Pediatric Care Coordination:

Community of Practice

Monday, July 13, 2020

Greetings,

We have a new website for the Minnesota statewide Pediatric Care Coordination: Community of Practice at www.mnpedcares.com! We’re excited about this new website that will help care coordinators connect, share, and learn from each other so they can better serve children and youth with special health needs and their families.

The website for care coordinators offers:

  • Upcoming events and trainings

  • Resources (including materials and a list of community organizations)

  • A directory of members

  • A forum for members to connect, share, and learn from each other

  • Open funding opportunities through the Grant Alert

You will receive an invitation on Wednesday afternoon inviting you to become a member of the website. Upon approval, you will gain access to the site. Please email us at info@acetinc.com if you do not receive your invitation.

If you know of other people who may be interested in being part of this community, please invite them to become a free member.

Thank you and we look forward to having you visit the new website!

Wendy Berghorst and the ACET team


PLEASE RSVP: Upcoming Webinars

Services and Supports for Children and Youth with Disabilities in MN

Jerry Mellum, Senior Planning Analyst - Hennepin County

Tuesday July 28, 2020 | Noon to 1:00 pm CT

Join us to learn more about the many resources and services available to help children and youth with special health needs across the state.

Webinar Objectives:

  • Understand the criteria to apply for services

  • Learn about the range and levels of services available

  • Become familiar with resources to help people learn about services


Unveiling of the NEW Pediatric Care Coordination: Community of Practice Website

Stella SiWan Zimmerman - President, ACET Inc.

Wednesday July 15, 2020 | Noon to 12:30 pm CT

This short tutorial will include important information about navigating the site and how to gain access to the members-only content (member directory and forum).


Cultural, Faith, and Disability Communities COVID-19 Update

In this issue from the Minnesota Department of Health, you can view shared resources and COVID-19 updates relevant to care coordinators working with children and youth with special health needs. This resource includes:

  • Centers for Disease Control (CDC) FAQ page with specific information regarding children and youth with special health needs and COVID-19

  • Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) provides initial guidelines in planning for hybrid and in-person school models for children with disabilities

To read the full announcement, CLICK HERE.


PCC CoP MEMBER HIGHLIGHT:

Community of Practice Encourages Collaboration and Communication

Stacy Ward, Clinical Care Coordination Supervisor, Park Nicollet

George Bernard Shaw once said, "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."  

We live in a world where it has become quick and easy to connect with others – communicating through texting, instant messages, email, and of course, social media. Patients have online access to their medical records, 24/7 nurse lines, after-visit summaries, not to mention the world at their fingertips on the internet. Then why do misunderstandings between healthcare providers and healthcare team members; healthcare team members and patients; and healthcare organizations and other healthcare organizations still happen?   

Our healthcare system is complicated (period). Even with all the enhancements to healthcare access in place, our pediatric patients with special healthcare needs and their families can easily get lost in the system. Many clinics have started to embed care coordinators within the care team and use a team approach to enhance the patient’s well-being. By the nature of their work, care coordinators have the opportunity to create effective partnerships with patients and families. And for complex patients, care coordinators often collaborate with other care coordinators. A few years ago, I heard a parent say, “Someone should coordinate the care coordinators.” I interpreted that to mean that we all need to be on the same page to work effectively with the families we serve.

The Minnesota statewide Pediatric Care Coordination (PCC) Community of Practice provides a way for care coordinators to network, collaborate, share, and learn from each other. There are opportunities to learn via webinars, shared resources on the website, and a directory of statewide care coordinators to be able to reach out to connect with other care coordinators.

Studies show that improved coordination decreases unnecessary services, repetitive diagnostic tests, avoidable emergency room and urgent care visits, as well as preventable hospital admissions and readmissions. We have learned that when healthcare teams connect, share, and learn from each other AND their patients, health outcomes can be improved. The children and families we serve deserve the best team approach and the PCC Community of Practice will allow this network of pediatric care coordinators to connect and communicate with each other throughout our state.

JOIN THIS COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you’re not already a member of this community, please consider signing up for the Pediatric Care Coordination: Community of Practice by clicking the button below (you will also be added to the newsletter list).

SIGN UP FOR COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE


“One person caring about another represents life’s greatest value.”

-Jim Rohn


The Pediatric Care Coordination: Community of Practice is a program coordinated by ACET Inc. under a grant funded by the Minnesota Department of Health. Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the Minnesota Department of Health’s position or policy.

Feel free to share this newsletter with anyone who can benefit from the content provided within.

For more information, please contact info@acetinc.com.

ACET, Inc., Minneapolis, MN