A Check-in with Dr. Kyu
June 2024 – The Evolution of the NACHC Partner Conference and Its Impact on Community Health Centers
“This new title reflects the inclusive and collaborative spirit of the event,
emphasizing its role as a central gathering for a broad spectrum of stakeholders
dedicated to advancing community and primary care health.”
In a significant move to better align its name with its evolving mission, the NACHC has rebranded its Primary Care Association (PCA) & Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN) Conference to the “NACHC Partner Conference.” This new title reflects the inclusive and collaborative spirit of the event, emphasizing its role as a central gathering for a broad spectrum of stakeholders dedicated to advancing community and primary care health. The original PCA & HCCN Conference served as a pivotal platform for professionals from Primary Care Associations and Health Center Controlled Networks to converge, share knowledge, and develop strategies to enhance health center operations. These networks are crucial in providing support to nearly 1,500 health centers nationwide, which collectively serve millions of patients.
The conference has traditionally focused on key areas such as policy, data management, operational efficiencies, payment models, and workforce development, all aimed at improving the delivery of equitable health care.Despite the change in name, the NACHC Partner Conference maintains the core objectives and structure of its predecessor. It continues to serve as a comprehensive forum for discussion, training, and networking among health center leaders and their partners. The rebranding to “NACHC Partner Conference” underscores the inclusive nature of the event, inviting a broader array of participants and fostering deeper partnerships across various sectors involved in community health.
Conference Highlights
The NACHC Partner Conference remains committed to addressing the pressing issues faced by health centers today. Key focus areas include:
- Policy and Advocacy: Navigating the complex landscape of health care policies and advocating for supportive legislation.
- Data and Technology: Leveraging data and health IT solutions to improve patient care and operational efficiency.
- Operations and Payment Models: Exploring innovative operational strategies and sustainable payment models to enhance health center viability.
- Workforce Development: Addressing workforce challenges and promoting strategies for recruitment, retention, and professional development.
Enhancing Community Health through Partnerships
Partnerships forged and strengthened at the NACHC Partner Conference play a critical role in bolstering the impact of Community Health Centers (CHCs). Here’s how:
- Resource Sharing and Innovation: By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the conference facilitates the sharing of best practices and innovative solutions. Health centers can learn from each other’s successes and challenges, leading to improved services and outcomes.
- Policy Influence and Advocacy: Unified efforts in policy advocacy become more potent with a broader coalition. The conference helps align goals and strategies, amplifying the voice of health centers in legislative and regulatory arenas.
- Technology and Data Utilization: Collaborative discussions on health IT and data management drive advancements in these areas, enabling health centers to implement cutting-edge technologies that improve patient care and operational efficiency.
- Workforce Solutions: Addressing workforce shortages and professional development needs through collective brainstorming and shared strategies helps health centers attract and retain skilled professionals, essential for maintaining high standards of care.
- Sustainable Financial Models: Exploration of new payment models and financial strategies ensures that health centers can remain financially viable while continuing to provide affordable care to underserved populations.
- Community Engagement and Support: Partnerships extend beyond health centers to include community organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders, fostering a more comprehensive approach to community health that addresses social determinants and promotes overall well-being.
Participants in the NACHC Partner Conference can expect a dynamic agenda filled with interactive workshops, expert panels, engaging general sessions and networking opportunities. The conference encourages active participation and collaboration, ensuring that attendees leave with actionable insights and new connections to support their work in community health.
The renaming of the PCA & HCCN Conference to the NACHC Partner Conference marks a strategic evolution, reflecting the expanding scope and collaborative ethos of the event. It continues to be an essential gathering for those dedicated to the mission of providing high-quality, equitable health care to underserved populations. This rebranded conference promises to uphold its legacy of fostering innovation, sharing best practices, and strengthening the network of professionals committed to community health.
For more information and to register for the upcoming conference, visit the NACHC Partner Conference webpage.
Growing Together, Through Amazing Partnerships
Thanks to NACHC’s partnerships, we are able to offer a broad array of programming, training, events, and research that impact community health centers and the communities and populations they serve.
Our partners include nonprofits, associations, foundations, government agencies and corporations. NACHC’s incredible partners are critical to our work to support and serve CHCs across the country.
If you are a development or fundraising professional at a health center, PCA, or HCCN and want to stay updated on NACHC funding opportunities and announcements from our partners, sign up for the monthly newsletter called The Development Download. Sign up today!
In addition, NACHC offers a special monthly (virtual) workgroup for health center executives who oversee the day-to-day functions of a health center related foundation. If you are interested in joining that group, read the full eligibility requirements and more information about the group on the Foundation Profile. Complete the profile to start the process to join. Read more and sign up!
As the summer months are officially here, our partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), encourages communities to learn more about the risks associated with heat. CDC’s HeatRisk Dashboard allows people to access heat and health information in an easy-to-use, mobile-friendly interface. People can access location-specific information using CDC and NOAA’s newly released HeatRisk forecast tool alongside protective health actions they can take. The dashboard links to the new Clinician Heat and Health Guidance and includes additional information related to heat, air quality, and health. Work through partnerships such as this is part of NACHC’s commitment to expanding the access to resources and tools that can positively affect CHCs and the nation.
NACHC has implemented several other impactful partnerships to enhance CHCs. NACHC recognizes that no one group can do this work alone, both from a national and community level. Partnerships with agencies like the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration help support CHCs in their day-to-day work, as well as provide support for their long-term sustainability efforts.
These partnerships demonstrate NACHC’s commitment to leveraging collaborative efforts to strengthen CHCs and enhance the quality and accessibility of care for underserved populations.
Celebrating Health Center Leaders: Highlights and Reflections
Throughout the spring months and now entering the summer, my commitment to visit with every state’s Primary Care Associations and health center leaders continues. NACHC believes that CHCs and PCAs are the best, most innovative, most diverse, and most resilient part of our health system. We stand united with CHCs and PCAs for and with the people they have served and will serve as “the best is yet to come.”
Advocacy in Washington, DC
We recently gathered CHC advocates in Washington, DC for the NACHC fly-in to discuss critical priorities with Congress, such as funding increases, 340B reform, and telehealth extensions. Our grassroots advocacy has solidified CHCs as the largest primary care system in the US, serving over 31.5 million people.
Honoring Lathran Johnson Woodard
At the NACHC board meeting in South Carolina, we celebrated Lathran Johnson Woodard’s nearly 50 years of dedication to community health. Her leadership and numerous awards highlight her relentless commitment to health equity. The South Carolina Primary Health Care Association building will now be named after her, honoring her legacy.
Hawaii’s CHC Conference
In Hawaii, we participated in the Hawaii Primary Care Association’s first conference in seven years. We visited Waimānalo Health Center and Kokua Kalihi Valley, both exemplifying the integration of traditional practices with modern health care to serve their communities effectively.
Pacific Islands Primary Care Conference
Since 2013, the PIPCA have been committed to the mission of “improving people’s health and well-being by providing affordable, accessible, and quality comprehensive healthcare” through 3 separate locations with 2 on the island of Saipan and 1 on the island of Tinian. Their services include and are not limited to comprehensive primary care, integrated mental health and substance abuse services, urgent care, an IV infusion program, prenatal care, outreach and eligibility services, laboratory services, case management, and even transportation services.
Bi-State Primary Care Conference PIPCA
In Vermont, we attended the Bi-State Primary Care Association’s annual conference, contributing to discussions on primary care innovations. The event highlighted the importance of adapting to new norms in primary care.
Primary Care for America Event
At the National Press Club, we joined the Primary Care for America event, focusing on the future of primary care. Our participation underscored the importance of continuous, comprehensive care in health policy.
National Health Center Week Preparations
We launched preparations for National Health Center Week with a national webinar, engaging over 800 CHC leaders. The theme, “Powering Communities through Caring Connections,” emphasizes the vital role of CHCs in community health.
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
In Massachusetts, we joined the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers’ conference, discussing strategies to advance primary care and health equity. The League supports 52 CHCs across nearly 300 locations, focusing on workforce development, health policy analysis, IT development, and clinical quality.
These experiences highlight the remarkable efforts and collaborations within the CHC community, driving forward the mission of providing accessible, high-quality health care for all.
