When you think about it, getting your flu vaccination is the nicest holiday gift you can give everyone you come in contact with, because it’s the gift of health.

The Federal Torts Claim Acts deeming process has been successful.  The deeming process allows us to provide malpractice insurance to our providers at no cost to them or the health center. It’s a very important part of our application to the Federal Government.  Our Director of Planning and Development has been acting as the project lead: making sure to collect and integrate information provided by Senior Management. We have received notice that we have, in fact, been re-deemed for another year. 

One of the areas we have been exploring is expanding our program for discount prescription drugs for our patients in Hilmar and in Livingston. The program is called 340b and we have been looking at another provider of services. That is an ongoing process and I will report more on the topic in the future.

We had our Halloween celebration this year, and as the leader of the organization I felt it was important to participate, so I came as Popeye. We had a lot of fun, a good turnout for our potluck and many of our employees participated. A good time was had by all. A couple of the board members did drop by to have lunch with us and say hello, which is always appreciated by the staff. 

Our medi-cal reimbursements have been dropping a bit; the State is changing around again on the way they pay us. We are starting to feel that squeeze; also because of our ability in trying to get Hilmar opened.  Our visits have dropped a little bit in Livingston as we train for practice management and as we staff for Hilmar.  Again, it’s a priority item on all of our plates to make sure that we continuously watch and find ways to improve our financial status.

The CVC mission is to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of healthcare for low income and medically underserved populations, including the uninsured and underinsured residing in the San Joaquin Central Valley of California. CVC Participating Organizations (POs)have partnered to collaborate on Electronic Health Record (EHR) deployment and several other patient-centered HIT innovations. The aim of CVC’s “Health-Safety-Net High Impact EHR Project ” is to support CVC POs with the acquisition, implementation and “meaningful use” of an EHR and other mission driven HIT systems, thereby ensuring they have the tools available to prepare for stage 1 “meaningful use” as defined by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information. Moreover, the systems proposed for implementation will work synergistically to enhance the PO’s capacity to measure and effectively report on the quality of care and health outcomes in their health centers and will further enable quality improvement activities to improve such outcomes.

Below is a link to the official announcement:

HHS announces $11.9 million to implement health information technology in rural areas

THWS interview

August 23, 2011                                                                    John S. Alexander, CEO

                                                                          Jalexander@livingstonmedical.org

                                                                                                (209)394-7913

BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION AWARDS LIVINGSTON COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES $25,000 TO HELP RESIDENTS IN NEED

Foundation calls Livingston Community Health Services “a vital part of California’s safety net”

Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF) today announced that it was awarding Livingston Community Health Services $25,000 in general operating support to help provide needed care to uninsured residents in Livingston and the surrounding communities. . The grant is part of the Foundation’s efforts aimed at strengthening the statewide network of community clinics and health centers and helping them provide high quality health care to millions of vulnerable Californians.

“Livingston Community Health Services is a vital part of California’s safety net,” said Peter Long, Ph.D., president and CEO of BSCF. “The struggling economy and cuts to key public services have made community clinics more important than ever before.”

More than 200 licensed community, free, and tribal clinics provide health services to California’s most vulnerable populations at over 800 sites throughout the state. These clinics provide services to nearly 3 million patients each year, many of whom are uninsured or underinsured. Since 2003, the Foundation has invested more than $52 million in clinics statewide.

John S. Alexander, Chief Executive Officer of Livingston Community Health Services, said “We are pleased to recognize Blue Shield of California Foundation as a long term partner and collaborator. This financial commitment will help us to provide additional, high-quality care to those in need“.

Blue Shield of California Foundation (www.blueshieldcafoundation.org.) is one of the state’s largest healthcare grantmaking organizations. The Foundation was formed by Blue Shield of California, a not-for-profit corporation with more than 3.4 million members, 4,800 employees, and 20 offices throughout California.

Livingston Community Health Services, Inc. (www.livingstonmedical.org) has been providing comprehensive primary and preventive health care services to the communities of Livingston, Cressey, Ballico, Delhi, Hilmar and surrounding communities at its facility on 1140 Main Street (Livingston Medical Group) for more than 40 years. A second facility, Hilmar Community Health Center, will be opening at 7970 Lander Avenue this fall.

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http://www.modbee.com/2011/08/15/1817601/grant-will-fund-hilmar-clinic.html

Grant will fund clinic in Hilmar

On the patient satisfaction side, we are getting a good response to the Adolescent Well-child check promotion. Those completing the physical in July receive a $10.00 gift card to Wal-Mart. We will have specific results to share at the Board meeting. The Atwater Wal-Mart Store provided us with $50.00 in additional gift cards as a donation.

CPCA committee and Board meetings were held this month in Sacramento. Highlights included updates on Accountable Care Organizations, Patient Centered Health Homes, and discussions on “Meaningful Use” of Health Information Technology. As a member of the CPCA Board, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting with Toby Douglas, the Director of California’s Department of Health Care Services. We talked to him about several topics, including the new Medi-Cal changes (visit caps and co-pays, etc.).

 Board Member, Bruce Metcalf and I met with the CEO of Emanuel Hospital. We have begun a conversation around how LMG and Emanuel can collaborate to increase access to primary care. They are interested in helping us increase access to care in Hilmar, and as previously mentioned wish to continue discussion around rotating residents through our facilities.