Growing, strengthening, and sustaining Community Health Centers in Colorado.

CCHN provides direct assistance to existing Community Health Centers (CHCs) and to Colorado communities exploring the CHC model.  In Colorado, CHCs provide comprehensive primary health care to nearly 400,000 low-income Coloradans annually.  The Health Center Operations Division (HCOPS) provides technical assistance, training, data analysis, and various other resources to CHCs, communities exploring the CHC model, and other partners.  HCOPS services are focused on four main areas:

1. Health Center Operational and Financial Systems: CCHN staff provide assistance/resources to CHCs in the areas of accreditation, facility licensure, pharmacy implementation, lab purchasing, medical malpractice insurance, HIPAA compliance, capital expansions, systems integration change, and various other operational/financial services.  On behalf of CHCs, CCHN also conducts advanced analyses of the Uniform Data Set (UDS), Medicaid Cost reports, Colorado Indigent Care Program (CICP) reports, Statewide Strategic Planning (SSP) reports, and other state/federal reports.  CCHN provides direct support to CHC Chief Operating Officers/Operations Directors through the Colorado Operations Directors Advisory Network (CODAN).  Ross Brooks is the lead CCHN staff person responsible for providing CHC operational and financial assistance.
   
   
2. Health Center Workforce Development Activities: CCHN staff provide assistance/resources to CHCs to strengthen the existing CHC workforce and to build a competent and committed future CHC workforce.  Collectively, Colorado CHCs employee more than 2,800 Coloradans.  CCHN assists CHCs by providing technical assistance to CHC Human Resource directors for the recruitment and retention of a qualified workforce and staff development opportunities.  CCHN provides scholarship, loan repayment, and continuing education resources to CHC staff.  CCHN also collects data to continually disseminate findings on CHC salary, benefit, and turnover. Tanah Wagenseller is the lead CCHN staff person responsible for CHC workforce development activities.  For more information, click here.
   


3. Health Center Community Development Activities: CCHN is committed to strengthening existing CHCs and growing new CHCs statewide.  Currently, CHCs exist in 33 of Colorado’s 64 counties and serve patients from 54 of those counties. CCHN staff assist CHCs and new communities by providing technical assistance and resources.  CCHN staff monitor funding opportunities that support CHC growth and sustainability and as appropriate provide resources, data, grant reviews, and other assistance to CHCs interested in expansion of services and/or opportunities for capital improvements.  When working with new communities, CCHN staff provide technical assistance and resources to explore the feasibility of the CHC model and assist in identifying and approaching community leads, identifying access and disparity needs and goals, developing of work plans, and facilitating information exchange between existing CHCs and communities exploring the CHC model.  Belinda Prawdzik is the lead CCHN staff person responsible for CHC community development activities.  For more information, click here.
   
   
4. Health Center Emergency Preparedness: CCHN is committed to ensuring that the state’s CHCs are prepared to handle various emergencies situations and continue to be vital health care providers in their communities.  CCHN provides emergency preparedness services to CHCs in the areas of: Conducting Emergency Preparedness (EP) needs assessment of CHCs, developing pandemic flu planning templates, and purchasing strategic EP equipment (laptops, 2-way radios, personal protective equipment, etc.) for CHCs that participate in the project.  Nancy Gilbert is the lead CCHN staff person providing CHC emergency preparedness support.  For more information, click here.

For more information of HCOPS programs and services, contact Ross Brooks or Tanah Wagenseller.