HealthPoint Blog Post Archives
Enjoy archived HealthPoint blog posts of past projects and photos from our years of service to the Brazos Valley.
2021 Holiday Decor Contest
Welcome to the 2021 Holiday Décor Contest page!
To begin with, you did an incredible job decorating for the 2021 Holiday Décor Contest!
Check out the recap video on our YouTube Channel!
The following rules were originally shared 11/15/2021 before the contest began:
- It is voluntary!
- Decor can go up beginning 12/1/2021 – winners will be announced during Charting the Course on 12/21/2021.
- Submissions must be made to MarCom no later than 12/15/2021 at 5 PM
- Removal should happen during the week between Christmas 12/25/2021 and New Years Eve 12/31/2021
- Be sure your decorations are secular (not religious) in nature.
- Things like snowflakes, trees, tinsel, garland, snowmen, candy canes, reindeer, and jolly Dr. Nic are encouraged.
- Manger displays, religious content, or symbols should not be in your plans. We serve and employ a diverse staff. We want everyone to feel welcome and encouraged to participate.
- Steer clear of anything political or controversial.
- Above all, remember basic safety:
- Keep walkways and high traffic areas clear.
- Involve your clinic manager! They can help ensure your fantastic creations don’t obstruct cameras or inadvertently trigger alarms.
- Place décor in unused corners of your clinics AND they should always be stable. No duct tape and prayers – Cords never go under rugs, pinched behind furniture, and high heat items should always be avoided. NEVER plug in too many strands into an outlet. Follow the rules, don’t ruin the fun.
- If you’re going to be on a ladder, have someone help you.
- Don’t go all Griswold on us and shut the electrical grid down.
- HAVE FUN & get creative!
Finally, there will be a winner selected for two categories:
- Biggest WOW factor
- Most creative
We can’t wait to see what you dream up!
Until next time,
MarCom
Do you have ideas for more holidays we should recognize?
Employee feature on Bridget Holloway
Meet Bridget Holloway!
Each month HealthPoint will randomly select two staff members to do an employee feature in our Newsletter and Blog. This month we’ve chosen Bridget Holloway to be part of the employee feature! You can find out more about her below, including some facts that didn’t make it in the Newsletter. The goal is to get to know our co-workers and teams better. Enjoy the read!
The Basics – An Employee Feature on Bridget Holloway
Name & Home Town
Bridget Holloway hails from the booming town that bleeds maroon, College Station. She is an alumnus of A&M Consolidated High School and Blinn College. She loves living in the BCS area!
Professional Career
Bridget is our Quality Management Specialist based out of the Administration building on University Drive. All of that sounds super fancy, but what would you say you do here, Bridget?
“I obtain and analyze data from clinics to ensure HealthPoint is meeting organizational goals for things like the Uniform Data System and other Quality Improvement projects. Specifically, I verify we are all on the same path. I am always working toward making HealthPoint the best place for patients and staff. Often that looks like identifying areas for improvement, then assisting staff in devising a plan to reach and maintain the highest level of quality. Additionally, I am an American Society for Quality Certified Quality Improvement Associate and have 15 years of prior quality experience.”
Bridget has been with HealthPoint for four years and enjoys the flexibility her position allows. While the task may vary, the goal is always the same. Quality care for our patients and healthy working environments for our staff.
Bridget’s Motto & More
“My motto is simple: Take life one day at a time.” Indeed, Bridget, we could all use that reminder. Bridget has three daughters that keep her busy. In her spare time, she is a gymnastics coach at Brazos Valley Gymnastics.
A “Secret Family Recipe” from Bridget’s Kitchen
“I always make the original ChexTM Party Mix for the holidays. People love it!”
Finally, THANK YOU to Bridget Holloway for participating in our employee feature for December 2021! We loved learning more about you, what the Quality Improvement Team is working on, and we want to see some backflips!
Employee feature on Dr. Deshpande
Meet Dr. Amol Deshpande!
Each month HealthPoint will randomly select two staff members to do an employee feature on in our Newsletter and Blog. This month we’ve chosen Dr. Amol Deshpande to be part of the employee feature! You can find out more about him below, including some facts that didn’t make it in the Newsletter. The goal is to get to know our co-workers and teams better. Enjoy the read!
The Basics – An Employee Feature on Dr. Deshpande
Name & Home Town
Amol Deshpande, MD – Did you know Amol means precious in Hindi? From HamariWeb.Com “This snazzy name is descended from the Hindi language. It’s one of the best names for a baby because it’s not only lovely but also significantly meaningful. Its meaning is deep and influences the personality of a child positively.” We can’t agree more!
Dr. Deshpande is known as “Dr. D” by patients and co-workers. He was born and raised in Bombay, India. Now known as Mumbai, this city has a fascinating history. Its earliest recorded names are Kakamuchee and Galajunkja. So how did they get to Bombay and then Mumbai?
In short, in the 1500s, the city was referred to in two books by two different names: 1. “Manbai” in a book written in Persian and 2. “Bombaim,” meaning ‘good bay’ in a book written in Portuguese. Check out these variations we found on TheCultureTrip.com“
“Adding to the confusion, historical records indicate that the city was referred to as Mombayn , Bombay, Bombain , Bombaym, Monbaym, Mombaim, Mombaym, Bambaye, Bombaiim, Bombeye, Boon Bay, and Bon Bahia, among other names at different points in its colonial history!”
Then, in 1995 the political party in power made the official name change to Mumbai from Bombay. Many saw Bombay as a holdover from British colonialism. For this purpose and a desire for its name to reflect the area’s heritage, Mumbai was chosen.
Professional Career
Dr. D is a THIRD-generation physician. He was raised in a household that had a passion for learning and caring for others. Because of this passion, he was led to pursue a career in medicine. He completed his pediatric residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. (Want to know what other HealthPoint Providers went to Henry Ford? Click HERE.) After graduating, he joined the HealthPoint team and has been practicing in trinity since 1998. That’s more than 20 years! He said this about why he LOVES HealthPoint, “I like the philosophy of medical care to all, regardless of their paying ability.”
Things Dr. Deshpande is Digging
“I love caring for kids and their families. In fact, most parents I see now were my once my pediatric patients!” In his spare time, Dr. D listens to Indian music, watches TV, and cooks. He shared that recently, he has started walking for weight loss and enjoying it! “I never thought I would enjoy any physical activity,” he said. Maybe there is hope for the rest of us, yet!
Goals
Dr. Deshpande said, “I would like to learn to play a musical instrument specifically, the piano.” But why? “I have one at home. Since the kids never used it, and I paid a lot of money for it… I might as well use it!” It looks like Dr. D is the motivation we needed to dust off our recorders from 3rd grade and get after it.
Finally, THANK YOU to Dr. Deshpande for participating in our employee feature for December 2021! We loved learning about you, and we’ll be checking back in a few months to see how the piano lessons are going.
Quality Improvement
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Here we’ll share the Quality Improvement updates, successes, discuss upcoming activities, and more. Thank you for joining us!
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Major Updates:
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Quality Improvement Kickoff
Everyone has completed their QI kickoff. Above all, can we agree Julie has done a great job teaching us how seemingly small changes can make a HUGE impact over time? And how about those shirts for this Texas weather? THANK YOU, Julie!
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From the QI Team:
To be an organization that responds to changing needs of our patients and communities, we must consider how we can continuously improve the quality and safety of care we provide. Thus, improvement begins with “i” means it starts with each of us.
There are different methodologies and ways of thinking about quality improvement. For instance, one of these is called LEAN. Toyota developed LEAN in the 1950s to maximize production and reduce waste by doing more with less and cutting out anything unnecessary. The LEAN methodology has a unique vocabulary. Such as the word: Kaizen.
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Then, What is Kaizen?
Kaizen is a Japanese word meaning “continuous improvement.” Kaizen focuses on small changes over time that create extraordinary results. A saying associated with Kaizen is everyone, every day, everywhere. Making small changes every day in our spaces and roles adds to the organization’s total improvement. Moreover, Kaizen is a way of life (the Kaizen Spirit). It is about building new daily habits and improving processes at work and home.
To summarize, our journey for implementing a quality culture starts with each of you. Creating a quality culture requires that you suggest and implement improvements regularly. Our improvement begins with me, you, each one of us.
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Email Your Ideas:
QualityImprovement@HealthPoint-TX.com
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Site Rounding
In September, the Quality Improvement team rounded at all clinic sites to introduce themselves, get to know clinic staff better, and share their approach to quality. Rounding will be part of the Quality Improvement team’s regular activities. During rounds, clinic staff will have the opportunity to make suggestions and bring fresh ideas to the table. Above all, their goal is to make your work easier and improve the patient experience. They need your help! To this end, if you have suggestions, please email them HERE: Quality Improvement Team.
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Current “Plan Do Study Act” (PDSA) Initiatives
The Quality Improvement team is supporting Rockdale as they conduct a “Plan, Do, Study, Act” (PDSA) operation. The goal is to capture patients’ preferred pharmacies. Soon, this valuable information will help clinical staff create more seamless interactions for patients.
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Quality Improvement (QI) Projects
Providers partner with the Quality Improvement team to improve upon HealthPoint’s Uniform Data System statin measure. This measure addresses statin therapy for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. These improvement measures will directly impact:
Patients at high risk of cardiovascular events who are 21 years old or older and were previously diagnosed with or currently have an active diagnosis of clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). They may also apply to patients 21 years old or older who have ever had a fasting or direct low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level greater than or equal to 190 mg/dL. In addition, those previously diagnosed with or who currently have an active diagnosis of familial or pure hypercholesterolemia. Finally, patients 40 – 75 years old diagnosed with diabetes that have a fasting or direct LDL-C level of 70–189 mg/dL are impacted.
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New Ideas
Finally, the Quality Improvement team sparked new ideas and ways of thinking with Caldwell and Somerville clinical teams through fun activities! In one exercise, they worked on the many things you can use a paperclip for. Then, QI challenged staff to think of the worst possible patient experience and how they could create it. Through this activity, clinical staff were creatively reminded of how they can make an excellent patient experience. One of the most powerful reasons for team building is to get results like these. Fun activities that help people see each other in a different light allow them to connect in a new way. Activities between multiple teams build skills like communication, planning, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Furthermore, they facilitate long-term team building through fostering genuine connections, deeper discussions, and processing. Close-knit teams help ensure productivity and a good work environment.
Head back to our blog HERE.
Nurse Family Partnership
Nurse Family Partnership® at Texas A&M University
Learn more about Nurse-Family Partnership® at Texas A&M University’s College of Nursing:
Nurse-Family Partnership® is designed to educate and empower first-time moms. Becoming a mom for the first time can be overwhelming. It is especially difficult for moms and families with limited support. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an expert help you navigate this new territory? More than 340,000 first-time moms just like you have enjoyed the benefits of having a Nurse-Family Partnership® professional1 at no cost. We know you’re asking, “is this for real?” It is! Below you’ll find more information about how to enroll and answers to your questions.
Healthy and happy kids come from happy, healthy homes.
Do I qualify?
You must be a first-time mom and 28 weeks or less along. The earlier in your pregnancy you join the program, the longer you and your baby get to realize the benefits! There is an income eligibility requirement. This program is focused on assisting low-income, first-time moms. Enrollment is 100% voluntary.
Who are they and what do they do?
Your Nurse-Family Partnership® registered nurses are specifically trained for mother-baby care. They support first-time mothers through regularly scheduled in-home visits with moms-to-be. They start visiting your home early in your pregnancy and continue their service through your child’s second birthday.
Dads & Partners Need Help & Support, too!
A new baby can bring lots of changes, especially for first-time moms. Your nurse can help you and your household prepare for and know how to deal with the changes, challenges and milestones. Their goal is to help you and your family build a healthy, happy home for you and your new baby. To this end, partners, fathers, family members or even your close friends are welcome to participate in your visits. Some visits may simply provide another set of hands to calm a fussy baby or change their diaper. Others may discuss in-depth topics like feeding and sleep schedules to help ensure everyone in your home is taking excellent care of your baby.
You can learn more about Nurse-Family Partnership® at Texas A&M University College of Nursing HERE.
You can learn more about the history and evidence behind Nurse-Family Partnership® , the nationwide program HERE.
Book an appointment with a provider today!
HealthPoint Strategic Plan
The Goal of the Strategic Plan
Welcome to our HealthPoint Strategic Plan! One of the primary responsibilities of the Board of Directors of a Federally Qualified Health Center is to review the organization’s strategic direction regularly. This ensures we have the appropriate focus and resources to achieve our mission in meeting the health needs of the communities we serve.
The goal of the pre-work
Before we met, we used various methods to review both internal and external factors that will potentially impact our organization over the next several years. To begin with we used many sources of information, including the Community Health Needs Assessment, UDS Mapper and Facilities Review, Compensation Surveys, and Patient Satisfaction Surveys, we zeroed in on the main challenges facing HealthPoint. First, we acknowledged what HealthPoint currently does well and where we have opportunities to improve. Then we looked at healthcare industry trends to anticipate needed adaptations for future organizational success.
We used five different methods for reviewing the organization, including:
- Identification of Strategic Issues/Challenges
- Environmental Scan
- Competition Analysis
- SWOT
- Customer Analysis
The Board of Directors, together with the leadership team of HealthPoint (HP) has assembled this guide to provide context to the strategic planning process. The leadership team is comprised of the following leaders:
- Executive Officer
- Medical Officer
- Human Resources Officer
- Operating Officer
- Compliance Officer
- Nursing Officer
- Information Officer
- Financial Officer
- Quality Director
- Director of Finance
- Director of Behavioral Health
Above all, the Board of Directors needed to provide input and personal experience to have a well-rounded HealthPoint strategic plan that guides organizational priorities for the next several years. The Board of Directors kept in mind HealthPoint’s Pillars of Excellence (People, Service, Quality, Access, and Finance).
Timeline:
- Continuing (already work in process)
- Short Term (1-2 years)
- Long Term (Two or more years)
At the end of the initial meeting in September 2021 – the Board of Directors voted to approve the Pillar Priorities. The leadership team has taken those and created measurable goals for the coming fiscal year. The Board of Directors plans to review these at the November 2021 meeting.
Pillar Goals SWOT
The Pillar SWOT is how we focus the many opportunities identified in our SWOT analysis under the strategic pillars of our organization. This ensures a balanced approach with a manageable scope and number of priorities for our HealthPoint strategic plan. The designation provided are continuous (C), short term (ST), or long term (LT) nature of the opportunity.
People
- Staff recruitment and retention (C)
- Employee engagement (ST)
- Provider recruitment and retention (C)
- Enhance relationships with partners (ST
- Board recruitment (LT)
- Board development (LT)
- Skill development of staff (ST)
Service
- Improve patient experience (C)
- Increase patient satisfaction survey results
- Conduct marketing/branding campaign (ST)
- Improve online patient reviews
- Patient Access & Communication (ST)
- Online self-scheduling
- Patient portal
- Phones
Quality
- Develop quality culture
- Train staff in quality improvement principles and concepts (ST)
- Board education and involvement in quality (ST)
- Engage employees in quality
- Implement population health software (ST)
- Improve performance and/or improve quality outcomes (C)
Growth
- Expand Access
- School-based clinics/partnerships (C)
- Expansion of dental (C)
- Behavioral health (C)
- Pharmacy (C)
- Acquisition of non-FQHCs in the region (LT)
Finance
- Enhance payer mix (C)
- Investment of excess cash reserves (ST)
- Increase net revenue (C)
Protected: TACHC Survey Results
Complex Care Management
Complex Care Management
Follow along for our ongoing Complex Care Management project updates.
MOST RECENT UPDATES
Over the next several months, the clinical and population health teams will work with our consulting team. Health Management Associates was hired to create a program for HealthPoint patients. They will offer additional support to clinical teams, when they see fit. Health Management Associates will help ensure our patients receive the care that meets their specific health needs. This program will begin at the BCS, Hearne, and Caldwell clinics for now. Then, by the middle of 2022, expansion to other clinics will begin.
Our goal: Create a care management team that will provide further focused care for HealthPoint patients. Specifically those with complex chronic conditions, thus supporting their continued well-being.
- Time of clinic impact: January 2022
- Affected Clinics: Caldwell, Hearne, and BCS will be initial pilot sites. Eventually, HealthPoint plans to expand this program to all clinics.
What is Complex Care Management?
Above all, Complex Care Management (CCM) effectively assists patients and their caregivers. It helps to manage medical conditions and co-occurring psychosocial factors. CCM will be deployed to patients with serious medical needs. Specifically those who often experience a high number of hospitalizations or emergency room visits. The goal of CCM is to improve the patient’s health status and reduce the need for hospital care.
Be sure to check out more content from our friends at the Center for Excellence in Primary Care.
Diabetic Retinal Screening
Diabetic Retinal Screening
MOST RECENT UPDATE
Since you were here last, we have updates on our Diabetic Retinal Screening Project:
Finally, the wait is over! By mid-December, the BCS, Madisonville, Caldwell, and Navasota Clinics will receive retinal screening cameras. Soon, staff will screen diabetic patients for diabetic retinopathy with these newly installed cameras. Before this rollout, Chief Operations Officer, Cas Perez, and the project management team are working with managers to coordinate delivery, installation, and training. Final dates TBD. STAY TUNED!
Original Project Outline
Our goal: Develop a process for diabetic HealthPoint patients to receive retinal scans to screen for diabetic retinopathy. Screening for diabetic retinopathy is a common practice. In fact, providers can screen patients with a handheld or desktop camera. With this in mind, retinal cameras were purchased and allocated to clinics where patients will soon get screened during their visit.
- Time of clinic impact: December 2021
- Affected Clinics: BCS, Navasota, Madisonville, and Caldwell
Here are a few symptoms to look for from our friends at Mayo Clinic
Symptoms
To begin with, you might not have symptoms in the early stages of diabetic retinopathy. Then, as the condition progresses, you might develop:
- Spots or dark strings floating in your vision (floaters)
- Blurred vision
- Fluctuating vision
- Dark or empty areas in your vision
- Finally, Vision loss
