Alliant Health Solutions is a strategic partner with Morehouse School of Medicine within the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN). The Network was established to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on priority populations. NCRN is created for the community, by the community, with the intent to ensure the diverse needs of our nation are understood and addressed. Together, we can reduce the negative outcomes and impact of COVID-19 on our communities. Will you join us? Click HERE and subscribe to the NCRN newsletter or join the Regional Community Coalition to let your voice be heard.
In This Issue:
- Alliant Created Resources
- Feedback Needed! Alliant Social Marketing Project
- Introducing the New Quality Improvement Website
- Funding Opportunities for Clinics Serving Those With Long COVID
- Nursing Home Behavioral Health Center of Excellence Established
- Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in the United States
- May Is Women’s Health Month
- 2023 County Health Rankings Now Available
- Annual Wellness Visit Assessment and Resource Toolkit
- Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge
- Risk of Death in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 vs. Seasonal Influenza in Fall-Winter 2022-2023
- Available Training: Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) and Jason Flatt Act
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Alliant-Created Resources
- Pneumonia Vaccine Myths and Facts flyer: This flyer was created as a patient/resident education piece for seniors in long-term care, but it's good for others too! Download Flyer
- Equity in Health Care and Improving Chronic Conditions: This video has great tips for improving chronic conditions management through assessment and assisting patients. Watch Video
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Feedback Needed! Social Marketing Project Flyer
In the past two years, Alliant’s NCRN team has been working with the University of South Florida on a social marketing project around the COVID-19 vaccine, specifically to increase immunization levels of Black men with children. The process included developing the For the Love of Mine flyer. Check out and scan the QR code to provide feedback and assist us in improving social marketing efforts. Share the flyer with others so that we can get their feedback too! View Flyer
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Introducing the New Quality Improvement Website
Visit quality.allianthealth.org to see our new look! With a fresh and inviting look and feel, the Quality website is now more user-friendly, has a robust search option and highlights our quality contracts such as QIN-QIO, HQIC, ESRD, NCRN and more! Let us know what you think. Email alliantcomms@allianthealth.org with your feedback.
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Funding Opportunity for Clinics Serving Those With Long COVID
An Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) press release announced a new funding opportunity to help people with Long COVID. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the AHRQ, recently announced a new funding opportunity for multidisciplinary clinics that care for people with Long COVID. It will expand access to comprehensive, coordinated and person-centered care, particularly for underserved, rural, vulnerable or minority populations disproportionately impacted by Long COVID. In addition, the awards will help existing clinics develop and implement new or improved care delivery models, expand access and services offered, strengthen care coordination and support the primary care community with Long COVID education and management. The deadline for submitting applications is June 12, 2023. Review the Full Funding Announcement.
An Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) press release announced a new funding opportunity to help people with Long COVID. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the AHRQ, recently announced a new funding opportunity for multidisciplinary clinics that care for people with Long COVID. It will expand access to comprehensive, coordinated and person-centered care, particularly for underserved, rural, vulnerable or minority populations disproportionately impacted by Long COVID. In addition, the awards will help existing clinics develop and implement new or improved care delivery models, expand access and services offered, strengthen care coordination and support the primary care community with Long COVID education and management. The deadline for submitting applications is June 12, 2023. Review the Full Funding Announcement.
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Nursing Home Behavioral Health Center of Excellence
Alliant Health Group was awarded a contract to develop a Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Homes. Established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the COE-NF offers certified Medicare and Medicaid nursing facility staff a centralized resource hub with easy access to training, technical assistance and additional resources at no cost.The COE supports nursing home staff and community members with education, resources and services to assist residents with behavioral health issues. On the heels of COVID, the need for these services has been amplified. For more information or to sign up for assistance, visit the website. View Website
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May Is Women’s Health Month
Women have unique health concerns that could go unaddressed without special care. Ensure you’re taking care of yourself, and ask your doctor about the screenings and tests you might need. Get started today! View Resources
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2023 County Health Rankings Now Available
The 2022 County Health Rankings focused on COVID disease and resources, other chronic conditions, and social determinants of health. Their 2023 National Findings Report highlights the connection between civic health and thriving people and places. Civic health reflects the opportunities people have to participate in their communities and is the cornerstone of our democracy, representing promise, opportunity, belonging and shared responsibility. This year, there are newly added measures of civic participation:
Need ideas on what to do with the new data? Consider some of their strategies in their What Works for Health section.
The 2022 County Health Rankings focused on COVID disease and resources, other chronic conditions, and social determinants of health. Their 2023 National Findings Report highlights the connection between civic health and thriving people and places. Civic health reflects the opportunities people have to participate in their communities and is the cornerstone of our democracy, representing promise, opportunity, belonging and shared responsibility. This year, there are newly added measures of civic participation:
- Voter Turnout
- Census Participation
Need ideas on what to do with the new data? Consider some of their strategies in their What Works for Health section.
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Annual Wellness Visit Assessment and Resource Toolkit
Throughout the pandemic, many people did not attend their annual physician visits. They limited visits to sick visits only. Many may have developed or had worsening chronic conditions. To help encourage and assist in ensuring patients catch up on their annual wellness visits, the Quality Improvement Organization, Quality Insights, developed an assessment and resource toolkit. View Toolkit
Throughout the pandemic, many people did not attend their annual physician visits. They limited visits to sick visits only. Many may have developed or had worsening chronic conditions. To help encourage and assist in ensuring patients catch up on their annual wellness visits, the Quality Improvement Organization, Quality Insights, developed an assessment and resource toolkit. View Toolkit
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Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge
COVID highlighted the already recognized need to manage chronic conditions. The risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 was doubled for those with hypertension. The Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge is a yearly improvement project with the goal of patients in participating clinics showing an 80% rate of control. To learn more about Million Hearts and check out the many tools and resources available, start at their home page. View Homepage
COVID highlighted the already recognized need to manage chronic conditions. The risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 was doubled for those with hypertension. The Million Hearts Hypertension Control Challenge is a yearly improvement project with the goal of patients in participating clinics showing an 80% rate of control. To learn more about Million Hearts and check out the many tools and resources available, start at their home page. View Homepage
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Risk of Death in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 vs. Seasonal Influenza in Fall-Winter 2022-2023
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that, in a VA population in fall-winter 2022-2023, being hospitalized for COVID-19 vs. seasonal influenza was associated with an increased risk of death. This finding should be interpreted in the context of a two- to three-times greater number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 vs. influenza in the U.S. during this period.
However, the difference in mortality rates between COVID-19 and influenza appears to have decreased since early in the pandemic; death rates among people hospitalized for COVID-19 were 17% to 21% in 2020 vs. 6% in this study, while death rates for those hospitalized for influenza were 3.8% in 2020 vs 3.7% in this study. The decline in death rates among people hospitalized for COVID-19 may be due to changes in SARS-CoV-2 variants, increased immunity levels (from vaccination and prior infection), and improved clinical care. The increased risk of death was greater among unvaccinated individuals compared with those vaccinated or boosted—highlighting the importance of vaccination in reducing the risk of COVID-19 death. Read More
However, the difference in mortality rates between COVID-19 and influenza appears to have decreased since early in the pandemic; death rates among people hospitalized for COVID-19 were 17% to 21% in 2020 vs. 6% in this study, while death rates for those hospitalized for influenza were 3.8% in 2020 vs 3.7% in this study. The decline in death rates among people hospitalized for COVID-19 may be due to changes in SARS-CoV-2 variants, increased immunity levels (from vaccination and prior infection), and improved clinical care. The increased risk of death was greater among unvaccinated individuals compared with those vaccinated or boosted—highlighting the importance of vaccination in reducing the risk of COVID-19 death. Read More
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Available Trainings
- Question, Persuade, Refer training is available online through the Alabama Suicide Prevention and Resources Coalition (ASPARC) website. Visit the ASPARC Website
- Jason Flatt Act Training for school personnel is available here.
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We want to hear from you! Please provide your feedback regarding this month's message.
Click HERE to access the one question survey or scan the QR code.
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National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN)
- Find essential COVID-19 resources in 10 languages
- Subscribe to the NCRN newsletter
- Join the Regional Community Coalition
- Download the NCRN mobile app. iOS version or Android version
- Call the NCRN Multilingual Call Center at 1-877-904-5097. Operators are available Monday-Friday between 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. EST.
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ANGELA L. FERO, LCSW
Director of Operations, Behavioral Health
Alliant Health Solutions
angela.fero@alliantaso.org
O 678.892.3824 | F 678.527.3730
Director of Operations, Behavioral Health
Alliant Health Solutions
angela.fero@alliantaso.org
O 678.892.3824 | F 678.527.3730
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Alliant Health Solutions
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