Safety Net

Community Health Needs Assessment Survey

2013-03-20T18:39:16Z

St. Joseph's/Candler Health System and Memorial University Medical Center have partnered to gather public input regarding health needs through a "Community Health Needs Assessment Survey." We seek to understand what community health services and social services are most needed in Chatham County.

We want you to participate!

Please complete our questionnaire by clicking the link below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Chatham_County_Health_Survey

The survey is short and only takes a little time to complete. At the end of the survey you can register to win a free iPad in a drawing that will be held on April 30th!

We thank you in advance for helping us indentify gaps and needed services in the Chatham County Community.

If your organization would be gracious enough to include a link on your website to promote this survey, please direct your IT department/developer to post the survey link on your web site. Thank you!

Safety Net Names New Executive Director

2013-03-08T14:16:17Z

Dale Carlson-Bebout has been named the new executive director of the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council (CCSNPC). Carlson-Bebout is now responsible for organizing and carrying out all day-to-day activities of the CCSNPC.

Carlson-Bebout comes to the CCSNPC from the American Cancer Society where she served as the Southeast Georgia Regional Director. She has more than 12 years of experience in positions of leadership with non-profit organizations including Step Up Savannah, the Poverty Reduction Initiative, and Senior Citizens, Inc. Her work with lower income workers was recognized at a national White House Forum in 2010.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to work with such a diverse group of organizations that deliver healthcare services to those citizens who need it the most," said Carlson-Bebout.

The mission of the Planning Council is to develop an infrastructure to maximize access and utilization of health services and to leverage available resources to assure improved health status for the residents of Chatham County.

"Dale is a wonderful addition to the Planning Council and will help the organization take the necessary steps to improve the health outcomes among the un- and underinsured population in Chatham County," said Dr. Diane Weems, CCSNPC Chair.

Carlson-Bebout holds a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and marketing from George Washington University. She and her husband, John, live in Savannah.

Safety Net Members Support Wesley Community Center During the Holidays

2012-11-29T16:43:53Z

This year, the Safety Net is raising money and collecting donations for the Wesley Community Center. At our December meeting, please plan to bring donations of women's business clothing (outfits and accessories).

Bring clothing on hangers and make sure it is clean and pressed. Shoes and accessories are welcome as well. You can read about Wesley's Career Clothing Closet at http://www.wesleyctrs-savh.org/CareerClothingCloset.php.

We will also have a raffle to raise money. At the meeting, raffle tickets will be available for cash or checks made out to Wesley Community Centers of Savannah, Inc. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 6 tickets for $25.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you may purchase raffle tickets ahead of time by contacting Cheryl J. Douse via email at cjdouse@chlink.org or by phone at (912) 644-5219.

Our Next Meeting:
December 13, 2012
3:30 pm-5pm
Candler Hospital, Board Room
Get Directions

Curtis V. Cooper Receives Grant

2012-09-28T15:02:59Z

Curtis V. Cooper has received a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to improve quality of care and increase cervical cancer screenings.

The Department of Health and Human Services issued the following press release:

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced new grants that will improve the quality of care at community health centers and ensure more women are screened for cervical cancer. The grants will help 810 community health centers become patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) and increase their rates of cervical cancer screening.

"Our health centers are committed to providing high quality health care services and today's awards help continue these efforts," said Secretary Sebelius.

The patient-centered medical home is a care delivery model designed to improve quality of care through better coordination, treating the many needs of the patient at once, increasing access, and empowering the patient to be a partner in their own care.

Today's awards will provide assistance to 810 health centers as they make the practice changes, such as improved care coordination and management, that are necessary to become patient-centered medical homes. The awards will also support health centers' efforts to increase the percentage of women screened for cervical cancer.

Click here to read more.

Community Cardiovascular Council Closes

2012-07-24T20:54:37Z

After 43 years of service, CCSNPC partner the Community Cardiovascular Council closes its doors.

Click here to read an Opinion article in the Savannah Morning News by Dr. James C. Metts entitled "How Chatham Beat an Epidemic."

Chatham County HIE Represents GA In National Consumer Innovation Challenge

2012-03-30T12:36:15Z

ChathamHealthLink, the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council's (CCSNPC) community-based Health Information Exchange (HIE), has been selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology to participate in a nationwide challenge. The ONC identified HIE leaders from around the country, including ChathamHealthLink, to pioneer this innovative program that is designed to increase consumer access to their electronic health information records.

With support from the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), Chatham County residents will benefit from ChathamHealthLink's participation in a federal program to promote secure, patient-friendly access to important medical information. ChathamHealthLink has the capability of matching individual patient data sent from a variety of sources into a single longitudinal record for the patient. When patients access their data through ChathamHealthLink or other trusted HIEs, they connect to a single secure source for their information rather than gathering information from a number of health care provider sources and organizing it themselves.

"Our relationship with ChathamHealthLink began in 2007 with a DCH grant to help launch the local area HIE," said David A. Cook, DCH commissioner. "Dr. Reynolds and her team have done an outstanding job to facilitate the secure access and exchange of patient health information in the region. Learning from this challenge initiative will help us in the on-boarding of regional and enterprise-wide HIEs as we launch Georgia's new statewide health information exchange later this year."

During the six-month challenge, ChathamHealthLink will work with DCH and the Georgia Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (GA-HITREC) to provide secure e-mail addresses for patients' to access ChathamHealthLink. As an example, this secure messaging will give patients access to their laboratory reports ordered by any participating health care provider and performed at any participating laboratory. Patients will then be able to track their lab results through a single secure record stored in ChathamHealthLink.

"We are honored to represent Georgia in this exciting initiative and to collaborate with other health information technology leaders around the country," said Paula Reynolds, MD, MPH, executive director of the CCSNPC and director of ChathamHealthLink. "We want to make health record access quick, easy, secure and understandable for patients, ultimately helping them to live healthier lives."

Click here to read more about the other participants in the challenge.

About ChathamHealthLink
ChathamHealthLink, launched in April 2010, initially linked the electronic medical records systems at J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center and the Emergency Department at Memorial Health University Medical Center through secure electronic portals which store patient records in a protected central database.

The project has since grown into a community-wide health information exchange for Chatham County that enables health information to follow patients regardless of where they go for health care. As a result, patients can receive more efficient and better quality care.

For more information, visit our ChathamHealthLink page.

About the Georgia Department of Community Health
Through effective planning, purchasing and oversight, the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) provides access to affordable, quality health care to millions of Georgians, including some of the state's most vulnerable and underserved populations.

DCH is responsible for Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids,® the State Health Benefit Plan, Healthcare Facility Regulation and Health Information Technology in Georgia.

David A. Cook serves as Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Community Health. To learn more about DCH and its dedication to A Healthy Georgia, visit www.dch.georgia.gov.

Creating a Georgia Health Insurance Exchange

2011-08-24T18:13:26Z

A group of experts, advocates and lawmakers are looking into legislative options for creating a Georgia health insurance exchange.

From the AJC:
"Using the health insurance exchange, consumers who don't have coverage through their employers will shop for options offered by private companies. It will also determine if someone qualifies for Medicaid, the government program that provides coverage for low-income Americans. A separate exchange would allow small business owners to shop for plans to cover workers."

Click here to read the full article

August 2011

2011-08-08T18:18:17Z

At the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council, our partners are constantly looking for ways to serve you better with added services and extended hours as opportunities become available.

This month we have updated the entire website to make certain you are aware of the most recent changes and progress. The Health Options Brochure can be downloaded and printed directly from our home page. Please make sure you have the latest version, dated July 2011.

Hours, services, locations and some eligibility requirements have changed for many of our providers. Please consult the Health Care Resources section to obtain the most current information.

For more information on these and other new developments, visit Breaking News every month.

Paula Reynolds, MD, MPH
Executive Director
Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council

OrionHealth's Rhapsody Integration Engine receives ONC Certification

2011-07-28T22:09:29Z

OrionHealth's Rhapsody Integration Engine and Rhapsody Connect have been certified as Modular Ambulatory EHR and Modular Inpatient compliant. They were independently tested by Verizon Business.

Click here for more information.

Forces join to create Savannah Primary Care Medical Home Project

2011-07-28T21:42:37Z

Savannah Business Group, Healthy Savannah, Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council and Chatham County Health Department have joined forces to create the Savannah Primary Care Medical Home Project. The purpose of the project is to increase support and adoption of the Primary Care Medical Home model of care.

Click here for more information.

Hybrid Health IT of Augusta GA is regional GA-HITREC contractor

2011-07-28T18:51:07Z

Hybrid Health IT Inc. is the regional contractor for the Georgia Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (GA-HITREC). Learn more about the services that Hybrid Health IT inc. provides.

Click here for more information.

GA- HITREC is established at Morehouse School of Medicine

2011-07-28T18:21:33Z

The Georgia Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (GA-HITREC) has been established at Morehouse School of Medicine. It is a federally funded program at the National Center for Primary Care and assists Georgia's providers with selecting and using certified Electronic Health Record systems.

Click here for more information.

Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald named Georgia Public Health Director

2011-07-28T18:15:41Z

The Georgia Department of Community Health named Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald as the new Director of the Division of Public Health. Dr. Fitzgerald has practiced medicine for 30 years and has dedicated her profession to improving public health. In her new position, Dr. Fitzgerald will oversee seven program areas.

Click here to read more in an article from www.CarrolltonGeorgia.com.

The Georgia Division of Public Health becomes an independent agency

2011-07-28T18:07:29Z

Effective as of July 1, 2011 the Division of Public Health became an independent agency and is no longer a division under the Georgia Department of Community Health. As a stand-alone agency the Division of Public health will continue to provide its previous services.

Click here for more information.

AJC Editorial Calls for an Independent Department of Public Health.

2011-02-07T15:31:15Z

Phillip L. Williams and James W. Curran , the deans of public health programs at Emory University and the University of Georgia, make the case for the establishment of a cabinet-level public health agency in an opinion piece in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

From the article:
"Establishing an independent Department of Public Health with its own Cabinet-level commissioner, as the report recommends, would offer the ability to move rapidly to address both persistent and emerging health issues. By enabling the department to report directly to the governor, an independent agency would streamline communications between public health officials, government leaders and the public before and during health emergencies."

Read the entire opinion piece at ajc.com:
Georgia Needs a Cabinet-Level Public Health Agency