We were all in high school once. And we all saw the signs for "blood drives", "free cookies" and those stickers you could proudly wear all day letting everyone know that you donated blood? Well did you know that by participating in those blood drives, you potentially saved a life? In the United States, every 2 seconds someones need a blood transfusion. And, your onetime donation can save up to 3 lives all at once.
Blood donations are used for all sorts of situations. It's not just an emergency situation, but people with blood disorders and diseases also need frequent transfusions just to live a normal life. Individuals with Sickle Cell Anemia could need transfusions every 4 weeks in certain circumstances. Not only that, but red blood cells must be used within about 40 days.
It's important that we all try to donate blood, especially if we are able-bodied and capable. Less than 40% of the American population actually qualifies to donate blood. Type O is the type of blood that is in the highest demand due to it being a universal blood type. It also has the lowest risk of causing serious reactions for most people who receive it.
For more information about blood donation:
Red Cross
Donating Blood, What you need to know
Benefits of Donating Blood
About 25 percent of Americans volunteer every year in one way or another.
People who are most likely to volunteer fall in the age category of 35 to 54 rounding close to 60% of all volunteers. In 2018, 33% of Ohio residents volunteered.
People all over the country have different reasons for wanting to volunteer. Whether you are supporting a charitable cause, helping out an organization or wanting to bring awareness to a day, you are still playing your part in doing
good for others.
Have you ever wanted to volunteer but don't know how? The best place to start is within your self. What are the things that you enjoy? Dogs? Children? Cars? There organizations that support just about any and everything that always needs help! If you are not able to donate your time, perhaps you can donate in other ways. This could be in financial ways, donating used or unwanted items or even the pop-tab from the beverage you are drinking. And who says "volunteering doesn't pay." Many organizations that you are willing to offer your time to, are also willing to offer you something in return. This could be a tax write off, student loan reimbursement or maybe even just a free t-shirt!! Help yourself by helping others.
For more information on how to volunteer, click our links below:
Volunteering Statistics and National Service Corps
Volunteer Match
Red Cross
Ronald McDonald House
OACHC Notables
Welcomed new staff members
- Dr. Dana Vallangeon, CMO
- Dr. Shereen Bahadar, Oral Health Coordinator
- Erica Brown, Chronic Disease Program Manager
- Kelly Carey, Director of Policy & Public Affairs
- Lindsay Weaver, Quality Improvement Coordinator
- Vicki Wilcox, Office Manager
On the Move
- Avani Desai promoted to HCCN Program Manager
- Teresa Rios-Bishop promoted to Director of Membership and Development
- Dr. Ted Wymyslo transitioned to part-time, serving as the Sr. Medical Advisor
OACHC Department Highlights
Clinical & Quality
Health Center Controlled Network:
- Finished Wave 1 (3 years) with 16 FQHCs: All HCCN members reported 2018 UDS in FULL UNIVERSE!!
- Funded for Wave 2 (3 years) with 21 FQHCs
Quality Improvement Team leads the following initiatives: (FUNDED)
- Hypertension/Diabetes Quality Improvement Project with ODH – 11 FQHCs in Cohort 1
- FluFIT – 10 FQHCs
- Case Management for Opioid Use Disorder Initiative – 6 FQHCs
- Hepatitis C Screening & Treatment – 8 FQHCs
- Ohio Domestic Violence Grant (FUTURES without Violence)
- OMNI – Opioid Use Disorder, Maternal Outcomes, and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Initiative
- Franklin County Public Health – CDC Overdose Data 2 Action – 7 FQHCs
- United Health Care Contract – Medication Assisted Treatment Training & Quality Partnership – 3 FQHCs
Clinical & Quality In the Lead:
- Data Strategy Framework developed and presented at NACHC FOM/IT
- Developed OACHC MAT for OUD Best Practices guiding document
- Initiated Curbside Consults to assist Ohio FQHC providers with SUD and MAT case questions
Conference & Events
- 14 in-person trainings with more than 1,000 attendees
- 27 Webinars hosted with more than 500 attendees
Oral Health
Funded awards:
- DentaQuest - National Oral Health Integration and Intervention Network (NOHIIN)
- HealthPath Foundation of Ohio for the Brush, Book, Bed program
- NACHC Tobacco Cessation CDC: one of two PCA’s nationally to pilot tobacco cessation screening and treatment in Dental practices
- HRSA Networks for Oral health Integration: integration of oral health services for children 6-11 years old in health centers. Created the Midwest Network for Oral Health Integration (MNOHI): 4-state collaborative network of Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Ohio Primary Care Associations
Policy
- Successful state budget championing many areas and provisions for health centers. Notably restored and INCREASED funding for the Ohio Primary Care Initiative (OPCWI). Read about all of the highlights here
- Drafted model legislation prohibiting discriminatory Medicaid and commercial contracts for 340B covered entities; bipartisan, bicameral sponsors identified
- “Stormed the Statehouse” via 90 meetings with ~45 advocates at OACHC’s Day at the Statehouse
- 5,517 registered advocates poised to raise their voices in support of health centers
- Active in moving pieces of legislation including, but not limited to:
- HB 11 Prenatal Care-successful amendment expanding access to centering funds
- HB 12 Behavioral Health Prevention Network Group- FQHC representation named in the bill
Workforce
Ohio Primary Care Workforce Initiative (OPCWI), Year 4
- 5 new FQHCs and 68 health professional training programs participated
- Nearly 1,100 health professional students participated
- About 146,200 student clinical hours were experienced
Workforce Wins
- Successfully changed OPCWI/ODH contract length to a 2-year term
- Active participant in the Chancellor of Higher Education’s Ohio Physician and Allied Health Care Workforce Preparation Task Force
OACHC-led Peer Networking & Training Collaboratives
- 340B Consortium
- OACHC Marketing & Outreach Network (OMON)
- Outreach and Enrollment Network
- FQHC Public Entities Group
- Dually certified Group (CMHC/FQHC)
- CPC Networking Group
- Quality Peer Network
- Chief Medical Officer
- Behavioral Health Monthly Networking
- EHR User Groups (eClinical Works, NextGen, Epic)
- Clinical Learning Collaborative
- Diabetes Collaborative
- Infant Mortality Task Force
- Care Management Network
- HR Contacts
- OPCWI Contacts
- Dental Directors
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
This month puts focus on those who have cervical cancer and puts emphasis on why it is important to get screenings and vaccines to prevent this cancer.
There are two different tests a woman can take to check for cervical cancer. A Pap Test or a Pap smear, cell changes on the cervix that might become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately. The other test one can get is an HPV or human papillomavirus test. This test looks for the HPV virus, which can cause cells to change into cancerous ones.
Prevention
Women should start getting Pap tests at or around the age of 21. If your test comes back normal, it is recommended that you get another test every 3 years. However, this is also based on your medical history and at your physicians' discretion. HPV tests are a bit more optional. You can find more information about those here.
Another way to keep yourself safe from Cervical Cancer is by getting the HPV vaccine. This vaccine is recommended for any (male or female) ages 11 to 26. Before deciding on getting yourself or your child vaccinated, speak to a healthcare provider about your best options.
Learn More:
Cervical Cancer Awareness
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Health.gov
OACHC's CLC Webinar on Cervical Cancer 1/21
It's the most wonder-ful timeeeee..... of the yeeeeaar!
Our Annual Conference is just around the corner, February 24-26, and we couldn't be more excited!
Our closing keynote speaker is:
Luis Padilla, MD, FAAFP
He is the Associate Administrator for Health Workforce Director of the National Health Service Corps and works for Health Resources and Services Administration U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Padilla is also a board-certified family physician who previously worked with a federally qualified health center network with over 100,000 patients. He is a committed advocate for the underserved.
Not only is the location new to our Annual Conference, Hilton Columbus at Easton, so is our Marketing Track! Check out the sessions and speakers here on our agenda.
And, ONLY at the OACHC Annual Conference will you find an FQHC 1010 Pre-Conference Workshop featuring educational sessions in Finance Matters 101, Clinical Matters 101 and FQHC Governance 101. Add this on to your registration!
Don't forget about Oral Health! Our ever-popular Dental Track can also only be found at our Annual Conference.
Register Today! The Early Bird Rate ends January 24th.
REGISTER HERE!!
For more information, visit our website: www.ohiochc.org/conference
