NOVO is launched

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Aldon Hynes

The following is an email, modified for the blog, sent from our President and CEO Mark Masselli about improvements to our smart scheduling system.

Today, after months of preparation with hundreds of staff members engaged we launched NOVO, a smart scheduling system. NOVO, is a Latin word that means to make anew, refresh, revive, change, alter and invent. It nicely captures all of the elements that have been key to bringing about this process change. Perhaps, the only word missing is inspired – that’s what I felt this morning listening to our receptionists, Access to Care, Medical Referral, Patient Accounts and Nursing staff as they handled a new system with such class.

Like all new processes we have bugs to work out, but one of the big picture metrics that we are tracking, telephone access, looked remarkable. Compared to last Monday we had a significant increase in the number of incoming phone calls that we were able to answer in less than thirty seconds.

CHC is building a world class primary care organization and we are doing it with world class staff – thank you all; Onward!

 

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Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Director of AHRQ at HHS

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Marianne OHare

This week, Mark and Margaret speak with Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at the Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Clancy discusses AHRQ’s recent report: Making Health Care Safer II – which offers evidence-based analysis of a number of patient safety practice recommendations intended to improve patient safety and reduce costly and deadly errors in health care. 

Dr. Carolyn Clancy, Director of AHRQ [ 24:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1)
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Media Alert – CHC of Waterbury HIV/AIDS Open House on 5/15

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Pat Wildes

Community Health Center of Waterbury to Host Open House Promoting HIV/AIDS Services

HIV Tests will be performed at the facility and tours will be available

WHAT:       The Community Health Center of Waterbury is excited to spread awareness about the HIV/AIDS services it provides to members of the local community as part of its Ryan White Program. CHC’s Waterbury site is just over a year old and this open house will look to show guests the quality of the care provided at the facility and the expertise that our providers have in treating patients with HIV/AIDS. HIV testing will be administered throughout the event, and staff will educate people about the risks for acquiring HIV and the prevalence with which it exists in Connecticut’s urban areas. Tours of the state-of-the-art facility will be available, and the event is free and open to the general public.

WHO:          The general public, including agencies dedicated to HIV/AIDS care

WHEN:       Wednesday, May 15, 2013, from 9:30am to 5pm

WHERE:     In the lobby area of Community Health Center of Waterbury, 51 North Elm Street, Waterbury, CT.

WHY:           According to Aids.gov, someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV every 9.5 minutes. Additionally, one in every 5 people living with HIV is unaware that they have the infection. Today, there are over 10,500 people in Connecticut living with HIV, and the time is now for people to get educated, tested, and treated. HIV testing has become much more efficient in recent years, and CHC of Waterbury wants members of the community to be comfortable with coming in for any questions or concerns about the infection. Attendees of this event will get the chance to meet with Dr. Rebecca Eleck and Ryan White Program Coordinator Doug Janssen to learn more about what CHC has to offer in the way of these vital services.

MEDIA CONTACT: Pat Wildes of Community Health Center, Inc., (860) 262-2546, wildesp@chc1.com

 

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May 13th is National Women’s Checkup Day

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Pat Wildes

     Though it may seem commonplace for many people, the concept of having a yearly medical checkup with a health care provider is not always at the top of an individual’s to-do list. Sometimes, it’s because there are more pressing issues that require immediate attention, and before the person knows it they’ve gone several years without seeing a primary care provider. In other cases, a person may want to have a checkup, but financial constraints, a lack of transportation, or other issues may stand in the way of making it a reality.

     The truth is that it’s very important for all people to see a medical provider at least once a year. A routine physical exam can confirm a person’s good health, detect a potentially challenging medical issue, or even – in the most severe of cases – help an individual avoid death if it results in identifying a life-threatening problem that would have gone untreated otherwise. Starting with the Mother’s Day theme from this past weekend ,the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health is presenting National Women’s Health Week from May 12th to May 18th. Today, in particular, is designated as the 11th annual National Women’s Checkup Day, a day dedicated to informing women about how vital it is that they be seen by a health care provider each and every year.

     CHC is committed to the saying that “health care is a right, not a privilege” so please do not hesitate in contacting our staff if you know you need to have a physical but are unsure about how to proceed in making it happen.

     For more information on National Women’s Health Week and National Women’s Checkup Day, go to http://womenshealth.gov/nwhw/check-up-day/

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What The Ear Hears

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Aldon Hynes

We have a saying here at the Community Health Center, that what the eye sees, the heart feels and we try to make our sites as visually pleasing and welcoming as possible.  This weekend, we are reminded of other senses as well.  CHC is excited to participate in MiddletownRemix:  Hear More, See More, celebrating the city’s acoustic identity at a festival featuring four world premieres of works commissioned for the festival.

middletownlunchATC

We have our own acoustic identity.  It includes the sound of our receptionists greeting patients and setting up appointments.  We are all reminded so smile when we answer the phone.  You can hear the difference in voice when a person is smiling.

It can be challenging to keep that smile in your voice when you are helping meet the needs of sick and suffering patients and we are always trying to find new ways to help keep our receptionists smiling.  This includes coming updates to our phone system and lunches that senior leadership are having with receptionists and our access to care team thanking them for the work they do.

Let’s all find ways to bring smiles to the faces of those around us.

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National Receptionists Day

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Pat Wildes

Below is a message that CHC President and CEO Mark Masselli distributed to our receptionists to celebrate National Receptionists Day!

     This is a day of recognition for our Receptionist – you are the Directors of First Impressions. You help create the favorable image that CHC has with its patients. We celebrate you today! And every day we are thankful that you are at CHC and appreciative  the difference you make in the lives of people we care for – Peace and Health

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Dr. Roni Zeiger, CEO of Smart Patients

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Marianne OHare

This week, Mark and Margaret speak with Dr. Roni Zeiger, CEO of Smart Patients, a clinical trials search engine and online community for cancer patients, their caregivers and clinicians to share information about best practices in cancer treatment. Dr. Zeiger is the former Chief Health Strategist for Google. 

Dr. Roni Zeiger, CEO of Smart Patients [ 25:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1)
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March for Babies – Update

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Pat Wildes

Rachel Schindler, the HealthCorps Navigator serving as Program Coordinator for Recess Rocks, wrote the following update on CHC’s involvement in the March of Dimes.

Last Saturday, April 27th, CHC employees and HealthCorps Navigators supported the March of Dimes by participating in their March for Babies walk in Middletown. On a beautiful Saturday morning they got the crowd warmed up with some Recess Rocks routines, and then volunteered to help with all of the kids’ activities, like the bounce house and cotton candy machine, both of which were a huge success!

Everyone had a great time supporting the March of Dimes in preventing babies from being born too soon, too small, and very sick. This Sunday, CHC employees have another opportunity to support the March of Dimes at the March for Babies walk of Central CT, held at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. Registration starts at 8am with the walk stepping off at 9am. Join your fellow CHC staff at a family-friendly event, which is sure to be a great time!

For more information, check out our team page at http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?SeId=2038361

Quick Info –

March for Babies of Central CT

When: May 5, 2013

Where: Central Connecticut State University

  1615 Stanley St.

  Athletic Fields

  New Britian, CT

Registration Time: 8:00am

Start Time: 9:00am

Walk Distance: 2.5 miles

Posted in AmeriCorps, Employees, Pregnancy, Recess Rocks, Wellness | Leave a comment

Dr. Kenneth Mandl, Director of the Intelligent Health Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Marianne OHare

This week, Mark and Margaret speak with Dr. Kenneth Mandle, Director of the Intelligent Health Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Mandl is a pioneer in consumer information technologies and biosurveillance, creating platforms for sharing big health data as well as assisting the Department of Health and Human Services in developing an app store for health care innovators.

Dr. Kenneth Mandl, Director of the Intelligent Health Lab, Boston Children's Hospital [ 25:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1)
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May 1st CHC Celebrates 41st Anniversary

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Pat Wildes

Below is an email sent out by Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter celebrating the 41st anniversary of CHC.

May 1st CHC Celebrates 41st Anniversary

Just a few days ago, Margaret and I journeyed to Boston to spend a week with twelve sister Health Centers from across the country who have banded together to form a network of Best Practice Health Centers.  Our ranks included Health Centers from Hawaii to East Boston; some of us care for farm workers, others tend to communities like Watts.  

We arrived as the Boston Marathon was thrown asunder by a ruthless act of violence and terror. We all asked ourselves, was this the time to gather and discuss transforming health care for those living in poverty. Our colleagues from Boston were quick to respond:

Had you not come, had you stayed at home – then those that sought to terrorize our community would have won. Thank you for being here with us in our hour of need.  

We came away with lots of lessons, but the one that resonates was that we are all in this together and we need to be there for each other.  Sometimes just showing up is the most important thing you can do.

This group of Health Centers so much reminds us of the early days of CHC and our association with the National Free Clinic Council.  The year was 1972.  CHC was first opening its doors in Middletown as a Free Clinic and at the same time we were being drawn into a larger circle of community activists who were forming the National Free Clinic Council in San Francisco.   It was from this association that we watched the work of Free Clinics that cared for Gay and Lesbian communities to those dealing with youth and substance abuse issues.

We took away a lot of lessons from these colleagues as well.  We understood the importance of standing up with pride for communities that others had ignored. But we also learned, unless we tie our Clinical work to a bigger way of changing society then it doesn’t matter how many Band-Aids or antibiotics you dispense.  As Health Care organizations, we must be a voice and vehicle for social change. That message continues to animate our work today.

 So to all of those young Wesleyan University Students and Middletown Community Activists who showed up and helped kick start the Health Center and the countless thousands who have kept the engines roaring so that we could be a voice for social change – we  celebrate your efforts.
 
 Peace and Health
 
Mark and Margaret
Masselli   Flinter

To better understand the work of CHC in 2013 – Visit http://www.chc1.com

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