ClinicNET Status Update

ClinicNET has cherished its role in advancing health equity, health care access and innovative care delivery.  For more than a decade the organization has worked to strengthen Colorado’s health care safety net for people in need by supporting Community Safety Net Clinics.  ClinicNET has long provided a centralized voice for these clinics and providers that serve at risk and vulnerable populations.  In recent years, advocacy, policy and informing state initiatives have become essential dimensions of ClinicNET’s contribution to Colorado’s safety net system of care. 

Although the importance of ClinicNET’s work is widely acknowledged, diversifying and continuing to secure ongoing funding has been difficult in spite of multiple approaches explored to achieve sustainability.  As a result, ClinicNET’s day-to-day operations will ceaseNovember 30, 2016 and the business will close December 31, 2016. 

Over the next two months, thanks to Brooke Powers, Anne Taylor and Cathryn Benedict, ClinicNET will continue essential advocacy, policy, communications and practice transformation work.  However, in order to optimally resource these key services, Sharon Adams tenure as ClinicNET’s Executive Director will end on October 7.  Over the next two weeks Sharon will reach out to like-missioned partners and begin a conversation about what opportunities might exist for the affiliate clinic connections that have been so richly cultivated over the years under the ClinicNET umbrella to continue in a different manner.   

Please feel free to reach out to Sharon at sharon.adams@clinicnet.org or 303-808-5517 or Kimberly Boyd, ClinicNET Board President at kim.boyd@niteize.com or 303-667-6061 with questions.

2016 Loan Repayment for Safety Net Clinical Support Staff!

CCHN was funded by the Kaiser Permanente Community Health Fund to administer a loan repayment program for clinical support professionals as part of the Preparing the Safety Net for the Future Health Care initiative.

Application Cycle:  October 17 - November 14, 2016

Who Can Apply:  Current clinical support staff who provide direct patient care.  Employees may work at ClinicNET clinics, Rural Health Centers and Federaly Qualified Health Centers in Colorado.

Key Criteria:  
-Employed with clinic for at least six months.
-Hold a certificate or degree from an accredited health profesional training institution.
-Educational debt was in good standing.
-Award ranges $6,000 - $10,000 depending on years of employment.

Click HERE for more loan repayment information.

[Source: CCHN]

Primary Care Fund Workgroup Seeking Volunteers

The Primary Care office will soon be establishing the Primary Care Fund Workgroup that had been mentioned at the Annual Stakeholders meeting. This workgroup will offer information and recommendations to the Department on selected topics. They are asking for volunteers, from which 5 or 6 participants will be selected. While the workgroup will be small, we will communicate decisions reached by the Department broadly.

Our goal is to have a representative from each of the following:
CCHN
ClinicNet (will attend October and November meetings)
Large urban clinic
Small urban clinic
Rural clinic
Potentially another?

The topics and schedule will be:
Waiving Application Responses, Acceptable Certifications and Quality Assurance Programs
Tuesday, October 18, 1:00 - 2:30pm
303 E. 17th St., Room 7C

Sample Size for Data Verification, Sliding Fee Schale, Cost Effective Care
Monday, November 14, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
303 E. 17th St., Room 7A

Accurate FPL Tables, Rule Changes
Wednesday, December 14, 1:00pm - 2:30pm
303 E. 17th St., Room 7C

If interested in being a member of this workgroup, please notify us by October 5 at Primary.Care@state.co.us.   The Department will make selections and notifications by October 11, 2016.  Please direct any questions to primary.care@hcpf.state.co.us.

[Source:  HCPF]

Less than 45 Days Away to Win Amendment 72!

"We're going to grab some free media attention with a volunteer Take A Stand event with 72 Volunteers Standing for Amendment 72 at the Colorado Convention Center this Saturday, October 1st outside the Bellco Theater when 5,000 politically engaged participants show up to attend Trevor Noah's Stand Up Show. Trevor is the new host of the Daily Show.

RSVP to Take A Stand for 72 beginning at 6:30 pm (free event)
Buy Tickets and take our message into the Trevor Noah show at 7:30 pm (paid event)
Pick up your yard signs on Oct. 1st from our rented 16 foot truck beginning at 6 pm(donations welcome)
Sign up to call voters so we can counter the $7.8 M in Big Tobacco Ads (sweat equity)

Hope to See you Saturday when 72 of us Take a Stand for 72!
The Campaign for a Healthy Colorado "

[Source:  The Campaign for a Health Colorado]

Upcoming Fall Workshops for Patient Navigators

Facilitation Skills for Patient Navigators
Are you a patient navigator looking to enhance your group education sessions or improve collaboration with your co-workers? Or maybe you're a PN manager seeking to learn more about group dynamics and the individual needs of your employees. Whether you facilitate group-level interventions, staff meetings, or other group activities, this training is for you. All experience levels welcome.
Dates/Time: Oct. 11 and 12, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: Arvada
Register Here

Level 2: Advanced Motivational Interviewing for Patient Navigators
In this course, you will expand your skills related to the strategic use of questions and reflections to build upon and deepen client change talk.
Date/Time: Oct. 21, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: Denver
Register Here

Level 2: Advanced Health Behavior Change
This course provides tools and strategies to help clients around diet, exercise, diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention and control.
Date/Time: Nov. 10, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: Colorado Springs
Register Here

Level 3: Patient Navigator Supervisor
This course is designed for supervisors of navigators, program planners and administrators of patient navigator programs.
Date/Time: Nov. 18, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: South Denver
Register Here

[Source: Patient Navigator Training Collaborative]

New Tools for Clinicians to Improve Diagnosis and Blood Pressure Control Rates

Target: BP is a nationwide initiative to address high blood pressure in the United States. Brought to you by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA), Target: BP’s goal is to reduce the number of Americans who have heart attacks and strokes by supporting physician practices and health systems in improving diagnosis and blood pressure control rates among patients with hypertension.  Click Target: BP here for more information.

[Source: COPrevent]

October 1st! Important Deadline for Medicare EHR Incentive Program

If you are new to the Medicare incentive program, read on for important information that will help you avoid payment adjustments.

[Source CORHIO]