The last time we are surveyed was in 2010, which extended our accreditation to 2013.  The health center was due a re-accreditation survey this year.  The survey could happen any time during the calendar year and is unannounced.  In preparation, the management made sure that the entire staff was more than well aware of JCAHO's impending arrival and conducted its own un-announced, mock survey from time to time to keep everyone on their toes. 

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, the JcAHO surveyors finally showed up at our doorstep on Monday, November 04, 2013.

During the 3-day visit, the surveyors conducted a thorough and methodical assessment that covered all aspects of the operation.  The team of two consisted of a physician and a healthcare administrator.  They examined the health center policies and procedures such as Emergency Preparedness, Infection Control, medication management and advance directive.  They also inspected the physical facilities and observed staff-patient interactions.  They quizzed staff on health center protocols and procedures, as well as their knowledge on the job performed.  They asked tough questions across the board to all levels of personnel, were unyielding and determined to leave no stone unturned.  Though the process was thorough, lengthy, and at times draining, we felt that we had been ready and were up to the challenge.  We took it also as an opportunity to tell the South Cove story; to showcase the health center's many great accomplishments over the past three years.  A presentation were made on health center's qualify improvements using the EMR, how Meaningful plays a role in the care delivery and how we are taking care of our patients as a Level 3 Certified Medical Home. 

At the end of the survey, the collective feeling from all involved was a sense of accomplishment and of course, a sense of relief!  The surveyors did make recommendations for the operation going forward during the exit interview.  But overall, they had many positive feedbacks; one stated that South cove's performance, drawing comparison from the other organizations he had surveyed, could probably be placed in the 90^th percentile; "exceptional" was the word used by another JCAHO staff.   

Following the conclusion of the survey, Eugene Welch sent an email to all staff: "we have successfully completed our 3-year evaluation with the Joint Commission. I believe our health center has performed very well and that the Joint Commission will recognize our work."

The Joint Commission certificate "is recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to meeting certain performance standards."  Obtaining this accreditation is considered the pinnacle for healthcare organizations; it means that all our systems: clinical, financial and administrative meet the high standards set by the Joint Commission.  SCCHC first obtained the golden seal of approval in 2001, and has continually improved its quality of care and services since.  To this day, South Cove is proud to be the only Asian community health center in the country that has received the Joint Commission seal of approval.  Having completed the survey in a satisfactory manner this November, we expect the JCAHO-accredited status to be renewed without incident.   

Note: As of this newsletter release, we have completed our 5^th JCAHO survey.  We found the process to be very thorough. We are still awaiting the final result.  But we believe all went well judging by the comments made by the surveyors during the exit interview. 

L to R: Ms. Oza, Dr. Chie and Prof. Hahm with moderator Ms. Shi speak to Speaker Series participants.

On Thursday, October 17, 2013, Dr. Chie, head of the ob/gyn department was one of the panelists in the "Speaker Series" organized by ASPIRE (Asian Sisters Participating in Reaching for Excellence) on the topic of sexual health and healthy relationships.  Other panelists included Hyeouk Chris Hahm, an associate professor at Boston University's School of Social Work and Tina Oza, a doula and domestic violence advocate at the Network La Red.  The forum was moderated by Qingjiang Shi, a member of ASPIRE and owner of SparkleBop and Executive Director of English At Large.

 The panelist touched upon topics such as sexual health, mental health/illnesses and domestic violence.  There was consensus that most Asian Americans have difficulty opening up about these very personal and highly stigmatized subjects.  The social stigma and shame placed on sex and mental illnesses in society in general and especially in the Asian culture made it harder for one to ask questions and/or seek help.  Ms. Hahm in her research, found that 70 percent of Asians who suffer from depression do not seek treatment, and this may only be the tip of an iceberg. 

When it comes to sexual health for young girls, Dr. Chie recommended that they visit ob/gyn at the age of 13.  This is not necessarily to have procedures such a pelvic exam or pap smear but to start discussing topics and concerns related to sexual health.  She also wanted to stress that pregnancy preventions and STDs preventions are entirely two separate matters; most pregnancies prevention methods do not provide protection against STDs.  Dr. Chie understands that girls in a relationship want to trust their partner, but emphasized that "only you can protect yourself," and that she urged anyone who is sexual active to take the necessary precaution.

Panelists also shared resources on where and how to seek help and hope that with on-going outreach efforts and more education, Asian Americans would slowly begin to view sex and mental illness issues in a different light. 

Photo call following the conclusion of the forum.

 ASPIRE is a nonprofit organization seeking to engage, educate and power Asian American girls and women.  The Speaker Series is a periodic event organized and hosted by ASPIRE that invites Asian American women to speak on topics of interest to their fellow Asian Americans.

South Cove Clinics Welcomed Halloween Trick-or-treaters!

Trick-or-treaters at the 145 South Street clinic.

At the 145 South Street clinic, the EI (Early Intervention) program brought its kids to different departments at the site for trick-or-treating.

About the EI Program

South Cove's EI Program has been running for over 25 years.  Enrollment is based on eligibility determined by evaluation procedures approved by the Department of Public Health and carried out by child development specialists.  

Led by a teacher, kids from BCNC's Acron program arrived at the Washigotn Street cliic for trick-or-treating.

Tens of preschoolers flocked to South Cove's main clinic at 885 Washington Street for trick-or-treating on Halloween.  BCNC (Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center) and South Cove have long been neighbors dating back to when BCNC used to call the Josiah Quincy School its home too.  The center has since relocated to another location but still keeps an office in the school building.  This has been a Halloween tradition for the past several years.  The clinic cherishes this yearly opportunity to have the much-welcomed distraction as we see the smile on the faces that represent the future.  BCNC's Acorn Program shares the same feeling and expresses their thanks for this fun-filled event every year.

Year ends are often times of reflections, to look back on the past year and also at the same time, look forward by setting goals and aspirations for the upcoming year. As this December issue rounds out year 2013, we would also like to take a moment to reflect on how far we have come, where we are now and what we have in store for the future.

First a quick look back

1972 - South Cove was incorporated though as not a health center, but as a community agency providing outreach and referral services.

1976 - South Cove opened its first medical clinic at 885 Washington Street as part of the Josiah Quincy Community Center.

1994 - South Cove expanded services to 145 South Street, Boston

1996 - South Cove opened a clinic at 275 Hancock Street, Quincy.

2007 - South Cove Quincy clinic relocated to 435 Hancock Street.

2012 - South Cove expanded services to a new site at 88 Holmes Street, Quincy.

A snap shot of the present

We Are 240 staff including:

-       11 internists

-       4 pediatricians

-       9 dentists, 2 dental hygienists

-       5 obstetricians

-       3 psychiatrists

-       1 psychologist

-       2 LICSWs

-       3 optometrists

-       2 pharmacists

-       1 CNM

-       3 NPs

-       13 nurses

Serving a patient base comprised of:

-       96% Asian, 62% Cantonese speaking and 30% Mandarin speaking

-       Of all our patients, 75% are below 200% of the federal poverty level

-       70% of our patients have state-subsidized care (MassHealth, Commonwealth Care, Health Safety Net )

Departmental facts and numbers (November 2012 - October 2013):

-       Busiest department: Adult Medicine - accounts for over 51% of all visits (85,681 visits total in a 12-month period)

-       Busiest day of the week: Monday - accounts for 19.5% of all visits

-       Busiest month of the year: October 2013 - 15,841 total visits

-       Busiest site: Washington Street Clinic - accounts for 41% of all visits

-       Social Services Department makes and coordinates 30,000 referrals to BIDMC annually

-       Lab sends 180,000 labs to be processed at BIDMC annually

-       Ob/Gyn providers, through the participation of the call group, help deliver some of the approximately 330 South Cove newborns at BIDMC annually

South Cove 2013 Report card:

-       29,000 patients

-       160,000 visits

-       Opened a 340B Pharmacy in Quincy

-       Joint Commission Certified (renewel status pending)

-       Meaningful Use Certified

-       Level III Medical Home Certified

On-going Projects:

Affordable Care enrollment is currently the major undertaking. As part of the Accountable Care Act rollout, South Cove will be applying for coverage under the new ACA guidelines for almost all of the patients over the next year. But the urgent group is the 8,000 patients we have whose applications need to be completed by March 31, 2014. This is due to the elimination of Commonwealth Care and the expansion of Masshealth. To meet the surge in demand and workload, South Cove has expanded staffing in Social Services Department to 11 certified application counselors.

Quality Improvements through the use of EMR:

With an electronic medical record system in place, South Cove was able to apply and receive certification for Meaningful Use and designation for Level 3 Medical Home. Meeting the meaningful use measures and delivering care under the Medical Home model are the core of our quality measures and improvements.

Meaningful Use was implemented by Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to promote EMR and improve Health Care. South Cove's providers are Meaningful Use certified. South Cove has met the thresholds for all of the following Meaningful Use Core Measures:

1. CPOE (computerized provider order entry)
2. Med allergy list
3. ePrescriptions
4. Vital Signs
5. Up to date Problem list
6. Demographics
7. Up to date Med list
8. Recording smoking status
9. Visit Summaries

Patient-Centered Medial Home is an innovative program for improving primary care. It is defined as "a team-based health care delivery model led by a provider (a physician, or N.P.) that provides comprehensive and continuous medical care to patients with the goal of obtaining maximized health outcomes." South Cove has met the NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance) standards in all of following:

1. Enhance access continuity
2. Identify and manage patient populations
3. Plan and manage care
4. Provide self-care support and community resources
5. Track and coordinate care
6. Measure and improve performance.

And now, the Future

Remodeling of our two clinics is slated for 2014 to further expand our services. The expansion, as has been mentioned in the last issue of the newsletter, will commence in March 2014 at the 145 South Street location for phase I, followed by phase II, which involves the Washington Street clinic. The end result will bring a new Women's Health Department to 145 South Street and expanded Adult Medicine and Pediatrics Departments at the Washington Street clinic.

We believe that South Cove's future relies on 1) the technologies available in the medical field and 2) the commitment to our mission of serving the underserved and last 3) the people that carry out the mission.

As we bid goodbye to 2013, we are thankful for all the wonderful things that happened at the health center. While we are excited about what we have in the works for 2014, we are proceeding with caution given all the changes in the healthcare industry, specifically the rollout of the Affordable Care Act. Nonetheless, we welcome the challenge and look forward to sharing with our readers all the news and developments happening at South Cove.  

Announcement to South Cove Staff

Just a friendly reminder, Christmas is only two weeks away.  South Cove will be hosting its Annual Staff Christmas Party on Saturday, December 14, 2014, 5pm at the Quincy China Pearl.  

We hope to see all of you there as we celebrate the year-end and the holdiay season with Santa Claus and gifts for the children!

We are also looking for volunteers to help set up and decorate.  If you are free and can arrive at 3pm at the Quincy China Pearl, as contact Helen Quach at hquach@scchc.org or 617-521-6713.  Thank you!