Washington Association For Community Health

TO STRENGTHEN AND ADVOCATE FOR WASHINGTON'S COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS TO BUILD HEALTHCARE ACCESS.

WORKFORCE AND HEALTHCARE APPRENTICESHIPS THE WORKFORCE COMMITTEE IS APPRISED OF MAINLY HR PROFESSIONALS AND ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP REPRESENTING OUR CHC PARTNERS. THE PURPOSE OF THE WORKFORCE COMMITTEE IS TO PROVIDE FIELD UPDATES, SOLICIT STRATEGIC GUIDANCE, AND PROMOTE PEER LEARNING FOR CURRENT WORKFORCE INITIATIVES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT CHC RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND DEVELOPMENT. TRAINING AND PEER LEARNING TOPICS INCLUDED UNDERSTANDING IMPLICIT BIAS, STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE PLAN DEVELOPMENT, READINESS TO TRAIN ASSESSMENT TOOL (RTAT) ASSISTANCE, AND EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT. THE ASSOCIATION ADMINISTERED A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN MEDICAL ASSISTING THROUGH MARCH 2022. FROM APRIL 1, 2021, MARCH 31, 2022, THERE WERE 14 ACTIVE MEDICAL ASSISTANT APPRENTICESHIP COHORTS, 101 APPRENTICES COMPLETED THE YEAR-LONG PROGRAM IN THIS PERIOD, AND 348 APPRENTICES WERE ENROLLED. MEDICAL ASSISTING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM HAS A COMPLETION RATE OF 87.3% WITH 685 STUDENTS GRADUATED OR ON TRACK TO GRADUATE SINCE INCEPTION. THE MA PROGRAM HAD AN OVERALL CERTIFICATION EXAM PASS RATE OF 98.25% FOR THIS PERIOD. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO OFFERS A DENTAL ASSISTING STANDALONE PROGRAM THAT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. THE YEAR 2021-2022 SAW EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS WITH AREA HEALTH EDUCATION CENTERS AND THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL PRIMARY CARE ASSOCIATION TO FIND AREAS OF POTENTIAL COLLABORATION. THE ASSOCIATION'S HEALTHCARE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED NATION-WIDE AND CONSULTATION WORK, INCLUDING CURRICULUM LICENSING, FOR OUT OF STATE ORGANIZATIONS BEGAN. THE IN-REACH MA CURRICULUM IS NOW BEING USED IN 3 STATES WITH PLANS FOR EXPANSION. THE ASSOCIATION HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH AN APPRENTICE PROGRAM SPONSOR WITHIN THE STATE TO OFFER BEVAHIORAL HEALTH APPRENTICESHIP OPTIONS FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS.

CARE IMPROVEMENT & INNOVATIONTHE ASSOCIATION FACILITATES WORK WITH FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS TO PROVIDE COACHING SUPPORT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT STAFF, MEDICAL DIRECTORS, PHARMACISTS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, DENTAL DIRECTORS, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MANAGERS AND CLINICAL CARE TEAMS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2022, INCLUDED: 1. CONVENED 6 CLINICAL QUALITY WORKGROUP MEETINGS TO FOCUS ON PATIENT SAFETY, STANDARD HEALTH MEASURES AND IMPROVING HYPERTENSION, DIABETES, AND CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATIONS. 2. CONVENED 11 MEDICAL DIRECTOR ROUNDTABLE MEETINGS FOCUSED ON COVID-19 UPDATES AND HOW COVID-19 IMPACATED CARE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. 3. CONVENVED 5 PHARMACY LEARNING NETWORK MEETINGS FOCUSED ON PHARMACY REGULATIONS AND OPERATIONS. 4. CONVENED 3 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEARNING NETWORK MEETINGS FOCUSED ON INCREASED DEMAND FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES AND REMOTE ACCESS.5. CONVENED 4 DENTAL LEARNING NETWORK MEETINGS FOCUSED ON WORKFORCE SHORTAGES AND CHANGES IN STATE PROGRAM SPECIFICS6. HELD EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WORKGROUPS AND WEBINARS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS NEEDS AT HEALTH CENTERS AND DEBRIEF PANDEMIC RESPONSE. 5. PROVIDED 2 TEAM BASED CARE LEARNING SERIES 6. PARTNERED WITH UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON COLONOSCOPY OUTREACH FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM9. PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE PATIENT CENTERED MEDICAL HOME MODEL AND CONNECTED PEERS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS REQUESTED BY HEALTH CENTERS.

POLICY AND ADVOCACYIN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE ASSOCIATION'S POLICY AND ADVOCACY TEAM HAS CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER FUND AND THE PROTECTION OF WASHINGTON'S HEALTHCARE SAFETY NET SYSTEM, SECURED CAPITAL FUNDS FOR DENTAL CLINIC EXPANSIONS, SECURED COVID-19 RELIEF TO QUALIFYING HEALTH CENTERS AND PROVIDED CONSISTENT AND CONSIDERABLE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS IN UNDERSTANDING AND ACCESSING FEDERAL AND STATE COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR REIMBURSEMENT, TELEHEALTH IMPLEMENTATION, TESTING, AND FISCAL RELIEF.

HEALTH EQUITY & HEALTH ACCESSTHE ASSOCIATION PROVIDED TRAINING FOR HEALTH CENTERS TO DEVELOP ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH EQUITY GOALS, INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE FOR AGRICULTURAL WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, SUPPORT ENROLLMENT IN HEALTH COVERAGE, CODIFY ENABLING SERVICES, SUPPORT COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, AND SCREEN FOR SOCIAL NEEDS. THE ASSOCIATION FACILITATED WORKGROUP CALLS THAT PROVIDED PEER NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HEALTH CENTER STAFF TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES AND IDENTIFY TRAINING NEEDS. IN ADDITION, THE ASSOCIATION PARTICIPATED ON MULTIPLE STATEWIDE WORKGROUPS TO SUPPORT CHC PRACTICES THAT REACH WASHINGTON'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. 1. CONVENED 4 OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT LEARNING NETWORK MEETINGS FOCUSED ON CHANGES TO ENROLLMENT IN THE STATE MEDICAID PROGRAM AND END OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.2. CONVENED 5 COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER LEARNING NETWORK MEETINGS FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING INTEGRATION WITH CARE TEAM AND BEST PRACTICES FOR SUPERVISOR TRAINING.THE ASSOCIATIONCONVENED HEALTH CENTERS IN A LEARNING GROUP TO SUPPORT SOCIAL NEEDS SCREENING AT COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH KAISER. THIS GROUP MET 6 TIMES IN THE FISCAL YEAR.