About RIHCA - Clinical Quality
Chronic Care Sustainability Initiative of Rhode Island (CSI-RI)
The Chronic Care Sustainability Initiative of Rhode Island (CSI-RI) is funded by
the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) with the goal of improving the delivery
of primary care services to those with chronic illness through advancing the patient-centered
medical home concept. This initiative, which began in October 2008, is currently
being piloted in five primary care practices throughout the state including Thundermist
Health Center.
In support of this exciting effort to transform health care delivery, RIHCA is an
active participant on the CSI-RI Steering Committee and works to assist Thundermist
leaders and staff in successfully implementing the medical home delivery model of
care.
For more information, contact Mary Evans, RIHCA’s Senior Director of Operations
and Clinical Support, at (401) 274-1771, extension 211, or mevans@rihca.org
RI Chronic Care Collaborative (RICCC)
All of Rhode Island’s community health centers participate in the Rhode Island Chronic
Care Collaborative (RICCC), an in-state collaborative effort to examine innovative
ways to manage patients with chronic illnesses. The continuing health disparities
that lead to differences in death and complications from chronic diseases such as
diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disease, as well as other illnesses, illustrate
the need to address these issues aggressively. To achieve meaningful improvements
in the lives of all of their patients, including the underserved populations who
suffer disproportionately from the burden of these health disparities, centers participating
in the RICCC adopt shared clinical measures that are aligned with and based on the
proven guidelines of experts, external reporting requirements and/or other community
standards of care.
The principles of the RICCC include several models that, when used as designed,
bring about rapid improvements in health care. In partnership with the RI Department
of Health, RIHCA provides guidance, training and technical support to the RI health
centers in these models of care and improvement, assisting them in transforming
the way that care is delivered.
For more information, contact Mary Evans, RIHCA’s Senior Director of Operations
and Clinical Support, at (401) 274-1771, extension 211, or
mevans@rihca.org.
Tobacco Treatment Program for the Uninsured
Through a grant from the RI Department of Health (HEALTH), RIHCA manages a program
that delivers tobacco treatment services at no charge to uninsured Rhode Islanders.
For more information about the Tobacco Treatment Program, click here
Contact Sally Mendzela, RIHCA’s Cancer and Tobacco Disparities
Program Manager, at 274-1771, extension 204 or
smendzela@rihca.org.
Colorectal Screening Project
Colorectal cancer is a preventable disease and is almost always curable when detected
early. However, because of low screening rates, this cancer is not always diagnosed
at its earliest, most treatable stage. Four of Rhode Island’s community health centers
are pilot sites in a project sponsored by the RI Department of Health (HEALTH) aimed
at improving screening rates for colorectal cancer among target populations. The
multi-year project began in 2008 by targeting a population of health centers’ patients
ages 50 through 65, as well as the centers’ African-American patients ages 40 through
65. The pilot sites have worked to develop methods designed to reduce resistance
to screening and thus improve screening rates. RIHCA has provided training and technical
assistance to the four health centers participating in the pilot, particularly around
self-management goal setting, a cornerstone of patient-centered medical care, and
continues to work with HEALTH to provide ongoing support to the pilot sites.
For more information, contact Mary Evans, RIHCA’s Senior Director of Operations
and Clinical Support, at (401) 274-1771, extension 211, or
mevans@rihca.org.
Training and Technical Assistance
RIHCA conducts needs assessments and offers training and technical assistance for
all facets of community health center operations, both clinical and administrative.
We provide Emergency Preparedness training, Board of Directors development and educational
sessions on clinical and operational topics.