CCHN is part of the Health Disparities Collaborative for Community Health Centers, which works to increase CHC capacity to improve the lives of the individuals in their communities.
The mission of the Health Disparities Collaborative (HDC) is to improve access to high quality, culturally and linguistically competent primary and preventive care for underserved, uninsured, and underinsured Americans. To achieve this mission, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) works with Community Health Centers to reform the health care delivery system in CHCs to help patients understand and participate in managing their own care, and to help communities learn and strengthen their partnerships with CHCs.
Goals
- Improve health outcomes for underserved populations.
- Transform clinical, financial and operational practices in primary health care through models of care, improvement and learning.
- Develop infrastructure, expertise and leadership to support and drive improved health status.
- Build strategic partnerships.
CCHN works with CHCs and HDC using the Care Model, a quality improvement model, implemented in CHCs by teams of clinical and administrative staff. The model emphasizes effective interactions between patients and their health care providers to help patients manage their health.
Nationally the model has improved self-management skills for more than 100,000 patients nationwide. Currently, the HDC is in the ninth year of focus on chronic conditions and other related topics, such as asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, prevention, as well as office redesign. These efforts have led to improved blood pressure control, appropriate use of drugs for asthma patients, improved symptoms in depression, and increases in patient self-management and provider follow-up in Health Centers.
HDC is an initiative of HRSA’s Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC), in cooperation with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). For more information on the Health Disparities Collaborative, visit the national Web site at www.healthdisparities.net.
The Patient Navigator Model to Reduce Hypertension at Community Health Clinics (CHC) is a program that will position clinic staff as patient navigators who will assist patients in adherence to treatment and in making heart-healthy lifestyle choices. Patient navigator services will improve the efficiency of the CHC disease management team and improve care for all patients with hypertension. The program is sponsored by the Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease and Pulmonary Disease Grants Program at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Helpful Websites: Community Health Association of Mountain/Plains States; Health Disparities Collaboratives; Patient Electronic Care System Users (PECS) Group.
CCHN LEAP Course for Nurses and M.A.s: The majority of these resources require Adobe Acrobat to view. To download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat, click here.
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