A Note from the Executive Director
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Dear Partners and Friends,
Words cannot express the gratitude that our organization has for all of the healthcare provider teams that are out in the field during this unprecedented time. We have heard from a number of SBHCs across the state that every day brings a new challenge. Many are anxious about the health of their patients while distanced from them during school closures. Others are re-deployed in other healthcare settings. We also hear growing fears about the uncertainty around reopening of schools. Please know that we are here for you. Should any of you need support from us, please do not hesitate to reach out. Please share any information about your operations that you are able; your input helps us respond to queries from state agencies, federal legislators and others as we all work together to address current needs and attempt to plan for the future.
Yours in gratitude,
Nancy Rodriguez,
nancy@nmasbhc.org
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As our state’s public health response to the pandemic of COVID-19 continues to unfold, the New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care and the school-based health centers we support are all in the process of discerning how to respond appropriately. This is a time for us to work together for the common good, and we stand ready to take whatever actions are necessary. The following are updates regarding both our organization and the state’s SBHCs.
NMASBHC:
In order to follow public health recommendations and keep our families and communities safe, NMASBHC offices will be closed until further notice. Staff and Board will be working remotely and electronically. You can reach
Staff
via email. All outside meetings, business travel and events will be postponed or held telephonically or virtually.
SBHCs:
Each medical entity that operates an SBHC and their host school must determine separately whether or not they can and will stay open during school closures. The Department of Health is working on a spreadsheet of open and closed SBHCs, and it is posted on our homepage and updates are made as soon as they become available. We send our best wishes to all of the SBHCs as they work to adapt to this pandemic.
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In May, we feature Hobbs High SBHC.
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Thank you to all the SBHCs who contributed photographs for the 2020 SBHC Calendar.
And a special note of gratitude to this year's sponsor: Presbyterian Health Plan Inc.
Thank you to Nor-Lea Hospital Distric and the Hobbs High SBHC team for their service!
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SBHA and COVID: Webinars and Convention
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SBHA, like all organizations, is adjusting to address the pandemic. They have added a number of resource and training opportunities, including Webinars and Listening and Learning Sessions through May and beyond. Visit their webpage:
https://www.sbh4all.org/resources/covid-19-resources/ to find registration links, articles and more.
Convention: As of publication of this newsletter, SBHA has NOT cancelled their 2020 SBHC National Convention. The convention is slated to take place on
June 23-25
at the Sheraton Denver Downtown in Denver, Colorado.
However, SBHA has promised to consult public health experts about moving forward as the pandemic evolves. Should the convention be cancelled, your registration fees will be fully refunded. For updates, please see the SBHA National
Convention Information Page
.
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Advocate for SBHCs with Congress!
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NMASBHC has been working with other state alliances and the national School-Based Health Alliance to advocate for federal relief funds for school-based health centers. We made a request that such funds be included in the 3.5 version of the CARES ACT, but we are now focused on the imminent 4.0 version. Click
here to read the letter NMASBHC forwarded to the entire NM Congressional Delegation and the Governor's Office.
Now, NMASBHC needs your help. Reach out to your Senators and Representatives and let them know that SBHC operators need funds specifically to support ongoing operations. Send an email message using the format below or visit your legislators' websites for contact instructions:
- Senate staff = firstname_lastname@senatorslastname.senate.gov. Example = Senator Smith staffer Tom Jones’ email address would be tom_jones@smith.senate.gov.
- House staff = firstname.lastname@mail.house.gov. Example = tom.jones@mail.house.gov.
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OSAH Update: A Note on Year-End Activities
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For SBHCs contracted with NMDOH-OSAH, the following is a special note on contractual obligations from OSAH. The due date for the Progress Report is May 30, 2020. If you have questions, please email Kristin Oreskovich at
kristin.oreskovich@state.nm.us
.
SBCHs may be wondering about OSAH's usual end of year activities and contract deliverables.
Firstly, you've hopefully seen communication about the Annual Head to Toe conference. The conference was cancelled, and all registration fees are being reimbursed. You will have an opportunity to participate in many other school health/SBHC training and education opportunities, including, virtual options in the soon to be launched H2T 365, and a mini-H2T pre-conference before ASHA in September.
Secondly, the end of year deliverables:
- SBHC Operational Plan report - provide information on the end of year report with the few months of QI data you have from the second semester.
- Monthly encounter data - If your SBHC is still operating, please provide data to Apex as usual. If you are tracking your SBHC patients being seen in one of you other clinics, please provide those data to Apex. Also, please ensure your iPads are synced with Apex so we have the most up to date student survey data and Just Health data.
- Student Survey - in place of this deliverable, there will be a COVID section on the OP Progress Report. Please make sure to complete that section.
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New Medicaid Regulatory Changes & Updates
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The New Mexico Human Services Department (NMHSD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are loosening and changing a number of regulations in light of the current pandemic.
At present, these include new telehealth codes and resources, details on COVID-19 testing coverage, and special behavioral health guidance.
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Clinic Resources, Training Opportunities, and Community Announcements
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Below are a couple of upcoming trainings.
Contraception in the Time of COVID Webinar
Date
: Tuesday, May 5th at Noon
This webinar will discuss providing contraception in the time of COVID – maintaining access to essential family planning. 1.0 CME offered at no cost!
During this hour we will do the following:
- Review management recommendations related to reproductive health access during states of emergency: reviewing statements from CDC, ACOG, and other national groups.
- Discuss management recommendations; how to organize your clinic in order to maintain access to reproductive health services during an emergency.
- Review state and national resources that can be used to help patients continue to access reproductive health services while continue to focus on emergency response.
Reproductive Health Care for Adolescents Webinar
Date
: Tuesday, May 12th at Noon
This webinar will discuss reproductive health care for adolescents – confidentiality, counseling, and case-based learning. 1.0 CME offered at no cost!
During this hour we will do the following:
- Review consent and confidentiality of minors for reproductive health services in NM
- Discuss how to approach pregnancy options counseling and STI screening for adolescents
- Review strategies to support adolescent reproductive autonomy in the primary care setting
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Upcoming Asthma Opportunity
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NMASBHC will be offering a new resource for supporting students/patients with asthma. The project begins in May and extends into next school year. Interested in this opportunity to support your students AND your organization's budget? Then:
- Please join us for a webinar co-presented with the NMDOH Asthma Control Program, to learn more about best school/SBHC practices for addressing asthma environmental triggers.
- Sign up this spring for a $1,000 mini-grant to plan a project for next school year; doing so puts you in line for a larger grant next school year.
- Email wilma@nmasbhc.org to indicate your interest, and we'll send you details.
- Please look for basecamp and email notifications from NMASBHC related to this opportunity.
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Mark your calendars and Register for our upcoming webinar on
Shared Clinical Decision Making
.
Date:
Thursday, May 14
th
from 12-1 pm MT
Speakers
: Drs. Melissa Martinez and Walter Dehority
Sponsored by
Comagine Health, NMDOH Immunization Program and NMIC
Ensuring the delivery of newborn and well-child care, including childhood immunization, requires different strategies during the COVID-10 pandemic. Healthcare providers in communities affected by COVID-19 are using
strategies such as these to separate well visits from sick visits.
Examples include:
- Scheduling well visits in the morning and sick visits in the afternoon
- Separating patients spatially, such as by placing patients with sick visits in different areas of the clinic or another location from patients with well visits
- Collaborating with providers in the community to identify separate locations for holding well visits for children
Because of personal, practice, or community circumstances related to COVID-19, some providers may not be able to provide well-child visits, including provision of immunizations, for all patients in their practice.
If a practice can provide only limited well-child visits, healthcare providers are encouraged to prioritize newborn care and vaccination of infants and young children (through 24 months of age) when possible.
CDC is monitoring the situation and will continue to provide guidance.
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The 2020 NM ACTion conference is coming up on May 27-28, 2020. It will be conducted online. There is still time to
register.
On April 28, 2020, the
USPSTF
issued a recommendation that primary care clinicians provide interventions, including education or brief counseling, to prevent initiation of tobacco use among school-aged children and adolescents.
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May Health Awareness Activities
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May is National Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month
With the change in seasons, allergy season has arrived. In the current pandemic, those with asthma need to take extra precautions as they may be at increased risk for COVID-19.
For more information about Asthma and Allergies, please see the following:
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May is National Mental Health Month
SBHCs are often the place for students to turn to for Mental Health information and services.
The following are some resources:
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www.nmasbhc.org | (505) 404-8059 | info@nmasbhc.org
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