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Health Choice Network Stands Behind Our Healthcare Heroes

BY ANNETTE ZAYAS MCDANIELS Chicago (AC) affirms “we are dedicated COVID period. As a result, we have
to being a valuable resource to all our leveraged our group vendors and made
The dramatic spread of the COVID- health centers”. In collaboration with connections with PPE suppliers and
19 has greatly impacted how commu- AllianceChicago, HCN is providing national reference labs, allowing our
nity health centers, hospitals, urgent weekly webinars as a means to share health centers to set up COVID testing
care centers and other health care their workflow processes and experience. programs in these communities.”
centers operate. Healthcare facilities “Our webinars cover an array of topics To further serve its centers, HCN creat-
nationwide have been forced to adapt intended to help and support our ed a resource library that includes train-
quickly to the demands of the current providers during this crisis”. The weekly ing and educational materials such as
pandemic exacerbated by a dwindling HCN webinar series addresses subjects health center workflows, funding and
supply of masks, gowns and other Alejandro Romillo Dr. Timothy Long ranging from preparing communities for small business information, and includes
protective equipment for its workers. COVID-19, utilizing telehealth in target- up-to-date information from the Center
The impact of the current crisis is espe- For health centers to effectively care ed populations, managing homelessness, for Disease Control (CDC), Centers for
cially challenging for health care centers and serve its patients, providers rely on serving migrant and rural health popula- Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS),
in rural, underserved and uninsured IT systems to keep accurate health tions and offers education and guidance and the World Health Organization
communities. In these communities, care records, track medical information, and for these health centers and providers. (WHO) to name a few.
is provided by teams of dedicated health- to safely transmit information to labs, “One of the components of the webinars Considering the ongoing challenges
care professionals in community-based pharmacies and physicians. To support is to provide a forum to share clinical brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,
health centers. Keeping these centers this need, HCN has established a 24/7 updates on COVID-19 diagnosis and organizations like HCN must also adapt
open and fully operational is key in fight- support system to ensure accessibility treatments options. HCN has been able rapidly to the changes forced upon its
ing the spread of the coronavirus. around the clock. to develop clinical content within the centers and continuously look for cre-
Organizations like Health Choice “The HCN Board of Directors and their electronic health record (EHR) to allow ative ways to offer support. In response
Network, Inc. (HCN) are doing their part vision in creating this mission driven our providers clinical decision support to the foreseeable next few months, Alex
in supporting these health centers. HCN, a organization 26 years ago was for this tools and allow documentation for both Romillo cautions that we will see a differ-
non-profit organization, serves communi- exact period of time: to support and pre- COVID and non-COVID office visits.”, ent healthcare delivery system. “Having
ty health centers by providing key busi- pare our health centers.” adds Alex says Dr. Long. “Secondly, this forum now gone through this crisis, what
ness services utilizing state-of-the-art sys- Romillo. “We can pivot quickly to house brings clinical leadership together and healthy patient would ever sit in a wait-
tems to improve the quality and access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) allows our health centers to share prom- ing room for minutes / hours next to a
care. “Our primary focus is to support our and provide crucial data reports to be uti- ising practices to combat this COVID-19 potentially sick patient? There will be
health centers, safety-net providers and lized for both clinical and Department of pandemic.” Currently, HCN has over more remote monitoring, in-home care
the patients they serve” says Alejandro Health and Human Services (HHS) via all 1500 registrants sign up for the series. services, and audio and video health for
(Alex) Romillo, President and Chief governing bodies.” “More importantly”, elaborates Dr. specific populations with underlying
Executive Officer at HCN. “The best way To help mitigate the challenges Long, “our clinical priority has been to health conditions.” The lessons learned
we can do that”, he adds, is by “doing what brought on by this unprecedented pan- help ensure that our health centers and will undoubtedly impact our current
we do best: technology, data, logistics and demic, Dr. Timothy Long, Chief Clinical frontline staff have the needed supplies healthcare system and influence its evo-
group vendor leveraging.” Officer to both HCN and Alli ance - necessary to see patients during this lution.

Health Care District of Palm Beach County

Expands Its Belle Glade COVID-19 Testing Site

The Health Care District of Palm Beach ter representatives have successfully
County is expanding its ongoing operated the county’s first state-spon-
COVID-19 testing for residents in the sored drive-thru test site at the FIT-
Glades communities. Since March 16, TEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in
the Health Care District has offered West Palm Beach,” said Darcy J. Davis,
COVID-19 testing on a walk-up basis, Health Care District CEO.
without an appointment outside of the “At the same time, we have continued
C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinic at to run our testing sites at our primary
Lakeside Medical Center, located at care clinics in Lantana and Belle Glade.
39200 Hooker Highway in Belle Glade. We are proud to announce the addition
As of April 21, appointments are now be of a drive-thru lane in Belle Glade in
necessary and can be made by calling order to expand testing to ensure fami-
(561) 642-1000. lies in the Glades communities, especial-
Patients are able to access the new ly those who have limited or no access to
drive-thru testing lane or, if they do not transportation, are able to receive testing
have a vehicle, can walk up to the exist- on foot and by car.”
ing site. Individuals can be any age, and Thanks to the support of Florida
need not be symptomatic to be registered Governor Ron DeSantis, the State
and tested, but all individuals desiring Department of Emergency Management
walk-up or drive-thru testing must call and on-site assistance from the Florida Health Care District’s Clinics staff and Palm Beach County
in advance to be scheduled. While National Guard and Palm Beach County, personnel plan Belle Glade test site logistics
asymptomatic patients will be tested, we the Health Care District plans to add a
highly recommend they only schedule as drive-thru lane at Lakeside Medical District personnel worked last week with serving the health needs of residents and
drive-thru patients due to the risk of Center, the Health Care District’s acute- Palm Beach County engineers to plan the visitors in our rural, western communi-
contracting COVID-19 while waiting to care teaching hospital in the Glades. The traffic flow of the expanded site, which ties,” said Tammy Jackson-Moore, who
be tested. Results will be communicated Health Care District has worked diligent- has tested over 300 patients since it represents the Glades region on the
by a Health Care District provider as ly on logistics, training and scheduling opened last month. The county’s public Health Care District Board and also
soon as they are available. with county Emergency Management bus service, Palm Tran, has a stop in serves as a Glades community advocate.
“Since the end of last month, the staff to ensure the Belle Glade test site front of the hospital. “I am proud to see the Health Care
Health Care District’s dedicated clinical can increase testing capacity to approxi- “It’s been clear over the years that the District put even more resources toward
staff, command center team and call cen- mately 150 patients a day. Health Care Health Care District stands committed to expanding this vital testing initiative.”

10 May 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News