Clinical

The IA/NEPCA Clinical Team provides information sharing, educational opportunities, technical assistance, and support to staff at member centers. Health information technology strategy, implementation, and impact on work flow; work flow redesign efforts in the clinic; the patient centered medical home; and, performance improvement and quality strategies are four major areas of focus for the Clinical Team. Other areas the Team works on include: expanding and improving oral and behavioral health services in CHCs; maximizing the use of pharmacy resources; providing technical assistance to ensure Uniform Data System compliance; enhancing patient self management strategies; maximizing current health information technologies; and many others.

The Clinical Team also works on various initiatives that impact members in a more broad sense. These initiatives impact statewide efforts to improve the health of all Iowans and Nebraskans, most with an emphasis on providing services to underserved populations. Working to build partnerships with various organizations across Iowa and Nebraska ensures that CHCs that are represented by IA/NEPCA are visible and represented in statewide policy discussion, and are seen as working for positive change and the improvement of health for underserved populations. Many activities of the Clinical Team involve other organizations, provider networks, and contracts. These include: financial and programmatic management of the contract with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) for the Tobacco Cessation Program in CHCs; financial and programmatic management of the contract with the Iowa Dental Foundation to assist in planning and conducting the Iowa Mission of Mercy; financial and programmatic management of the contract with IDPH for the Iowa Collaborative Safety Net Provider Network; board membership in Reach Out and Read; participation in statewide Tobacco Community Partnerships; participation in the Latino Health and Tobacco Coalition; board membership on the Covering Kids and Families State Coalition; involvement in diabetes networks in Iowa and Nebraska; and, partnerships with various organizations and efforts in both states to increase health promotion efforts, increase the emphasis on prevention and primary care in health care reform initiatives, and, in general, work towards improving the health and wellbeing of all persons.

The IA/NEPCA staff also partners with the Midwest Clinicians Network (MWCN). The Midwest Clinicians Network is a nonprofit corporation consisting of ten states in the Midwest. The Network, coordinated by the Michigan Primary Care Association, was formed to foster networking among clinicians who work in CHCs.

For more information on IA/NEPCA's clinical activities, contact Deb Kazmerzak, Senior Program Director, 515.333.5013 or dkazmerzak@ianepca.com.