Review of recent studies shows predominantly positive results for health information technology

A study completed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and published in the journal Health Affairs finds growing evidence of the benefits of health information technology (HIT). Using methods that were employed by two previous independent reviews, the new study finds that 92 percent of articles on HIT reached conclusions that showed overall positive effects of HIT on key aspects of care including quality and efficiency of health care.

National Web-Based Teleconference 'Putting the Patient back in Patient-Centered Care '

March 30, 2011 1:00 – 3:30 p.m., EST

Free 90-minute teleconference will explore the use of health IT applications to improve patient involvement in the management of their health and health care. Sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) National Resource Center for Health IT. Click here for more information and registration.

Report Profiles People Expected To Get Coverage Through Health Reform's Insurance Exchanges

This new report provides a demographic profile of the 24 million people expected to gain coverage through state health insurance exchanges under health reform starting in 2014.

Click here to read why Colorado is proceeding with a state-run health insurance exchange, despite legal challenges to the ACA.

Click here to visit Colorado's Health Insurance Exchange website.

Webinar: Overcoming Health IT Workforce Challenges in the Safety Net Community

Friday, April 1, 2011 – 2:00-3:30 PM  ET
Sponsored by HRSA’s Office of HIT & Quality

Webinar will feature three expert speakers discussing health IT workforce challenges and solutions in overcoming them.  Training, development, and retention of the workforce are critical challenges for successfully implementing and sustaining a health information technology (IT) system in health centers and critical access hospitals.  The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 150,000 health IT professionals will be needed in the future for the nation to successfully become meaningful users of health IT systems. Presenters are:

Angela Duncan Diop, ND, Director of Information Systems, Unity Health Care, Inc.
Chief Information Officer of the 30-site health center network, Unity Health Care, and HRSA grantee, Ms. Diop will talk about how Unity identified, assessed, and overcame long- and short-term health IT workforce challenges.Kay Gooding, Director of the Health IT Program, Pitt Community College
P. David Falkenstein, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA, Director of HIM Programs,
Northern Virginia Community College
Both speakers are grantees of the Community College Health IT Workforce Program, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC).  As part of the HITECH Act, ONC has funded more than 70 community colleges in all 50 states to develop or improve non-degree health IT training programs that can be completed in six months or less.  These programs will help train more than 10,500 new health IT professionals by 2012.  Presenters will also provide an overview of training opportunities and the competency exam.  In addition, they will explain how their programs target and provide health IT training opportunities to rural, urban, and minority safety net providers.

Registration Link: http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=90560548

Early Bird Registration ends tomorrow (3/18) for The Forum 2011!

The Forum 2011: Essential Perspectives for Safety Net Providers is an April 20-21 conference that will bring together participants from all over Colorado. It serves as an essential educational, training, and networking event for all safety net clinics, members of the clinic team, and other interested parties. The Colorado Rural Health Center and ClinicNET have partnered to present this event.

UPDATED: Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) conference scholarships & travel support

Kaiser Permanente is generously offering scholarships for lead staff at ClinicNET affiliates to attend Institute for Healthcare Improvement conferences. In addition, they have provided ClinicNET with a limited amount of funding to support travel for eligible conference attendees. Click here for a list of upcoming IHI conferences through June. If you or another lead staff member at your clinic are interested in attending one of the upcoming IHI conferences please email Brooke Powers at brooke.powers@clinicnet.org 

The 2010 Colorado Health Report Card

"The Impact of Health on Colorado's Businesses and the Economy"

Monday, March 21, 2011   |   11:30 a.m. -- 1:30 p.m.

The Denver Post Building Auditorium
101 West Colfax Ave.    |    Denver, CO 80202
An informal light lunch will be served in the lobby starting at 11:30. 

Presentation begins at noon.

Register online

Published annually by the Colorado Health Foundation in partnership with the Colorado Health Institute, the Report Card tracks 38 health indicators that span the life course and which, if left unchanged, could pose significant risks to the health and well being of Coloradans.
Presentation of results:
Staff of the Colorado Health Foundation and the Colorado Health Institute
Discussion panel experts:

Tom Clark, executive vice president, Metro Denver Economic Development Corp.
Patty Silverstein, president, Development Research Partners
Janice Sinden, executive director, Colorado Concern
Questions? E-mail Kim Ribich, events manager at the Colorado Health Foundation, or call 303.953.3669

Reach Out To State Legislators About the State Budget! March 19 Budget Listening Tour

As you are aware, the state is facing a budget shortfall of approximately $1.2 billion as they plan for the upcoming fiscal year (July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012).  As part of a statewide series of meetings to hear the ideas, thoughts and concerns of Coloradans about the state budget there is Budget Listening Tour near you this Saturday, March 19. This event is being organized by Democratic Senators and Representatives across the state. These meetings will inform these legislators on how they should set their budget priorities.  Below is a list of where and what time the Budget Listening Tour is occurring this Saturday, March 19. If you are unsure of who your legislators are visit http://www.comaps.org/allsearch.html.

Denver
Who: Reps. Jeanne Labuda, Mark Ferrandino, Daniel Kagan, Joe Miklosi and Sens. Linda Newell and Irene Aguilar
When: 10am-12pm
Where: VFW Hall #9644, 2680 W. Hampden Ave, Englewood, CO 80110
Denver:
Who: Reps. Lois Court, Beth McCann, Angela Williams and Sens. Joyce Foster and Pat Steadman
When: 1-2:30pm
Where: Eisenhower Chapel, 293 Roslyn St., Denver, CO 80230
Aurora:
Who: Reps. Su Ryden, Rhonda Fields, Nancy Todd, and Sen. Suzanne Williams
When: 10-11:30am
Where: Community College of Aurora, 16000 E Center Tech Pkwy Aurora, CO 80011 Building - Fine Arts, Room F 100
Lakewood/Golden:
Who: Reps. Max Tyler, Andy Kerr, Sue Schafer and Sens. Cheri Jahn and Evie Hudak
When: 9-10:30am
Where: Golden City Hall, 911 10th St, Golden, CO 80401
Adams County
Who: Reps. Ed Casso, John Soper and Sen. Mary Hodge
When: 10-11:30am
Where: Commerce City Council Chambers, 7887 East 60th Ave, Commerce City, CO 80266
Boulder
Who: Reps. Claire Levy and Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
When: 1-2:30pm
Where: Boulder City Council Chambers, 1777 Broadway St. Boulder, CO 80302
Longmont
Who: Reps. Deb Gardner and Matt Jones, Sen. President Brandon Shaffer
When: 10:30am-12pm
Where: Longmont Library, 350 Kimbark St, Longmont, CO 80501
Colorado Springs/Southern Colorado
Who: Rep. Pete Lee, House Dem. Leader Sal Pace and Sen. Angela Giron and Sen. Majority Leader John MorseWhen: 1-2:30pm
Where: Penrose Library Carnegie Reading Room, 20 North Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Fort Collins
Who: Reps. John Kefalas, Randy Fischer and Sen. Bob Bacon
When: 11-12:30pm
Where: Coloradoan Room, 1300 Riverside Ave, Ft Collins 80524
Greeley
Who: Rep. Jim Riesberg
When: 10-11:30am
Where: Evans City Council Chambers, 1100 37th Street Evans, CO 80620
Eagle County
Who: Reps. Millie Hamner and Roger Wilson
When: 10-11:30am
Where: Eagle County Room, 590 Broadway, Eagle, CO 80631
Western Slope
Who: Reps. Millie Hamner and Roger Wilson
When: 1-2:30pm
Where: Garfield County Administration Building, 108 8th St., Ste. 100, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601

Kaiser Family Foundation Examines Health Coverage in Areas With Health Professional Shortages

Research Brief: Insurance Coverage and Access to Care in Primary Care Shortage Areas

This brief examines insurance coverage and access to care among the population residing in Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), which are areas with documented shortages of physicians and other health providers.

Early Bird Registration ends March 18th for the Forum 2011!

The Forum 2011: Essential Perspectives for Safety Net Providers is an April 20-21 conference that will bring together participants from all over Colorado. It serves as an essential educational, training, and networking event for all safety net clinics, members of the clinic team, and other interested parties. The Colorado Rural Health Center and ClinicNET have partnered to present this event.

Advancing Care Together (ACT) Program

A Request for Proposals has been released from the Advancing Care Together (ACT) program funded by The Colorado Health Foundation. The ACT program is seeking primary care practices and community mental health centers to collaborate to integrate behavioral health, substance abuse, and primary care. ACT will fund a portfolio of demonstration projects for three years with grants up to $50,000 a year to support achieving and/or extending patient-centered medical home principles.

What will be the new role of the Colorado safety net in light of national healthcare reform?

BHH Learning Collaborative Webinar

Date: Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM MDT

Presenters:
Annette Kowal, Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Community Health Network
Sharon Adams, Executive Director, ClinicNET

With the passage of national healthcare reform more than 500,000 additional Coloradans will have health insurance. Given that historically Colorado safety net clinics have played a critical role in providing access to the uninsured, how will their role change in light of near universal coverage? This webinar will provide answers to the questions ‘What are health centers doing to transform to the new world?’ and ‘What new opportunities are coming online for clinics and what can this mean for our communities?’

Space is limited. Click here to reserve your Webinar seat now.

Clinica Tepeyac seeks Medical Director

Click here to view the job announcement for the Medical Director at Clinica Tepeyac.