Resource Search Results

Compliance with 42 CFR Part 2: A Case Study with Community Medical Centers, Inc. (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Health centers are actively expanding the substance use treatment services they offer in the community to address access to care for opioid use disorders, and more broadly to address better screening, referral and timely access to all substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. This case study is an example of how a health center is assessing operations to comply with 42 CFR Part 2, with a particular focus on changes to their health information technology (IT) systems. It includes a 42 CFR Part 2 Regulatory Checklist that health centers may find particularly helpful to review. More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: Addressing Childhood Obesity in Health Centers (2019). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This webinar focused on how to improve child weight screening, nutrition and physical activity counselling, and design appropriate and meaningful interventions according to health center peers. A number of tools that support this quality improvement around addressing child weight and potential for obesity were discussed, including Bright Futures guidance and data validation tools from HITEQ. More Details...

Telehealth Office Hours:: ADA issues in Telehealth (2019). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This presentation provides a high-level overview of accessibility considerations in telemedicine under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. We will discuss various types of services and modifications to help ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to telemedicine services. More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: Growing and Sustaining a Data Driven Culture (2019). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: Building on the HITEQ Center’s previous webinars that introduced an Analytic Capability Assessment, building a roadmap for action and using data governance to maximize the value of data, the third webinar in this series explored how to grow and sustain these efforts. More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: Using Health Information Technology to Enhance Opioid Use Disorder Treatment (2019). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: The Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality Center (HITEQ) hosted this webinar on promising and innovative practices for the use of health information technologies (IT) to enhance opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. The webinar also featured the experiences and practices of health centers which are currently using health IT to enhance OUD services. More Details...

Implementing a Pediatric Teledentistry Program: Promising Practice (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Finger Lakes Community Health in New York established a successful teledentistry program. The teledentistry program focuses on providing pediatric dental care since. This promising practices will discuss lessons learned for this program. More Details...

EHR Vendors Most Frequently Used by Health Centers: 2014 through 2017, according to information reported in the UDS. (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: These graphs and tables use health center reported UDS data from 2014 through 2017 to identify the 10 EHRs most frequently used among health center programs, and shows the change between years. Updated in late 2018 with 2017 data, these graphs and tables use health center reported UDS data from 2014 through 2017 to identify the 10 EHRs most frequently used among health center programs, and shows the change between years. Download the PDFs below for all the information. 2014 and 2015 information was taken from the EHR Form in the UDS, and 2016 and 2017 information was retrieved from the Health IT Form in the UDS. 2018 information will be added when available. Each of these forms can be seen in the UDS manual for the given year here.  Efforts have been taken to normalize data for aggregation purposes such as to combine those that reported "Next Gen" and those that reported "NextGen"; otherwise, all information is used as reported by health centers without further verification.   More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: Managing Data as a Strategic Asset: Data Governance Fundamentals (2019). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: In this webinar, the HITEQ Center presented the essentials of good data management processes and introduce the Center for Care Innovation’s Data Governance Handbook, offering ideas for action and tools to improve data quality, increase data literacy, and maximize access to data. More Details...

Health Center Data Validation Tool: Tool to Validate Adult BMI UDS Clinical Measure Reporting from EHR (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This Excel-based tool is designed to support validation of EHR reporting for the Adult BMI clinical measure by comparing results from EHR to results from chart reviews or examination of underlying data. This assists in identifying specific data elements that are not being captured appropriately, either as a result of workflow or EHR report logic, and thereby effecting compliance rates. More Details...

Hepatitis B and the Opioid Epidemic: Opportunities to Increase Adult Vaccination: Webinar Resources (2019). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: This webinar focuses on strategies to prevent and eliminate hepatitis B as a U.S. public health threat, particularly among special and vulnerable populations impacted by the opioid epidemic. To access the slides and recording, follow the link provided More Details...

Annual UDS Clinical Measure Data Dashboard: Excel Tool for Data Monitoring (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This Excel file dashboard was shared by an existing health center and is used to depict performance on UDS measures over time. It was recently updated 2018 reporting requirements and clinical measures. More Details...

A Roadmap for Building a Data Driven Culture: HITEQ Highlights Webinar (2019). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: In this webinar the HITEQ Center will introduce the Analytics Capability Assessment (ACA), a tool developed by the Center for Care Innovations that allows users to look critically at an organization’s analytics capability across three key domains: people, process, and technology. By determining their level of capability in each of these factors, organizations can develop an individualized roadmap to focus and prioritize capability-building efforts. The tool also helps to demystify some of the jargon that can often alienate non-technical staff. Methods, examples, and tips for deploying the ACA in health center organizations will also be shared. More Details...

Health Center Security & Compliance System Implementation Guide: 1/1/2019 (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This toolkit provides a framework for Health Centers to evaluate compliance and security concerns as they purchase, adopt, and implement technology solutions. There are ever-increasing cybersecurity guidelines and protection measures that Health Centers must navigate and digest. Newer and rurally located Health Centers can especially benefit from guidance and decision support that assists them in determining how to implement systems in a manner that meets compliance requirements and doesn’t expose information to undue security risk. Identifying and managing these types of risk can be especially important when procuring new Health IT e.g. EHRs, Medical Devices, Data Warehouses for the Health Center. This toolkit provides a framework for Health Centers to evaluate compliance and security concerns as they purchase, adopt, and implement technology solutions. Every time a Health Center adopts and implements newly procured technology, they could be exposing themselves to compliance gaps and security risks. Often these topics are addressed after the solution is implemented and are an after-thought. Unfortunately, the later in the adoption process that security is considered, the costlier it becomes to address as it may require redesign or reconfiguration of software, systems, and processes. Especially important for covered entities, like Health Centers, is for this process to meet the regulations outlined within HIPAA. Throughout this document, the related HIPAA requirements are highlighted within each section so as to better understand where this process sits within broader security risk assessment SRA practices. In the Appendix of this guide is an EHR/Health IT Systems checklist that can be used as an implementation interview guide when procuring new resources. This guide can help organizations identify security concerns and design the appropriate solution starting at the design and vendor-selection phase, thereby increasing the likelihood that security will be considered fully throughout the implementation process. Download the full toolkit below, which includes the following sections: System overview Information classification and inventory Business Associate Agreements and Contracts Risk Analysis Identity management Encryption Auditing and logging Contingency planning Workstation requirements Patching Security testing Vendor and developer access Physical security Network segmentation More Details...

Addressing Childhood Obesity in Health Centers: Promising Practices and Lessons Learned: January 2019 (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: The HITEQ Center interviewed ten health centers and health center partners to identify solutions and promising practices for addressing childhood obesity across the health center program. The focus included how health centers are meeting the Uniform Data System UDS measure and how they are taking further steps to identify and intervene with those at risk of obesity leveraging health information technology, electronic health records, and the data they have. Seven key areas are identified in the resulting issue brief. In the Fall of 2018, the HITEQ Center interviewed ten health centers and health center partners to identify solutions and promising practices for addressing childhood obesity across the health center program. The focus included how health centers are meeting the Uniform Data System UDS measure, Weight Assessment and Counseling for Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children and Adolescents CMS155v6, and how they are taking further steps to identify and intervene with those at risk of obesity by leveraging health information technology, electronic health records, and resulting data. Seven key areas of improvement from interviews are identified in the resulting issue brief: Key 1. Embed Needed Data Capture in Workflow Key 2. Implement Successful Monitoring to Support Decision Making Key 3. Understand the Evidence Base Key 4. Identify Key Data and Metrics Key 5. Target Interventions Appropriately Key 6. Consider Alternative Appointment Types and Locations Key 7. Create Comprehensive, Accessible Interventions Download the issue brief below to see health center examples, related research, and health IT tools for each of these keys. More Details...

Using Health Information Technology to Facilitate SBIRT Service Delivery in Health Centers: HITEQ Highlights Webinar (2019). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: The webinar discussed the use of health information technologies (IT) to facilitate the workflow of providing SBIRT services. Focus areas included: coding and billing for SBIRT services, using health IT to enhance SBIRT screening, communication, data capture and documentation, clinical decision support, and information sharing and reporting. The webinar presented examples and experiences of health centers currently using health IT to facilitate effective SBIRT service delivery. More Details...

HUD Policy Brief for Health Centers - Data Matching with Housing Community: Understanding the Role and Impact of Housing Policy for Health Centers (Data Matching) (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Health centers and housing providers are serving the same clients, and HUD policies foster opportunities for partners to effectively share data target and improve Health Outcomes. This series translates federal housing policies to help health centers understand the impact and how to coordinate and adapt programming to create the most beneficial outcomes for clients. More Details...

Health Industry Cybersecurity Practices: Managing Threats and Protecting Patients (2019). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Cyber threats to healthcare entities put patient health, business continuity, and IT systems at risk. Under the auspices of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015 (CSA), Section 405(d), HHS convened the CSA 405(d) Task Group to enhance cybersecurity and align industry approaches by developing a common set of voluntary, consensus-based, and industry-led guidelines, practices, methodologies, procedures, and processes that healthcare organizations can use to enhance cybersecurity. More Details...

Using Social Determinants of Health Data & New Technology Tools to Connect with Appropriate Community Resources: We asked the questions, now what? Updated in December 2018 (2018). Resource Type: Publication. Description: The collection of data related to patients' non-medical needs through use of Social Determinant of Health SDoH assessment tools, can accelerate systemic population health improvement, as well as engage patients in addressing their social non-medical needs such as transportation, shelter, or intimate partner violence services through coordinated access to appropriate services. This case study discusses the process a health center may use to identify and stratify need, and profiles a number of new technologies, including Aunt Bertha, Now Pow, and 211 Community Information Exchange, for connecting patients to appropriate community resources.   Download full case study at the bottom of the page. The collection of data related to patients' non-medical needs such as transportation, housing, food security, safety, etc. through use of Social Determinant of Health SDoH assessment tools e.g., NACHC’s PRAPARE, AAFP’s The EveryONE Project, can accelerate systemic population health improvement, as well as engage individual patients in addressing those needs through coordinated access to appropriate services.  According to a 2017 American Academy of Family Physicians AAFP survey, 83% of respondents agreed that family physicians should identify and help with social determinants of health. Research from Kaiser Permanente suggests that, of those patients screened for social determinants of health, approximately two-thirds needed some services. PRAPARE pilot data from participating health centers identified housing, utilities, and food as the most frequently identified needs. Unfortunately, 80% of the family physicians surveyed by AAFP responded that they don’t have time to discuss social determinants of health with patients and more than half feel unable to provide their patients with solutions.  So, tools are needed to help providers meet these newly identified needs, with existing resources. A number of these tools are profiled in the resource available for free download below. Much like other screenings that are embedded in the regular workflow and used to assess the risk or severity of the patient’s condition, such as the PHQ-9, Social Determinants of Health assessment tools like PRAPARE are designed to operate similarly.  Identifying level of risk or need among patients screened for social determinants of health in order to strategize responses is generally done with ‘risk scoring’. Here are two examples: SDoH only: A health center could assign 1 point per social determinant of health identified. Multiple sources: A health center could assign points based on number of chronic conditions, medications, ED visits in the last 12 months, and SDoH, as discussed in this HITEQ population health presentation. Whatever approach is taken, it is important to look at the distribution of risk scores or need levels across the patient population to ensure reasonable proportions identified as high, moderate, and low. Note that Care Management, Competency A in the PCMH 2017 standards is concerned with this. In this resource download below!, we focus on what technology tools exist to address social non-medical needs identified through screening. For those patients with high need, the standard response is likely to be health center-based and intensive. For example, patients with high need may be provided with 1 intensive case management, social workers, and referral coordinators; 2 direct assistance with connecting to resources; 3 follow up with external providers; and 4 regular in-person follow-up visits. This is likely to take up the majority of available staff capacity. However, gathering social determinants of health information may also point to other needs among patients with more moderate needs or in a broader array of areas such as paying utilities or legal services. Given staff capacity and resource limitations, as well as patient preferences, those patients may require another way to be connected with appropriate community resources. It is important that any approaches used allow for tracking and follow-up, as well as provide information about community service capacity. The tools in the case study below including Aunt Bertha, Now Pow, and 211 Community Information Exchange support this process by facilitating connection with community resources and needed follow-up, partially answering the question We collected social determinant of health data, now what do we do? Download the resource below for full case studies and lessons learned from using Aunt Bertha, 211 Community Information Exchange, and other new tools for connecting patients with community resources! More Details...

Update on the HRSA UDS Sealant Measure - December 2018 (2018). Resource Type: Archived Webinar. Description: In 2015, HRSA introduced the first oral health clinical quality measure to the UDS, with the UDS Sealants Measure. This session will highlight the 2017 UDS data results for the dental sealants measure. Topics to be included: common challenges health centers have experienced in developing, modifying, and/or implementing clinical workflows and procedures to report on the measure. Best practices and work-arounds to address data collection and reporting challenges will be shared for those health centers that are not yet using the EDR vendor-developed solutions for reporting on the measure. More Details...

Data Driven Programming to Maximize Care for Residents of Public Housing: Presented for National Nurse Care Consortium (NNCC) for health centers serving public housing patients (2018). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This presentation walks public housing-focused health centers, such as those with public housing primary care grants, through available UDS reports and tools that can be used for informing services and planning. A number of specific examples are shown of how information from the UDS can be used for improvement. Other information provided serves as a reference for reporting of public housing on Table 4 of the UDS.  More Details...