Project Grant H8H46156

FY 2021 ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC - PRIMARY CARE HIV PREVENTION - PROJECT TITLE: FY 2022 ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC - PRIMARY CARE HIV PREVENTION APPLICANT: CARING HANDS HEALTHCARE CENTERS, INC. GRANT NUMBER: H80CS12877 ADDRESS: 3101 ELK DRIVE, MCALESTER, OK 74501-7606 PROJECT DIRECTOR: MICHAEL ECHELLE, CEO PHONE NUMBER: 918-426-2442, EXT. 211 EMAIL ADDRESS: MECHELLE@CHHCOK.COM WEBSITE ADDRESS: HTTPS://WWW.CHHCOK.COM GRANT FUNDS REQUESTED: $325,000/YEAR FOR 2-YEAR PROJECT CARING HANDS HEALTHCARE CENTERS (CHHC) LOCATED IN SOUTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA WAS DESIGNATED AS A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER IN 2009 AND SERVES PITTSBURG COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. WHILE PRIMARILY RURAL, THE COUNTY IS HOME TO 43,773 RESIDENTS AND MCALESTER, THE COUNTY SEAT AND REGIONAL HUB FOR SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA, IS HOME TO 41% (18,045) OF THE COUNTY RESIDENTS BASED ON US CENSUS 2019. THE ENDING HIV EPIDEMIC MOVEMENT HAS IDENTIFIED OKLAHOMA AND CHHC'S SERVICE AREA WITH A SUBSTANTIAL RURAL HIV BURDEN AND A TARGETED GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION FOR THIS PROJECT. CHHC'S TARGETED POPULATION IS 18.8% UNINSURED AND 23.4% UNDERINSURED (MEDICAID). ALSO, THE 38.9% OF PITTSBURG COUNTY POPULATION BELOW 200% OF POVERTY LEVEL. THIS RURAL POPULATION IS OFTEN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED DUE TO LACK OF INSURANCE, LOW INCOME, NO IDENTIFIED PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER, LACK OF TRANSPORTATION TO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, AND FOR THOSE PERSONS AT RISK OF HIV AND OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, THERE IS CONCERN OVER SOCIAL STIGMA. THEREFORE, CHHC WILL BE UTILIZING FUNDING TO OFFER SCREENING HIV TESTING AS A STANDARD OF CARE TO INCREASE EARLY DETECTION OF THE HIV VIRUS AND REDUCE THE STIGMA OF BEING TESTED. PROVIDERS WILL UTILIZE THIS CARE GUIDELINE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS COUNSELED AND TESTED FOR HIV, IDENTIFY PATIENTS WHO MEET THE NEED FOR PRESCRIBED PREP, AND LINK PATIENTS TO HIV CARE AND TREATMENT WITHING 30 DAYS OF DIAGNOSIS. FUNDS WILL SUPPORT TESTING, TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR PROVIDERS AND STAFF, ESTABLISHING A CARE COORDINATION PROGRAM TO SU PPORT PREP ACCESS FOR PERSONS AT RISK FOR HIV OR FOR THOSE WHO ARE LIVING WITH A POSITIVE HIV PARTNER. THIS PROGRAM WILL ALSO ADDRESS CO-EXISTENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH THROUGH AN INTEGRATION OF CARE MODEL A PROVIDER CHAMPION WILL BE DESIGNATED TO OVERSEE THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, AND WORK WITH OSU AND THE STATE ECHO PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR BOTH PROVIDERS AND ESSENTIAL STAFF. HE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR QUALITY TEAM AND PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF OUTCOMES AND QUALITY MEASURES. CHHC WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ENSURE COHESIVE INTERACTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF PATIENTS, REGARDLESS OF WHO IDENTIFIES THE NEED. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY (OSU) RYAN WHITE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY PROVIDING TELEHEALTH SERVICES THROUGH AN AGREEMENT WITH OUR CLINICS AND WILL ACCEPT ALL REFERRALS FROM CHHC FOR HIV TREATMENT. AN OUTREACH PROGRAM WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT HIV AND THE AVAILABILITY OF TESTING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. CHHC'S MOBILE VAN WILL BE AVAILABLE TO HEALTH FAIRS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, SCHOOLS, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE CONFIDENTIAL TESTING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.