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National News
- Culturally Competent Care
- Women’s Health and Wellness Resources
- HRSA Appointments for Pagán Raggio Ashley
- Federal Health Information Directory
- Impact Policy with Health Research
- Nominations Sought for Safety and Quality Improvements
- More EHR Products Certified
Across Arizona
- Executive Training for Arizona Critical Access Hospitals
- Making Great Critical Access Hospital Boards
- Border Deaths A Humanitarian Crisis
- Free Online Emergency Preparedness Classes
Grants and Opportunities
- Health People, Places and Practices in Communities
- Improving the Health of Immigrant and Refugee Communities
- Supporting Innovation in Health and Health Care
Calendar
March 7-8, Southwest American Indian Collaborative Network: Spiritual Care Conference, Phoenix
March 7-9, Arizona Interagency Farmworkers Coalition 12th Annual Conference, Tucson
March 7-9, Spring Training for Health Champions, New Orleans
March 13, Caring for Ourselves: Creating a Care Plan for Our Own Body, Mind, and Spirit, UA College of Nursing Grand Rounds, webstreamed, Noon-1:00 p.m.
March 15-16, Developing Effective FQHC Programs and Applications, Washington, D.C.
March 20, Arizona Health-e Connection Summit, Phoenix
March 26-28, Diabetes Self-Management Training Workshop, Tucson
April 2-8, National Public Health Week
April 5-7, HIV/STD Prevention in Rural Communities: Sharing Successful Strategies V, Bloomington, Indiana
April 6, Talking Medicine Circle, Tucson, contact Carmen Garcia Downing cgarciad@ahsc.arizona.edu or Andrew Stuck at 626-9271
April 9-13, 19th Annual Arizona Indian Council on Aging Conference, Fountain Hills, Arizona
April 11-12, Arizona Policy Training Institute, Phoenix
April 12, Local Health Departments and Community Health Centers: Opportunities for Collaboration, conference call, 1:00-2:30 p.m. MST, contact mailto:cvalderama@naccho.org to register
April 19, Executive Training for Arizona CAHs: Gold Standard Performance, Phoenix and via videostream
April 12-28, National Infant Immunization Week and Vaccination Week in the Americas
April 12-22, 2nd International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health, Montreal, Quebec
April 23-29, Medical Fitness Week, nationwide
April 23-24, 4th Annual Leadership Summit on Health Disparities, Washington, D.C.
May 20-24, Community Health Workers as Essential Components of Public Health, Tampa, Florida
May 21-23, National Network of Public Health Institutes Annual Conference, New Orleans
Mark Your Calendar
June 4, Great Critical Access Hospital Boards – Governing at the Edge, Phoenix and via videostream
June 6-8, 5th Annual Western Region Flex Conference, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
June 19-22, Race and Class Inequalities in Health, Boston
July 24-26, Measuring Diabetes and Obesity in Indian Health Systems, Tucson
National News
1. Culturally Competent Care
With the increasing diversity of the United States' population, health care organizations encounter situations that require the delivery of culturally competent care, access to a vast array of language services, and supportive healthcare infrastructure. HHS’ Think Cultural Health offers many online resources including courses with CME, CNE, and CEU credit for nurses, pharmacists, physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Click here for details.
2. Women’s Health and Wellness Resources
The mission of HRSAs Bright Futures for Women’s Health and Wellness Initiative is to plan, develop, implement and evaluate a variety of evidence-based and culturally competent materials for consumers, primary care providers, and communities. The goal is to increase awareness and use of preventive health services among women, particularly underserved and minority women across the lifespan.
The educational materials, some also available Spanish, are designed to empower young and adult women in their health care decision-making and support community-wide health promotion efforts. A non-Federal steering committee of women’s health experts from across the nation provides overall guidance on processes and products of this initiative.
Click here for details.
3. HRSA Appointments for Pagán Raggio Ashley
Tanya Pagán Raggio Ashley, M.D., M.P.H., is HRSA’s new Chief Medical Officer and Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities. She succeeds Dr. Bill Robinson who retired on January 3.
Pagán Raggio Ashley came to HRSA in 2004 as Director of the Office of Medicine and Dentistry in the Bureau of Health Professions
4. Federal Health Information Directory
In our era of bountiful information complexity, good directories have high value. The 2007 Federal Health Information Centers and Clearinghouses is expansive and functional. Arranged as both keyword and alphabetical entries, this guide has crisp summaries of topical range, plus hours of operation, phone numbers and active hyperlinks.
Click here to go there.
5. Impact Policy with Health Research
Health services research can have a significant impact on state health policymaking according to a new study from the Commonwealth Fund. The report offers practical lessons and communication strategies for each of the four stages of an effective process: understanding the problem; developing options; implementing a policy or program; and evaluating an initiative.
Click here for “Toward More Effective Use of Research in State Policymaking.”
6. Nominations Sought for Safety and Quality Improvements
The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum are now accepting nominations for the 2007 John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards, which recognize individuals and health care organizations that are making significant contributions (local and national) to improving health care quality and patient safety.
The deadline for submission is April 16.
Click here for details.
7. More EHR Products Certified
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) has certified 18 more electronic health record (EHR) products for use in doctors’ offices as meeting the commission’s standards, bringing the total to 55.
Products that are voluntarily submitted for testing and pass the tests for compliance can advertise that they are CCHIT-certified. The commission is an independent nonprofit organization that receives financial support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Applications for certification of ambulatory EHRs using the 2007 criteria can be submitted on or after May 1.
Click here for details.
Across Arizona
1. Executive Training for Arizona Critical Access Hospitals
The critical access hospital designation has improved reimbursement and has been very beneficial to a significant number of rural hospitals nationwide. But does achieving CAH designation guarantee financial success? This session will demonstrate that CAH designation is not a “cure-all.” Instead, it is the beginning to a new journey in a complex health care environment.
Participants (CEOs, CFOs, Department Managers, and Physicians) will learn key strategies for achieving “gold standard” performance by reviewing financial and operational characteristics of the most financially successful CAHs in the nation.
The seminar will take place on Thursday, April 19 from 9:00 a.m.-3:45 p.m. at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. In addition, the first two hours will be videostreamed.
Click here for a complete agenda, speaker bios and registration details.
This seminar is co-sponsored by the Arizona Critical Access Hospital Program, Rural Health Office and the Arizona Telemedicine Program, and partially funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy, HRSA.
2. Making Great Critical Access Hospital Boards
A trustee leadership training tailored to Critical Access Hospitals will be offered on Monday, June 4, 2007 from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. In addition, the first two hours of the program will be videostreamed.
In this practical and interactive program, board members and their executives will learn and enhance their knowledge and skills in the principles and practices of “great boards.”
Specifically, attendees will be able to describe and implement:
- Effective governance practices suitable for critical access hospitals, including how to:
* respond to external demands for greater board accountability and
transparency;
* plan board work and run effective meetings;
* build an accountable partnership with the CEO; and,
* use self-evaluation as an important tool.
- Effective Board development practices, including board member succession planning, orientation and education
- Effective ways to engage in strategic direction and oversight of quality of care, patient safety, customer satisfaction, and employee satisfaction
- Effective ways to engage in strategic direction and oversight of information technology
- Effective approaches to connecting with the community and key stakeholders, including the medical staff.
The main speaker will be Barry S. Bader, a governance consultant, speaker and retreat facilitator specializing in the improvement of hospital and health care boards. He brings 25 years experience in healthcare, 20 years as a consultant and ten years as a hospital board member. He has assisted organizations covering every aspect of governance and board-CEO relationshop.
This seminar is co-sponsored by the Arizona Critical Access Hospital Program, Rural Health Office and the Arizona Telemedicine Program, and partially funded by the Office of Rural Health Policy, HRSA
Click here for a complete agenda, speaker bio and registration details.
3. Border Deaths A Humanitarian Crisis
The Binational Migration Institute (BMI) of the University of Arizona’s Mexican American Studies and Research Center (MASRC) has released a recently completed report entitled, The “Funnel Effect” and Recovered Bodies of Unauthorized Migrants Processed by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, 1990-2005.
The study was conducted in coordination with the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office from 1990-2005, with partial funding from the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
The authors note that “the results of the BMI study, which are confirmed by comparable research, show that there has been an exponential increase in the number of unauthorized border-crosser (UBC) recovered bodies handled by the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office from 1990 to 2005, thereby creating a major public and humanitarian crisis in the deserts of Arizona.”
Click here for the 97 page report.
4. Free Online Emergency Preparedness Classes
The Arizona Center for Public Health Preparedness has launched free online courses that provide a comprehensive understanding of the preparedness needs of Arizona and the Southwest. Three phases of an emergency are addressed: Preparedness and Planning; Response and Mitigation; and Recovery and Evaluation.
Several modules are available online:
- Risk Assessment/Hazard Vulnerability
- Disaster Mental Health
- Continuity of Operations
- Shelter & Evacuation
- Isolation and Quarantine
Click here for registration details.
Grants and Opportunities
Note: Technical assistance is available for the development of grant proposals and other funding applications from the professional staff of the Rural Health Office and the State Office of Rural Health Program. Please contact Jennifer Peters.
1. Health People, Places and Practices in Communities
Application deadline: March 30, 2007
Through the Take Action: Healthy People, Places, and Practices in Communities Project, the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) is seeking community-based groups to develop, carry out, and evaluate a unique set of activities in local settings that support the President’s Healthier US initiative to promote and sustain healthy lifestyles in communities.
Proposed projects must include or promote at least one of the following types of activities:
- Physical activity
- Nutrition/healthy eating
- Preventive screenings
- Making healthy choices/avoiding risky behaviors
Click here for details.
2. Improving the Health of Immigrant and Refugee Communities
Application deadline: April 13, 2007
This initiative seeks fresh ideas to give immigrants and refugees the tools and support they need to improve and maintain their own health. Today, more than 30 million immigrants and refugees live in the United States. They often have high rates of chronic health problems, due at least in part to difficulties they have getting appropriate social and health services. Language barriers, lack of education and cultural differences sometimes make it harder for immigrants and refugees to obtain culturally appropriate services, outreach or other information that could help them live healthier lives. The project is support by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Click here for details.
3. Supporting Innovation in Health and Health Care
Application deadline: July 10, 2007
The Local Initiative Funding Partners Program is a partnership program between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and local grant-makers to fund promising, original projects to significantly improve the health of vulnerable people in their communities.
Projects must be new, innovative, collaborative and community-based. They should be nominated by a local grantmaker interested in participating as one of the funding partners. These funders may include independent and private foundations, family and community foundations and corporate and other philanthropies.
Click here for details.
Contact Your Representatives
a. Arizona Congressional Delegation: Links to Arizona members of the U.S. House of Representatives are available at: U.S. Representatives. Links to Arizona members of the U.S. Senate are available at: U.S. Senate
b. Arizona State Legislators: Available through the Arizona Legislative Information System (ALIS): Call 1-800-352-8404 or follow links at Arizona Legislature.
Important Links
Editor's Note: This online newsletter is a project of the Arizona Critical Access Hospital Program, housed in the Rural Health Office at the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health, and supported, in part, through a grant from HRSA (Office of Rural Health Policy). The program was created by Congress to improve the financial viability and stability of health care in rural areas, including creation of a new designation for rural hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Designated CAHs are eligible for cost-based reimbursement for services provided to Medicare patients. In some states, including Arizona, additional reimbursement is also available for CAH services provided to Medicaid patients.
Your questions are always welcome. Please send them as well as address changes to Alison Hughes, Director. Arizona Critical Access Hospital Program.
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