Resource Search Results

Emergency Department Care Coordination: Targeted Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes and Decrease Costs (2017). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This issue brief outlines strategies to achieve emergency department (ED) care coordination, summarize important legal and policy issues, and provides case studies of health centers that have implemented successful ED care coordination. More Details...

Examples of Technical Assistance Provided by Primary Care Associations and Health Center Controlled Networks: How HCCN’s and PCA’s can be helpful to Quality staff at a Health Center (2017). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Examples of Technical Assistance Provided by Primary Care Associations and Health Center Controlled Networks This document showcases Primary Care Associations (PCAs) and Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs) for five states, highlighting their work in Quality and Health IT.  These are examples of the types of assistance any health center may find from their own PCA and HCCN. HRSA provides funding to PCAs and HCCNs to provide state and regional resources to assist health centers. More Details...

Staffing Models, Program Elements, and Performance Expectations: A HITEQ Center Resource (2017). Resource Type: Publication. Description: The following document describes Quality and HIT staffing models for a low, middle, and high resourced health centers.  These models are intended to be both normative (e.g., How does my middle resource health center compare? Do I have all of these positions covered?) and aspirational (e.g., What benefits could we get if we move to the next level?).  The following document describes Quality and HIT staffing models for a low, middle, and high resourced health centers.  These models are intended to be both normative (e.g., How does my middle resource health center compare? Do I have all of these positions covered?) and aspirational (e.g., What benefits could we get if we move to the next level?).  Each model includes: Descriptions of staff Critical quality program elements at each stage How incentive payments could be allocated, and Performance expectations.  The model includes factors to consider when moving between stages and a staff position glossary to help define the different positions. As anyone who has worked in health centers knows, health centers are highly variable.  For this reason, this document is meant to help executives and quality staff think more deeply about their quality program.  It is not intended to be a literal guide. More Details...

Population Health Management, Social Determinants of Health and How These Fit: The relationship between population health management and social determinants of health (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This is a 21-slide module presenting an introduction to the concept of and relationship between population health management and social determinants of health beginning with current definitions, a brief history of along with the evolution of the field. This is a 21-slide module presenting an introduction to the concept of and relationship between population health management and social determinants of health beginning with current definitions, a brief history of along with the evolution of the field. A comprehensive model for the relationship among the social determinants of health and outcomes of population health is also included. More Details...

Data for Population Health Management: Measuring Population Health & Emerging Directions in Population Health (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This is an 18-slide module describes the role and importance of data to population health management. This is an 18-slide module describes the role and importance of data to population health management. This includes the various sources for data that inform population health management, an introduction to population health analytics; and recommended frameworks for collecting data and measuring impacts and outcomes of population health. The module concludes with a brief discussion of areas of future research and development in population health management. More Details...

Current Population Health Management in Health Centers: The Case for Implementing Population Health Management and Addressing the Social Determinants of Health (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This is a 27-slide module on population health management in the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The module provides several examples of current initiatives that support PHM and SDM as well as the use of these concept in supporting health equity in navigating the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This is a 27-slide module on population health management in the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The module provides several examples of current initiatives that support population health management and social determinants of health as well as the use of these concept in supporting health equity in navigating the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The module also serves to specifically outline the rationale of PHM in areas of cost efficiency, quality improvement and patient care including value-based reimbursement and risk contracts, targeting care and resources to improve outcomes, and patient engagement and care management.   More Details...

A Roadmap for Implementing Population Health Management: The implementation of population health management and social determinants of health in healthcare centers (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This is a 22-slide module on the implementation of population health management and social determinants of health in healthcare centers using the framework of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) for health equity. This is a 22-slide module on the implementation of population health management and social determinants of health in healthcare centers using the framework of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) for health equity. This outline provides a foundation that begins with electronic health records (EHR) and its progression to PHM. A step by step road map to implementation is outlined including adjusting organizational culture, conducting a vendor assessment, population stratification, work processes, patient registries, piloting and measuring implementation, and improvement. More Details...

Understanding EHRs, Analytics, Data Warehouses and HIE Repositories: A HITEQ Center-Developed White Paper (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: The goal of this paper is to clarify the roles of several health care data technologies that are often confusing to people, including Electronic Health Record (EHR) Databases, Analytic Systems and Data Warehouses, and Health Information Exchange (HIE) Data Repositories. Health Centers entering the realms of Data-driven Performance Measurement and Quality Improvement may find themselves mired in a bewildering assortment of tools, products and terminologies. There are multiple ways in which Health Centers use information, and for better or worse, multiple technologies designed to most efficiently meet their needs. One of the leading sources of confusion emanates from the oft-used term “data aggregation”. We aggregate data because we want to improve our insights into the data and thereby make better and more timely decisions. Data aggregation, put simply, is the assembly of electronic information from multiple sources for these purposes. More Details...

HRSA Telehealth Resource Center (TRC) Technical Assistance available to health centers!: 12/22 HITEQ/HRSA Webinar Transcription (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: A transcription of the December 22nd HITEQ/HRSA Telehealth Webinar. Please join HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) and the Health Information Technology, Evaluation, and Quality (HITEQ) Center to learn about free telehealth and other health IT resources available to health centers. We will introduce participants to the regional Telehealth Resource Centers (TRCs) and how to access the resources and technical assistance provided by the TRCs.  Participants will also learn about the HITEQ Center and different health IT resources and services available. For more information on the TRCs, please visit: http://www.telehealthresourcecenter.org/. For more information on the HITEQ Center, please visit: http://www.hiteqcenter.org/. More Details...

Assessing the Value of Health Information Exchange (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This issue brief provides an overview of the value of health information exchange, including determining ROI, categories of HIE benefits, and sources for additional information. Assessing the value of health information exchange (HIE) is important to health centers to support the case for using HIE and for increasing the use of HIE. HIE value can be financial value (cost savings, increased revenue) and clinical value (improved clinical processes and outcomes such as greater utilization of preventive care and fewer hospital readmissions). The value of HIE may not be the same across health centers, and some benefits may take longer to accrue than others. This document provides information to help health centers evaluate their return on the investment (ROI) in HIE — a measure of the efficiency of an investment. More Details...

HIE Evaluation Checklist: Scoring HIE offerings to assess suitability to your health center. (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This HIE evaluation checklist is a scoring checklist that health centers can use to evaluate HIE offerings on a number of key components ; and was modified for the health center audience with permission from the HIMSS HIE Evaluation Checklist. HITEQ recommends this scoring checklist which health centers can use to evaluate HIE offerings on a number of key components. This has been adapted from an earlier checklist developed by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), with permission. The checklist includes multiple criteria that may be more comprehensive than some providers need, but this scoring tool allows individual criteria to be included or omitted as appropriate during your review. The first tab ("HIE Evaluation Checklist") is a blank document. The second tab ("Checklist Example") shows how one provider might rate a particular HIE offering by including, excluding, and attaching its ratings to each criterion. Download the excel checklist below. More Details...

Health IT and QI Workforce Development: Onboarding for Success: 11/29 HITEQ Highlights Webinar Transcription (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: A transcription of the November 29th HITEQ Highlights webinar.  After a brief introduction to HITEQ and this Resource Set, this webinar will highlight two specific tools for onboarding new staff into your health center with a focus on speeding the onboarding of Health IT and QI staff. The webinar will delve into the two onboarding tools - the Calendar and the Sample of a Staff Member’s Dashboard for Required Tasks, showing how they are meant to be used and how you can customize them for your needs. More Details...

What MACRA Means for Health Centers: Payment reform and health center impact (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This HITEQ brief outlines Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) MACRA, what it signals for payment reform, and when it impacts health centers. Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) establishes the Quality Payment Program through the Merit Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs). Although most health centers are not affected by MACRA, they need to understand its components since MACRA reflects national trends to shift payment from volume- to value-based. This resource identifies several strategies health centers can take to respond to these shifting dynamics, even if MACRA requirements do not directly affect them for now. More Details...

Introduction to Value-Based Payment for Health Centers: What is Value-Based Payment and why are Health Centers Considering Payment Reform? (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This HITEQ brief introduces value-based payment and role of health centers as payment models shift. The brief answers key questions about health centers’ engagement in value-based payment, including health-center specific Alternative Payment Methodology (APM), reasons to engage in payment reform, the shifts in primary care payment going forward, and the transition to value-based payment. Value-based payment is a systematic method of paying for care that rewards the cost-effective improvement of the health and well-being of a population.  Payment reform is changing current volume-based payment system to alternative payment models (APMs) that link payment to outcomes and align financial incentives with providing value. By engaging in value-based payment models, health centers can lay the foundation for financial sustainability, high quality care, and engaged staff. This resource outlines value based payment and payment reform specifically tailored to the health center environment. More Details...

Health Center Value Proposition Template: The Value of Health Centers in Assisting their Community to Meet the Triple Aim (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This customizable document uses health center data to support them in demonstrating their value to potential partners and key stakeholders. The document provides evidence for how health centers align with the Triple Aim. Health centers can fill in and customize the value proposition template to demonstrate the value of their primary care services and care model in providing high quality, cost-effective care to those most in need.  The template is structured around the three tenants of the Triple Aim: 1. Improving population health through economic and job growth; addressing social determinants of health; and providing high quality care through a health home model, quality outcomes and implementation of health information technology. 2. Improving patient experience by providing care that is responsive to the needs and realities of the patient population, including patient portals, non-traditional hours and timely appointments. 3. Reducing the per capita cost of health care by engaging in payment reform efforts and providing high-quality care at a low cost. Download the template to create your value proposition below. More Details...

Sample of a Staff Members' Dashboard for Required Tasks: A 2016 HITEQ Resource (2016). Resource Type: Template. Description: This is an example of a staff member dashboard that is used to ensure effective delivery of assigned tasks.  This dashboard can be used in the onboarding and orientation process to ensure understanding of role expectations, and can be tailored for any direct-care staff member. More Details...

Introductory Letter for EHR/ Health IT Vendor: For use in Health Center RFP process (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: A template for the introductory letter to EHR vendors participating in the health center RFP process. Use the following letter template (available for download below) to clearly communicate the importance of addressing your status as a health center to the EHR vendors that have been chosen to participate on your EHR procurement process. This letter template references the Health Center Profile in the Addendum; that template can be found here. For further guidance, this resource can help to guide your organization through the process of EHR procurement using a comprehensive tool such as the EHR Planning and Procurement Toolkit from the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MEHI). More Details...

Getting Started on the Quality Journey: Case Vignettes (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: Launching quality work at first can feel like a daunting task – even more so if you do not have the support of leadership in your organization.  Some individuals have successfully launched quality work by following the mantra: “What can I get done by next Tuesday?”  This mantra helps them sidestep inertia, extensive collaboration, and time consuming benchmarking research. Instead, by identifying small steps they can take to improve quality on their own, within the context of their existing job, they can start on the journey quickly. Furthermore, success in these small steps can help with Leadership Buy-In for the importance of Quality work. The vignettes in the attached document are not intended to be literal examples of such efforts, although they rely heavily on real-life experiences.  Nor are they intended to be instructions for specific projects the reader can pursue at their own health center. Rather, these are intended to be aspirational examples of quality work that can be launched by an individual with relatively little support and produce results “by next Tuesday” (or relatively quickly).  The vignettes are written to encompass both health centers with many resources and those with less, to provide a variety of perspectives.  We hope that they inspire associative thinking for the reader, helping to identify specific work that can be accomplished “by next Tuesday.” More Details...

Health Center's guide to the MEHI EHR Planning and Procurement Toolkit (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: An introduction to creating an EHR RFP using the MEHI EHR Planning and Procurement Toolkit. This resource shows the user how to use a comprehensive tool such as the EHR Planning and Procurement Toolkit from the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MEHI) to guide your organization through the process of EHR procurement. The process documented in the EHR Planning and Procurement Toolkit offers a field-tested and proven methodology for a health center that is procuring an EHR. The Toolkit offers a process that will lead an organization through readiness and preparation, vendor solicitation, evaluation and selection, and vendor relationship management. Embedded within the Toolkit at critical steps along the way are the tools needed to execute an effective procurement process.  More Details...

Health Center EHR RFP Addendum (2016). Resource Type: Publication. Description: This is an addendum template to be added to an EHR Request For Proposal (RFP) to help health center further specify the EHR functionalities needed. You may also consider using the available template introductory letter for your RFP as well. For further guidance, this resource can help to guide your organization through the process of EHR procurement using a comprehensive tool such as the EHR Planning and Procurement Toolkit from the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MEHI). This template is intended to be an addendum to the Request for Proposal (RFP) Template for Health Information Technology. This template can be used to add requirements specifically relating to the specialized requirements and operating environments of health centers. More Details...