Quick Finds: Promising/Best Practices

Health Center Partnerships to Support Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents (2024). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Early experiences and choices have a profound impact on lifelong health. It is crucial to cultivate healthy habits during childhood and adolescence in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, promote physical and cognitive development, enhance resilience, and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. However, children and adolescents often encounter obstacles in managing their health and lifestyle choices due to environmental factors, educational and social influences, and limited autonomy. NNCC introduced and discussed tools and resources for health care professionals/CHWs working in health center settings and the community. More Details...

Advancing Equity: Community Health Workers' Role in Enhancing Breast Cancer Screenings and Linkage to Care (2024). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This webinar explored breast cancer disparities and their impact on different communities. Health centers play a critical role in providing comprehensive care, especially in tackling disparities in breast cancer screenings and care among underserved communities. Viewers will discover how Community Health Workers (CHWs) can bridge gaps and facilitate screenings and care. Learn practical strategies and best practices to implement CHW programs within your practice effectively. More Details...

Health Center Resilience in the Face of Cyber Adversity: A Case Study of the Family Health Center of Worcester’s Ransomware Incident, February 2024 (2024). Resource Type: Publication. Description: The use of ransomware -- malicious software that restricts access to computer systems with financial demands -- has escalated, targeting health centers and putting countless lives at risk. This dire reality came to the forefront during the alarming ransomware attack on the Family Health Center of Worcester, Inc. (FHCW), where the personal health information and care continuity for thousands of patients were compromised. This resource uses FHCW's experience as a case study to demonstrate the imperative of preparedness and the strength of a community-centered response in ensuring the continuity of healthcare services amidst the ever-growing tide of cyber vulnerabilities. More Details...

Colorectal Cancer Screening Tool: Promoting Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Agricultural Workers (2024). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Screening for colorectal cancer is a key preventive measure that can save lives by detecting cancer early when it’s most treatable. However, Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers (MSAWs) face unique barriers that make accessing this crucial screening more challenging. Exposure to pesticides can increase their risk for cancers, including colorectal cancer, yet MSAWs often have lower health literacy and may not speak English, making complex medical information difficult to access. More Details...

Advancing the use of SDOH Data to Support Value Based Care: National Training for Health Centers (2024). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Is your health center interested in learning about how collection of social needs data can support your performance in providing value based care? This one-hour webinar, presented by Washington Association for Community Health, CHAS Health, and the HITEQ Center taught about best practices in SDOH screening and how health centers have used SDOH data for patient care, population health, and value based care. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions and share the specific challenges they face regarding SDOH screening and use of data. All health center staff, particularly those involved in screening clients for social needs, connecting them to resources and using data to inform care, were welcome to attend. More Details...

How EHRs Can Be Leveraged to Streamline Social Needs Screening: Screening for Housing Status and other Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) measures Webinar (2024). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Is your health center planning, implementing, or revamping a social needs screening program? The National Health Care for the Homeless Council and the HITEQ Center hosted a free webinar on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024, from 2 - 3 pm Eastern (1 - 2 pm Central) where they taught participants how to screen for housing status and other Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) measures that can be introduced or better integrated into health center clinical workflows. Presenters shared guidance on implementing and systematizing social needs data collection in Electronic Health Records (EHRs), followed by a panel of expert health center representatives who spoke about their programs & journeys with social needs screening programs. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, share successes, or discuss specific challenges they faced regarding social needs screening. While this webinar focused on health care for the homeless (HCH) health centers, anyone involved directly in social needs screening or interested in improving screening processes was welcome to attend. More Details...

Implementing Staff Satisfaction Surveys Infographic (2023). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This STAR² Center infographic is designed to support health center teams as they focus on staff resiliency, wellness, satisfaction, and engagement by guiding teams through the process of conducting staff satisfaction surveys.  More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: What to Do About Health IT Hazards Associated with Copy and Paste in the EHR: HITEQ Highlights Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Copy and paste functionality can support efficiency during clinical documentation, but may promote inaccurate documentation with risks for patient safety. This webinar discussed three key areas where health centers can consider implementing safe practice recommendations: Define copy and paste as a health IT safety issue by identifying the potential patient safety risks Review safe practice recommendations and implementation strategies to mitigate health IT-related hazards and safety issues Disseminate evidence, tools and practices for implementation More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: PrEP Process Mapping Team Toolkit Demonstration: HITEQ Highlights Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Is your health center currently in the process of implementing or revamping your pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) workflow? Join this HITEQ webinar to learn how to use our PrEP Process Mapping Toolkit, which is designed to support team-based learning, reflection, and action on the use of process mapping as a tool to document PrEP clinical and EHR workflows. Your health center team can follow the steps outlined in the toolkit to develop a process map of an existing or planned PrEP service workflow and to identify opportunities to streamline and improve that workflow. More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: Crossing The Chasm of Innovation - One FQHC's Journey to Operationalize its Telehealth Strategy: HITEQ Highlights Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: In this HITEQ Highlights webinar, we focused on the intersection of telehealth strategy and operations. One health center\'s experience of leveraging telehealth as a tool for expanding service delivery and patient access will be a jumping off point from which to consider the benefits (and challenges) of dedicated telehealth resources within an organization. Participants learned how telehealth might benefit recruitment efforts and review relevant resources for ongoing telehealth support. More Details...

Tobacco Cessation: From Evidence to Practice: NCHPH Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This webinar presented by NHCHC and NCHPH focused on the epidemiology of tobacco use behaviors, tobacco-related inequities, and culturally-relevant tobacco use interventions and ways to integrate them into practice. More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: Enabling a Cyber-Resilient Health Center: HITEQ Highlights Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This HITEQ Highlight aimed to strengthen Health Centers\' capacity to build their cyber-resiliency. We covered risk management tools, methods for guarding against cybersecurity assaults, operationalizing cybersecurity to mitigate risks, and breach mitigation tactics. Participants focus on safeguarding data across the entire enterprise and examined approaches to implementing cybersecurity infrastructure through risk management frameworks and strategic risk assessment. More Details...

Screening for Colorectal Cancer: A Patient-Centered Approach to Improving Marketing and Promotion: NCHPH Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Screening is an essential tool in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Nearly 2 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with colorectal cancer per year, a significant proportion of these cases could be prevented or diagnosed sooner in screening was more widely utilized by the public. More Details...

Best Practices for Phone and Virtual Interpretation in Health Centers (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This webinar is provided in conjunction with a newly created best practices resource in response to the demand for more language access services in health centers especially for Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients. This project is HRSA-funded. Presented on 11/30/2023 More Details...

Best Practices for Phone and Virtual Interpretation in Health Centers (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This webinar is provided in conjunction with a newly created best practices resource in response to the demand for more language access services in health centers especially for Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients. This project is HRSA-funded. Presented on 11/30/2023 More Details...

Tobacco Cessation for Homeless Individuals and Public Housing Residents: A Brief Review: NCHPH Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This webinar presented by National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) and National Center for Health in Public Housing (NCHPH) focused on introducing clinicians, health educators and CHWs to the rationale for doing smoking cessation with public housing and homeless individuals served by health center programs. This webinar also provided information on the seven FDA approved cessation medications as well as proven behavioral counseling techniques to help individuals stay quit permanently. More Details...

Enhancing Healthcare Access for Special Populations Through Telehealth and Home Visitation Services: NCHPH Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Hosted by the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium and the National Center for Health in Public Housing, this 2-part webinar series discussed promising practices in home visitation and telehealth as ways to support improved access to comprehensive primary care for communities with high levels of disability, and isolation, lack of adequate transportation, and other social drivers of health that contribute to health inequities, particularly residents of public housing. More Details...

Successful Steps for Holistic Integration of Mental and Behavioral Health in Primary Care Learning Collaborative: Part Four (2023). Resource Type: In-Person Training. Description: Session 4 or 4 delves into various quality improvement techniques. Participants learned how to apply the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle effectively to bring about meaningful change within their healthcare settings. Practical tools and real-world examples guided participants in identifying areas for improvement and implementing evidence-based strategies. More Details...

Acting on Climate Change for a Healthier Future: The role of Health Centers: NCHPH Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: The health community recognizes the climate crisis as an existential threat to humanity and human health, requiring immediate and effective action across all sectors. Health centers are the first point of contact intended to provide comprehensive and coordinated health services and contribute to both climate change adaptation and mitigation via preventive health measures and integrated health services. More Details...

Successful Steps for Holistic Integration of Mental and Behavioral Health in Primary Care Learning Collaborative: Part Three (2023). Resource Type: Online Self-Paced Learning Modules. Description: Integrating behavioral health services into primary care requires effective financial planning and re-conceptualization of determining ROI. Session 3 of 4 focuses on enhanced billing practices tailored to integrated healthcare models and on determining the contribution of integrated BH to the finances of the primary care setting or the health system as a whole. More Details...

Enhancing Healthcare Access for Special Populations Through Telehealth and Home Visitation Services: Part Two (2023). Resource Type: In-Person Training. Description: Hosted by the National Nurse-led Care Consortium and the National Center for Health in Public Housing, this 2-part webinar series discussed promising practices in home visitation and telehealth as ways to support improved access to comprehensive primary care for communities with high levels of disability and isolation, lack of adequate transportation, and other social drivers of health that contribute to health inequities, particularly residents of public housing. More Details...

Successful Steps for Holistic Integration of Mental and Behavioral Health in Primary Care Learning Collaborative: Part Two (2023). Resource Type: Online Self-Paced Learning Modules. Description: Session two focused on enhancing understanding of integrated care models and aspects of gaining leadership support for successful implementation. Leadership endorsement is critical for the successful implementation of integrated care methods. Participants engaged in discussions centered around strategies to gain leadership buy-in. Case analyses and group exercises empowered attendees to identify key motivators for leaders and tailor their approach to effectively communicate the benefits of integrated care, thereby securing the necessary support. More Details...

Enhancing Healthcare Access for Special Populations Through Telehealth and Home Visitation Services: Part One (2023). Resource Type: Online Self-Paced Learning Modules. Description: The first session took place on November 7. We examined how home visitation can be integrated into the provider panel to expand access for aging and disabled patients residing in public housing. More Details...

Successful Steps for Holistic Integration of Mental and Behavioral Health in Primary Care Learning Collaborative: Part One (2023). Resource Type: In-Person Training. Description: Integrated healthcare is a unique way to detect and address the broad spectrum of psychological, biological, and social needs among primary care patients. In part one of this learning collaborative, participants explored different levels of engagement and examined this framework of collaboration and the different levels of integration; we also learned about key strategies for successfully implementing integrated health care in your healthcare setting. Participants were introduced to the framework for patient and family engagement and reviewed an organizational assessment to gauge where action can be taken. More Details...

Navigating Compliance Challenges with the Information Blocking Rule: A Collection of Case Studies: HITEQ Center and Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP, September 2023 (2023). Resource Type: Toolkit. Description: The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) 21st Century Cures Act Information Blocking Rule (Info Blocking Rule) prohibits covered actors – including health care providers, health IT developers of certified health IT, and health information exchanges/health information networks– from engaging in practices likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI). The Info Blocking Rule includes eight exceptions that provide actors with certainty that, when their practice interferes with the access, exchange, or use of EHI and meets the conditions of one or more exception, such practice will not be considered information blocking.1 More Details...

PrEP Process Map Example: HITEQ Center, September 2023 (2023). Resource Type: Toolkit. Description: This resource is an example of a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Process Map. A process map is a picture of how a health center workflow moves from the start point to the end point. As you review the process map, make note of the design elements, such as use of colors, shapes, and icons, and the level of detail included in the map. You can download the process map in the Documents to Download section below. More Details...

Health Center Guidelines for Implementing FHIR and the Information Blocking Rule: HITEQ Center, September 2023 (2023). Resource Type: Toolkit. Description: The 21st Century Cures Act and the ONC Health IT Certification Program include rules for technical configuration and use of Health Level 7® (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources® (FHIR) for health data exchange and accessibility. Health centers are directed to enable and publish their healthcare data locations, known as FHIR endpoints,* to and from their electronic health record (EHR). Part of the Cures Act, known as the Information Blocking Rule, mandates that patients have “easy” access to their digital medical information, costs and claims associated with their health record, and whom the data can be shared with. More Details...

BPHCurates: Child and Adolescent Health and Social Resources: Targeted Resources on Food Insecurity, Behavioral Health, Oral Health, Staffing Shortages, and Telehealth to Support Child and Adolescent Health (2023). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This resource packet provides health centers with resources to develop processes for improving service delivery and outcomes for children and adolescents, specifically related to telehealth, food insecurity, mental and behavioral health, oral health, and staffing shortages and retention. In addition, links to general child and adolescent health center technical resources are provided. More Details...

Stratifying Quality Measures by Housing Status and Location (2023). Resource Type: Online Self-Paced Learning Modules. Description: In this training, we learned how to impact communities meaningfully by utilizing data to improve screening, care quality, and health outcomes. NNCC and the Primary Care Development Corporation partnered to conduct a webinar that guided health centers serving public housing residents and other special groups on using UDS data for QI, care coordination, and care model design. More Details...

Assessing Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth at Community Health Centers: A Policy Brief (2023). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This brief describes findings from a national assessment of health center patients’ experiences with telehealth and the policy implications of these findings. The assessment focused on three key aspects of telehealth utilization, including 1) ease of use, 2) interaction with the clinician, and 3) overall comfort/satisfaction. More Details...

Health Center and Supportive Housing Capital Development Partnerships Case Study: Portland, OR (2023). Resource Type: Publication. Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the value of community health and housing collaborations aimed at improving housing stability and quality of life for vulnerable populations. Exploration of these health and housing partnerships is fueled by increased demands for affordable and supportive housing combined with the need for more effective service coordination. Partnerships that expand the community’s housing and service infrastructure—the physical space— also provide opportunities for health centers to enhance care coordination and participate in efforts to address housing as a significant driver for health outcomes. Learn more about the key steps and decisions Central City Concern and their community partners made on their path to building new health and housing collaborations in their community. More Details...

Health Center and Supportive Housing Capital Development Partnerships Case Study: Denver, CO (2023). Resource Type: Publication. Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the value of community health and housing collaborations aimed at improving housing stability and quality of life for vulnerable populations. Exploration of these health and housing partnerships is fueled by increased demands for affordable and supportive housing combined with the need for more effective service coordination. Partnerships that expand the community’s housing and service infrastructure—the physical space— also provide opportunities for health centers to enhance care coordination and participate in efforts to address housing as a significant driver for health outcomes. Learn more about the key steps and decisions the Denver Housing Authority and Denver Health and Hospital Authority made on their path to building new health and housing co-developments in their community. More Details...

Health Center and Supportive Housing Capital Development Partnerships Case Study: Atlanta, GA (2023). Resource Type: Publication. Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the value of community health and housing collaborations aimed at improving housing stability and quality of life for vulnerable populations. Increased demands for affordable and supportive housing combined with the need for more effective service coordination are fueling exploration of these health and housing collaborations. Read the case study to learn more about the key steps and decisions leading health centers and providers have made on their path to building new health and housing collaborations in their communities. More Details...

Growing the Next Generation of Health Center Executives: Establishing an Administrative Fellows Program (2023). Resource Type: Archived webinar. Description: This two-part series is designed to assist health centers with specific consultation on top issues in developing and implementing an Administrative Fellows Program in a Health Center setting. The faculty includes health center representatives experienced and successful with a health center-based Administrative Fellows Program for post-graduate Masters’ prepared administrators. More Details...

Sensitive Information and the Electronic Patient Record: HITEQ Center, June 2023 (2023). Resource Type: Toolkit. Description: With nearly 100% of community health centers utilizing electronic health records (EHR) to care for patients, focus has pivoted from implementation and new workflow development to enhancement in order to drive value and reflect patient needs and population trends. EHR technology presents potential opportunities and significant constraints. Providers frequently document and share potentially sensitive information in the EHR, such as risk for intimate partner violence (IPV), consistent offers of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), or patient sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). More Details...

A Guide to Essential Cybersecurity Tasks for Health Centers: For health centers with limited resources, developed in June 2023 (2023). Resource Type: Toolkit. Description: In an increasingly connected healthcare landscape, health centers face a dual challenge: the rising tide of cyber threats and the need to comply with stringent data protection regulations, all while managing limited resources. The ever-evolving nature of cyberattacks and the complexity of compliance requirements make it essential for health centers to prioritize cybersecurity tasks effectively. More Details...

A Compendium of Veteran Oral Health Best, Promising, and Emerging Practice Approaches (2023). Resource Type: Publication. Description: NNOHA partnered with the American Institute for Dental Public Health to collect current practices to increase access to oral health care for veterans. This guide describes strategies to engage and serve veterans in the community for oral health care. More Details...

Optimize Your Care Team to Improve Chronic Hypertensive Disease Management (2023). Resource Type: Online Self-Paced Learning Modules. Description: This webinar focuses on advancing the mgmt of hypertension & improving patient outcomes through optimization of care teams. We explore how care team optimization, grounded in evidence-based practices, enhances health outcomes & provides vital support for our workforce. During this session, you hear from Ingrid Andersson from Mary’s Center on using RNs to enhance chronic care management, with a special emphasis on patients dealing with hypertension. Through comprehensive discussions & case studies, you explore the latest promising practices that focus on the pivotal role of collaborative teams in achieving superior patient outcomes. More Details...

Assessing Provider Capabilities, Attitudes, and Preferences about Telehealth: HITEQ Center Question Bank, April 2023 (2023). Resource Type: Toolkit. Description: As health centers are charting their path forward with telehealth after the public health emergency ends, it will be critical to have methods in place to comprehensively assess the current experiences, capabilities, attitudes, and preferences of providers. Telehealth program improvements should be grounded in a real understanding of these factors to ensure readiness of all providers. More Details...

Eyes on Access: Billing for Vision Services (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This is a continuation of the 2022 vision services webinar series. With a deep dive into billing for vision services, this webinar series addresses how health centers can align their billing procedures for vision services with their existing service lines. More Details...

Exploring Promising Practices on Diabetes Management and Prevention: NCHPH Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: In 2021, health centers reported over 2.8 million patients that were diagnosed with diabetes and over 91,000 among Public Housing Primary Care grantees (HRSA, 2022). This data signifies the need to explore what strategies health centers are implementing to improve the overall diabetes health outcomes for their patients. More Details...

The Managed Care Data Set - Video: Developed with Starling Advisors in 2022 (2023). Resource Type: E-Learning. Description: This is the second in a three module value based care basics series from the HITEQ Center. This module was developed by Starling Advisors in 2022. More Details...

Clinical Quality Measures for Eligible Professionals: 2023 Update: A crosswalk of Clinical Quality Measures for UDS and other reporting from The HITEQ Center (2023). Resource Type: Toolkit. Description: This spreadsheet developed by the HITEQ Center provides a crosswalk of Clinical Quality Measures and their electronic specifications as defined in the 2023 update for Eligible Professionals (Clinicians). Fields include the crosswalk of measures with related information about CMS, NQF, and MIPS ID, and Telehealth Eligiblity, as well as inclusion in HRSA BPHC Uniform Data System (UDS) CY2023, Million Hearts, CMS Quality Payment Program (QPP) - APM Performance Pathway (APP) Measures, Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP)/ CMS ACO Shared Savings Program, CMS Core Set (Child Core Set Medicaid / CHIP): HEDIS Specified, CMS Core Set (Adult Core Set Medicaid): HEDIS Specified, Core Quality Measures Collaborative (ACO / Primary Care). Links are included throughout. More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: Improve the Collection and Respectful Use of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI): Inclusive SOGI EHR Workflows (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Collecting sensitive patient information, including data related to Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), is a critical part of operations for many health centers, especially FQHCs. Though required by many funding and reporting systems, for example, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Services, integrating how to capture these data in respectful and consistent ways may be a challenge. More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: What You Need to Know About Managing Data in Value Based Care Contracts: HITEQ Highlights Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This webinar will feature a panel of leaders in the health center world of value based care discussing how data can be managed and leveraged as a strategic asset. As value based care, alternative payment models, and managed care arrangements are becoming more common for health centers, health centers are called on to increase their knowledge and action in this area. Join us to hear from experts and pose any questions you have! More Details...

Clinical Decision Support and Care Plan Adjustment for Social Risks: HITEQ Highlights Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: When clinical teams have information on patients\' social risks (adverse social determinants of health), they can make care plan adjustments to account for those risks, e.g., by prescribing lower-cost medications. More Details...

SDOH Screening & Referrals to Support Diabetes Control: Screening & Coding, Care Team Optimization, Referrals to the Community & Closing the Loop (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: In this three-part webinar series hosted by the National Nurse-led Care Consortium (NNCC), participants can expect to learn about the importance of SDOH screenings and whole-person wellness to improve diabetes management and outcomes. Presenters will share their knowledge of executing patient centered SDOH screening tools and referrals to support services while managing diabetes. This series will discuss implementing best practices for patient-centered approaches to care by utilizing SDOH screening and care team optimization and coordination. More Details...

Expanding Health Center Services to an Aging Population through PACE (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar . Description: This National Center for Equitable Care for Elders (NCECE) webinar focused on features and benefits of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) model within a health center context. The personalized care approach of PACE promotes safe community living for the growing population of older adults, many of whom have a range of complex health needs and varying levels of social support. More Details...

More than a Database: Understanding Community Resource Referrals within a Broader Framework: HITEQ Highlights Webinar (2023). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Addressing patients’ social determinants of health via community resource referrals has historically primarily been the domain of social workers and information and referral specialists; however, community resource referral technology platforms have more recently entered the market. More Details...

Webinar: Leveraging Health Center Medical-Legal Partnerships to Advance Community-Oriented Policing (2022). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) have always been an effective, evidence-based tool for addressing the social determinants of health. How can MLPs advance public safety and community-oriented policing initiatives? In this national webinar supported by HRSA, MLP practitioners and stakeholders from Texas discussed: why community policing matters for health; how their work intersects with public safety approaches; and concrete strategies for engaging in community-oriented policing initiatives that affect the health and well-being of the communities they serve.​ More Details...