NORTHERN COUNTIES HEALTH CARE, INC
Contract: $255,463 - Department of Health and Human Services - Mar. 27, 2009
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Award Description: Northern Counties Health Care, Inc. (NCHC) is expanding access to services and increasing capacity by expanding our Chronic Care Coordination Program and by expanding the availability of dental appointments. In July 2008, NCHC began a two year partnership with the Vermont Medical Home Blueprint Chronic Care Program and hired two Chronic Care Coordinators to provide services at four of our six health centers. The Chronic Care Coordinators help people who have complex and chronic medical illnesses. An informed patient has a clear understanding of their own health condition(s), the skills to self manage, and the ability to share responsibility with their providers for their plan of care; the Chronic Care Coordinator and the patient partner to improve the patient?s health. Increased Demand for Services (IDS) funds are used to expand chronic care coordination to the patients receiving services from the two health care centers that were not funded through the Vermont Medical Home Blueprint Chronic Care Program. IDS funding is allowing NCHC to expand the hours of one dentist and dental assistant at one of our dental centers. This is resulting in an increase of oral health access at a time of significant Medicaid payment reductions, which we anticipate will result in decreased comprehensive oral health services for residents in our area. As a direct result of IDS funding, we will provide chronic care coordination services to 200 medical patients and expanding dental services to 82 new patients over the grant period. The long-term impacts of the Chronic Care Coordination Program are an improved health status and quality of life for people with chronic conditions, a reduction in chronic conditions, and the cost of caring for people with chronic conditions will moderate. Improved access to affordable dental services will improve the oral hygiene of people in the region, thereby preventing the need for emergency and costly dental services.
Project Description: There has been an increase of 35 new dental patients as a result of the IDS funding at the NCHC Dental Center. One of the Chronic Care Coordinator (CCC) positions has been filled. This CCC is currently caring for patients and has begun to build a caseload of patients with Diabetes, Hypertension & Asthma who require follow up of their self-management goals. She has become familiar with documenting in the electronic medical record system so that required areas are addressed and completed. The CCC has served 25 patients through the quarter. She has become more familiar with programs and services in the area that are available to patients. Service providers in the area have been contacted to inform them of Chronic Care Coordination that is now available and they are receptive. Improvement with patients needing help with diabetic management continues. Recruitment efforts continue in order to fill the other CCC position.
Jobs Summary: With IDS funding we have been able to ensure the retention of one dentist and dental assistant while also increasing the hours of both of these dental positions by .25 FTE each. Two positions have been created for Chronic Care Coordinators at .50 FTE each. One of these positions has been filled. Recruitment continues to fill the other position. (Total jobs reported: 1)
Project Status: More than 50% Completed
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