Weitzman ECHO COVID-19
Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 combines specific didactic, case-based learning and COVID-19 experiences and expertise in primary care to front line Safety Net healthcare providers across the country during this pandemic.
Click on the topics below to learn more about past COVID-19 ECHO sessions and view the slides and recordings.
Supporting Staff During COVID-19
Session Date: December 1, 2021
Educational Objectives:
2. Identify challenges and stressors that health center leadership and staff face as a result of responding to COVID-19.
3. Discuss employee retention strategies to provide staff with opportunities to feel heard and recognized.
4. Review ways in which Community Health Center, Inc. has updated its current hiring practices and efforts in response to staffing shortages.
Panelists included:
- Amanda Schiessl, MPP, Deputy Operations Officer/Co-Principal Investigator, Community Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute
- Stephen Scholand, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist, MidState Medical Center
- Tim Kearney, Chief Behavioral Health Officer at Community Health Center Inc.
- Veena Channamsetty, Chief Medical Officer at Community Health Center Inc.
- Mary Blankson, Chief Nursing Officer at Community Health Center Inc.
Community Engagement Pathways
Session Date: November 17, 2021
Educational Objectives:
2. Identify at-risk populations’ needs and how to collaborate with local community resources to increase COVID-19 vaccinations amongst such populations.
3. Review current examples of COVID-19 vaccination efforts with community partners and highlight the impact these efforts make for community members.
Panelists included:
- Amanda Schiessl, MPP, Deputy Operations Officer/Co-Principal Investigator, Community Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute
- Stephen Scholand, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist, MidState Medical Center
- Kasey Harding, Director of the Center for Key Populations, Community Health Center Inc.
- Yvette Highsmith-Francis, Eastern Region Vice President, Community Health Center Inc.
Pediatric Vaccines in the Team-Based Care Model
Session Date: November 3, 2021
Educational Objectives:
1. Review and amalgamate burgeoning pediatric vaccine information.
2. Highlight key changes and best practices to vaccine administration for pediatric populations.
Panelists included:
- Amanda Schiessl, MPP, Deputy Operations Officer/Co-Principal Investigator, Community Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute
- Stephen Scholand, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist, MidState Medical Center
- Ho-Choong Chang, Chief of Pediatrics, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Susan Bissonnette, Nurse Manager, Community Health Center, Inc.
Boosters for Immunocompromised and Patients at High Risk
Session Date: October 20, 2021
Educational Objectives:
1. Understand differences in eligibility and efficacy between the third dose and booster.
2. List recommendations on communicating third dose and booster information with both clinical staff and patients.
Panelists included:
- Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer, CHC, Inc.
- Natalie Bycenski, Senior Nurse Manager, Community Health Center Inc.
- Leslie Gianelli, Vice President of Communications, Community Health Center Inc.
- Marie Yardis, Access to Care Director, Community Health Center Inc.
- Amanda Schiessl, MPP, Deputy Operations Officer/Co-Principal Investigator, Community Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute
- Stephen Scholand, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist, MidState Medical Center
Additional Resources:
Leslie Gianelli’s slides on communicating information about the vaccine to patients
- HC COVID-19 Program: Supporting HCs with Adolescent Vaccinations
- COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Planning Checklist
- What Clinicians Need to Know About the Latest CDC Recommendations for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Booster Vaccination
Team-Based Care Within the Setting of COVID-19 – Review & Reintroduction
Session Date: October 6, 2021
Educational Objectives:
1. Understand how the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the United States has evolved to the present day.
2. List considerations for balancing in-person and telehealth deliveries of care within the team-based care model.
3. Evaluate patient satisfaction with in-person, telehealth and telephone visits.
Panelists included:
- Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer, CHC, Inc.
- Veena Channamsetty, MD, FAAFP; Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Amanda Schiessl, MPP, Project Director/Co-Principal Investigator, Community Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute
- Stephen Scholand, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist, MidState Medical Center
COVID-19 Vaccination Strategies for Youth
Session Date: May 19, 2021
The Food and Drug Administration’s decision to authorize the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds presents a new opportunity in the push for broad immunity against the coronavirus. However, the challenges of getting this group vaccinated are more complicated than for adults.
Community Health Center, Inc. was recently featured in a New York Time’s article to discuss strategies for vaccinating adolescents, including speaking with parents, collaborating with schools, and setting up mobile vaccination sites.
This special one-time session had CHC discusses their approach on the most reassuring and expedient ways to reach youth and their parents.
Panelists included:
Ruchi Kapoor, Vaccine Staff Nurse, Community Health Center, Inc.
Anne Marie Mancini, Deputy Superintendent, East Hartford Public Schools
Nathan Quesnel, Superintendent, East Hartford Public Schools
Amanda Schiessl, MPP, Project Director/Co-Principal Investigator. Community Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute
Stephen Scholand, MD, Infectious Disease Specialist, MidState Medical Center
Amy Taylor, Vice President, Western Region, Community Health Center, Inc.
Evolving Care Team Models, Strategies to Assess Provider Satisfaction, and Addressing Burnout
Session Date: April 21, 2021
This presentation was part of a series on provider burnout. To view parts I & II, visit www.chcworkforce.org
Panelists included:
- Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, FAAN, Chief Nursing Officer, CHC, Inc.
- Kasey Harding MPH, Director for Center for Key Populations, CHC, Inc.
- Gary Wallace Director of Community Engagement and Relations, CHC, Inc.
- Marie Yardis, Director of Access to Care, CHC, Inc.
- Stephen Scholand, MD, Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
This webinar resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Additional Resource on Crisis, Stabilization & Safety:
Thank you to Somatic Experiencing International (SEI) for sharing this resource.
This tool contains a series of 5 exercises that one can use anytime, anywhere, that take less than 3 minutes. The exercises are designed to reduce stress, down-regulate the nervous system (engage the parasympathetic system) and help during times of crisis.
SCOPE Safety Aid | SCOPE Safety Presentation
To learn more, contact: Amie Leigh: [email protected] or Michele Solloway at SUNY: [email protected]
Staff Roles, Responsibilities, and Training Throughout the Vaccination Cycle
Session Date: March 31, 2021
Panelists included:
- Kate Gager, Patient Experience Supervisor; Community Health Center, Inc.
- Mette Smith, MS, LSSBB, CPHQ; Vice President, Practice Administration, Community Health Center, Inc
-
Amanda Schiessl, MPP; Project Director/Co-Principal Investigator. Community Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute
- Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
A Multi-Pronged Approach: Drive Through Clinics, On-site Clinics, and Community Outreach Clinics to Vulnerable Populations
Session Date: March 24, 2021
Panelists included:
- Vickie Knapp, MBA; Chief Operating Officer, Mat-Su Health Services, Inc.
- Mette Smith, MS, LSSBB, CPHQ; Vice President, Practice Administration, Community Health Center, Inc
-
Amanda Schiessl, MPP; Project Director/Co-Principal Investigator. Community Health Center, Inc./Weitzman Institute
- Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Who Wants To Be A Vaccinator: Volunteers, Students, and Other Professionals
Session Date: April 7, 2021
Panelists included:
- Margaret Flinter, PHD, APRN; Senior VP and Clinical Director, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Amy Taylor; Vice President, Western Region, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Population Management Approach to Reaching Key Populations
Session Date: March 10, 2021
Panelists included:
- Tierney Giannotti, MPA, Senior Program Manager, Population Health; Community Health Center, Inc.
- Yvette Highsmith-Francis, MM, Vice President, Eastern Region, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy: Media, Web Page, Person to Person, and Target Populations
Session Date: March 3, 2021
Panelists included:
- Margaret Davis, MSW; Director of Knowledge Management and Learning, National Association of Community Health Centers
- Karoline Oliveira, EdD; Chief of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Erica Addison; Digital Marketing Director, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
Below are the links referenced by Margaret:
To visit the Clearninghouse: https://www.healthcenterinfo.org/piority-topics/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine-distribution
For the Communications toolkit: https://www.nachc.org/coronavirus/covid-vaccine-communications-toolkit/
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Covid-19 Impact and Response on Health Professions Training
Session Date: February 17 , 2021
Panelists included:
- Jaclyn Cunningham – Inter-Professional Student Coordinator, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Patricia Johnson, EdD, RDH – Professor of Dental Hygiene and Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator, Tunxis Community College
- Nicole Seagriff, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC – Clinical Program Director, Postgraduate Nurse Practitioner Residency Program, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Meg LaPointe, MSN, APRN, FNP-C – NP Resident, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Essential Policies, Procedures, and Roles in Managing, Protecting, and Administering Your Vaccine Supply
Session Date: March 17, 2021
Panelists included:
- Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Chief Nursing Officer, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Natalie Bycenski, RN, MSN; Nurse Manager, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Conversations on COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts
Session Date: January 20 , 2021
**The slides include an index of answers from clinical questions posted in the chat
Panelists included:
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
Mike Renaud; Vice President of Quality and Patient Engagement, Presbyterian Medical Services
Kenneth Tai, MD; Chief Health Officer, North East Medical Services
Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Chief Nursing Officer, CHC Inc.
COVID-19 "Long Haulers"
Session Date: January 6 , 2021
Panelists included:
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
Emma Kaplan-Lewis, MD; Clinical Quality Director HIV Services, NYC Health + Hospitals
Dr. Durrance, MD; Pulmonologist, NYC Health + Hospitals
To view the infographics in the presentation, visit: https://www.bmj.com/infographics
To view the specific Long Hauler infographic, visit: https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3026/infographic
Below are some answers to questions posed during the session (posted 1/11/21, information may have been updated since posting):
If COVID antibodies are present, at what level does it reduce risk of reinfection among long haulers and their capacity to transmit to others? Should they receive the vaccine if it is over 6-8 months after they recovered from acute and subacute phases?
This is currently being evaluated and is not entirely known. antibody profiles don’t seem to be different in long haulers compared to other people who have recovered from COVID. There is one hypothesis that autoantibodies in the aftermath of severe covid may be leading to the long hauler symptoms (https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.10.20247205v3), and a preprint study showed increased autoantibody reactivity among people recovering from COVID, however in my personal opinion this may just reflect the significant endothelial activation and dysfunction in severe COVID which would make the chance of having autoantibodies in the convalescent period more likely (similar to how HIV is associated with autoantibodies- both related to immune dysfunction as well as endothelial dysfunction). We do know that having antibodies after COVID greatly reduces the risk of reinfection (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034545) and a study of healthcare workers showed those who were antibody negative for anti spike IGG had PCR + test rate of 1.09/10,000 days at risk compared to 0.13/10,000 for those who were antibody positive. Because antibodies tend to last approximately 3 months ( if not longer) I believe it makes sense to vaccinate long haulers the same as any other individual at approximately 3 mo from the incident infection. If it is less than 3 months and there is concern for lost to follow up I would recommend vaccinating the patient as long as it has been at least 3 weeks from the most acute symptoms to avoid missing the opportunity.
Given the findings of susceptibility to microvascular blood vessel damage in the brains of COVID-19 patients, do we anticipate significantly increased rates of neurocognitive disorders in “recovered” and long-haul patients?
It is hard to say what the long term impact will be neurologically, however it should definitely be on our radar to detect neurocognitive dysfunction- particularly for individuals who had severe covid and especially if they had acute and/or persistent neurocognitive symptoms. We also don’t know what is unique to covid’s impact on cerebral microvasculature in comparison to other viral systemic infections- HIV for example and Varicella both impact microvasculature (and microvasculature) in different ways as well.
Given what we know so far, and in the context of a severe and inflammatory critical illness, it is something that we must keep in the front of our mind during visits. Evidence to this point is observational and retrospective. However, failing to adequately address issues of PTSD, Depression, Anxiety will undoubtedly increase the odds of developing long-term sequelae. While it appears to be intuitive at this time to suspect an increase in neurocognitive dysfunction, the magnitude of what that will be is yet to be determined.
Given these enormous periods of supine positioning and sedentism – are you recommending any preventive in bed strength training( isometrics) and baseline osteoporosis and muscle mass measurements- given expected osteopenia and sarcopenia?
Proning has been used in the hospital setting (either awake or when intubated with a proning team) to help with lung recruitment in severely hypoxic patients. I don’t have any data specifically on this but to me it makes a lot of sense to ambulate early and involve PT and OT early on in the process while patients are hospitalized as well as post discharge including utilizing telehealth with PT/OT. In terms of osteoporosis and sarcopenia I can’t answer in terms of COVID but for my personal practice I would follow routine guidelines for osteoporosis screening unless the patient had been hospitalized/bed ridden for > 1 month and then would see if insurance would cover a baseline DEXA.
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy
Session Date: December 16 , 2020
View the discussion about why populations have historically been reluctant towards vaccines, what common misconceptions exist regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, and how to address the vaccine with your patients.
Panelists included:
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
Marwan Haddad, MD, MPH, AAHIVS; Medical Director, Center for Key Populations, Community Health Center, Inc.
Kasey Harding, MPH; Director, Center for Key Populations, Community Health Center, Inc.
Additional resource: Presentation on COVID-19 Vaccine Answers To Your Questions
Team-Based Approaches to Meeting Patient Population Needs
Session Date: February 3 , 2021
Panelists included:
Courtney Riggle-van Schagen, LCSW; Director of Behavioral Health, Neighborhood Health
Vija Sehgal, MD, MPH, PhD; Chief Quality Officer and Director of Pediatric Services, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Physician, Midstate Medical Center
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Community Outreach to Individuals Experiencing Homelessness During COVID-19
Session Date: November 18 , 2020
The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and their key partners shared how they have been identifying and assisting individuals experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. State partners have supported individuals with clinical and mental health care, as well as essential social determinant of health services.
Below is the link to the article on the hotels referenced by our panelists.
https://djph.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/25_Landgraf_Homeless.pdf
Mind-Body Practices for Healing Stress and Trauma
Session Date: November 4, 2020
Our faculty panel included:
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant, MidState Medical Center
Beth Robins Roth, APRN, SEP; Owner and Mindfulness Meditation Instructor and Somatic Experiencing Trauma Healing Practitioner, Hummingbird Trauma Resolution
Thank you to our panel who participated in the activities:
Jane Hylan, Director of School-Based Services, CHCI
Stephanie Ivers-Heine, Communications Manager, CHCI
Anna Rogers, Weitzman Education Program Specialist, Weitzman Institute
Jocelyn Zapata, Patient Services Associate, CHCI
Leticia Orozco, Weitzman Education Program Specialist – Residency Program, Weitzman Institute
Amy Taylor, Vice President, Western Region, CHCI
Panel Discussion on the COVID Vaccine: Operational and Clinical Preparedness
Session Date: October 21, 2020
Our faculty panel included:
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant, MidState Medical Center
Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Chief Nursing Officer, Community Health Center
Rajiv Modak, MD; Pediatrician; El Rio Health
Ocie Wilson, PharmD; Associate Pharmacy Director, El Rio Health
Sudha Nagalingam, MD; Infectious Disease Physician; El Rio Health
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Caring For Agricultural Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Session Date: December 2 , 2020
Panelists included:
Jeannie McIntosh, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; CHC, Inc. Center for Key Populations
Joelle Isidor, MD, CRVFHP Outreach Worker; CHC, Inc. Center for Key Populations
Kasey Harding, MPH; CHC, Inc. Director of the Center for Key Populations
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant, MidState Medical Center
Data Driven Telehealth: Understanding the Impact & Measuring Satisfaction
Session Date: October 7, 2020 | 12-1PM ET / 9-10AM PT
Our faculty panel included:
Meredith Johnson, MBA, MHA; Chief of Staff, Community Health Center
Tierney Giannotti, MPA; Senior Program Manager, Population Health, Community Health Center
Doreen Colella, RN, MSN; Family Health Centers at NYU Langone
George Shahin, MD, MBA; Family Health Centers at NYU Langone
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Preparing for the COVID-19 Vaccine
Session Date: September 30, 2020
Our faculty panel included:
Jennie McLaurin, MD, MPH; Board-Certified Pediatrician, NACHC Consultant
Veena Channamsetty, MD, FAAFP; Chief Medical Officer, Community Health Center, Inc.
Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Chief Nursing Officer, Community Health Center, Inc.
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant, MidState Medical Center
Rajiv Modak, MD; Pediatrician; El Rio Health
Ocie Wilson, PharmD; Associate Pharmacy Director, El Rio Health
Highlighting the Community in Community Health: Community Engagement Opportunities During COVID-19
Session Date: October 14, 2020
Our faculty panel included:
Yvette Highsmith-Francis, MM; Vice President, Eastern Region; Community Health Center, Inc.
Amy Taylor; Vice President, Western Region; Community Health Center, Inc.
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Illustrations of Telehealth Innovations
Session Date: September 16, 2020
Our faculty panel included
Doug Smith, Executive Vice President; Presbyterian Medical Services
Jeffrey McInnes, Director of Billing and Patient Access; Esperanza Health Centers
Sydney Kennedy, Assistant Director of Telehealth; Community Health Center, Inc.
Kate Gager, Patient Experience Supervisor; Community Health Center, Inc.
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Telehealth and Patient Engagement Strategies; The Operations Team Perspective
Session Date: September 9, 2020
Our faculty panel included
Victoria Besse, Sr. Operations Project Manager; Community Health Center, Inc.
Kate Gager, Patient Experience Supervisor; Community Health Center, Inc.
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
National Conversation on Dental Care: Reflections & Looking Forward
Session Date: September 23, 2020
Our faculty panel included
Irene V. Hilton, DDS, MPH; Dental Consultant, National Network of Oral Health Access
Margaret Mason, DMD; Vice President of Dental Medicine, Family Health Centers at NYU Langone
Sheela Tummala, DDS, MPH; Chief Dental Officer, Community Health Center
Brianna Hillier, DMD; Director of Dental Services, Chiricahua Community Health Centers
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
Flu Considerations During COVID-19
Session Date: August 26, 2020
Our faculty panel included
Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Chief Nursing Officer, Community Health Center, Inc.
Natalie Bycenski, RN, MSN; Nurse Manager, Chair of the Infection Control Committee, Community Health Center, Inc.
Lucy Golding, RN, MSN; Nurse Manager, Chair of the Flu Subcommittee of the Infection Control Committee, Community Health Center, Inc
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant
Sustaining Health Professions Training Through COVID-19
Session Date: August 19, 2020
Our faculty panel included
Dr. Mary Blankson, Chief Nursing Officer
Charise Corsino, Program Director, Nurse Practitioner Residency Programs
Jaclyn Cunningham, Inter-professional Student Coordinator, Human Resources
Dr. Dariush Fathi, Post Doctoral Residency Group and Telehealth Coordinator
This resource is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U30CS29049 entitled “Training and Technical Assistance National Cooperative Agreements (NCAs)” for grant amount $2,045,000 with 0% financed with non-governmental funds. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government
The Pain of COVID-19: Treatment of Chronic Pain During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Session Date: September 2, 2020
Our faculty panel included
Bennet Davis, MD; Pain Program Director, Sierra Tucson
Amy Kennedy, PharmD, BCACP; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy; Clinical Pharmacist, El Rio Health
Kathy Davis, RN, BSN, ANP-C; Nurse Practitioner, El Rio Health Pain Program
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant
Connecting Vulnerable Populations with Resources to Support Self-Isolation: Innovations and Lessons Learned from IsoCare
Session Date: August 5, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session include:
Panna Lossy, MD; Family Medicine Physician, Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency; Co-founder, IsoCare
Deirdre Bernard-Pearl, MD; Pediatric Medical Director, Santa Rosa Community Health Center; Co-founder, IsoCare
Daren Anderson, MD; Director of the Weitzman Institute, and moderator for the session
We are also grateful for our partnership with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
A Journey Towards Resiliency: Resources for Now, Later, & Long-Term from NYC Health + Hospitals
Session Date: August 12, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session include:
Jeremy Segall, MA, RDT, LCAT; Sr. Director, Chief Wellness Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals
Eric Wei, MD, MBA; Sr. Vice President, Chief Quality Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals
We are also grateful for our partnership with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Presentations of COVID-19 in Specialty Care
Session Date: July 22, 2020
Our faculty panel included
Stephen Scholand, MD; Infectious Disease Consultant
Steven Fein, MD; Board-Certified Hematology Specialist
Veena Channamsetty, MD, FAAFP; Chief Medical Officer, CHC, Inc.
Daren Anderson, MD; Director of the Weitzman Institute, and moderator for the session
We are also grateful for our partnership with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Challenges in Addressing the Evolving Opioid Crisis During COVID-19
Session Date: July 29, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session include:
Marwan Haddad, MD, MPH, AAHIVS
Dan Bryant, LPC, CCTP
Traci Norman, Program Director
Briana Reaves, MAT Care Coordinator
Daren Anderson, MD; Director of the Weitzman Institute, and moderator for the session
We are also grateful for our partnership with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
COVID-19 in Primary Care: Behavioral Health Cases and Discussions
Session Date: July 8, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session included:
Tim Kearney, PhD; Chief Behavioral Health Officer, CHC, Inc.
Jessica Welt, PsyD; CEO/Clinical Director, Child Guidance Center of Southern CT
Shari Fanelli, MS, LPC, ATR; Intake Director, Child Guidance of Southern CT
Behavioral health clinicians from Community Health Center, Inc. and the Child Guidance Center of Southern Connecticut talked through the impact of COVID-19 on their patients. Cases were presented and guidance on how to best approach issues including grief and anxiety were shared. This session was moderated by Karen Ashley, EdD; Director of Education, Weitzman Institute at CHC, Inc. We are also grateful for our partnership with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Connecting Vulnerable Populations with Resources to Support Self-Isolation: Innovations and Lessons Learned from IsoCare
Session Date: August 5, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session include:
Panna Lossy, MD; Family Medicine Physician, Santa Rosa Family Medicine Residency; Co-founder, IsoCare
Deirdre Bernard-Pearl, MD; Pediatric Medical Director, Santa Rosa Community Health Center; Co-founder, IsoCare
We are also grateful for our partnership with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Population Health and Quality of Care in the Era of COVID
Session Date: June 17, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session included:
Dr. Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Chief Nursing Officer, CHC, Inc.
Tierney Giannotti, MPA, Senior Program Manager, Population Health, CHC, Inc.
Our faculty panel also included Steven Scholand, MD Infectious Disease Specialist who practices at MidState Medical Center in Meriden, Connecticut; and session moderator was Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute at CHC, Inc. We are also grateful to partner with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Innovations in Contact Tracing from California: Health Coaching and Communicating Effectively About Covid-19
Session Date: July 15, 2020
Our faculty panel included
Stephen Scholand, MD – Infectious Disease Consultant
Rachel Willard-Grace, MPH; Director, Center for Excellence in Primary Care
Solange Madriz, MA, MS; Academic Coordinator, Institute for Global Health Sciences at UCSF
Daren Anderson, MD; Director of the Weitzman Institute, and moderator for the session
We are also grateful for our partnership with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Weitzman ECHO COVID-19: Clinical Updates & Addressing Frequent Questions
Session Date: June 24, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session included:
Dr. Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Chief Nursing Officer, CHC, Inc.
Dr. Stephen Scholand, MD – Infectious Disease Consultant
This session was moderated by Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute at CHC, Inc. We are also grateful for our partnership with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Adapting Patient Care for Rural Populations During COVID-19
Session Date: June 3, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session included:
Dr. Sarah Chouinard, MD; Chief Medical Officer, Community Care of West Virginia
Dr. Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Chief Nursing Officer, CHC, Inc.
Our faculty panel also included Steven Scholand, MD Infectious Disease Specialist who practices at MidState Medical Center in Meriden, Connecticut; and session moderator was Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute at CHC, Inc. We are also grateful to partner with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
COVID-19 in Primary Care: Cases and Discussions from the Front Lines
Session Date: June 10, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session included:
Ho-Choong Chang, MD, FAAP; Chief of Pediatrics, CHC, Inc.
Marwan Haddad, MD, MPH; Medical Director, Center for Key Populations, CHC, Inc.
Dan Wilensky, MD; Medical Director, ConferMED, CHC, Inc.
Our faculty panel also included Steven Scholand, MD Infectious Disease Specialist who practices at MidState Medical Center in Meriden, Connecticut; and session moderator was Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute at CHC, Inc. We are also grateful to partner with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Treating Elderly Patients in the COVID-19 Era – Innovations from West PACE
Session Date: May 27, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session included:
Ross Colt, MD, MBA, FAAFP; Medical Director, West PACE
Michael Kurliand, MS, BSN, RN; Director of Telehealth & Process Improvement, West Health Institute
Our faculty panel also included Steven Scholand, MD Infectious Disease Specialist who practices at MidState Medical Center in Meriden, Connecticut; and session moderator was Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute at CHC, Inc. We are also grateful to partner with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Promoting Risk Reduction of COVID-19 in Your Patients
Session Date: May 20, 2020
Faculty presenters for this session included:
Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C; Chief Nursing Officer, CHC, Inc.
Veena Channamsetty, MD, FAAFP; Chief Medical Officer, CHC, Inc.
Marwan Haddad MD, MPH, AAHIVS; Medical Director, Center for Key Populations, CHC, Inc.
Our faculty panel also included Steven Scholand, MD Infectious Disease Specialist who practices at MidState Medical Center in Meriden, Connecticut; and session moderator was Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute at CHC, Inc. We are grateful to partner with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Lessons Learned and Clinical Best Practices on COVID-19
Session Date: May 13, 2020
In this week’s Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 session, we virtually hosted two of NYC Health & Hospital Infectious disease specialists as they share their experiences battling this illness on the front lines.
- Emma Kaplan-Lewis, Clinical Quality Director HIV Services at NYC Health + Hospitals
- Joseph Masci, Chairman of the Department of Global Health at Elmhurst Hospital Center
Our faculty panel also included Steven Scholand, MD Infectious Disease Specialist who practices at MidState Medical Center in Meriden, Connecticut; Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN Chief Nursing Officer at CHC, Inc., and session moderator was Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute at CHC, Inc. We are grateful to partner with Project HOPE. Through their support, we are able to educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Designing a Framework for Reopening Your Clinic Site
Session Date: May 6, 2020
This Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 session included discussion regarding key questions your leadership should be thinking of in designing your own framework and why (CDC, pt safety, drivers), such as: Which types of visits will be allowed on-site; Plans for Well-child Visits/Immunization catch-up; Critical patients groups we want to prioritize for visits. Our faculty panel will include Steven Scholand, MD; Veena Channamsetty, MD, FAAFP Chief Medical Officer at CHC, Inc.; Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN Chief Nursing Officer at CHC, Inc., and was moderated by Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute at CHC, Inc. We are grateful to Project HOPE for their support in helping us educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
Team-Based Care in Telehealth
Session Date: April 29, 2020
This Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 session focused on the changes within the team-based care model and how organizations can pivot in response to the pandemic. Our faculty panel included Steven Scholand, MD; Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN Chief Nursing Officer at CHC, Inc., Tim Kearney, Ph.D. Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Sheela Tummala,DDS,MPH Chief Dental Officer and was moderated by Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute. We are grateful to Project HOPE for their support in helping us educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic.
COVID-19 with Special Guests Dr. Saad Omer and Dr. Kenyon
Session Date: April 22, 2020
This Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 session featured Project HOPE’s Chief Health Officer; Dr. Tom Kenyon as we announce our new partnership. We are grateful to Project HOPE for their support in helping us educate providers, keep patients healthy and safe, and help battle the pandemic. This week’s session also featured special guest, Dr. Saad Omer, Director of Yale Institute for Global Health. Dr. Omer is a vaccinologist and infectious disease epidemiologist and has conducted several studies on interventions to increase immunization coverage and acceptance. Our faculty panel also included Steven Scholand, MD; Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN Chief Nursing Officer at CHC, Inc. and was moderated by Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute.
Crisis Counseling & Self-Care
Session Date: April 15, 2020
This Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 session featured operational, clinical and behavioral health experts sharing best practices and guidance for audiences across the country in the areas of crisis counseling and self-care information for patients and for healthcare providers. Our faculty panel included Steven Scholand, MD; Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN Chief Nursing Officer at CHC, Inc.; Dr. Jessica Welt, CEO and Clinical Director of the Child Guidance Center of CT, Tim Kearney, Ph.D. Chief Behavioral Health Officer and President of Behavioral Health at CHC, Inc.; and was moderated by Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute.
COVID-19 Cases & Questions Across the Country
Session Date: April 8, 2020
This Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 session featured operational and clinical experts sharing best practices and guidance for audiences across the country. We recognize that many of the cases and questions we are responding to are a valuable resource for our national audience. Our faculty panel included Steven Scholand, MD; Veena Channamsetty, MD, FAAFP; Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN; Matthew Huddleston, MD; and was moderated by Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute. Content provided included a national COVID-19 healthcare update and focused mainly on answering many of COVID-19 cases and questions submitted prior to and during the session. We will continue to use this tool to share critical updates and guidance during this pandemic.
Caring for Key Populations in the Midst of COVID-19
Session Date: April 1, 2020
Caring for our key populations is so important and now more than ever. This Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 session included expert faculty Steven Scholand, MD; Marwan Haddad, MD, MPH, AAHIVS Medical Director, The Center for Key Populations at CHC, Inc.; Kasey Harding, MPH Director of The Center for Key Populations at CHC, Inc. and Dan Bryant, LPC, CCTP Clinical Director of Substance Use Disorder Services at CHC, Inc. and was moderated by Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute. The session featured didactic and Q&A regarding key populations experiencing homelessness, those living with HIV, and those struggling with substance use disorder.
Develop & Define Your Telehealth Strategy
Session Date: March 25, 2020
This Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 session featured health center COVID-19 best practices specifically focusing on how to develop and define telehealth strategies. Our faculty panel included Steven Scholand, MD; Veena Channamsetty, MD, FAAFP; Mary Blankson, DNP, APRN; Tim Kearney, PhD and was moderated by Daren Anderson, MD – Director of the Weitzman Institute.
Managing the Workflow Under Constant Changes
Session Date: March 18, 2020
This Weitzman ECHO COVID-19 session included information about workflow, triage, clinical updates and content presented by our experts and partners. Clinical care providers and clinical operations leaders from FQHCs across the country shared best practices and answered live questions submitted throughout the session.
Complex Integrated Pediatrics: COVID-19
Session Date: March 11, 2020
We held a special session of Weitzman ECHO: Complex Integrated Pediatrics focused on COVID-19. This session provided a brief overview of COVID-19, a review of best practices for talking with children about the virus, behavioral health self-care for clinicians, and more.