July 16, 2021
UPCOMING TPCA
TRAININGS & EVENTS
2021 Chronic Disease
& COVID-19 Summit
SESSION 2:
Lessons Learned: 
Why Going Back to Normal
Isn't Good Enough
Led by Elizabeth Wolff, MD, MPA,
Health Management Associates

Learning Objectives:
Outline ways to incorporate telemedicine
into ongoing chronic condition management

Describe how remote patient monitoring can improve management of chronic conditions

List key skills and actions that
clinical leaders can utilize in driving change

Panelists:
Dr. Kevin Dennis, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center

Dee Pratt, Dietitian Associates

Dr. Millard Collins, Meharry Medical Center, Department of Family and Children Services
SESSION 3:
Emergency Preparedness
Led by Melissa Corrado, MBA,
Health Management Associates

Sponsored by: CareMessage

Implementing Behavioral
Health Integration
Led by Elizabeth Wolff, MD, MPA,
Health Management Associates
Who will you nominate for a TPCA Award of Excellence?

TPCA would like to honor health center staff, board members, and community supporters for their exceptional gifts of time, effort and dedication to the Community Health movement.

Award winners will be announced at the upcoming TPCA 2021 Annual Conference!

Any health center staff can nominate an individual or a team for the:

This award recognizes an individual, not employed by a health center, for their support of community health center programs though their participation on the board, as policy makers, or in the community.

This award recognizes a team or organization that has exhibited innovation and dedication to the delivery of primary care to vulnerable populations.

This award recognizes an individual within a health center who has demonstrated leadership skills resulting in the expansion of primary health care access.

This award recognizes a clinical practitioner, employed by an organizational member of the association, whose work has demonstrated outstanding leadership, community involvement, and dedication to patient care.

The deadline for nominations is August 20, 2021.
COVID-19 RESOURCES
OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard Summary Memo

On June 10, 2021, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) after President Biden's Executive Order that prioritized ensuring the health and safety of workers. The standard outlines requirements to increase COVID-19 safety precautions in health care settings, including health centers. 
NACHC PRF Finance Office Hours

NACHC is holding a free webinar about PRF reporting requirements on Friday, July 30 at 2 PM (Eastern). During the webinar, NACHC will have experts from BKD and Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell, LLP (FTLF) discuss the importance of documenting the use of PRF and other COVID funding, how to avoid “double-counting” and other non-compliances, and how lost revenue and cost reimbursement concepts can be used to justify retaining PRF. In the meantime, please submit questions to trainings@nachc.org. 
 
TPCA COVID-19 Resources Page

TPCA created a COVID-19 Resources page that contains information and tools for health centers and the general public on a variety of COVID-19 related topics including TPCA’s COVID-19 vaccines, updates, human resources & operations, telehealth, and PPE.

TPCA Members may also access the COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for the latest in TN COVID-19 Vaccine distribution as well as timely and relevant resources.
While COVID-19 vaccines have put an end to the pandemic in sight, there are still a number
of safety precautions we should follow, even after vaccination. The question is: which ones?

Read more from TPCA partner AccuVax at
TPCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Cempa Community Care cut the ribbon on its brand new community pharmacy on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Located at 1000 E. 3rd St. in Chattanooga, the Cempa Pharmacy is open to the general public and will be easily accessible to Cempa’s existing client base.

“Over the past few years, the team at Cempa has continuously sought out ways to broaden our service offerings so we can be a healthcare provider that meets as many needs as we possibly can for our patients. The new Cempa Pharmacy is a testament to this proactive, patient-centered, spirit,” said Cempa CEO Shannon Stephenson.
Chota was recently recognized in multiple categories in the Advocate & Democrat's 2021 Reader's Choice Awards!

Chota's commendations in this community-driven vote include First Place for Best Customer Service, Pest Place to Work and Best Physician's Office.
Erlanger recently recognized Aidan Flock, Outreach & Enrollment Specialist at Alton Park & Dodson Avenue Erlanger Community Health Centers as a “Spotlight Award” recipient.

Erlanger Employee Spotlight Award is an opportunity to identify, recognize and award employees who demonstrate exceptional performance and who offer unique contributions toward Erlanger’s mission of “compassionately caring for people.”
On Wednesday, July 14th, Nashville native Brandan Wright, the former Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks player, was the star of the “Celebrity Dental Day” at Neighborhood Health's Napier Clinic.

Partnering with Delta Dental and Neighborhood Health, Brandan sported a white lab coat while ushering kids throughout the health clinic to promote dental care and oral health among kids.
FEDERAL POLICY UPDATES
National Health Center Week

TPCA is excited to join health centers in Tennessee and across the country in celebrating National Health Center Week from August 8-14! This year, we will be celebrating all of the ways health centers create The Chemistry for Strong Communities.


Don't forget to submit your events to TPCA! 
If you are hosting National Health Center Week events, please email emily.waitt@tnpca.org with details about the event so we can highlight your events and provide opportunities for TPCA staff to join in your celebrations!
Infrastructure

The House and Senate are beginning the process of considering two different infrastructure packages. The first is a $1.2 trillion proposal led by a bi-partisan group of Senators, focused on traditional infrastructure.

The second is a much larger bill that may reach up to multiple trillions of dollars, that Democrats may seek to pass with a simple majority in the Senate using the reconciliation process. This bill would include provisions that address childcare, education, and health care.

NACHC and health centers across the country are advocating for the inclusion of $10 billion in community health center infrastructure funding in a final package.
Appropriations Process

The House began the appropriations process in June and intends to pass all of their appropriations bills by the end of this month. Several of the 12 mandatory spending bills have already been passed in committee and are ready to go to the House floor. President Biden proposed a $50 million increase in discretionary funding for health centers, and health centers may receive an increase in this funding through the appropriations process.
ADDITIONAL NEWS & RESOURCES
Survey Opportunity:
National Center for Primary Care
Digital Health Tools Study

The Morehouse School of Medicine’s National Center for Primary Care (NCPC) Digital Health Tools Study is assessing the adoption and use of digital health tools (DHTs) by primary care clinicians serving underserved communities in four Southeastern states: Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. As highlighted by the disparate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on minority and underserved communities, it is vital that the clinicians serving these communities have the tools and resources they need.

This survey is part of a larger research study examining how DHTs are being used to advance health equity in these four states, including the unique health system and policy landscapes contributing to DHT adoption and use.

Eligible participants will receive a $50 gift card for their time and effort.

Sign-up to take the NCPC Digital Health Tools Survey by providing your name, email address, and state of practice to dhtsncpc@msm.edu, and you will be sent a unique link to share your experiences with serving underserved communities in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Survey Opportunity:
Immigrant Healthcare Access Project 

The University of South Carolina's Immigrant Healthcare Access (IHA) Project aims to better understand the role of local health clinics in addressing gaps in access to health care for immigrants in the Tennessee community, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey should take about 15 - 20 minutes to complete, and your response will remain confidential.

Questions will cover the following:
  1. types of services your clinic provides;
  2. general demographics of the patients you serve;
  3. basic questions about clinic capacity;
  4. outreach strategies you may use; and
  5. emerging challenges to providing services for and/or meeting the needs of immigrants.

The deadline for survey completion is July 30th. The survey can be answered by anyone at your clinic who is generally familiar with these domains.


The study has been approved by the University of South Carolina's IRB. Once you click on the survey link, the informed consent process will provide more information about the survey before you begin.

Questions?
Please contact, Benjamin J Roth, PhD, Associate Professor at rothbj@sc.edu.
Learn more about partnering with TPCA by contacting Susan Swartz at susan.swartz@tnpca.org!
Share your news!
We want to help spread the word about what's going on at Tennessee's health centers.
This publication is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,830,669, with 15 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.