Category: MPCA News

LANSING–The Michigan Primary Care Association has partnered with the Center for Health Communications Research to develop materials to help healthcare workers talk to their patients about the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Center for Health Communications Research is a shared resource of the Rogel Cancer Center at the University of Michigan. They received funding by the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) to work closely with communities hit hardest by COVID-19.

Researchers at the University of Michigan developed a set of materials that includes example videos of motivational interviewing techniques. These techniques are proven to be a useful behavior-change tool.

Resources for Community-Based Organizations

Click on the link for background materials.

Webinar link: https://vimeo.com/567472592

Resources for Healthcare Providers

You can access the most current training materials here, developed by Drs. Larry An and Ken Resnicow who conducted a training about motivational interviewing and how to communicate with people who may be hesitant to get the vaccine.

COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Guide (PDF)

Talking Points (PDF)

COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Guide: Companion Script (PDF)

(A full script for the videos below)

COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Presentation (PowerPoint)

Individual videos:

• Intro https://vimeo.com/534616582
• Concern 1 https://vimeo.com/534614844
• Concern 2 https://vimeo.com/534615002
• Concern 3 https://vimeo.com/534615040
• Concern 4 https://vimeo.com/534615085
• Concern 5 https://vimeo.com/534615144
• Concern 6 https://vimeo.com/534615212
• Concern 7 https://vimeo.com/534615248
• Concern 8 https://vimeo.com/534615305
• Concern 9 https://vimeo.com/534615346
• Reflecting Emotion https://vimeo.com/534616463
• Graceful Exits https://vimeo.com/534616516

LANSING–Medline, a partner of the Michigan Primary Care Association, will be hosting a webinar on LinkedIn next Thursday, June 24.

This webinar “How Better Facility Design Leads to Better Care” focuses on ways your community health center can eliminate the barriers to creating a seamless, well-coordinated patient care experience and improved clinical outcomes.

For registration, please visit the LinkedIn link here.

With smarter workflows and meaningful technology, Midmark is the single source you can trust for quality solutions and design expertise within your exam and procedure rooms.

LANSING–The Michigan Primary Care Association is happy to share a free training opportunity for registered nurses at your health center through Wayne State University College of Nursing (WSU CON) and the Michigan Area Health Education Center (MI-AHEC), to offer a Nursing Continuing Education Course.

These courses are designed to enrich your knowledge as you explore primary care and public heath best practices, competencies, and collaborative work. The knowledge gained from these courses will help current RNs to practice to the full scope of their license in community-based primary-care teams.

Participating RNs can earn continuing education credits for each module for a total of 30-36 continuing education credits. RNs can complete the courses online, at their own pace and need only to complete the number of modules they wish.

MPCA is also offering a gift card to individual nurses that enroll by Wednesday, June 30, and one (1) complimentary registration for the health center organization to the 2021 MPCA Annual Conference.

If you are interested, please register here by creating a new account and filling out demographic information to get started.

To receive the gift card for the participating RN and one complimentary conference registration for the health center organization, RNs will need to mention that they heard of this opportunity through MPCA when they enroll in the courses.

Click here (PDF document) for course topics.

Please contact Chelena Bell, [email protected] for any additional questions you may have.

LANSING–The June 2021 edition of the Michigan Primary Care Association newsletter has been delivered to the inbox of over 2,000 subscribers on Wednesday, June 2.

Please check out our latest newsletter, including the following highlights: legislative forum in review; AmeriCorps (HealthCorps) Spotlight; MPCA receives critical funding from Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the American Rescue Plan to disburse to community health center members; calendar of events; and much more.

Click on the link for the June 2021 newsletter.

Click here to sign up for our mailing list so that you can stay up to date with the latest edition.

You can also read about past available issues here.

LANSING–The Michigan Primary Care Association, in collaboration with the Michigan Association of Local Public Health, is pleased to announce receiving a $500,000 grant each from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund that will be earmarked to its members in support of COVID-19 vaccine administration.

“We are thankful to the Michigan Health Endowment Fund for receiving this much-needed grant to support health centers and community-based organizations through partnership applications to support COVID-19 vaccine administration in communities,” stated MPCA grant program officer Amber Desgranges. “We are delighted to align ourselves with a like-minded organization in MALPH dedicated to a mission of helping its members. More importantly, our patients will ultimately benefit from this grant.”

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents, and reduce the cost of healthcare, with a special focus on children and seniors. You can find more information about the Health Fund at mihealthfund.org.

The priority for this funding is to support health centers and/or health departments in increasing COVID 19 vaccine administration capacity through the support of community-based organizations. This funding is intended to help reach and administer COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable populations, by emphasizing available resources and helping patients overcome barriers they may be facing.

“Many community-based partner organizations have been tremendously helpful throughout this pandemic. In addition to providing the valuable services they have always provided, they have gone the extra mile to assist people in scheduling and attending vaccine appointments”, said Norm Hess, executive director of MALPH. “This has strained their current resources and we are grateful we can provide this funding to help them continue their important work.”

Since April, everyone over the age of 16 in Michigan has been eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the State is behind in its goal to reach vaccinating 70 percent of the population by early summer; due to vaccine availability, vaccine hesitancy, and other barriers will prevent many people from receiving a vaccine.

According to the CDC, a majority of states are experiencing disparities in getting the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable communities. The State is proactively pursuing an equitable vaccination strategy. For example, in early March MDHHS awarded more than 35,000 vaccine doses to 22 community outreach pilot sites, each of which has the capacity to store, schedule, and administer the vaccine.

The Health Fund stated, “Your ability to get a vaccine should not be impacted by whether you are in a rural or urban part of the state, are lower income, are living with a disability, are not fluent in English, or don’t have access to a car, a computer or the Internet.”

Twelve MPCA community health centers and MALPH community-based organizations each that have received Health Fund monies will partner with a local CBO or health department to integrate the city or town in getting “shots in arms” to help achieve more vaccinations.

Some of the activities that will be conducted include: Community-based organization will work with the health center and/or health department to conduct COVID-19 vaccine outreach; lend staff capacity to assist with vaccine administration and/or vaccine events; provide volunteer coordination for the health center and/or health department; provide logistical support to health center and/or health department; and lend their space to the health center and/or health department for events. Also, they will assist community members with scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments and in overcoming barriers to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

These funds will be released by June 1.

About MPCA and MALPH

The Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) is the voice of 43 community health centers that provide primary and preventive health care to more than 725,000 patients in rural and urban communities across Michigan. MPCA advocates to influence and advance health policy and offers operational support and training to health centers to enhance the delivery of services in Michigan communities.

The Michigan Association for Local Public Health (MALPH) exists to strengthen Michigan’s system of local public health departments and local governing boards for Michigan’s 45 city, county and district health departments.

LANSING–Beginning earlier this month, we are featuring a member of our MPCA AmeriCorps (HealthCorps) team. Service members are dedicated individuals who have a strong desire to make a difference in their community, possess a strong commitment to helping others, and seek to serve medically underserved populations.

For more information about the MPCA AmeriCorps (HealthCorps) Program, please click on the link and apply today!

Getting to Know Team Member Erin Burgess of The Wellness Plan, Pontiac office at the LightHouse.

Strictly Business

• What led you to AmeriCorps? I am a full-time student at Oakland University. OU sent out an email to the College of Arts and Science students about a virtual job/internship fair. I usually delete those emails and I did with this one too, but I quickly hit the “undo” button, read through it and decided to sign up for a few of the companies represented at the fair–one of those being AmeriCorps. Being one year away from graduating with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and knowing that when applying to a graduate school they look to see leadership skills and community-based internships, I was pretty amazed when it all worked out that I was chosen for an interview and was hired to be a service member for AmeriCorps at a clinic close to my home.

• What’s one thing that surprised you about serving with AmeriCorps? This is my first month with AmeriCorps. The start here has been a little slow for me for being implemented into the flow of the clinic at the moment, (but) knowing the many aspects I can help with eventually is exciting. Being able to make a difference in plugging people back into their primary care appointments so their health issues can be properly cared for is a surprising and exciting prospect of getting to be an integral part of helping people in the community in that way.
• What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of? I went through several lists comprising over 300 patients to see who had not seen their primary care provider (PCP) in over three months. I wasn’t yet able to make the calls to the people from those lists who fit that criteria, but a call was made to one of them and I was told that a patient that was checked in for his appointment, was from the list of people I determined needed to be called for an appointment to come in. It was a pretty great feeling realizing that this patient being in the clinic that day was because we took the time to research and determine he needed to come in, a call was made, and he came in for an appointment.

A Little More Personal

• What’s one thing most people don’t know about you? I am a 45-year-old student at Oakland University who will be working toward my master’s degree to become a licensed master social worker. It was at first intimidating thinking of being among the oldest student population going back to school, but I was pleasantly surprised that when we were in face-to-face classes before COVID, there were usually about three older students than me in each of my classes.

• What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day? Watching food cooking shows on Discovery +. Right now I am enjoying episodes of Guy’s Grocery Games.
• What’s your guilty pleasure? Chocolate. Milk or dark, doesn’t matter. They are all pretty yummy to me.

Just For Fun

• If you could only eat one item for every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Vegetables. I know it sounds unbelievable but I have dealt with health issues that after enough research in figuring them out, I would never want to go back to eating unhealthy. What you eat affects so many areas of your body in many different ways. So, definitely, veggies for me! With hummus, preferably.

• What’s your favorite sport to watch and which team do you root for? Football and basketball is just fun to watch, but I don’t really have a favorite team. However, my truly favorite sport to watch is volleyball. I love playing it and watching it–no favorite team.
• What’s the top destination on your must-visit list? A long time ago, I went on a trip to the US Virgin Islands. That was the first time I snorkeled at Cinnamon Bay on St. John’s Island. It’s such a beautiful area down there, I’d love to go back again.

Goals and more

• Where do you hope to be in your professional career five years from now? In five years I hope to be a one-on-one therapist as a licensed master social worker. With the many different paths my life has taken me, I feel my life experience and school work will make me a well-rounded therapist. I look forward to people being able to discover that their past does not define them and they are never too young or too old to make important changes in their lives.

• This program centers on service, so can you describe your community service in other aspects of your life? You must like to help others? In Lapeer County where I am from, I had volunteered for an organization for two years to fill out intakes for people who called in needing assistance with bills, rent, groceries, meals, household items, etc. I enjoyed the work I did there. I also previously worked with Family Focus Mentors in Lapeer County to work with families that were in a situation of dealing with child protective services to help the parents with basic skills to provide for their children how to cook meals, clean their house, provided transportation to appointments, and checked in with them weekly. I did this volunteer work for about a year. Currently, being a full-time student at Oakland University, having recently moved to the Oakland County area, and with COVID, I have not done as much community service as I would like. I was recently asked to join a national honor fraternity at OU and I look forward to being able to work with the community in different ways through that venue.

• What are your specific duties at The Wellness Plan? It has been a little slow with finding my place and service work here. However, I’ve been training to help with any needs in the COVID vaccination area of the clinic and help with reengagement of patients back in to their regularly scheduled primary care provider visits.

• How will your learned skills working with AmeriCorps help you in your everyday life and improve your next job performance? I am hoping once I begin personally talking with patients here at TWP, that is beginning to help them with getting in to see their PCP. After learning what other needs they may have, I can help them get plugged in to community resources if they are in need. Speaking with people and getting to listen to them describe where they are at and what they need help with, I am hoping my listening skills will be further developed for the therapist I look forward to being in the future.

• How do you juggle AmeriCorps and college classes while making time for your family? The struggle is real! But I schedule out my hours needed for AmeriCorps with my classes for my last year at OU and do my best to squeeze in family time. With full time classes though at the senior level, it is not easy but I know that every day and every class gets me closer to my goal of being done with school and getting to enjoy what my passion is and more family time.

• What do you love about working as an AmeriCorps member? I think I will love speaking with patients to see what their needs are and how they can be helped to get back to routine care. I enjoyed doing intakes at the other organization and I am thinking I will feel the same about speaking with patients here for The Wellness Plan.

• What’s the best advice you would give someone who is thinking about joining the MPCA AmeriCorps (HealthCorps) program? Planning and scheduling your time needed for the AmeriCorps hours, your classes (if going to college), and balancing family time take some finesse but don’t forget to make time for yourself as well. Your mental health is super important so you can be the best you can be in every aspect of your community service work, school, family life.

• Feel free to add anything else! I am a mom to two wonderful daughters, ages 18 and 23. I also have to great stepsons ages 14 and 16.

LANSING–The Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) is pleased to welcome Frank Waters as MPCA’s director of policy and government affairs.

MPCA is the voice of Michigan’s community health centers, consumer-driven nonprofit healthcare organizations that provide primary and preventive health care to more than 700,000 patients in rural and urban communities across the state. We advocate to influence and advance health policy in Lansing and Washington, D.C., and we offer operational support and training to health centers to enhance the delivery of integrated care including primary care, dental, vision and behavioral health.

In his new role, Waters directs MPCA’s engagement in state and federal policy-making including representing health centers in efforts with the state legislature and members of Congress as well as monitoring and formulating policy positions and advocacy strategies for MPCA.

“Frank’s knowledge of Michigan’s legislative process and strong relationships with legislative stakeholders make him a wonderful addition to our team and a true asset to Michigan’s health centers as an advocate and policy leader,” said Phillip Bergquist, Chief Operating Officer at MPCA.

Waters comes to MPCA from the Michigan House Republican Policy Office where he served as the lead policy advisor on numerous state department budgets including Corrections, Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Insurance and Financial Services, Michigan State Police, and Military and Veteran Affairs. He was also the lead policy advisor for the House Committee on Financial Services.

Waters has significant experience in state regulatory affairs gained as the former director of the Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs in the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. His professional experience also includes working as a senior policy advisor to former Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee Rep. Brandt Iden, serving as an occupational code inspections manager, and time in the Senate Majority Communications Office.

Waters began his career in state government as an administrative assistant under former Michigan governor John Engler.

He graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor of arts degree in business administration in 1996.

#ValueCHCs

CENTERLINE, Mich.–Based at the MyCare Health Center, dedicated mother of five Delione Newson joined the Michigan Primary Care Association AmeriCorps (HealthCorps) on April 23 and has enjoyed every second of it.

Delione applied to MPCA’s AmeriCorps program due to her desire to serve her community and familiarity with people she knows who have done the same. “I know many people who have served for AmeriCorps for years including my mother who did service and enjoyed it. I also have a friend who enjoyed the AmeriCorps experience. I also remember volunteering and coming along with her and seeing the outreach that AmeriCorps did in the community. It’s something I would love to do help the community.”

But Delione didn’t choose this path of service to others and personal enlightenment lightly. It took a long time to make an informed decision and she knew that there would be a sacrifice to make.

“AmeriCorps is a calling for me. As a kid I have always loved helping people. I love putting a smile on people’s faces and in their heart,” she says.

“I went back and forth for months about joining AmeriCorps because I knew that it would be a big pay cut and I have a lot of bills with a big family. I decided to take a leap of faith and do what I love–helping people. I worked for Kroger for 15 years as a bakery manager and was just at the end of my rope with not doing what I love so here I am.”

So far Delione’s expectations about serving with AmeriCorps have been everything she thought it would be. “Nothing has really surprised me. I knew that it was (going to be) a positive and I was excited that I was chosen for the program.”

Besides the tangible benefits, Delione also joined AmeriCorps because she wanted to make a difference in the healthcare industry.

“I chose AmeriCorps for the experience. I have experienced and seen a lot of mistreatment in healthcare facilities so I want to make it better,” Delione stated. “I also chose AmeriCorps because I used to be in a domestic violence relationship seven years ago and AmeriCorps really helped me out. I wanted to give back to the community the way the community gave back to me.”

Delione acknowledges that she can apply skills learned from the AmeriCorps experience to her everyday life and to advocate for others.

“I hope to get the experience, the knowledge and growth on what our community needs out of AmeriCorps,” she explains. “I want to help more single mothers that are in unhealthy relationships know that there are resources out there. I also want to help men and women take care of their health better eat better and visit the doctor more.”

Delione has only been a member for three weeks, but she has immersed herself quite well with AmeriCorps. “I am proud of the outreach that I achieved since I started servicing for AmeriCorps. I have scheduled over 150 patients to receive their COVID 19 vaccine. There’s more to do so my duties are whatever AmeriCorps desires of me.”

A native Michigander who grew up in Detroit, Delione cites her family’s support as the inspiration and the drive to become a AmericaCorps member. “I manage my time with a lot of prayer and my husband, who is a huge help. My five children and my husband are very proud of me because I am finally doing what I love.”

Delione’s desire to have a positive impact on her community is straight forward. “I want to help young single mothers. I want to help lower income families by letting them gain knowledge that there are helpful resources out there,” she stated.

Studying healthcare administration at Oakland Community College, her goals are to continue in the AmeriCorps Program and pursue her bachelor’s degree likely at the University of Michigan.

“My goal three years from now is to be in the healthcare field helping the low-income community, and managing a healthcare facility and still volunteering for AmeriCorps.”

With the support of her family, her selfless desire to help others and her personality makeup, Delione is well on her way from bakery manager to a satisfying new professional career in healthcare.

“I am very determined; I don’t stop until I reach my goal.”

Five Things to Know about Delione 

Q: What’s your guilty pleasure? A: Candy.

Q: If you could only eat one item for every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? A: Seafood.

Q: What book are you reading now? A: Text books!

Q: During your spare time after a busy day, what do you enjoy doing and what’s your favorite way to unwind? A: Watching my favorite sport which is ice skating and spending time with my family and reading to my daughter.

Q: What’s the top destination on your must-visit list? A: Hawaii

LANSING–Please check out our latest newsletter, including the following highlights: patient re-engagement campaign; mask co-branding initiative with the state; the return of MPCA Enabling Services (ES) Network Meetings; Hackley Community Care gaining Mercy Urgent Care under its umbrella; calendar of events; and much more.

Click on the link for the May 2021 newsletter.

Click here to sign up for our mailing list so that you can stay up to date with the latest edition.

You can also read about past available issues here.

LANSING–Are you ready to make a difference? To seek new challenges?? Do you enjoy working with people???

The Michigan Primary Care Association AmeriCorps program (HealthCorps) is looking for you!

AmeriCorps is a national service program designed as an  opportunity for individuals of all ages and backgrounds to give their time and talent to strengthen communities. For more information, please visit the AmeriCorps website at https://americorps.gov/serve

Qualifications to serve as a Healthcorps member include: United State citizens, national or lawful permanent residents; a t least 18 years of age; high school diploma or GED; a strong commitment to service; and the desire to serve medically underserved populations

There are several benefits of serving as a HealthCorps member, including a living allowance; an educational award (upon successful completion of your appointment); health insurance; student loan forbearance on qualified student loans; extensive training and professional development; and childcare assistance.

To apply to serve in a HealthCorps position, please click here to fill out an application. View the complete service opportunity description here.

For more information, please visit the MPCA HealthCorps webpage link. You can also email or phone  MPCA AmeriCorps Program Director,  Karen VanSchoick, AmeriCorps Administrative Specialist, at [email protected]  or (517) 827-0878.