Several plans/guidelines worked together to drive the focus of CHCA’s activities in 2009, including Bureau of Primary Health Care PCA expectations, CHCA’s Strategic Plan, and the Access for All Arkansans Plan CHCA developed in 2009. The purpose of the Access for All Arkansans Plan is to preserve and strengthen existing Community Health Centers (CHCs) and expand access to primary and preventive care to those currently without a “health care home.” The plan addresses five critical areas: 1) Capital Resources, 2) Operational Resources, 3) Quality, 4) Workforce, and 5) Policy and Legislation. In accordance with the plan’s purpose and critical focus areas, CHCA embarked on a variety of activities.
- Secured $10 million in State Funding for Arkansas CHC’s operations and $5 million in one-time capital needs funding. Through the State Funding, CHCs have additional resources to improve their financial stability, expand services in existing and new locations, expand hours of operation, and to enable CHCs to recruit needed providers in underserved areas.
- Supported CHCs in their pursuit of 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding. Arkansas CHCs received $13,572,035 through New Access Point grants, Increased Demand for Services grants, and Capital Improvement Program grants.
- Received the Arkansas Health Center Controlled Network (AHCCN) Grant which will assist the CHCs in sustaining the costs associated with securing and implementing Electronic Medical Records and Health Information Technology. Integration into the AHCCN will allow Arkansas CHCs to share data, collaborate on future health disparity initiatives, and provide patients with increased quality of care.
- Received a supplemental Cancer/Tobacco grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to assist Arkansas CHCs with enhancing tobacco cessation and prevention efforts in the selected Arkansas CHCs.
- Affected growth and access to care through advocacy and education. (7 new CHC locations opened in 2009.)
- Completed a Planning Grant in Phillips County, working to establish a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Helena/West Helena. CHCA also received a Planning Grant for Miller County.
- Hosted their Annual Primary Care Association Conference and 25th Anniversary Celebration. Conference Tracks included a Corporate Compliance track, Clinical Quality track, and a Financial Management track. The 25th Anniversary Celebration was held at the Governor’s Mansion.
- Provided opportunities for mentoring, sharing of best practices, resources, and training through a variety of networks including the Chief Financial Officers, Nurse Managers, Outstation Enrollment Network, as well as the newly created Mid-Level Managers Network and Communications/PR Network.
- Coordinated and hosted Uniform Data System (UDS) training, drawing 45 participants from Arkansas CHCs and 9 from Louisiana CHCs.
- Created a “Workforce/Recruitment” video to tell the story of the “true mission” of a CHC and the benefits of serving as a provider in a CHC. CHCA also designed a new Exhibit Display for medical and dental recruitment.
- Strengthened and built strong partnerships with key stakeholder groups including, but not limited to, the Governor’s Health Information Technology Task Force, the Arkansas Chronic Illness Collaborative Steering Committee, the Regional Quality Initiative Steering Committee, the Governor’s Healthcare Roundtable, the Arkansas Oral Health Coalition, the Arkansas Cancer Coalition, the Arkansas Minority Health Consortium, and the Coordinated School Health Action Team.
- Partnered with the Arkansas Tele-health Oversight and Management Coalition (ATOM) as the state strives to create a comprehensive statewide Telemedicine/Tele-health network accessible to all medical providers, including CHCs.
- Orchestrated and coordinated the acquisition of various supplies and equipment necessary to provide a continuum of care during the H1N1 crisis. Technical assistance and consultation was provided relating to Policies and Procedures H1N1 diagnostics and specimen collection to adhere to state and CDC guidelines. CHCA has also been directly involved with the Strategic National Stockpile initiative, assisting coordination of the delivery of anti-viral medications to all CHC communities.
- Participated in the national and state level initiatives aimed at defining and creating Medical/Health Care Homes.
- Participated in the entry level of the Governor’s Quality Leadership Award Program and received the Challenge Award.
- Purchased the SharePoint software program to create an intranet linking CHCA and all CHC staff members. This intranet portal houses a resource library, shared calendars, document sharing, and a discussion forum.
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