Filtered by author: Dorshonda Evans Clear Filter

Culturally Meaningful Storytelling as a Strategy for Building Trust & Promoting COVID-19 Vaccination & Mitigation Efforts

Join us Wednesday, December 7th for our free COVID-19 webinar! Vaccines and boosters are our best defense against serious illness from COVID-19. Currently, many people across the country remain unvaccinated or have not received booster shots for COVID-19.
 

In rural Appalachia, high numbers of chronic disease, along with an aging population contribute to the unvaccinated or insufficiently vaccinated having a higher risk of severe complications or death from a COVID-19 infection.

Click here to register for this event.

Virtual Meeting for RHCs

If you missed hearing from the Tennessee Division of TennCare you can view the recording of the webinar by clicking the link below.

Our guest speakers included: Drew Staniewski, Deputy Director of TennCare; Zane Seals, Chief Financial Officer TennCare; Jacy Warrell, Executive Director of RHA of TN; and Nathan Baugh, Executive Director of the National Association of Rural Health Clinics


*This event is sponsored by Midwest Health Care, Inc. 

Calling all RHCs!

 

We are hosting a RHC Meet & Greet to provide a space to connect with Rural Health Clinics. As a member led organization, we want to hear from you!

 This FREE event will be held 11/16/2022 at 10am EST during our annual conference at the Music Road Resort Convention Center in Pigeon Forge, TN. 

Register here to attend this event sponsored by Charles James Jr., President & CEO of North American HMS.

COVID-19 Webinar with TDH Epidemiologist

Conference and holiday season is upon us. If you have COVID-19 questions or want updates, then this webinar is for you!

Learning Objectives:
  • Describe the current disease landscape of COVID-19 in Tennessee
  • Deploy proactive strategies for mitigating COVID-19 risk
  • Use evidence-based tools to make informed health decisions for you, your family, and your patients

You don't want to miss this event, register here!

RHA of TN Congratulates Ann Cranford!

Congratulations Ann Cranford the Director of the Recruitment and Retention Program in the State Office of Rural Health.

Ann has been a member of RHA for several years. Recently, at the 3RNet Annual Conference she received the Fred Moskol Award. This award recognizes a person who possesses outstanding leadership abilities, supports the mission of 3RNET, responds compassionately to the healthcare needs of rural and underserved populations and does so with a collaborative and compassionate spirit. 

Read More

The State of Maternal Health in Tennessee: A Call to Action

Would you like to learn more about maternal health in Tennessee? Family planning, pre- and postnatal care, maternal health disparities, roles of maternal healthcare professionals, maternal and fetal mortality rates are just a few of the topics that will be discussed in this webinar. 

 Learning Objectives:
  • Attendees will understand the overall landscape of Maternal Health Care in Tennessee
  • Attendees will understand barriers that lead to disparities in rural versus non-rural populations
  • Attendees will understand the role of Maternal Health Professionals, Labor Support & Birth Workers
  • Attendees will be able to describe “Group Prenatal Care” as a model of care for rural communities

Click Here to Register

Infant Formula Update

There’s nothing as important to families as the health and safety of their babies, and the formula shortage has left many people feeling anxious about how they’ll feed them. Some young children, teens, and adults with medical needs also rely on formula for their nutrition. We know it’s not easy to change a diet reliant on formula.

If you can’t find formula in stock, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has the following resources:
Press Release: FDA Provides Educational Resources for Parents and Caregivers to Support Confidence for Imported Infant Formula Products
Resources page: Resources for Parents and Caregivers on Imported Infant Formula
Consumer Update: Infant Formula Supply

2022 CTE Conference

Join us in congratulating Beth Keylon, and April Judkins of our Workforce Team. They were invited to attend and present at the 2022 CTE Innovation at Work Conference on July 21st in Chattanooga. During their presentation, they shared workforce development information and services offered by RHA of TN to attendees across the state. What an wonderful opportunity! Way to go, Ladies!

If you are interested in Workforce Readiness resources, click here to visit our website or email [email protected].

Health Care Access in a Post-Pandemic World

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government increased funding to hospitals and clinics and incentivized states to pause terminating enrollees from the Medicaid program to help increase access to health care and ease the financial burden caused by the global public health emergency. With the end of the pandemic in sight, we all need to prepare for the unwinding of the public health emergency (PHE). TennCare (our state’s Medicaid agency) has estimated that 300,000 people will lose their Medicaid health insurance after the PHE ends.

Hospitals and clinics are bracing for a significant reduction in funding, particularly in rural areas where providers were struggling even before the pandemic to provide health care to many uninsured people. Join the Rural Health Association of Tennessee and the Tennessee Justice Center to learn how the PHE unwinding will impact access to health care in your community. Click here to register today!

Tennessee Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Scholars Program

See the source imageThe TN AHEC Scholars Program seeks to develop, prepare, and sustain a culturally competent healthcare workforce that is prepared to deliver high quality care in a transforming heath care delivery system, with emphasis on training rural and urban underrepresented minority, and educationally disadvantaged students for practice in rural and/or underserved areas.

TN AHEC

TN AHEC is currently accepting applications for the 2022-2024 cohort. Click here for informational letter. Click here to view the program brochure.

Federal Government to Expand Access to Emergency Care Services in Rural Communities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposes new rule that creates a pathway for rural hospitals and critical access hospitals to increase access to emergency and outpatient care.

Click here to read CMS' statement on Expanding Access to Emergency Care Services in Rural Communities
Click here to read the Fact Sheet on Conditions of Participation for Rural Emergency Hospitals and Critical Access Hospital COP Updates (CMS-3419-P)

Time Out for Men's Health

The Rural Health Association of Tennessee hosts a webinar titled, "Time Out for Men's Health" on June 02, 2022 from 10am-11am CST. Our guest speaker is Mike Leventhal, Executive Director with the Men's Health Network- Tennessee.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
  1. Who is Men's Health Network and why is men's health important?
  2. "The Silent Crisis" that is men's health.
  3. Ways and means for public health professionals to get involved and become part of the men's health movement.

We'd like for you to join us for this virtual event! Register Here

In-person 2-Day Documentation, Coding, & Billing Bootcamp for RHCs and FQHCs

Overview and Purpose

  • This 2-day bootcamp will be held at The Residence Inn, in Franklin, TN on June 23rd and 24th. This training focuses on clinical documentation, coding, & billing for Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Centers/Community Health Centers (aka FQHCs) and allows attendees to optionally earn the nation’s only RHC/FQHC-specific coding and billing credentials.
  • This Bootcamp course is designed to help revenue cycle staff pass an optional certification exam to become a Rural or Community Health Coding & Billing Specialist (RH-CBS or CH-CBS). Full attendance includes the live/virtual training sessions, a 90-day ArchProCoding membership (one year if you pass the optional exam), access to a 20-question practice exam, and access to the full certification exam. 
  • Hotel Booking Information: Call The Residence Inn (615) 778-0002 to book your room(s) and for special group rate register with The Rural Health Association of TN group for the nights of June 22nd and 23rd for $144 USD per night.  *Last Day to Book is Thursday, June 2, 2022
  • Training will be held at The Residence Inn Franklin Cool Springs 2009 Meridian Blvd. Franklin TN 37067
  • Click here to view the 2-day agenda

  

 

REGISTER HERE

DisabilityWebinar titled: Resources for Healthcare Providers and Patients

April is Autism Awareness Month. The RHA of TN would like to share a pre-recorded webinar featuring Lauren Pearcy the Executive Director with the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities in a webinar titled, "Disability Resources for Healthcare Providers and Patients". 

We are continually focused on caring for the well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities. Through advanced research, we will get the help they need by providing resources that will support the health and safety of all the individuals. 

  Click here to view recording 

RHA of TN hosts Virtual ArchPro Coding RHC Event

RHA of TN hosts, ArchProCoding Virtual Training for RHCs on April 20, 2022: 9am-2pm CST Curriculum specifics include:

  •  The “Key Components” associated with E&M code selection
  • The differences between the CPT and CMS E&M documentation guidelines
  • Discuss the use of utilization benchmarks to target potential risk areas
  • Explain the differences between the 1995 and 1997 examination guidelines
  • Determining the complexity of medical decision making (MDM)
  • The importance to ‘link’ ICD-10-CM codes to E&M services
  • Risks associated with certain EHRs solutions (e.g, “wizards”)
  • Distinguishing “problem-oriented” from “preventive” E&M services
  • What to look for when modifiers are reported with E&M services (e.g., -25)
  • How to use a well-constructed audit template to conduct reviews
  • Key steps to present audit findings to providers successfully and non-confrontationally

Attendees must be a certified Rural Health Clinic in the state of Tennessee.

Read More

Building Community Networks to Improve Heart Health in Rural Communities

The Rural health Association hosts a webinar in collaboration with the American Heart Association titled: Building Community Networks to Improve Heart Health in Rural Communities on February 23, 2022 at 10:00am-11:00am CST. Our guest speakers are Brenda Miller and Kacie Kennedy and they are both with the American Heart Association.                                    

Learning Objectives:                                                                                                                                                                  1. Recognize the components that define heart health and strategies that help improve heart health.                                    2. Identify patient and community resources to promote heart health.                                                                        3. Increase knowledge of growing networks within the rural community to grow impact to improve heart health.  

Read More

COVID-19 Surveillance and Variants; Exploring how to prevent COVID

Rural Health Association of Tennessee and it's partners at The Tennessee Justice Center hosts a webinar with the Tennessee Department of Health on COVID-19 Surveillance and Variants; Exploring how to prevent COVID-19, January 13, 2022 at 10:00am-11:00am CST.

Participants will hear from Dr. Magdalena Dorvil-Joanem, with the COVID 19 Enhanced Surveillance Outreach Lead for the Tennessee Department of Health. Our discussion will aim to summarize recent data trends of COVID-19 transmission in Tennessee, variants and prevention of transmission. 

Radon and Lung Cancer in Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation considers radon to be a very serious problem in our state. No matter where you live in Tennessee, there is the potential for radon to enter your home. Radon gas has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer, second only to cigarette smoking. 

If you would like to learn more about Radon and receive resources to have or share. Please register to attend our webinar by clicking here.

COVID-19 – Navigating a Global Pandemic in Tennessee

Tennessee’s Department of Health’s mission is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. This session will provide updates on Tennessee’s COVID response as well as other efforts to improve population health.

Learning Objectives
• Understand the most recent data on COVID spread and the success of various mitigation strategies, particularly in rural areas
• How to support public health efforts through consistent messaging and education
• Discover resources available to providers and public to improve health of Tennesseans


Read More

March of Dimes Focus Groups Invitation

The March of Dimes Tennessee is looking for volunteers to participate in a focus group. Join the conversation about healthy moms and babies in your communities. Participation is important in identifying and bridging the gaps in maternal health in Tennessee. 

                                                    

Read More