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September is Healthy Aging Month  |
See a full listing of preventive services covered by Medicare here. |
Did you know - new data from CMS show antipsychotic drug use is down in nursing homes nationwide? Visit Nursing Home Compare for more on nursing home quality and alternatives to nursing home care. |
National Health IT Week 2013 September 16-20, 2013
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| ACU Launches Campaign to Save the NHSC
 Today the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) launched a new campaign aimed at saving and preserving the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). Funding for the Corps is set to expire on October 1, 2015.
In 2012, nearly 10,000 NHSC clinicians provided primary, oral, mental and behavioral health care to 10.4 million underserved people. The program is not only a tremendous success story, but has become an integral part of America's safety net system.
"It is critical that we do everything possible to encourage clinicians to serve in every area of our country," ACU Executive Director Craig Kennedy, MPH said regarding the Campaign's launch. "The NHSC is now on the chopping block through an unintended consequence of the current law. We need to start today educating policy makers and the public about this important program. We can't let it die because of inaction or apathy - it is just too important for the millions of people in underserved communities today."
The three pronged campaign will focus on organizing a grassroots network, educating opinion leaders and advocating before Congress and the Administration. To learn more about the Campaign to Save the NHSC, check out the ACU Campaign web page, updates on ACU's Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as the on Corps Community Day page.
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Could Keeping up with the Kardashians Land You in Trouble?
The hospital where Kim Kardashian gave birth this summer fired six employees for snooping on patients' health records, but you don't have to be a celebrity patient to be at risk for privacy violations. Increased reliance on digital health records and electronic communication has resulted in data security breaches affecting 21 million health records. ACU's Health IT and Quality Consultant Anna Gard, FNP takes on these issues and the requirements of the 2013 HIPPA Omnibus Act. Learn the 5 steps your organization needs to take to assure HIPPA/HITECH compliance and 4 helpful resources you should access today in Raise Your Health Care Organization's Security and Privacy Awareness ... it's the Law.
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JHCPU Highlights
The August issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved is landing in members' mail boxes. Included are reports on an urban violence intervention program, decision-making by patients who use the ED department for primary care, serving homeless veterans, and much, much more. View the complete table of contents online. ACU members have full online access.
Tandrea S. Hilliard, MPH, and her colleagues Tiffany Washington, PhD, MSW, Carisa Hines, MD, and Terrance McGill, MD, MPH co-authored the ACU column, Wishes left Unspoken: Engaging Underserved Populations in End of Life Advance Care Planning. Full text is available from the ACU website.
ACU members are invited to submit abstracts for consideration for the February 2014 ACU column. See details here. The abstract submission deadline is September 15.
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NHSC Opens Site Application Cycles
On September 3, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) opened its 2014 Site Application cyclefor eligible sites to apply to become approved NHSC sites. For information regarding Eligibility Requirements and an Applicant Checklist please visit the NHSC website. In addition, the application cycle for all NHSC sites required to submit a 2014 recertification application, is open. Both application cycles will remain open until November 1, 2013, 7:30pm ET.
ACU encourages all eligible sites to apply and all existing sites to be recertified. The larger the list of eligible sites, the more support we can generate for the program. Please apply today so we can keep the NHSC strong moving forward.
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| Blogs We've Been Reading
A Clinician's Call for Safer Farmworkers and Families by Dr. Edward Zuroweste argues for strong protections for farmworkers from pesticides.
Family Physicians, Students Form Foundation of San Diego Free Clinics from AAFP News Now profiles a student-run free clinic that has served as a model for other clinics nationwide. Co-founder Ellen Beck, MD previously served on the ACU Board.
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Medical Director/ Staff Physician at Community Health Partnership of Illinois, Chicago, IL.
QualityImprovement Manager/ Staff Nurse Practitioner, at Community Health Partnership of Illinois, Chicago, IL.
Chief Medical Officer, Katy Trail Community Health, Sedalia, MO.
Psychologist, Corizon, Pikeville, TN.
Program Manager, Outpatient Services, Clifford Beers Clinic, Inc., New Haven, CT (NHSC-approved loan repayment site).
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Conferences and E-Learning
New Podcast, Group Visits: Integrating Education into Medical Appointments, features Lois Wessel, ACU's Associate Director for Programs. Available on demand from the Asthma Community Network.
Sept. 12, 1 - 2 p.m., ET, Patient-Centered Medical Home: Using the EMR to Facilitate PCMH Transformation, sponsored by the Clinical Directors Network and featuring the Alliance of Chicago Community Health Services. Register online.
Sept. 18-19, HIMSS 12 Annual Policy Summit, Hyatt Regency, Washington, DC, focuses on issues such as the future of Meaningful Use stages, interoperability, the value of health IT and more. Exclusive clinician events include:
- Clinician Education Breakout Session, Wednesday September 18 1:30pm - 4:00pm - presenters will discuss how we can engage the patient through meaningful use and the road to safety regulations.
- Tell your 'Story on the Hill' during Congressional visits with leading members of Congress, their staff, the Nursing Congressional Caucus, and leaders who are developing health policy - Thursday, September 19 1:00pm - 4:00pm.
Registration required. Visit ACU at the Health IT showcase on September 18, 12 - 4 p.m.
Sept. 19, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m., How Polluted Air Affects our Children, sponsored by Academy of Natural Sciences o Drexel University.
Sept. 24, 2-3 p.m. ET, EPA's Back-to-School Webinar: Managing Asthma in Schools. Learn how to improve asthma outcomes I schools and to use the EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit and Framework. Registration required.
Sept. 26 - 27, Plain Talk in Complex Times, in Arlington, VA, presented by the MAXIMUS Center for Health Literacy and the American Public Health Association. Intended for all who must communicate effectively with consumers about health topics.
Oct. 1 - 3, Walking Summit in Washington, DC, sponsored by EveryBody Walk and funded by Kaiser Permanente. Early registration fee is $150 through August 12. Scholarships are available for people who would not otherwise be able to attend. Learn more here.
Oct. 3, 1 - 4 p.m., ET, E-Cigarettes: The Vapor This Time, a live webcast panel on the state of the science on electronic cigarettes, hosted by the Tobacco Related Disease Research Program, U. of Cal. Office of the President.
Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 13th Annual Primary Care and Prevention Conference hosted by Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA.
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Scholarships and Fellowships
For more scholarships and fellowships, visit the ACU website.
Fellowship in e-Health Policy in Washington, DC, offered by the eHealth Initiative (eHI), an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare through information technology. If you know someone interested in being immersed in the Washington health policy environment, please pass along this information.
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National Depression Screening Day on Oct. 10
Please consider hosting an event on National Depression Screening DayŽ (NDSD)! Many people do not realize that they are suffering from a treatable mental health condition until they have been suffering for a period of time. Hosting an in-person screening event can be a great way to start the conversation about the importance of maintaining mental health and provide resources for those individuals who may need help.
The National Depression Screening Day In-Person Kit includes screening forms, educational handouts, publicity materials and clinician guides. View the National Depression Screening Day brochure for more information.
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Welcome New Members
ACU is pleased to welcome seven new members who joined in August, including:
Illinois Primary Health Care Association, Marissa Tan, Jacqueline Barnett, Susan LeLacheur, Linda Prine, Jafreen Sadeque, and Richard Bruno.
Welcome all!
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Participants Sought for Chronic Disease Study
The Stanford Patient Education Research Center is seeking participants for a study that will assess the efficacy of a set of text and CD instructions on self-managing chronic diseases. Every participant in this trial will receive a free tool kit which includes the Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions book, an exercise and relaxation CD, a blood-testing kit (for diabetic participants), prepaid envelopes, two questionnaires and instructions on how to use the tool kit.
Patients may keep all instructional materials. Men and African Americans are strongly encouraged to apply. More information is available here.
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