CHC/SEK clinics are closed. If you are having a medical emergency, please call 911, or experiencing suicidal/crisis distress, please call or text 988. For a medical provider, call 888-521-6005. For a dental provider, call 866-396-6788.
The Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas recently received several recognition badges from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). These badges are given to acknowledge high performance and help boost future quality improvements and innovation through additional funding opportunities.
“The badges we received validate our continued effort to provide care to our communities, improve patient outcomes, reduce health disparities, and advance health equity for all, no matter their ability to pay,” said Brenda Stokes, RN, BSN, CHC/SEK Vice President of Quality Improvement.
CHC/SEK has a Quality Team that provides data to CHC/SEK leaders in many ways. Daily volume data also includes information on where patients come from to help CHC/SEK make informed patient care and staffing decisions. The team reviews clinical quality data monthly, which drives performance improvement projects.
“Everyone in our organization plays a part in our achievements,” Brenda said adding, “It starts with our patient advocates and registration staff who must obtain accurate patient demographics. They play a key role in helping our care teams reach out to our patients, which helps those we serve to achieve healthy outcomes. Our providers and clinical teams do an amazing job screening our patients for needed services and providing exceptional, evidence-based care so patients have the best health outcomes possible.”
To get patients in touch with needed services, staff screen patients for depression, transportation and food insecurities, and tobacco use. CHC/SEK currently reports 17 different clinical measures to HRSA every year and monitors the success of these measures monthly. The clinic also tracks additional measures for patient experience and other organizational measures.
Badges Received
National Quality Leader & Health Center Quality Leader
The National Quality Leader Badge is given to awardees that achieve the best overall clinical quality measure performance among all health centers, calculated using an average Adjusted Quartile Ranking (AQR) system. CHC/SEK exceeded national benchmarks and obtained AQR clinical quality measures averages in the top 30% of all health centers, earning the bronze Health Center Quality Leader badge. Clinical quality measures groups promote behavioral health cancer screening, diabetes health, heart health, HIV prevention and care, and maternal and child health.
Access Enhancer
The Access Enhancer badge was awarded to CHC/SEK for its increase in total number of patients served and the number of patients who receive at least one comprehensive service (mental health, substance abuse, vision, and dental) by at least 5 percent. In 2023, the total number of patients increased from 72,315 to 81,037.
Health Disparities Reducer
CHC/SEK reduced health disparities between the reporting years of 2022 and 2023 for at least one racial/ethnic group. For Hispanic/Latino patients, low birth weights decreased, controlled blood pressure and uncontrolled A1C percentages have improved. CHC/SEK received the Health Disparities Reducer badge for this accomplishment.
Advancing Health Information Technology for Quality
The Advancing Health Information Technology (HIT) for Quality badge recognized the health center for meeting all criteria to optimize Health Information Technology services that advance telehealth, patient engagement, interoperability, and collection of social determinants of health to increase access to care and advance quality of care.
Patient Centered Medical Home
CHC/SEK received the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) badge for achieving PCMH recognition in one or more delivery sites. The health center currently has PCMH designation in 15 sites. The PCMH is a model of care that puts patients at the forefront of care, meaning CHC/SEK meets patients’ physical and mental care needs, including prevention and wellness, acute care, and chronic care. To achieve this, CHC/SEK employs physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, care coordinators, therapists, dentists, and community health workers. PCMH also includes coordinating care with specialists, home health care, and community services that help support our patients.
