Quarterly Report

ORPRN Convocation​ & Oregon Family Physician of the Year
In March, the CHARA governing board attended the Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network Annual Convocation in Portland. This year’s convocation topic was “Addressing Health Disparities in Primary Care” with a focus on integrating community health workers (CHWs) into local health systems to address social determinants of health. CHARA had the opportunity to present on its development at the poster session.

​Elizur Bello, a community health worker and health services program manager at The Next Door Inc. based in Hood River, was one of the event speakers. He shared about his personal experience as a CHW and inspired attendees with his real-life examples of how CHWs fill specific needs and gaps in patient care in the Columbia Gorge.

In conjunction with the ORPRN convocation, the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians held their Annual Spring Family Medicine Weekend where Dr. Kristen Dillon, CHARA’s Medical Director, was nominated as the 2016 Oregon Family Physician of the Year. Dr. Dillon is characterized by her strive for equity across the community and her efforts to optimize access to Medicaid expansion and services. She is admired by nominators as a physician who is filled with understanding and compassion, and a “prime-mover in what is now a powerful culture of transformation”. Dr. Dillon played a key role in starting Pacific Source, Columbia Gorge’s Coordinated Care Organization, and continues to provide strong leadership to meet financial and clinical targets as the CCO’s Director. We are happy to have passionate community experts on the CHARA board!

March CAC Presentation
​During the Columbia Gorge Health Council CAC meeting in March, Dr. Dillon presented on CHARA's mission, accomplishments, and current opportunities for community participation. Additionally, we conducted a questionnaire to learn more about community perspectives on screening tests and health care communication and will use results to inform our future work in addressing community health priorities,

 PCORI Update
April marked the last month of our PCORI P2P Tier II award. The governing board compiled a final report documenting our milestones during the 9 month funding period and submitted a proposal to the PCORI Tier III award. This award would secure an additional year of funding to sustain and strengthen our network, and develop a Comparative Effective Research proposal for a topic that matters to our region.

Tier II Accomplishments:

• 68 new Research Ambassadors
• Hosted the PaCE research training event
• Hosted the CHARA Research retreat
• Gathered community input to identify Comparative Effective Research (CER) topics
• Collaborated with Finding the Right Fit, a local colorectal cancer screening study
• Submitted a LOI to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) “Evidence to Action” call to evaluate the Steps to Wellness Program
• Submitted a grant proposal to the RWJF “Systems for Action” call to evaluate the local Pathways model focused on affordable housing pathways
• Presented at the Oregon Rural Practice-based Research Network/Oregon Academy of Family Physicians convocation in March
• Presented at the CGHC CAC meeting in March

We also would like to recognize and thank Kitsy Stanley for her dedication and efforts in helping our network run smoothly over the past year. While much of her work has been behind the scenes, it goes without saying that she has been an invaluable member of the governing board. Thank you for all of your work in supporting CHARA! We are excited that she will be taking more time to spend with her new grandchildren.
​