June 4, 2010

VAFC Update June 2010

Colleagues,

I am pleased to provide an update on activities in the VAFC and elsewhere:

The Virginia Health Care Foundation held its annual Heroes in Health Care Awards, last week. Free Clinics were recognized in the following categories:

1. The “Networthy” Award: The VAFC, the VACSB and the VACHA were recognized for their collaboration in soliciting a $1 million grant from the Virginia Attorney General’s office which resulted in the “A New Lease on Life” grant competition for the support of primary health care patients who suffer from mental health conditions and have no medical home.

The Virginia Health Care Foundation provided major support and guidance in the process and raised an additional $1 million to support the program.

2. The “Unsung Heroes” Awards were given to the following:

a. Physician – Dr. Jim Shaw, founder and former Medical Director of the Lackey Free Clinic

b. Teamwork – Free Clinic of Central Virginia in Lynchburg for collaboration with Blue Ridge Medical Center (CHC) to create a dental clinic

c. Employee – Donna Bowser, FNP, CFNP from the Lloyd F. Moss Free in Fredericksburg

d. Volunteer – Dr. Chuck Harris – volunteer dentist at the Gloucester-Matthews Free Clinic

e. Donor – Mark. S. Silverwood – Board Member at the Arlington Free Clinic

The VAFC Board of Directors approved the membership application of the Culmore Free Clinic at 3304 Culmore Court, Falls Church, VA 22401. This is the 59th member of the Association.

The VAFC has established two new committees to assistin developing new information to support clinics:

Visioning Committee Rationale

It has become clear that the Association needs to look strategically at Health Care Reform and other issues facing its members and to examine the role the Association should and can play to better serve its members in these turbulent, uncertain and rapidly changing times.

Hence, a Visioning Committee is being formed that will have 8 members initially, made up of 4 board members and 4 additional members from other constituencies. Cathy Lewis will serve as Chair and Caroline Martin to serve as Vice Chair. In January the number will drop to seven with Cathy rotating off of the committee as she assumes the role of Board Chair and Caroline will assume the role of Chair. It will rely heavily on outside advisors. It is anticipated that representatives from the health care insurance, the hospital association and hospital administrators, health care consultants, the Federal government (Congress and Governmental departments Senator Warner’s office, CMS Marilyn Tavenner) VDH (Karen Remley & Kathy Wibberly)

The Visioning Committee will provide strategic recommendations that have considered the environment from a political, financial, eligibility and programmatic, needs, etc. These factors enable the committee to understand how to continue to assure that the Association and its Clinic members are positioned to continue to play a major role in delivery of comprehensive, coordinated health care to all Virginians. This committee, and these times, gives the Association an opportunity to assess its own structure, make-up, focus, and funding needs for continued sustainability. The goal is to assure that the Association is positioned to be the voice and innovative leader to best serve the needs of those in Virginia who cannot access healthcare.

In the near future, member clinics need to focus on their core mission, their goals and resources. These organizations have Boards of Directors and community support and are strategically placed, currently, to meet the needs of their community. The clinics should be updating their strategic plans and focus on the current assets. In the planning process, clinics should begin assessing the volunteer corps and begin gauging the mood of this vital resource. Having an understanding of the current situation will position clinics to be able to react to new programs and possible mandates from federal or state governments.

The Futures Committee will be looking at new opportunities to assist clinics and will be seeking feedback from clinics about the changing environment in their communities

Free Clinic Technology Committee Rationale

A Free Clinic technology Committee is being formed. The purpose of the Committee is to investigate the opportunities for EMR, or EHR, systems and to determine the best configuration to meet the needs of Free Clinics within the network.

It will be Co-Chaired by Karen Dulaney of the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic in Fredericksburg and Julie Bilodeau of Cross Over Ministry in Richmond. These two individuals were selected for their experience in large and successful clinics. Clinics of all sizes will be asked to participate. Leadership by large clinics will ensure that all clinic requirements will be met. Smaller clinics should be able to adapt a larger system to their individual needs.

The committee will investigate models that have been designed to meet the needs of non-profit health related organizations as well as systems designed for support of commercial enterprises such as doctors’ offices. The Chairs have expressed a need to be flexible in early considerations as the definitions and guidelines for clinic operation may change dramatically as the new health care system evolves.

The committee chairs are having an organizational meeting next week. This will be a detailed process as the new regulations are being written by the Department of Health and Human Services. A major issue will be finding a system that will meet the Federal Governments EMR interoperability requirements.

Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation: The VAFC Board is in the process of reviewing both the Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation as a result of finding that the Bylaws are in conflict with the Code of Virginia. Based on a current review there may be a need to consider some changes at the Annual Meeting. You will be sent materials in early October, if ratification is needed.

Audit and Accreditation:

1. Both the Free Clinic of Pulaski and the Love of Jesus Free Health Clinic have passed an operational review.

2. The Northern Neck Free Health Clinic has had its site visit for accreditation.

Christian Community Healthcare Fellowship Annual Meeting:

Rob Bradley of the Lackey Free Clinic and I made presentations at the CCHF meeting in Nashville last week. Helen Scott from Healing Hands Health Center in Bristol, Tennessee, also attended.

The Free Clinic Medical Director Meeting will be held this Saturday, June 5th, at the University of Richmond. Registration in still open.

Here is a listing of recent news articles:

Please note the last item. The Augusta Regional Free Clinic dental program has received a loan and grant from the Stimulus Funds.

http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2010/06/02/chatham/opinion/opinion09.txt regional Op-Ed by Lou Markwith

http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2010/04/01/arlington/news/nw192.txt - A psychiatrist at Arlington Free Clinic won a “Women in Vision” Award

http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=12238273 – patient counts up 35% statewide

http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/88942257.html - Charlottesville Free Clinic’s benefit concert to feature Sheryl Crow

http://www.rockbridgeweekly.com/rw_article.php?ndx=17211 – statement from Suzanne Sheridan (Rockbridge Area Free Clinic) about health care reform

http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/barboursville_dental_day_fixes_hundreds_of_smiles/55674/ - About 500 people treated at Piedmont Regional Dental Clinic

http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlines/92591714.html - Another article about the Piedmont dental clinic

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Issues/Health-Care/2010/05/03/Free-Clinics-Lifeline-for-America.aspx - article in the Fiscal Times featuring a quote from VAFC

http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/local/article/free_clinics_and_health_care_reform/102724/ - Article and video about Bradley Free Clinic in Roanoke

http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2010/may/27/wtfc-celebrates-dental-clinic/ - Western Tidewater’s new dental clinic very successful

http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100602/NEWS01/6020330 -Augusta Regional Dental Clinic gets $950K in loans and $50K in grants from the Dept of Agriculture under the stimulus package

Annual Meeting November 14-16 at the Woodlands Hotel and Suites in Williamsburg.

Thank you for your support. If you wish to serve on either of the two new committees, please contact me.

Lou Markwith

Founded in 1993, the VAFC is the oldest Free Clinic association in the U.S. Its mission is to support, strengthen, and advocate for Free Clinics to deliver quality health care services to Virginia’s low-income, uninsured and underinsured residents. More information about the VAFC and Virginia’s Free Clinics is available at www.vafreeclinics.org.

Phone:
(804) 340-3434

Fax:
(804) 340-3435

Email:
lou@vafreeclinics.org