We invite you to view our completed Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Annual Report which provides documented snapshots of the accomplishments in the continuum of health education in our six core areas that were planned, developed and implemented in collaboration with our more than 300 partners in our 17-county region as well as statewide.

Among the many impacts of COVID-19 on North Carolina is a marked decrease in rates of well-child visits and childhood vaccinations. The problem is particularly acute in minority populations, but since the advent of COVID-19, parents across the board have been less likely to be up-to-date on these important medical services. Well-child care includes medical and developmental screening tests and immunizations are critical to avoiding problems such as a resurgence in measles and other communicable diseases.

To help increase well-child visits and immunization rates, Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) and NC AHEC, under the direction of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS), has launched the Keeping Kids Well program. CCNC and NC AHEC will work with practices experiencing a greater number of care gaps to improve these measures and also will work to raise awareness of the problem among North Carolina’s parents.

In the new world of Zoom, WebEx, Teams, it is more important than ever to ensure you present yourself with highest level of professionalism and attentiveness. Online meetings and online learning are likely here to stay for a while. Many companies have shifted to fully remote workforce, colleges are doing all virtual classes, and for Northwest AHEC all live in person learning has shifted to online webinars. View our upcoming events and programs here.

Join us for the annual Mountain Medical Meeting in October, all access from your laptop. 

Can you believe it, it is October and almost time for Halloween! Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any spookier we arrive at Halloween during COVID-19. Some may even call it Quarantine-O-Ween, and this year it is on a Saturday!

COVID-FATIGUE: Tired of being cooped up, careful, uncertain and scared

Join Us for this Webinar
Introduction to NCCARE360

September 24, 2020
12:00pm-1:00pm
1st Webinar in Series

Navigating services like health, housing, employment, and transportation can be incredibly difficult, but these factors all contribute to our overall health. NCCARE360 provides the opportunity for health to all North Carolinians by providing public access to resources and helping health and community-based organizations make electronic referrals, communicate in real time, securely share client information, and track outcomes together.

Despite the challenges facing regional primary care practices during this time of COVID 19, many are actively pursuing Patient Center Medical Home recognition. The Northwest AHEC Practice Support Coaches stand ready to help using a distance tool kit provided by Wake Forest University Health sciences to provide coaching on quality improvement, advances in healthcare using electronic health record technology and PCMH recognition. Practice managers have stayed engaged in projects with the NWAHEC Practice Support team, and maintained productivity as their deadlines approach.

Distance learning and communication technology has enabled Practice support coaches to work diligently with managers and providers who strive to maintain quality and ensure the patient needs are meet. Tools such as virtual meetings and shared assignments have helped practice staff continue to satisfy PCMH recognition deliverables and deadlines. Coaches help practice staff work on quality reporting, patient satisfaction measurement and review, preparation and submission of quality metrics.

Virtual meetings conducted by NWAHEC Practice Support Coaches are customized to meet the needs of the practice and patients. Monthly meetings last one to two hours and focus on standard work procedures in targeted areas such as patient satisfaction surveys. The goal of the project is to align scheduling, communication, screening, referral and treatment options with individual patient needs. Many of the targeted patient characteristics and corresponding practice procedures have changed drastically during the Coronavirus Pandemic. One obvious example is seen in empty practice waiting rooms which have shifted to patients waiting in the parking lot for their turn to enter the practice.

Virtual coaching visits provided by the Northwest AHEC Practice Support team have been a reassuring contact for practice mangers as they redesign their practice during these very difficult times. As reflected in the quotes below, practices rely Northwest AHEC Practice Support for up to date, unbiased answers and technical support as they lead their practices to greater quality and patient centeredness.