CEO Update: Spring is a Time for Change

Spring brings changes in the weather from snow to rain and warm sunny days. Or in Colorado… spring brings sun, wind, rain, and continued snow. In fact all four seasons can occur within 24 hours. In the spirit of the season, we’re springing our 2013 annual report, which is a time for us to reflect on a great year.

Your State Office of Rural Health and State Rural Health Association

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) was created in 1991 to provide healthcare resources in the state by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy towards addressing rural health issues. This mission is still in place today – 23 years later. The guide for helping us achieve our mission is through our 2013-2015 strategic plan, which focuses on membership support, engagement, and participation; policy and advocacy; collaboration; and financial viability. All of these facets help us to provide programs critical to help rural healthcare facilities and communities thrive.

A Reflection of 2013

A review of the 2013 annual report showcases how our programs and services support rural healthcare in Colorado. CRHC is proud to have had a positive annual economic impact of physicians placed of $7,100,000, we served 205 communities, provided support to 317 providers through health information technology, 150 providers and 11 hospitals reached Meaningful Use. We had the opportunity to award $648,000 in funding for public and private organizations to create and train emergency medical and trauma providers, and participation in events and education increased by 38 percent. Many of our programs and resources aim to address the healthcare workforce shortage, data reporting, quality improvement and systems and process changes. Thanks to all of you for your engagement in these efforts and we look forward to continuing to enhance these services and opportunities. You can find our Annual Report video report here.

Built for Rural

Today is the launch of our first data bank, the Health Awareness for Rural Communities (HARC). The HARC Data Dank was created to solely examine the dynamics of rural and frontier counties in Colorado, through the use of quantitative measures. Through the HARC Data Bank, users will have access to population health data measuring progress toward Healthy People 2020 goals and Colorado’s 10 Winnable Battles. Improving population health will continue to plan a key role in the changing environment of healthcare. Critical access hospitals (CAH) and rural health clinics (RHC) are poised to lead the efforts in improving population health. In fact many of you are already actively engaged in community engagement, wellness programs, and care coordination. HARC will help us help you achieve your goals with data to support your strategy to improve health. We will help you strengthen the narrative of the story we tell as we advocate on behalf of you, your patients, and the communities you serve. Click here to read the HARC Issue Paper.

Thank you again for continued engagement with the Colorado Rural Health Center and together our strength is community!

Member of the Month: Delta County Memorial Hospital

RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2014
Contact: Bridgette Olson, Outreach Program Manager
303-832-7493 or bo@coruralhealth.org  

Delta County Memorial Hospital Recognized as Colorado Rural Health Center’s Featured Member of the Month

Denver, CO— The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) is proud to recognize Delta County Memorial Hospital as its featured member of the month. Each month, the CRHC recognizes one of its members whose work supports the CRHC’s vision that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare.

Delta County Memorial Hospital is a nonprofit hospital district with over 500 employees serving residents of Delta County and the neighboring region for over a century. Located on Colorado’s western slope, approximately 165 miles southwest of Denver, Delta County is home to 29,841 residents and one of the largest flat top mountains in the world.

Like many rural areas in the state, the population over 65 is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. The current population 65 and older represents 21 percent of the total population and is the only age demographic with a positive population growth expected over the next five years. The population 65 and older is expected to grow by 6.7 percent compared to negative 8.4 percent those 64 and under.

With the aging population growing, Delta County has maintained 33.5 skilled nursing facility beds per 1,000 elderly individuals, equal to the state average and just under the national average of 41.

Based on recent County Health Rankings data, Delta County has some of the top health outcomes in rural Colorado. When compared to the rural average, Delta County has higher percentages of mammography screening and higher rate of influenza vaccination [66 percent mammography screening compared to rural average of 63 percent, and 40 percent influenza vaccination compared to rural average 37 percent].

This type of data is frequently used by health facilities to evaluate the current and future health status of a community. Applying projections to current and past data helps create a picture of health for a community.

Delta County Memorial Hospital – a CRHC member for over seven years – completed this type of evaluation in 2010 through a Community Health Needs Assessment.

“Community Health Needs Assessments are designed to provide a base from which a community action plan can be formulated,” says CRHC’s director of workforce and outreach Melissa Bosworth. “Developing a strong, local healthcare system creates high-paying jobs, ensures healthcare dollars are spent locally and makes a county more attractive as a place to live and work.”

The Colorado Rural Health Center recently aggregated over 100 health measurements, many of those identical to the type of data used in a Community Health Needs Assessment, into a data bank called Health Awareness for Rural Communities (HARC).

“The HARC Data Bank serves as a low cost solution for those interested in rural specific health data,” says Bosworth. The HARC Data Bank is the first data bank created to examine the health dynamics of rural and frontier counties in Colorado.

It is through this type of systems-level planning and strong leadership, Delta County Memorial Hospital has made many notable accomplishments in recent years.

“Delta County Memorial Hospital is a great example of a healthcare facility that has used county level health data to guide their long-term planning,” said Bosworth. “The hospital continues to thrive given the uncharted waters of today’s healthcare environment – they are a great healthcare facility to recognize as this month’s featured CRHC member.”


Last year, Delta County Memorial Hospital was the only hospital in the region to receive an “A” Hospital Safety Score rating by The Leapfrog Group based upon preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

The hospital is also involved with other CRHC programs and services, such as quality improvement initiatives and health information technology support. Kathryn Steele, CRHC's quality improvement specialist, works extensively with the hospital. “Delta County Memorial is the healthcare hub in Delta County. We often think of hospitals as places to go when we are sick – associating them with illness instead of wellness,” says Steele. “Delta County Memorial is truly a leader in promoting community health and a culture of inclusiveness.”

In addition to the hospital, the following clinics also provide care within the community; Premier Women’s Healthcare of Delta, Delta Pediatrics, Internal Medicine Associates/Pulmonology, Colorow Family Medical Center in Olathe, Grand Mesa Rheumatology Center, Grand Mesa Oncology Center and Delta Montrose Home Health Services.

To learn more about Delta County Memorial Hospital, visit their website or connect with them on Facebook.

About The Colorado Rural Health Center
The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC's serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health with the mission of assisting rural communities in addressing healthcare issues; and as the State Rural Health Association, advocating for policy change to ensure that rural Coloradoans have access to comprehensive, affordable healthcare services of the highest quality. For more information visit www.coruralhealth.org, call 303-832-7493, or call toll free 800-851-6782 from rural Colorado.

###

Recent CPR Provider Placements

Colorado provider recruitment has recently placed three providers in rural Colorado. 

• A registered nurse began working at Pioneers Medical Center in Northwest Colorado
• A FNP will begin working at Mt San Rafael next month
• A FNP will start at North Fork Medical Clinic in Paonia

To find a provider for your open position contact Colorado Provider Recruitment at cpr@coruralhealth.org

Upcoming Workforce Events

5/5: Presentation to University of Colorado Physician Assistant students Aurora, CO
5/6: National Health Service Corps Virtual Job Fair Denver, CO
5/18: Presentation to Regis University Nurse Practitioner students Denver, CO

For additional CRHC events, click here.

Candidate Profile: Elisabeth Dewispelaere, RN

Growing up in western New York, Elisabeth is familiar with the beauty that rural communities have to offer and she is now in Colorado to enjoy the mountains, the culture and the sunshine. Over the last year and a half she has worked at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center in Denver as a bachelor prepared RN in Neurology Step-Down Critical Care and as a float resource in the Emergency Department. Elisabeth is in the midst of Intensive Care training, as the hospital changes and adapts to the needs of the population. She has gained excellent experience and training at the hospital both on day and night shifts, working along-side neurosurgeons, respiratory therapists and hospitalists. She is looking to branch out to medical facilities that might have a more close-knit and intimate setting in terms of size, staffing and patient care. Still developing in her career, Elisabeth hopes that rural medicine might give her more exposure and possibly increased autonomy in her practice. She has certifications in ACLS and NIHSS in addition to ongoing education around the areas of neurology, cardiology and ekg interpretation. Outside of work Elisabeth likes to make time for yoga, running, mountaineering, road trips and rock-climbing which means she is meant to live in Colorado! Contact Colorado Provider Recruitment at cpr@coruralhealth.org for more information. 

Workforce Announcement

The 2014 National Health Service Corps (NHSC) new site application cycle is still open to those sites that have never been approved as an NHSC site. All completed applications must be submitted by June 16, 2014, at 11:59 pm, ET to be considered for an award. Please refer to the NHSC’s Site Reference Guide for all of the program requirements.

Recruiter's Desk

Letter from the Director

Welcome to the new Recruiter’s Desk! We will now be including Colorado Provider Recruitment’s Recruiter’s Desk newsletter with the Colorado Rural Health Center’s monthly Special Delivery publication! This will cut down on the number of emails you receive and give you the opportunity for exclusive recruitment and retention news and updates now on a monthly basis. We hope you have enjoyed and learned from this newsletter in the past and will soak up even more great information from it in the future. As always, we welcome your feedback, comments and questions on all ways that our communication is disseminated to you and topics you would like to learn more about.

National Health Service Corps HPSA Requirements for Scholars for FY14

Please see the Federal Register Notification regarding HPSA scores and the National Health Service Corps for the July 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015 time frame.

Of note:

For the program year July 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015, HPSAs of greatest shortage for determination of priority for assignment of NHSC scholarship obligated Corps personnel will be defined as follows:

1. Primary medical care HPSAs with scores of 14 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are primary care physicians, family nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or certified nurse midwives; 
2. Mental health HPSAs with scores of 14 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are psychiatrists or mental health nurse practitioners; and 
3. Dental HPSAs with scores of 14 and above are authorized for the assignment of NHSC scholars who are dentists. 

The NHSC has determined that a minimum HPSA score of 14 for all service-ready NHSC scholars will enable it to meet its statutory obligation to identify a number of entities eligible for placement at least equal to, but not greater than twice the number of NHSC scholars available to serve in the 2014–2015 placement cycle.

Nursing Leadership Workshop

Special Opportunity:

Nursing Leadership Workshop (May 2014)

The Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence is in the third year of offering a HRSA-funded Nursing Leadership workshop, and have a situation where we need to fill open seats in a May workshop or we will be forced to cancel. We are sending out this notice because this may represent an opportunity for yourself or someone that you know. We know that it's short notice, but it never hurts to ask!

The final workshop dates under this grant are May 22-23 and May 28-30 (a total of five days in two segments), here in Denver. This free workshop includes six months of weekly coaching by trained coaches. We have had 193 workshop participants since 2011, and they have given it very positive reviews. The focus is improving skills related to: change management; diversity and culture; effective communication; conflict resolution; negotiating and setting boundaries; and creating excellence in the workplace.

We had eight students scheduled for the May workshop, but due to a management change on their part, four students dropped out yesterday, leaving us with only four students. It's not possible to run the workshop for four students.

However, rather than just assume that we must cancel the workshop, we are sending out this invitation to you. We believe that the workshop content, experience and coaching is very useful for all types of nurses in other practice settings ranging from acute care to community clinics, nursing school graduate students, and others.

The normal workshop fee is $100, but in this situation we will waive this fee. This HRSA-funded workshop was created to focus on Directors of Nursing and Assistant Directors of Nursing in the long term care sector, but the leadership development and coaching content is applicable to multiple positions and settings.

Click here for more information on the workshop, or to sign up. If we don't sign up at least an additional 4 students signed up by May 16, we will have to cancel. For more information, call Ingrid Serio at 303-715-0343 #21 or email her at Ingrid@ColoradoNursingCenter.org