Program areas at WACMHC
Workforce and healthcare apprenticeships:committee apprised of mainly hr professionals and administrative leadership representing our chc partners. The purpose of the workforce committee is to provide field updates, solicit strategic guidance, and promote peer learning for current workforce initiatives that directly impact chc recruitment, retention and development. Training and peer learning topics included strategies to address workforce shortages, comprehensive workforce plan development, innovative Health profession training programs, primary care office resources and tools, and legislative updates. The Association administered a registered apprenticeship program in medical assisting through march 2023. From april 1,2022 - march 31, 2023, there were 12 active medical assistant apprenticeship cohorts, and 368 apprentices were enrolled. Medical assisting apprenticeship program has a completion rate of 85% with 1,060 students graduated or on track to graduate since inception. The ma program had an overall certification exam pass rate of 98% for this period. The Association also offers a dental assisting training program that is available to all Community Health centers. There were 2 active dental assistant cohorts and 30 apprentices were enrolled. During 2022-2023 the Association deepened its partnership with area Health education centers by becoming the sw regional area heatlh education center. The Association's healthcare apprenticeship programs continue to be recognized nationwide, and consultation work, including curriculum licensing for out of state organizations, continues to grow. The in-reach curriculum is now being used in 7 states with plans for expansion. The Association also partnered with an apprentice program sponsor within the state to offer bevahioral Health apprenticeship options for Community Health centers.the Association also launched a pre-apprenticeship program pilot focused on providing job training and exposure to Health care training pathways to high-school students.
Policy and advocacy:in the last fiscal year, the Association's policy and advocacy team has continued to advocate for the reauthorization of the federal Community Health center fund and the protection of Washington's healthcare safety net system, secured capital funds for dental clinic expansions, secured increased funding for Health professions loan repayment programs, and expansion of Health insurance coverage to individuals regardless of immigration status. The Association policy and advocacy team provided consistent and considerable technical assistance to Community Health centers in understanding federal and state programs, operationalizing policy and regulatory changes, and navigating the policy and regulatory environment.
Care improvement and innovation:the Association facilitates work with federally qualified Health centers to provide coaching support and training opportunities for quality improvement staff, medical directors, pharmacists, behavioral Health providers, dental directors, emergency preparedness managers and clinical care teams. Accomplishments for the year ended march 31,2023, included:convened 2 chronic disease learning network meetings to focus on remote patient monitoring and trauma informed care.convened 8 sessions of building skills in sexual Health series to focus on hiv/sti diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.convened 3 clinical quality workgroup meetings to focus on patient safety, uds modernization and resource sharing between peers.convened 5 medical director learning network meetingsfocused on covid-19 updates, care management strategies, childhood immunization rates & care coordination.convened 4 pharmacy learning network meetings focused on 340b program, pharmacy regulations and operations.convened 6 behavioral Health learning network meetings focused on telebehavioral Health, telehealth in rural areas, workforce issues, psychopharmacology consultations & based Health centers.convened 4 dental learning network meetings focused on oral Health operational and staffing issues.held 3 emergency preparedness learning network meetings focused on addressing emergency preparedness needs at Health centers, basic business concepts and ep coalition engagement.partnered with university of Washington colonoscopy outreach for rural communities program.
Health equity and Health access:the Association provided training for Health centers to develop organizational Health equity goals, to mitigate the negative impacts of unintended biases, increase access to care for agricultural workers and their families, support enrollment in Health coverage, support Community Health workers, and screen for social needs. The Association facilitated learning network calls that provided peer networking opportunities for Health center staff to share best practices and challenges and identify training needs. In addition, the Association participated on multiple statewide workgroups to support chc practices that reach Washington's most vulnerable populations. Accomplishments for the year ended march 31,2023, included:convened 4 outreach & enrollment learning network meetings focused on enrollment in coverage, update on final rule on public charge and coverage opportunities for undocumented immigrants. Convened 4 Community Health worker learning network meetings focused on time management/staying organized/setting priorities and safely working in the community.convened 15 social determinants of Health learning network meetings to support social needs screening at Community Health centers, including through a partnership with kaiser. Focused on collaborative screening, analysis & dashboards, screening ag workers and screening for housing status.