CHAD Connection March 21, 2024

Building and sustaining a strong workforce is the number one challenge facing health center leaders in Dakotas. As the rest of the country rebounds from the pandemic, the health care field finds that we have a depleted number of providers and staff, increased wage and benefit competition for the staff that remain in the field, and the ongoing effects of burnout – both as a residual impact of the pandemic and due to open positions across a wide range of roles.

In response to the workforce crisis we are facing, CHAD is planning an Annual Conference designed to bring some of the best minds and best ideas together to support truly innovative and strategic approaches to building and sustaining health care teams. The May 14-16 conference in Rapid City, South Dakota includes:

A workforce strategic planning pre-conference led by NEW Health, a community health center serving rural northeast Washington State that developed its own robust workforce development plan called NEW Health University. NEW Health’s workforce strategy culminates many years of developing creative solutions to rural workforce challenges. This workshop will be a good fit for executive teams, including health center staff in operations, workforce, training, HR, marketing, and any department lead experiencing workforce challenges.
Our keynote speaker Vaney Hariri from Think3D will speak to the Power of Culture to create a healthy, positive, and productive organization that retains good staff over the long term.
We will share insights in how to utilize medical assistants and develop apprenticeship programs to build high-functioning teams.
And, we’ll invest in attendees by bringing two leaders in the mental health field to share, “How to Love Your Craft Without Losing Your Mind.”

We look forward to seeing you May 14-16 in Rapid City. Click here to review the full agenda and here to register.

Many American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) currently receive health care from Indian health care providers. These health programs are sometimes called I/T/Us (IHS/Tribal/Urban). Even though AI/ANs can generally receive services from an Indian health care provider without cost, there are advantages to enrolling in Medicaid, CHIP, or a qualified health plan (QHP) like those available through the Marketplace.

Individuals can continue to receive services from their local Indian health care provider while gaining access to services from non-IHS providers that are participating providers in their plan. This can be especially helpful when services are needed that local I/T/U providers cannot provide, like specialist visits. Additionally, IHS and Tribal providers can typically bill QHP issuers or Medicaid/CHIP for services provided to their patients, increasing facility revenue and overall sustainability for Indian health care providers.

The Marketplace provides certain protections for AI/ANs who are members of a federally recognized Tribe.

Special Enrollment Periods: AI/ANs enrolled in a federally recognized Tribe can enroll in coverage through the Marketplace throughout the year, not just during the annual Open Enrollment period (OEP). Members may also change plans as often as once a month.

Zero cost sharing plan: Some members can enroll in a zero-cost sharing plan, which means these consumers won’t have to pay any out-of-pocket costs when receiving essential health benefits (EHB) through a QHP.

Medicaid and CHIP are also available to AI/ANs who meet the eligibility requirements for these programs. Individuals pay no premiums or out-of-pocket costs for Medicaid coverage if they are eligible to get services from an I/T/U or Purchased or Referred Care (PRC) program.

For additional information on health coverage for American Indians and Alaska Natives, please visit Healthcare.gov or contact a local Navigator.

*This publication is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,200,000 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is now accepting applications for three loan repayment programs, each with different award amounts and eligibility requirements based on credentials and discipline. These include the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, the NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program, and the NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program.

Clinicians providing primary medical, dental, behavioral health care services, or evidence-based substance use disorder treatment can receive up to $105,000 to help pay off their student loans. New this year is a $5,000 award enhancement for clinicians who demonstrate Spanish-language proficiency

The application deadline is Thursday, May 9, at 6:30pm CT. Learn more and apply.

Do you have a Community Health Worker or Community Health Representative who goes above and beyond to make a difference? The Community Health Worker Collaborative is accepting awards nominations in the following three categories: CHW Champion, CHR Champion, and CHW/CHR of the Year.

These awards will be presented at the 3rd Annual SD CHW Conference on May 22nd in Sioux Falls. All nominations must be submitted by April 15, 2024 through this online form.

The 2024 Immunization Update is an online module presentation intended to update health center staff on the latest recommended immunization schedules and the most recent advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) immunization recommendations, including COVID-19. This training has been approved for 1 credit of Continuing Medical Education (CME) throughout Region VIII, which includes North Dakota and South Dakota. Each person who wishes to receive a CME credit certificate must complete the module evaluation, provide contact information, and accurately answer the CME credit questions. The presentation can be viewed here. Please note you will be taken to the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center website to register for the course (registration is free). Presentation handouts are available here.

Registration is now live for the 2024 North Dakota Immunization Conference (June 18 and 19 in Bismarck) at North Dakota Immunization Conference (vfairs.com). Breakout sessions will include topics such as provider best practices, vaccine storage and handling, childhood, adolescent and adult immunization, school-located vaccine clinics, NDIIS updates, and many more!

In addition to the 2-day conference format offered in the past, there will be an optional 3rd day (Thursday, June 20, 2024) dedicated to motivational interviewing training specific to immunizations. Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based and culturally sensitive way to speak with hesitant patients about getting vaccinated. Learn more and register here.

The Department of Health (DOH) Office of Child and Family Services requests that South Dakota residents participate in the Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment Survey, an essential tool for understanding and addressing the health needs of mothers, infants, children, and families across the state.

Findings from the survey will inform long-term planning and programming for the DOH Office of Child and Family Services. To learn more about the needs assessment, take the survey, or download resources to share the survey, check out the DOH maternal child health website.

DRVS for School-Based Health

School-based health centers play a key role in improving educational and health outcomes and serve as an ‘upstream’ approach to preparing youth for successful adulthood. However, many organizations struggle with getting and using data that can drive creative programming in their school-based centers. With a focus on data transparency, school-based data can promote collaboration between the school, the larger community, and health center providers to target the needs of school-aged children. Don’t get caught ‘after the bell’. Join this session to learn more about the data tools you have available to help share both your challenges and successes. This webinar is recommended for team members working to support school-based programming.

Thursday, March 28,2024

1:00 pm CT/12:00 pm MT

Healthcare Delivery & Operations through the Risk Framework

The sickest 5% of our population currently makes up 50% of total healthcare costs. To manage this cost of care, the healthcare system is increasingly moving towards value-based funding structures and using risk levels as a way of understanding patient needs, identifying patients for care management, and evaluating the supply and demand of resources. During this webinar, we will explore the different tools available through the DRVS Risk Module and how practices can leverage risk stratification to improve quality of care and reduce costs. This session will also highlight Variety Care, the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Oklahoma, and one of their greatest successes; executive approval to create care coordination teams across the organization by showing the positive effect of care management on quality measures for high-risk patients receiving care management. This webinar is recommended for centers with the Risk module, or those wanting to learn more, and health center staff incorporating risk management into their daily work. This could include care team members, care managers, and operations-focused staff.

Thursday, April 4,2024

1:00 pm CT/12:00 pm MT

Workforce Strategic Planning Preview

CHAD is excited to offer a preview of the pre-conference workforce strategic planning series led by NEW Health, a community health center serving rural northeast Washington State that developed its own robust workforce development plan called NEW Health University. NEW Health’s workforce strategy culminates many years of developing creative solutions to rural workforce challenges.

You can learn more about the pre-conference session, registration information, and agendas here.

Tuesday, March 26
12:00 – 12:20 pm CT/11:00 am – 11:30 am MT

Front Desk RX: A Prescription for Exceptional Patient Experiences

You play a vital role in your health center, whether you hold the title of front desk, receptionist, patient services representative, patient support, or patient access. As the first person patients encounter when they walk into your clinic, you set the tone for their appointment. You are also the voice on the phone when a patient has a question or needs an appointment reminder. Your reassuring presence can make all the difference when a patient is nervous about their visit.

This training series is designed specifically for you, and will include sessions on de-escalation and communication, health insurance, social drivers of health and scheduling best practices. Our goal is to equip you with new tools and strategies so that you can continually improve in your role and feel more confident in your job.

Session 2 – Front Desk Rx: Connecting to Coverage
Tuesday, March 26 | 3:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm MT

Front desk staff are the first and most important part of the revenue cycle. In this session, the presenters will provide information on how to screen patients for coverage, review health insurance terminology, and discuss the health center sliding fee program. Participants will learn about affordable health insurance options and how to connect patients with insurance coverage through Medicaid and the Marketplace. The session will also include a review of best practices for collecting copays and good faith estimate requirements.

Speakers: Penny Kelley, Outreach & Enrollment Services Program Manager and Lindsey Karlson, Director of Programs and Training, CHAD

Session 3 – Front Desk Rx: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Tuesday, April 2 | 3:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm MT

It’s important to recognize and respect the diversity of lived experiences, especially when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity. In this session, the presenter will provide best practices in using patient first language and appropriate pronouns to create a safe and inclusive clinical environment. It’s crucial to address any LGBTQ+ stigma that may exist in healthcare practices to ensure that all patients receive the best possible care and outcomes.

Speaker: Dayna Morrison, MPH, Oregon AIDS Education Training Center

Session 4 – Front Desk Rx: Scheduling for Success
Tuesday, April 9 | 3:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm MT
In this final session in our Front Desk Rx training series, we will discuss core concepts of developing and managing an effective clinic schedule. The session will include a review of triage best practices, key questions to ask when making an appointment and strategies to support patient outreach. The session will include live scenarios to illustrate how scheduling principles can be incorporated into the front desk workflow.

March 26 & April 2, 9

3:00 pm CT/2:00 pm MT

Equity Talk: Implementing Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Services

The National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards (CLAS) are a set of 15 action steps intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities. Join this session to learn more about the CLAS Standards framework developed by the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. Presenters will discuss specific strategies and will share practical resources to support implementation.

All health center staff and partner organizations are welcome to attend.

Wednesday, April 3

12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT

Insights and Strategies for STI and HIV Prevention and Treatment

Join the National Council for Urban Indian Health for an overview of findings and recommendations from the 2023 NCUIH STI Questionnaire for Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs). Participants will exchange insights to enhance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for HIV and STIs to better equip UIOs and other health centers in implementing evidence-based interventions and overcoming health care challenges within Indigenous communities.

While the focus is on American Indian and Alaska Native people, anyone interested in STI and HIV prevention and treatment is welcome to attend. This event is made possible by the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund through the Indian Health Service.

Thursday, April 4

11:00 am - 12:00 pm CT/10:00 am – 11:00 am MT

Equity Talk: Fostering LGTBQ+ Two Spirit Inclusivity In Your Organization

Join South Dakota Urban Indian Health CEO Michaela Seiber for an enlightening conversation about how to promote LGBTQ+ Two Spirit inclusivity in your organization. In this session, we will explore actionable strategies for transforming workplace policies and practices, intake forms, and language to create a more inclusive environment for all patients and employees. From understanding terminology and identities to implementing inclusive language and practices, Michaela will provide practical guidance on fostering a culture of respect and acceptance. This webinar will empower you to drive positive change in your organization!

All health center staff and partner organizations are welcome to attend.

Tuesday, June 11

12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT

Leveraging the MAP BP Framework to Improve Hypertension Outcomes Session Three: Partner with Patients

In this final session of the series, staff from Coal Country Community Health Center and Family HealthCare described their self-monitored blood pressure programs. The health centers highlighted how they launched their programs, the importance of patient engagement in managing chronic disease and the positive impact it has had on patients.

Watch now

Session Two: Act Rapidly

In the second series of Leveraging the MAP BP Framework, we identified how using a medication treatment protocol supports prescribers as they manage patients with hypertension. We reviewed medication intensification, evidence-based treatment protocols, and dose combination guidelines.

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Session One: Getting Started with the MAP BP Framework - Measure Accurately

CHAD, the American Heart Association, and the Department of Health reviewed data context around the prevalence of HTN in North Dakota and South Dakota. We introduced the MAP BP definition and framework with a deep dive into the measure accurately process and shared helpful tools and measures that exist in Azara DRVS to produce improved blood pressure control for the population that you serve. 

Watch now

CHAD Network Team and Workgroup Meetings

Thursday, March 21 @ 10:00am CT/9:00am MT – CHAD SDOH Workgroup

Tuesday, March 26 @ 1:00pm CT/12:00pm MT – Outreach and Enrollment Monthly Call

Tuesday, April 2 @ 12:00pm CT/11:00 am MT – Behavorial Health Workgroup

Thursday, April 4 @ 12:00pm CT/11:00am MT – Clinical Network Team

Monday, April 8 @ 1:00pm CT/12:00pm MT – Operational Excellence/Compliance Workgroup Meeting

Tuesday, April 9 @ 2:00pm CT/3:00pm MT – Communications & Marketing Network Team Meeting

Thursday, April 11 @ 2:00pm CT/3:00pm MT – HR/Workforce Network Team