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Approval of Grants for Primary Care Services - Ang
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Approval of $38,578 in grant funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced on August 25, 2015 the awarding of over $63 million in grants to 1,153 Community Health Centers in every US State, the District of Columbia and seven US territories. These grants were given to recognize quality improvement achievements. Funds are to be invested in ongoing quality improvement activities.
The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center (LCHD/CHC) was recognized as both a Clinical Quality Improver and as an EHR reporter. The Clinical Quality Improver Designation indicates that LCHD/CHC demonstrated at least a 10 percent improvement in one or more clinical quality measures between 2013 and 2014 as measured on the annual Uniform Data System (UDS) report. The EHR reporter designation indicates that LCHD/CHC submitted full audit reports in 2014 rather than chart samples. This means that LCHD/CHC used its EHR to report quality measures for all eligible patients in the health center rather than taking a small sample of charts and projecting the finding across the population. Full audit reporting provides a more accurate evaluation of quality outcomes.
As a result of this performance, LCHD/CHC received a total of $38,578 dollars. These funds were added to the organization’s section 330 grant and were included in the August 18, 2015 Notice of Award. No revenue is projected from these funds so the total amount to be allocated is $38,578. The grant period for this award is 12 months from the award date which covers the period of August 18, 2015 - August 17, 2016. Funds will be used to purchase five licenses for the I2I systems patient registry software. Additionally, LCHD/CHC will purchase an integrated team intelligence module for I2I. The module will enhance the utility of the software by linking patient information and patient records in the EHR to aggregate reports generated by I2I. This will better enable the Patient Centered Medical Home teams to utilize the software to plan and manage patient care.
The provision of high quality services including quality improvement efforts is central to LCHD/CHC’s operations and to its maintenance of both HRSA funding and Joint Commission Accreditation. One of the four value statements included in LCHD/CHC’s Strategic Plan is “Outstanding Professional Competence.” The definition of this value specifically includes the use of continuous improvement principles to ensure that patients receive high-quality services.
Approval of a $5,000 grant award from the Illinois Primary Health Care Association
On June 22nd, 2015, the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) signed an agreement with the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center (LCHD/CHC). Per the agreement, LCHD/CHC had an opportunity to receive a $5,000 grant award for successfully submitting data to IPHCA on LCHD/CHC’s primary care patients with hypertension and LCHD/CHC’s primary care patients with diabetes. Data will be used by IPHCA to evaluate the need for chronic disease management at Federally Qualified Health Centers across the state. Aggregate level data only was submitted so no personal patient information was shared with IPHCA.
Data was successfully submitted in July of 2015 and LCHD/CHC has now received the $5,000 in award funding. LCHD/CHC will use this funding to purchase promotional materials and supplies including flyers, pens, giveaways, etc. Materials and supplies will be available to staff at all LCHD/CHC sites and will be used to support outreach and recruitment efforts.
This opportunity provides one-time funding. LCHD/CHC will expend funding within one year of the funds being approved by the Governing Council.
Suggested Motion
To approve the grant funding of $38,578 from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Funds will be us used to purchase five individual licenses and one module for the I2I patient registry software and to approve the grant award of $5,000 from the Illinois Primary Health Care Association for meeting data reporting obligations related to patients with chronic disease(s). Funds will be used to purchase promotional materials and supplies (flyers, pens, giveaways) to be used by all community health centers as part of their outreach and recruitment activities.