If you would like to help, financial donations to support disaster relief efforts can be made to:

Salvation Army
Text “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation

Red Cross Disaster Relief
Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation

Oklahoma Regional Food Bank
Text “FOOD” to 32333 to make a $10 donation

Community Health Centers, Inc. (CHCI) is seeking an ASSOCIATE PHYSICIAN.

Benefits Package

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Under general administrative direction of the Medical Director, the Associate Physician provides comprehensive, primary medical care to patients of CHCI. At the direction of CHCI – CEO or designee, the employee will be assigned a variety of specific job duties and responsibilities as a member of the CHCI Emergency Response Program Team (i.e. Bioterrorism Response Program). Also, as a member of the Emergency Response Program Team, the employee is required to complete all necessary emergency responder training and may be designated as a member of the first-responder team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Evaluates and treats patients by taking a health history, performing the appropriate physical examination, diagnosing the condition, planning a course of treatment, prescribing medication , follow-up and health maintenance. Refers patients as necessary for appropriate specialty care within CHCI or within community at large.

2. Provides administrative and clinical supervision of mid-level practitioners that are assigned to him/her. Works with Clinic Nurse Manager to identify and address related nursing issues.

3. Serves on various staff committees of CHCI with active participation in health team conferences and discussions. Participates in CHCI Quality Improvement Program, involving collaboratives including peer review, medical review and chart audits.

4. Embraces the team concept in providing clinic coverage as needed. This may involve clinic coverage at other CHCI locations as assigned by the Medical Director or CEO.

5. Observes OSHA universal precautions. Properly disposes of biohazard materials as required. Receives OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens training upon initial assignment and at least annually.

6. Accepts consults from medical providers at Mary Mahoney Memorial Health Center, Mary Mahoney Health Center at Langston, Healing Hands Health Care Services for Homeless, and the Perry A. Klaassen Family Medical Center.

7. Completes a record of the health visit in the CHCI patient’s medical record chart within three days of visit. This record includes developing the problem list, recording medication and reconciliation of Laboratory data.

8. Submits privilege list to Medical Director for approval.

9. Shares call coverage with Community Health Centers, Inc. medical group providers.

10. Assists in development of disease specific protocols.

11. Obtains hospital privileges as required.

12. Engages in collaborative partnerships with outside agencies and medical providers.

13. Actively promotes patient participation on his/her health care by striving to improve patient health literacy.

14. Acts as preceptor for medical students or residents.

15. Participates in accreditation and quality improvement activities.

16. Complies with all HIPAA Privacy and Security rules/laws.

17. Performs assigned jobs at any CHCI facility as requested by the Medical Director or CEO.

18. As necessary, this Job Description may be modified.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
♦ Arm/hand steadiness and digital dexterity enough to perform medical examinations and other procedures, required paper-work, etc.
♦ Vision enough to read written communications such as computer printouts, instructions, hand or machine-generated documents, etc., as well as print on CRT.
♦ Speech and hearing enough to communicate face-to-face, via telephone and in a public place.
♦ Flexibility and strength enough to lift, move and carry items and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.
♦ Flexibility enough to bend over exam table, stoop to pick up objects from floor, etc.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
This position requires frequent contact with other CHCI personnel to give and receive information and/or to provide assistance. The employee is required to interact with patients, other health care providers and clients as well as the general public in the performance of the job. Tact and diplomacy are required in the performance of duties. The employee may be required to occasionally deal with hostile persons.

WORKING CONDITIONS
♦ Primarily indoors in climate controlled building.
♦ May be subject to standing and/or sitting for prolonged periods of time.
♦ Smoking/ tobacco use not allowed on grounds or in Agency buildings or vehicles.
♦ OSHA category: performs tasks that involve exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
M.D. or D.O., Board Certified/Board eligible in Primary Care, i.e. Family Medicine, Internal Medicine or Preventative Medicine. M.P.H. / M.B.A. Administrative experience, Community Health Center / Emergency Room experience. Preferred. Unrestricted Oklahoma State Licensure to practice medicine; Unrestricted DEA license. Meet qualifications and obtain license to distribute narcotics. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Flyer

Contact:  DeLois Anderson 

• Brent Wilborn receives award
• CHCs: Helping Others, Helping Each Other
• Excellence in the Eye of Reform
• Legislative Update
• Eye on Members
• The Outlook of Outreach
• EHR Adoption and Workflow Analysis

OKPCA releases Sponsor & Exhibitor Prospectus for 2013 Annual Conference. If you know a vendor that could benefit from being a Sponsor and/or Exhibitor, please feel free to share the prospectus.

SoonerVerse, Incorporated (SVI), a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization located in Oklahoma City, OK has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a data warehouse, analytics and reporting platform to support Meaningful Use program requirements, Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition, quality measures (i.e. Uniform Data Systems (UDS), Healthy People 2020, etc.) and future data element integration and reporting requirements under SVI’s Health Center Controlled Network currently consisting of eleven (11) Oklahoma Community Health Centers (CHCs). Proposals for a project period from May 1, 2013 through November 30, 2015 will be due in SVI’s Oklahoma City office on March 22, 2013. The full RFP can be downloaded here.

• Grant Application Provisions Highlight Program Priorities
• Health Centers Play Critical Role in Oklahoma Plan for Health Care
• OKPCA and the TEAM Approach with GPO
• NURSE Corps Update
• HIPAA & Meaningful Use Analysis
• PCMH Progress
• HCCN Funding
• CHCs Addressing Unmet Need for Control of Chronic Illnesses

Download the PDF here. 

Learn more about community health centers and other Oklahoma safety net providers while enjoying great food.

SoonerVerse, Inc., a non-profit linked with Oklahoma Primary Care Association, will receive $400,000 to establish and support the activities of a health-center controlled network (HCCN) in Oklahoma.  The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently announced the funding as part of new grants that will improve the quality of care at community health centers (CHCs) through implementation and adoption of health information technology (HIT).

“Using technology and data to the highest level can improve Oklahoma’s quality of care and make the system more efficient,” said Greta Stewart, Executive Director of Oklahoma Primary Care Association.  

Designed to promote sharing of information and expertise, the grant will support the adoption and meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology and quality improvement strategies in health centers. 

Initial HCCN participants will consist of eleven CHCs.  Those organizations are: Arkansas Verdigris Valley Health Centers, Inc., Porter; Community Health Centers, Inc., Oklahoma City; Eastern Oklahoma Family Health Center, Inc., Wetumka; Fairfax Medical Facilities, Inc., Fairfax; Family Health Center of Southern Oklahoma, Tishomingo; Great Salt Plains Health Center, Cherokee; Kiamichi Family Medical Center, Battiest; Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc., Tulsa; Northeastern Oklahoma Community Health Centers, Inc., Hulbert; Pushmataha Family Medical Center, Clayton; and Stigler Health and Wellness Center, Inc., Stigler.

###

Community Health Center: Yes
Health Professional Shortage Area: Yes
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Site: Yes

Available Date:  December 2012

Get up to date with the latest information from Oklahoma Primary Care Association and its members. Download OKPCA's Fall 2012 PCA Pulse! 

In this newsletter:

• OKPCA 2012 Award Winners
• Strategic Growth That Respects the CHC Model
• The Upcoming 2013 Legislative Session
• Building an Effective Outreach Plan
• Eligible Provider Voucher Program
• NHSC & OIG Updates
• The Uninsured in Oklahoma

Opportunistic Infections - December 20, 2012 
HIV/AIDS Oral Medicine: Case Histories in Crises, 2010-2012 - March 28, 2013
HIV in the Latino Community - June 27, 2013

For more information on the series, please contact Alison Williams.

PEDIATRICIANS and FAMILY MEDICINE PHYSICIANS

Due to expansion and renovation we have full time positions open for Pediatricians and Family Medicine Physicians.

Variety Care is the largest Community Health Center in the State of Oklahoma and ranks in the top 15% of Health Centers nationwide. Our health centers operate M – Saturday morning.

OUHSC rotations are common and so interested physicians can have some activity in teaching.

Loan Repayment is available through HRSA for any provider working in the Variety Care system.

We support wonderful work environment with emphasis on wellness and life balance and quality care for the people we serve. The practice is robust and interesting and covers newborn through adult, women’s health, pre-natal and geriatric medicine. VC has a team philosophy but all providers report to the Medical Director who reports to the CEO. All hiring decisions for provider staff are made by Medical Director and he has oversight of privileges and scope of practice.

We are a large not for profit Community Health Center in Oklahoma City. We have 13 full and part time sites and are expanding our two largest clinics and will complete that by March 2012. Currently we need 2 Full Time Family Medicine MD’s. In mid 2012 we will need an additional Pediatric MD.

Our EMR system is E-clinical works and we have been live since 2009. We will be working on accreditation for Patient Centered Medical Home. There is a possibility for Family Medicine Medical Director reporting to the Chief Medical Officer if we find the right candidate—this would mean about 20% administrative and 80% admin. Call is shared with about 30 providers so once sometimes twice a year they carry the night phone but no admissions necessary – we have contracts for that. If the person is interested in admission –we can discuss. Practice is M-F evening clinic hours available for extra compensation. 4 10’s are possible if that is of interest otherwise it is a 9 hour day with hour for lunch and 2 four hour clinics. Full family medicine including peds and prenatal but no deliveries—that is handled by our contract with the University OB’s.

We serve a large Hispanic so Spanish is a plus but not necessary- as all the support staff are bi-lingual. Our health centers are well equipped and it is a great work environment with competitive benefits and compensation including CME, 403B retirement plan, insurance, etc.

Contact Linda Turner, lturner@varietycare.org or visit our job site at http://jobs.varietycare.org/
Also visit our website at http://www.varietycare.org/ EEO

The Uniform Data System (UDS) Training will be a full day program covering the preparation of the 2012 UDS Report.

Book your lodging by November 30th to receive the discounted room rate.

Register online or download the registration packet here.

Note: The early-bird discount runs through November 30th and there is limited space available for this training so please register soon to secure your spot!

“Health centers are the ideal choice for healthcare in their communities and for the more than 600,000 uninsured Oklahomans,” said Greta Stewart, Executive Director of OKPCA. “This event will showcase health centers’ benefits, from both a patient and state perspective.”

Health center support is ongoing. Just last month, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced awards of new grants to expand community health centers (CHCs), awarding six Oklahoma applicants more than $3.6 million combined for establishing new health center delivery sites. Patients at health centers get primary care needs under one roof, including dental and behavioral health services.

“Our sites are continually growing, in communities across the state,” said Judy Grant, Director of Community Development for OKPCA. “Health centers are run by a patient-majority governing board who guides how limited resources are directed to meet the health care needs of the community, which makes this model so unique and favorable.”

Health centers provide a home to more than 130,000 Oklahomans at more than forty-two delivery sites statewide. Health centers see everyone – insured and uninsured - and offer a sliding fee scale to patients at or below 200% federal poverty level. For more information on community health centers in Oklahoma, visit www.okpca.org.

###

ALISON WILLIAMS
Workforce & Communications Manager
Oklahoma Primary Care Association
4300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Ste. 203, Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405.424.2282 x 103 f: 405.424.1111

Joint Rural and Underserved Health Conference Keynote Speaker Confirmed

The Oklahoma Primary Care Association, Oklahoma State University Office of Rural Health, and the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma’s Joint Fall Conference will feature Donald L. Weaver, MD. Dr. Weaver has a lifelong commitment to improving the health of underserved communities and vulnerable populations through the provision of community-responsive, culturally competent care by interdisciplinary teams.

He is the Chief Medical Officer for the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). In addition to leading NACHC’s Clinical Affairs Division, he oversees NACHC’s activities regarding clinical workforce issues, residency and medical school training. He also provides technical assistance to primary care associations, residency programs, and hospitals regarding health profession training issues.

Dr. Weaver will give the keynote address, titled “Getting Better Together.” The theme of the conference is “Getting Better Together: Strengthening the Healthcare Safety Net for Rural and Underserved Oklahomans.”
“It will be imperative for all health care providers to work together to create systems of care that produce improved patient outcomes and maximize limited resources,” said Alison Williams, Workforce and Communications Manager for Oklahoma Primary Care Association. “Dr. Weaver is most sincere with health care advocacy and ends all of his presentations by encouraging participants to be tobacco free and exercise - emphasizing the need for personal responsibility to improve health.

“The conference is an example of statewide collaboration of three safety net organizations to address access to care for all Oklahomans,” said Greta Stewart, Executive Director, Oklahoma Primary Care Association.
Williams said the Joint Fall Conference attendees hearing Dr. Weaver’s presentation will gain “an understanding of best practices Dr. Weaver has identified from across the nation.”

The Joint Fall Conference will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Norman, Okla. on September 20-21, following a golf tournament at Westwood Park Golf Course, benefitting the Rural Health Association of Oklahoma.

To register for the Joint Fall Conference or to see the agenda, visit www.rhao.org. For more information about the conference, contact Andy Fosmire, Managing Director, ahecadmin@nwosu.edu or (580) 213-3172.
--###--

Caring Hands Healthcare Centers, Inc. has been serving Pittsburg County and surrounding areas since 2006. The headquarters is in McAlester, the geographic hub for Southeast Oklahoma. Caring Hands Healthcare Centers, Inc. headquartered in McAlester, the geographic hub for Southeast Oklahoma. The satellite clinic is in Hartshorne. Tulsa, OK is 93 miles (1 hour 53 minutes); Oklahoma City, OK is 133 miles (2 hours 16 minutes) and Dallas, TX is 175 miles (3 hours 15 minutes) from McAlester.

HPSA - Health Professional Shortage Area: Yes
NHSC - National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Site: Yes
CHC - Community Health Center: Yes

Available Date: March 2012

Economy: The community offers a quiet rural lifestyle. It is known for its authentic Italian Restaurants. Water sports of all kinds can be enjoyed year round, boating, fishing, and water skiing in its many lakes. If you are not into the water then check out The Rodeo. High School sports, football and basketball, are high on the list for community entertainment. Enjoy all four seasons and the many festivals of the seasons. “Great Balls of Fire” and Cinema 69 offers kids and family entertainment. Several colleges offer courses at the McAlester Campus. Kiamichi Technology Center provides an extended curriculum for high school students, adult’s classes, evening/weekend, classes and industrial training. The school district consist of three early childhood centers, three elementary schools, an intermediate center (5th and 6th grade) a middle school (7th and 8th grade) and McAlester High (Home of the Buffaloes, offering honors and advance placement curricula) McAlester is home to The McAlester Ammunition Plant, McAlester Regional Health Center, a 171 bed not for profit hospital, and Oklahoma State Penitentiary.

Practice
Institution Name: Caring Hands Healthcare Centers, Inc.
Specialty: Family Medicine

Current Staffing:
Internal Medicine Physician; APRN, Family Medicine; APRN, Certified Nurse Midwife/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Financial
Salary: Negotiable
CME Allowance: Yes
Loan Repayment: NHSC
Paid Vacation: Malpractice Coverage (FTCA), Medical, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance, Long-term Disability, 10 - Paid Holidays, CME Allowance

Facility Contact Information
Name: Shelia Means
Address: PO Box 1992
McAlester OK, 74501
Phone: 918-426-0900 ext. 211
Email: smeans@chhcok.com

3RNet Member / Name: Alison Williams
Organization: Oklahoma Primary Care Association
Address: 4300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Ste. 203
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Phone: 405-424-2282, ext. 103
Fax: 405-424-1111
Email: awilliams@okpca.org

Caring Hands Healthcare Centers, Inc. has been serving Pittsburg County and surrounding areas since 2006. The headquarters is in McAlester, the geographic hub for Southeast Oklahoma. Caring Hands Healthcare Centers, Inc. headquartered in McAlester, the geographic hub for Southeast Oklahoma. The satellite clinic is in Hartshorne.

HPSA - Health Professional Shortage Area: Yes
NHSC - National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Site: Yes
CHC - Community Health Center: Yes

Available Date: March 2012

Area
Location: McAlester, Oklahoma Map It
Region: Kiamichi Country

Economy: The community offers a quiet rural lifestyle. It is known for its authentic Italian Restaurants. Water sports of all kinds can be enjoyed year round, boating, fishing, and water skiing in its many lakes. If you are not into the water then check out The Rodeo. High School sports, football and basketball, are high on the list for community entertainment. Enjoy all four seasons and the many festivals of the seasons. “Great Balls of Fire” and Cinema 69 offers kids and family entertainment. Several colleges offer courses at the McAlester Campus. Kiamichi Technology Center provides an extended curriculum for high school students, adult’s classes, evening/weekend, classes and industrial training. The school district consist of three early childhood centers, three elementary schools, an intermediate center (5th and 6th grade) a middle school (7th and 8th grade) and McAlester High (Home of the Buffaloes, offering honors and advance placement curricula) McAlester is home to The McAlester Ammunition Plant, McAlester Regional Health Center, a 171 bed not for profit hospital, and Oklahoma State Penitentiary.

Practice
Institution Name: Caring Hands Healthcare Centers, Inc.
Specialty: Family Medicine
Current Staffing:  Internal Medicine Physician; APRN, Family Medicine; APRN, Certified Nurse Midwife/Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Salary: Negotiable
CME Allowance: Yes
Loan Repayment: NHSC
Benefits: Malpractice Coverage (FTCA), Medical, Vision, Dental, Life Insurance, Long-term Disability, 10 - Paid Holidays, CME Allowance; Paid Vacation

Facility Contact Information
Name: Shelia Means
Address: P.O. Box 1992
McAlester OK, 74501
Phone: 918-426-0900 ext. 211
Email: smeans@chhcok.com

3RNet Member / Name: Alison Williams
Organization: Oklahoma Primary Care Association
Address: 4300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Ste. 203
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Phone: 405-424-2282, ext. 103
Fax: 405-424-1111
Email: awilliams@okpca.org
Website: OKPCA's JobSeekers

By upholding the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Supreme Court has ensured that more than half a million Oklahomans that are currently uninsured will have access to insurance coverage over the next few years and that consumers will have vital protections and benefits under the law. The Court’s decision also reaffirms support for the Health Center Program and will allow community health centers to provide millions of newly insured people, and communities identified as medical shortage areas, with access to high-quality, cost-effective primary and preventive services.

“So many Oklahomans who do not have health care coverage will now get the coverage they need,” said Greta Stewart, Executive Director of Oklahoma Primary Care Association. “Our latest data shows that sixty-three of Oklahoma’s seventy-seven counties are full or partial medically underserved areas, and this will help those areas get access to health care.”

The $3.6 million dollars awarded recently as part of the Affordable Care Act to six Oklahoma community health centers will be used to expand the number of primary care service delivery sites across the state. This is vital to Oklahoma – helping bring essential health care services to areas that need it the most. Forty-six percent of all Oklahoma CHC patients were insured and nearly thirty-one percent are enrolled in Medicaid. The ACA funding helps in extending care to more patients and creating additional jobs.

More than half a million Oklahomans have incomes below the federal poverty level and access to affordable health care services is a challenge. Offering affordable care is a cornerstone of the community health center program and more than 133,000 Oklahomans have received care at health center. Today’s decision supports the belief that good health is a right, not a privilege. OKPCA will have a major role in creating public awareness and understanding of the law’s benefits and protections.

For the full text of the Supreme Court’s ACA ruling, click here.

Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. joined the liberals on the court in upholding the mandate, deciding the penalty for not carrying insurance is a tax and therefore falls within Congress’ taxing power. More...

Today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced awards of new grants to expand community health centers (CHCs), awarding six Oklahoma applicants more than $3.6 million combined for establishing new health center delivery sites.

Five of the six new sites will be satellites of existing grantees and include: Great Salt Plains Health Center, Inc. in Medford; Northeastern Oklahoma Community Health Centers, Inc. in Muskogee; Community Health Centers, Inc. in Carney; Stigler Health and Wellness Center in Poteau; and East Central Oklahoma Family Health Center, Inc. in Henryetta. Shortgrass Community Health Centers, Inc., a first-time CHC grantee, will establish a site in Hollis.

“The grant funding helps make our health centers in Oklahoma stronger so that more people can get the care they need,” said Greta Stewart, Executive Director for Oklahoma Primary Care Association, the association representing community health centers and other safety-net providers. “These awards will help strengthen Oklahomans access to affordable health care.”

Community health centers in Oklahoma work to improve the health of communities by ensuring access to quality primary health care services. With this funding, Oklahoma health centers plan to see more than 22,000 patients at the new sites, providing access to affordable, community-based health care for approximately 13,000 uninsured Oklahomans.

In 2010, CHCs served over 130,000 Oklahomans at more than forty-two delivery sites statewide, offering affordable, community-based services to their communities. Health centers see everyone – insured and uninsured - and offer a sliding fee scale to patients at or below 200% federal poverty level. For more information on community health centers in Oklahoma, visit www.okpca.org.

Hosted by:
Rural Health Association of Oklahoma,
Oklahoma Primary Care Association, and
Oklahoma Office of Rural Health

September 19-21, 2012
Embassy Suites Norman

Registration & Information - www.rhao.org
Sponsorship - 09_20-21_12_Exhibitor_-_Sponsor_Application.pdf
Book a Room - http://embassysuites.hilton.com/en/es/groups/personalized/O/OKCESES-RHA-20120918/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

Award nomination information -