Black History Month

On February 1st, Google helped to welcome the beginning of black history month with a doodle that honored the 60th anniversary of the Greensboro Sit-in. This year is being recognized by the many important, notable, and necessary achievements by African Americans in American history. Many companies celebrate the month and students across the US will learn about those who came before them.

Learning about American history is important to all of us as it teaches us lessons in what many may be unfamiliar with in terms of cross-cultural awareness and understanding.

Below is some information about Black History Month and the contributions of African Americans throughout American history.

Learn More:

Greensboro Sit-in 60th Anniversary

Google Doodle: Black History Month

Black History Month: History.com

Wear Red!!

February 7th is National Wear Red Day in recognition of heart disease awareness. Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of all Americans? Each year, we lose more women to heart disease than all types of cancer combined. 

Although we recognize today as a day to shine awareness on heart disease, the whole month of February is American Heart Month. Each week in February has a new theme to help people get involved in spreading ideas and goals on how to live and lead a healthier lifestyle. 

Week 1: Be physically active together
Week 2: Eat healthier together
Week 3: Track your heart statistics together
Week 4: Manage stress, sleep and stop bad habits

For more information on these ideas, visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute here!

For information about American Heart Month, Check-Out:

• CDC Americain Heart Month 2020: High Blood Pressure Control - We've Got This!
• Go Red for Women
• Health.gov - American Heart Month Toolkit

OACHC 2020 Children's Dental Health Month

Did you know? Tooth decay is a pandemic public health condition that affects millions of people around the world, the majority of whom are school-aged children ¹. In fact, one in four of Ohio Pre-Schoolers have already experienced at least one cavity ². 

Are you prepared for a dental emergency? Thousands of dental emergencies—from injuries to a painful, abscessed tooth—take place every day knowing what to do can lessen the pain and save a tooth that might otherwise be lost. Keep your dental office phone number and an emergency number where the dentist can be reached after hours with other emergency numbers, such as your family doctor, and fire and police departments. 

Give Kids A Smile (GKAS) is a year-round children’s access to care and oral health education program. Dentists and dental professionals volunteer their time to provide screenings, treatments and oral health education to Ohio children. In 16 years of GKAS, Ohio dental volunteers have provided nearly $14.5 million of dental care to over 270,000 underserved children Almost $1.5 million was planned in dental education and care affecting over 39,000 children in 2019, making Ohio ranked No. 1 in the nation for the most events registered in 2019!

Teeth are meant to last a lifetime, and a healthy smile is important to a child’s self-esteem. With proper care, a balanced diet and regular dental visits, their teeth can remain healthy and strong.

1. Ijaz S, Marinho CC V, Croucher R, Onwude O, Rutterford C. Professionally applied fluoride paint-on solutions for the control of dental caries in children and adolescents. [revised 17 February 2010.

2. 2016-17 Survey of Preschool-Age Children Ohio Department of Health

Give Blood, Save a Life

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

Do Good!

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's Annual Impact 2019

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

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

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

This blog is Sponsored by Jackson Physician Search