CHAD Connection January 4, 2024

CHAD a Workplace Excellence in Culture Award Recipient

In December the Sioux Empire Society for Human Resource Management (SESHRM) presented its annual Workplace Excellence awards to three organizations in the Sioux Falls area. This is an opportunity to recognize local businesses for excellence in diversity, culture, and community impact. CHAD is honored to be the recipient of the Workplace Excellence in Culture Award in 2023, and we are proud to share more about our internal culture practices and what factored into our nomination process.

“Organizational culture” can feel like a vague term, but it is important to define it to understand its impact on recruitment and retention, employee engagement, and its overall impact on your organization’s reputation. While you can approach it in various ways, culture reflects the shared values and expectations within an organization. At a time when workforce challenges are increasingly difficult, culture can be a valuable tool in your recruitment strategy. One study from Glassdoor found “that over 77% of adults across four countries (the US, UK, France, and Germany) would consider a company’s culture before applying for a job there, and 79% would consider a company’s mission and purpose before applying.” With those statistics in mind, how can we leverage our culture to attract and retain talent within our organizations?

You could start by assessing your stated values and considering whether the actions of your team reflect those values. At CHAD, our Cornerstones of Character represent our values: Integrity, Respect, Reliability, Collaboration, and Innovation. These are discussed during the interview stage, on a new employee’s first day, and during our annual performance evaluations. Our Cornerstones are our culture; those values anchor our decision-making and enable us to develop clear processes and offer competitive benefits to our employees. Values aren’t something you write and throw up on the wall but are truly reflective of your identity as an organization.

Beyond values, mission and belief statements are another insight into organizational culture. At CHAD, we believe that everyone has a right to high-quality, reliable, affordable health care, regardless of where they live. Health centers in North and South Dakotas are working tirelessly to provide that quality care across the region, but we recognize there are stark disparities in health outcomes in the Dakotas. CHAD’s internal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) action team has worked to develop the following statement to emphasize our commitment to being a more diverse and inclusive organization:

“We acknowledge that unfair policies and practices have led to health inequities across race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, geography, and other identities. Health centers are rooted in the civil rights movement, and we aspire to build on this legacy by working collaboratively with others to see equitable health outcomes in our communities. We bring with us a commitment to continued learning and growth, as well as a recognition of the need for urgent action.”

Culture work is an ongoing and engaging process at CHAD. We are excited to be recognized for the culture we’ve developed, and for the opportunities that are ahead of us.

Kim Kuhlmann joined CHAD in December as Policy and Partnership Manager for North Dakota. In her role, Kim serves as the lead staff member on matters related to state-based policy in North Dakota, maintains relationships with the state’s Members of Congress, and leads the North Dakota Oral Health Coalition. She will also coordinate CHAD’s Advocacy Action Team.

Kim’s previous experience includes working on the Government Relations team at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) as the Grassroots Relationship Manager for North Dakota from 2012 - 2020.

Kim graduated from Valley City State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Management. She has professional experience in sales, customer service, and non-profit fundraising and events.

Kim grew up in rural North Dakota on a farm near Wimbledon and she enjoys spending time at the farm or outdoors fishing, ice fishing, golfing, and camping.

As we enter the New Year with a sense of optimism and careful intent, it is important to acknowledge that sometimes, despite our mindful reflection and tedious planning, accidents – and health emergencies – happen. Having affordable, comprehensive health insurance can mitigate the risk of having a health emergency through access to preventative care and alleviate some of the financial pain if an accident or emergency does occur. Each year, the Federal Marketplace – Healthcare.gov – opens from November 1 to January 15 for anyone who is not covered or eligible for other affordable*, comprehensive health insurance (like an employer sponsored plan, Medicaid/CHIP, or Medicare) to shop for and select a plan that fits their needs within their budget. In fact, four out of five Marketplace Consumers can find a plan for less than $10 per month.

This year, make sure you and those you love have the health insurance coverage needed to be well. January 15 is quickly approaching so if you are not on an affordable*, comprehensive plan or you work with individuals who are not, go online to healthcare.gov or make an appointment with a Navigator who can assist you or your client(s) by clicking here for South Dakota and here for North Dakota. Coverage selected during Open Enrollment will be effective starting February 1 in most cases.

After January 15, to be eligible to select a health plan from the Marketplace, one must meet Special Enrollment Period eligibility criteria, such as having a qualifying life event**, loss of other coverage, or have an income below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Enrolled members of federally recognized Tribes can enroll in a Marketplace plan at any time. Once signed up for a plan, members can change plans up to once a month.

*In 2024, a job-based health plan is considered "affordable" if your share of the monthly premium in the lowest-cost plan offered by the employer is less than 8.39% of your household income.

**Certain life events, like losing health coverage (including Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage), moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child, may qualify you to enroll in or change Marketplace health plans outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period.

In 2024 the American Heart Association will celebrate 100 years of being a relentless force for a world of longer healthier lives. As they look toward their Second Century, their vision is to advance health and hope for everyone! Every community could use more of both help and hope, but they know many rural communities face additional challenges. The American Heart Association needs your help to achieve this vision!

The Outpace CVD encompasses three outpatient quality programs –Target:BP ; Check, change, control cholesterol, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes. Each is designed to – and has been successful in – helping enhance current efforts through evidenced-based practices and elevate the success through the AHA annual recognition program. (Going for Gold – and beyond!) Many of those efforts do not have hard costs associated with them, the American Heart Association knows resources are tight and want to help facilitate that improvement.

Thus, they are offering up to $2500 to each of four Midwest rural healthcare organizations to lead evidence-based policy and practice changes. Examples include:

Implementation of one or more of these Evidence-based BP Activities for Accurate Blood Pressure Measurement – or adoption of these policy & procedures.
Adoption/enhancement of a BP Treatment Algorithm overview and samples
Establishment of a comprehensive SMBP program
Systems to improve access to affordable medication (especially for combatting hypertension, diabetes, and/or cholesterol) and/or improve team-based care
Other innovative approaches to systemically address care gaps in chronic disease management. Efforts should be sustainable beyond the expenditure of this funding
Social Determinants of Health

If you are interested, please complete this brief survey by January 15.

Note: Because AHA seeks to support and measure sustainable change, applicants who have not done so previously, need to register for at least one new/additional program within Outpace CVD by January 15 and commit to making 2024 data submission for the same priority.

Those who apply for, but do not receive funding, will be offered technical assistance until more funding is available. Immediate preference will be given to those who have not recently received similar funding from the American Heart Association.

For questions, please contact Tim Nikolai, Sr. Rural Health Director, American Heart Association, Midwest.

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is hosting a Health Equity Learning Collaborative aimed at exploring how health centers are utilizing social drivers of health (SDOH) data, patient and community voice, and community partnerships to advance health equity. This learning collaborative will weave together health equity concepts and strategies that many health centers are considering or implementing while intentionally digging deeper to understand the root causes of health inequities. The purpose of the learning collaborative is to build upon current health center knowledge and understanding of SDOH and health equity by applying principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Learn more or apply here.

New Year's Resolution Series: DRVS 101

Start the year off right by gaining more knowledge and insights into the basic functionalities of DRVS. This webinar is designed for practice staff who may have recently joined the organization or for those who could benefit from an overview of DRVS core functionality. 

Tuesday, January 9

1:00 pm CT/12:00 pm MT

New Year's Resolution Series: DRVS Admin

As part of our New Years Resolution series, we invite you to join this webinar for a review of the opportunities available within basic DRVS Administration. This webinar will provide an overview of key admin functionalities including provider & location groups, targets, shared filters, email subscriptions, and more. Follow along with us in DRVS and ask your questions to DRVS experts. Participants attending this session should have DRVS Admin privileges.

Thursday, January 11

1:00 pm CT/12:00 pm MT

New Year's Resolution Series: DRVS Data Hygiene

If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to plan your data health activities for 2024.  During this webinar, we will explore the DRVS tools available that can support you in identifying issues, monitoring and analyzing trends, and improving the quality of your data.  With these tips and tricks, you will be able to avoid the pre-reporting chaos and keep your data healthy all year long. This webinar is recommended for team members responsible for supporting data quality and validation. This might include clinical quality, IT/EHR support or data analysts, administrative staff, among others.

Tuesday, January 16

1:00 pm CT/12:00 pm MT

Introduction to the Health Center Program: Tools for Building and Enhancing Your Health Center - January 17 - 18 | 10:00am – 4:00pm CT

Are you a health center leader looking for an in-depth orientation to the Health Center Program? Join NACHC for its annual virtual training workshop. Whether you are new to HRSA’s Health Center program, a seasoned leader looking for a refresher course, or an organization seeking FQHC status, this training has something for you. Learn more and register here.

CMS Marketplace Open Enrollment Period Partner Webinars - January 10, January 31 | 2:00 pm CT 

Join CMS for the 2024 Marketplace Open Enrollment Webinars. CMS will provide partners, stakeholders, and Champions for Coverage with critical information, resources, and updated materials to successfully help consumers navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period.
Open enrollment runs until January 15. This series includes webinars, each scheduled for 2:00 pm CT, on the following dates: January 10 and 31. To register for the webinars in the series, please click here.

CHAD Network Team and Workgroup Meetings

Thursday, January 4 @ 12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT – Clinical Quality Network Call

Monday, January 8 @ 12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT – CHAD Dental Network Team

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

Tuesday, January 16 @ 2:00 pm CT/1:00pm MT – Communications & Network Team Meeting

Thursday, January 25 @ 9:30 am CT/8:30am MT – Emergency Preparedness Network Team Meeting

Thursday, January 18 @ 10:00am CT/9:00am MT – CHAD SDOH Workgroup