for data-driven research. The inaugural issue includes the Proceedings of the Third Annual University of Massachusetts and New England Area Librarian e-Science Symposium held in the Spring of 2011. Feature articles include topics such as DataONE, librarian competencies, and the various levels of data services. Visit the NN/LM Dragonfly blog for more information and how to subscribe.

Health Care Recruiter Offers Free Service to FQHC & MUA

In an effort to provide quality health care coverage to the rural and medically underserved areas of the country, Simply Locums, Inc.—a direct source for locum tenens and permanent positions for all health care providers—is offering its services at no-cost to Federally Qualified Community Health Centers and other Medically Underserved Facilities throughout the United States. For more information about this public service offering and how to sign-up, download the full article here.

Receipt of Diabetes Preventive Care Among Safety Net Patients Associated with Differing Levels of Insurance Coverage

This study used electronic health records from 50 health centers in Oregon to determine if limited or no insurance correlated with receiving four different preventive tests for diabetes patients. The study found that patients with no or interrupted coverage were less likely to receive the recommended preventive tests. Download the full article, published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine January-February 2012 issue.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine- Bringing Health Information to the Community blog

This blog posts information relevant to public and community health. Recent posts include: NIH study shows HIV-exposed children at high risk of language delay and Getting Patients to Take Charge of their Health. Find the BHIC blog here.

How to Budget for a Cloud-Based EMR system

A recent article in amednews.com, HIT consultant Matthew Grob gives pointers for budgeting for a cloud-based EMR system. A few of the most commonly overlooked costs are: training, conversion from paper (i.e. scanning documents), and start-up fees. Read the full article here.

Health Center Terminology Tip Sheet

In order to promote consistency among National Cooperative Agreement recipients, this tip sheet was developed to clarify commonly used health center terms. For example, while FQHC and Health Center are often used interchangeabley, they actually have different meanings in the health center program. Download the tip sheet here.

Trends in Quality During Medical Home Transformation

This article from the Annals of Family Medicine describes the changes that took place while a group of primary care clinics in Minnesota transformed into level III patient-centered medical homes. The study focuses on changes in technical quality and patient experience. Find the full article here.

Determining Health Benefit Designs to be Offered on a State Health Insurance Exchange

The Massachusetts insurance exchange has three major parts: subsidized individual, unsubsidized individual, and unsubsidized small group insurance. This installment of the "Health Reform Toolkit Series- Resources from the Massachusetts Experience" focuses on Massachusetts' experience developing the part of the exchange that focuses on unsubsidized individual purchasers. There are many similarities in the unsubsidized and subsidized portions of the exchange, however additional policy considerations may apply. Find the full toolkit here.

"The Health Reform Toolkit Series" is by courtesy of the BlueCross/BlueShield Foundation, Health Connector, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

How does your built environment affect your health?

Multnomah County has an answer. The recently released "Built Environment Atlas" maps Multnomah County neighborhoods and their relation to food options, both healthy and unhealthy, and the proximity to areas that are friendly to physical activity- like parks and walking/running-friendly neighborhoods. These maps were created to show that our built environment can have a great affect on real health concerns, like obesity and mortality rates. Read an article about the obesity crisis in Oregon here and find the "Built Environment Atlas" here.

Oregon Breast & Cervical Cancer Program New Eligibility Guidelines

The Oregon Breast & Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) recently released new program eligibility guidelines for uninsured or low income women to receive cancer treatment covered by the Oregon Health Plan. The new guidelines now make it easier for women to enter the program and it is estimated that 12 more women a month will receive treatment. The new guidelines take effect January 1, 2012. Find an abbreviated version of the updates here and the full factsheet here. Check out the BCCP website for more information.

NCQA Distinction in Patient Experience Reporting

Using the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) PCMH survey, health centers can earn the Distinction in Patient Experience from NCQA. This assessment covers several domains of care, including: access, information, communication, coordination of care, comprehensiveness, and self-management support and shared decision making. Collected data will be used to create benchmarks that will allow comparison across practices. See the full survey and required methodology here.

National Library of Medicine (NLM) Gallery of Mobile Apps and Sites

This website provides mobile versions of some of the most popular NLM websites and resources, including: PubMED (still in beta), MedlinePlus, Health Hotlines, and AIDSinfo mobile. Find these apps and more here.

Value-Based Payments and Providing Health Insurance for your Employees

A series of web-based resources and tools by LarsonAllen, LLP (an NWRPCA member). Among many resources are white papers on payment reform and value-based payments. Find the white papers here. You can also find a "health-reform calculator", which will help you find a cost-effective way to continue to provide health insurance to your employees under the new rules. Find the calculator here. You can also check out the Musings blog, where LarsonAllen employees discuss a myriad of topics from ACOs to revenues.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Learning Connection Web Page

The CDC Learning Connection webpage is broken down into the following six sections:
Featured E-Learning
All featured e-learning courses are open to the public and some provide continuing education credits. While some content is hosted by external websites, all content has been reviewed by the CDC and confirmed as accurate and follows CDC guidelines.In the Spotlight
This section features learning products and resources related to the public health topic in the spotlight. The current topic is global immunizations. Again, all external site content is CDC reviewed and deemed accurate.

Resources
Includes a broad range of training and learning resources, arranged by topic. Topics include: Chronic Disease, Emergency Management, Environmental Health, and Nutrition, Obesity, and Physical Activity, among many others.

CDC Health E-Cards
Send an e-card to share CDC resources.

Up-Coming Live Events
Includes a list of upcoming webcasts of CDC grand rounds, conferences, and training opportunities.

Publications
A list of electronic CDC publications, including Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal and the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Find the CDC Learning Connection Website Here.

Comparison Chart of the HRSA Accreditation and Patient Centered Medical Health Home (PCMHH) Initiatives

This comparison chart informs health centers of the survey services available under HRSA's Accreditation contract with the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Care and The Joint Commission, and PCMHH contract with the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Find it on the right hand side of the following web-page:
http://bphc.hrsa.gov/policiesregulations/accreditation.html

BPHC Office of Training and Technical Coordination Announces Changes to Website

New features include: an FAQs section, which will be updated on a regular basis and a grantee technical assistance sessions catalog, which is an archive of past web-based technical assistance sessions.The BPHC website now has a "Trainings" page where grantees can find past and upcoming training opportunities. All of this can be found on the BPHC website under the technical assistance tab.

Community Health Center CHroniCles Website Launched

The Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health Policy at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, in a special partnership with RCHN Community Health Foundation, launched the CHroniCles website.This project is dedicated to telling the unique history of Community Health Centers and the impact they have on the people in their community. Go to: http://www.chcchronicles.org/ to see the site!

PCMH Video by Emmi Solutions

A easy-to-understand video, less than five minutes long, that explains what PCMH is and how it works by Emmi Solutions.A great tool for providers to pass along to patients to explain the changes happening with PCMH implementation. Available in English and Spanish. Find it here.

University of Cincinnati Department of Environmental Health Offering Free Pediatric Environmental Health CME Module Online

This module, designed for physicians, offers up to 2 CME credits. At the end of the course, participants will be able to discuss concepts of environmental health, describe health effects associated with environmental toxicants, and incorporate elements of an environmental history into practice. Sign up for the course via the CARES Air Pollution Education website.

The following resources from the National Environmental Education Foundation are supplements to the above course.
Pediatric Environmental History Form
Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma: Guidelines for Health Care Providers
Environmental History Form for Pediatric Asthma Patient
Resources for Health Care Providers

HRSA Health IT Toolbox

HRSAs Office of Health Information Technology and Quality recently released a series of four HIT toolboxes to assist in implementing HIT in your practice.

Health IT Adoption Toolbox
Includes resources such as modules, community health center-specific information, and journal resources to assist with health IT implementation.

Rural Health IT Adoption Toolbox
Contains a range of resources for rural health providers as they consider implementing health IT.

Health IT for Children Toolbox
A compilation of health IT information targeted at children's health care needs, ranging from pediatric electronic medical records to children's health insurance coverage.

Health IT for HIV/AIDS Toolbox
Geared to Ryan White HIV/AIDS providers, the toolbox provides an overview and modules on health IT issues unique to HIV/AIDS. Offers information on potential sources to help HIV/AIDS providers fund health IT systems and qualify for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.

Find the toolboxes here.

 

National Library of Medicine launches MedlinePlus Connect and Chemical Hazards Emergency Medical Management (CHEMM)

The National Library of Medicine recently launched MedlinePlus Connect, a free service that allows health organizations and HIT providers to link patients' information to medlineplus.gov. This site brings together information from NIH, other federal agencies, and trusted health information providers, so that providers and patients can become partners in health. More information here...

Chemical Hazards and Emergency Medical Management (CHEMM) is a web-based resource that is downloadable in advance so that it is available in the event that the internet is unavailable. Following in the footsteps of the Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM), CHEMM presents a plan for medical providers to plan for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of mass-casualty incidents resulting from a chemical accident or attack. Find out more information here...

Public Health ACTion (PHACT) Campaign

The American Public Health Association (APHA) has released the PHACT Campaign Toolkit. APHA is encouraging everyone to use the toolkit during the August Congressional Recess to talk to members of Congress in their communities about the importance of keeping community health centers funded. The toolkit provides factsheets, tips and sample letters to the editor and op-ed pieces. Find the PHACT toolkit here!

The Treatment Research Institute Issues Results of the Forum on Integration of Use/Abuse into Primary Care

The White Paper contains numerous lessons learned from leaders who plunged head first into integrating substance abuse into primary care programs. The report is organized thematically, including: understanding views from the primary care perspective; the need for supports from sponsoring groups; leadership processes essential to success; need for workforce development and IT support; and why performance management and measurement is critical to success. Read the full report here...

Health Research Funding Website

Healthresearchfunding.org aims to connect researchers whose proposals have been peer-reviewed, but remain unfunded, with patient advocacy organizations and other funders. The hope is that worthwhile projects will be find financing from the groups that are most interested in a successful outcome.

IT Resources from CMS and Families USA

CMS recently released new guidance on the components of a good IT system, with updates on how to build Medicaid and CHIP into an IT system that complies with the Affordable Care Act. Find the full report here. Courtesy of Families USA, there is also a brief summary of the report, which you can find here. Families USA recently hosted a conference call, "Improving Information Technology (IT) & Enrollment Systems". Listen to the recording here.

Health Information Technology and Quality Newsletter

This newsletter from HRSA provides updates on upcoming trainings, activities and information about HIT and quality across the CHC community. Read more here.

US Government Accountability Office (GAO) Health Center Strategies Report

The GAO reports on the cost of the use of emergency rooms for non-urgent matters and the potential savings with the expansion of FQHCs. The report also discusses some of the strategies health centers are using to reduce non-urgent use of emergency rooms. Full report here...

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation US Health Care Poll

A recent poll conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that many Americans believe the US Health Care system deserves a "C", at best. Americans with an income of $50,000 per year are mostly likely to think the quality of their health care is below average. Why do so many Americans believe that their care is sub par? Find the answers here.

 

The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) Policy Brief: Enabling Services

The brief points out how critical enabling services are for successful chronic disease management and also makes policy recommendations. Read the full brief here.

FDA Bad Ad Campaign

The FDA tracks how drug companies advertise their products; however it is difficult for the FDA to monitor what takes place outside of formal advertising, like at the doctor's office or at industry events. Through the Bad Ad campaign, the FDA is asking Physicians to report any misleading information they come across in informal settings. Learn more about the Bad Ad Campaign here.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research Synthesis Report: "Mental Disorders and Medical Comorbidity"

This synthesis report focuses on the answers to three questions, within the framework of the current health reform initiatives:
1. What is the rate of comorbidity between medical and mental conditions and why is it so
common?
2. What are the associated mortality, quality of care, and cost burdens of comorbidity?
3. What are the current evidence-based approaches for addressing comorbidity?

Download the report here.

SAMHSA 10x10 Wellness Campaign

Launched in 2010, this campaign hopes to increase the life expectancy of persons with mental health problems by ten years over the next ten years by promoting the importance of addressing all parts of a person's life in their medical treatment. To learn more about the 10x10 campaign click here. For 10x10 campaign printable borchures, click here.

Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative Releases Four Great Resources

The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) is a coalition of more than 700 major employers, consumer groups, organizations representing primary care physicians, and other stakeholders who have joined to advance the patient centered medical home. The PCPCC is a great resouce for the latest news and informative webinars regarding PCMH. Reports are available to download at http://www.pcpcc.net/resources

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) offers Database

NCSL has launched the first of its kind database to track the actions of state legislatures related to some of the major provisions in the Affordable Care Act. Topics in the database include Medicaid, Health Insurance Exchanges, Health Insurance Reform, Health Information Technology, Prevention and Wellness, and Providers and Workforce.

Getting the Most out of Social Media

Social media, like facebook and twitter, can increase traffic on your website, increase awareness of your organization, and help you communicate with clients. Social Media Examiner is a free online magazine that can help you explore and effectively use social media by providing tips, articles, reasearch, and reviews of different media tools.

Useful links from the FDA

Safe Use Initiative
The goal of FDA’s Safe Use Initiative is to create and facilitate collaborations among
groups vested in the safe use of medications with the intention of identifying specific,
preventable medication risks and developing, implementing, and evaluating cross-sector
interventions to reduce the preventable harm from these risks. Click here for more information.

Click Here for a list of FDA links to teaching kits and materials for school nurses, teachers and other health educators.

Angel Flight West: Fly patients where they need to go--no charge

Angel Flight West (AFW) arranges free air transportation in response to health care and other compelling human needs. AFW links volunteer pilots in private aircraft with people in need whose health care and other circumstances require them to travel to and from facilities throughout the 13 Western states. Volunteer pilots donate the costs of all flights. There is never a charge for an Angel Flight West mission. Visit Angel Flight West at www.angelflightwest.org. Call 888-426-2643 whenever you think you may need their services.

CMS Timeline for EHR Incentives

Keep track of important milestones along the road to "meaningful use" so you can take advantage of all opportunities to earn incentives. Click here.

Free Patient Education for Spanish-speaking patients

Find 60-second patient education videos in Spanish for closed-circuit television, website embedment, or linkage, courtesy of the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
AHRQ also has new patient guides in Spanish or English on gestational diabetes, elective induced labor, cholesterol medications, breast biopsy methods, breast cancer risk-reduction drugs, premixed insulins, and other topics.

To see the guides in Spanish, go to http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/informacion-en-espanol/.

For English go to http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/index.cfm/guides-for-patients-and-consumers/. You can also order a new bilingual guide, Como cuidarme: Guia para cuando salga del hospital/Taking Care of Myself: A Guide for When I Leave the Hospital: http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/goinghomesp.htm.

For questions or to order, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (301) 427-1539.

Talking Points: explaining how health centers save $$$

In a policy research brief published in June, 2010, the Geiger Gibson /
RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative, George Washington University, estimated how much expansion of community health centers would save the nation in healthcare costs. Read this astute paper to prepare yourself to better explain how healthcare reform makes primary care more widely accessible at lower costs.

Strengthening Primary Care to Bend the Cost Curve:
The Expansion of Community Health Centers Through Health Reform

Eligibility to receive incentive payments from Medicare and Medicaid

CMS has provided the Eligibility Decision Tool for the CMS EHR Incentive Programs for Eligible Professionals. This tool is designed to assist healthcare providers in determining whether they are eligible to participate and receive incentive payments under the Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs. Click here to use the tool.
Top of Page

 

News and Resources

Facebook    twitter    linkedin