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Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs) improve operational effectiveness and clinical quality in health centers by providing management, financial, technology and clinical support services. The networks are controlled by and operate on behalf of HRSA-supported health centers. Each network comprises at least three collaborating organizations.
HCCNs typically focus on functional areas where operational mass drives economies of scale or those that require
- high-cost,
- personnel with highly specialized training, and/or
- procurement of large infrastructure systems.
HCCNs improve to health care for medically underserved people by enhancing health center operations, including health information technology.
Activities
Most HCCNs are engaged in clinical quality improvement and technology – areas that require highly specialized personnel and an equipment backbone that individual health centers often cannot achieve on their own.
Examples of core areas and functions that HCCNs provide, based on the needs of the health centers, include:
Information Systems: IT Department and Infrastructure Development and Management, Data, Communications, Education/Training, Support, Reporting, Electronic Health Records, Practice Management Systems, Health information Exchanges
Clinical: Health Education, Clinical Guidelines and Dental Management, Staffing, Documentation, Ancillary Services, Continual Quality Improvement/Clinical Systems Improvement, Research
Finance: Claims Processing, Accounting, Policies and Procedures, External Audit, Staff Education/Training, Billing/Revenue Management
Administrative: Human Resources, Purchasing, Corporate Compliance, Medicare/Medicaid Compliance, Program/Service Development, Resource Development, Education/Training, Communication, Governance, Marketing, Strategic Planning, Quality Improvement
Managed Care: Credentialing, Contracting, Utilization Management/Utilization Review
Demonstrated Value of HCCNs
 In March 2008, the California HealthCare Foundation (CHF) published a report (1) of its findings from
a study comparing safety net providers' implementation of Electronic Health Records through networks versus stand-alone implementations. CHF's findings demonstrated the financial and implementation benefits of network over stand-alone implementations. An important element of that study is this table indicating the benefits provided by the networks versus those provided by vendors, the typical resource for stand-alone implementations.
This same report indicated that, “EHR network(s) may be more suitable (for):
- Organizations seeking products and services tailored to the safety net without need for extensive customization;
- Small or mid-sized organizations without a strong technical or quality improvement infrastructure;
- Community clinics or health centers that cannot divert a substantial amount of time from clinical, operational, and technical resources to the EHR implementation;
- Those with an interest in working with and learning from other clinics or health centers that have already adopted an EHR system; and,
- Organizations that want to implement disease management and QI programs predicate upon an EHR system.”
Networks build team skills across safety net providers to focus on those tasks that are most efficient and effective for the benefit of all network participants.
(1) March 2008, California HealthCare Foundation, Creating EHR Networks in the Safety Net, Murchinson, Ray, Sison, of Manatt Health Solutions. |
