Health Center Controlled Network

The Louisiana Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN) is a HRSA-funded initiative focused on quality improvement in health care through the adoption of health information technology (HIT). The focus of the network is to support health centers in leveraging health information technology and data to deliver high-quality, and comprehensive primary health care, with a specific focus on improvements in:

Clinical Quality,
Patient-Centered care, and
Provider and staff well-being.

The Louisiana HCCN is administered by the Louisiana Primary Care Association. The LPCA was awarded an HRSA grant in late 2012 and started with 18 FQHCs across Louisiana, focusing on diabetes and cardiovascular disease. For the current project cycle, 2025-2029, the network has grown to a strong total of 35 participating health centers with a focus on leveraging health IT to improve data collection and management, interoperability and data sharing, UDS modernization, AI, and value-based care activities.

HCCN 2025-2029 Objectives

Objectives	Objective Description	Baseline Percentage	Target Percentage
1. Data Management & Analytics	Increase the percentage of PHCs that advance and optimize clinical, financial, and operations data to improve clinical quality, health outcomes, and operations.	54%	71%
2. Interoperability & Data Sharing	Increase the percentage of PHCs that improve bidirectional interoperability with health care providers and community-based organizations by strengthening care coordination, reducing unnecessary medical testing and data duplication, and implementing more efficient and effective referral and information sharing processes to improve health outcomes and reduce provider burden.	89%	91%
3. Data Modernization Implementation	Increase the percentage of PHCs that have implemented at least one FHIR-based application in their EHR or data systems.	34%	60%
4. Artificial Intelligence	Increase the percentage of PHCs participating in T/TA designed to support the implementation on AI practices that adhere to industry ethical guidelines and established protocols. These efforts aim to help PHCs address health disparities and improve patient care by using health IT AI solution that support data-driven care practices.	20%	34%
5. Additional Value-Based Care	Increase the percentage of PHCs that use data to update operational processes in health IT systems to support value-based care that enhances the patient and provider experience, improves health outcomes, and reduces health disparities.	9%	26%

*first 3 required by HRSA, objective 4 and 5 voted by PHCs for Network to cover

AMA MAP HTN Curated Resources

General Content

Playbook for Organizations Prioritizing Blood Pressure Control
This playbook is a guide for health care professionals leading efforts to improve blood pressure control within an organization.

Measure Accurately

MAP Hypertension Pre-Assessment: Measure Accurately
Provides a starting point for organizations interested in engaging in quality improvement around hypertension.

In-Office BP Measurement Infographic
Displays the best practices for positioning a patient during a BP measurement and includes information on common positioning errors.

Validated Device Listing (VDL)
This website provides names of devices that have been validated for clinical accuracy. Use this website when selecting blood pressure devices for use in the office and at home.

BP Measurement Skills Assessment
Checklist of proper positioning and procedures for in-office BP measurement for training care team members on blood pressure measurement protocols.

BP Measurement Competency Assessment
A checklist to assess your ability to accurately obtain initial and confirmatory blood pressure measurements.

BP Average Calculator
Use to calculate the average of multiple blood pressure measurements.

How to Measure Blood Pressure Accurately (Video)
A short video for training care team members on blood pressure measurement.

Tips for Exam Room Setup
his document highlights some tips and strategies on how to set up your exam room to ensure accurate blood pressure measurements.

Measuring Accurately to Improve Blood Pressure Control (Video)
Learn about the Measure Accurately component of MAP using a team-based approach.

Act Rapidly

MAP Hypertension Pre-Assessment: Act Rapidly
Provides a starting point for organizations interested in engaging in quality improvement around hypertension.

Acting Rapidly to Improve Blood Pressure Control (Video)
Learn about the Act Rapidly component of MAP.

Clinical Inertia Assessment
Measure how often clinical inertia occurs and identify contributing factors in your practice.

Hypertension Medication Treatment Protocol
Provides guidance on antihypertensive medication treatment for patients with hypertension to help get them to goal.

Partner with Patients

MAP Hypertension Pre-Assessment: Partner with Patients
Provides a starting point for organizations interested in engaging in quality improvement around hypertension.

Partnering with Patients to Improve Blood Pressure Control (Video)
Learn about the Partner with Patients component of MAP using a team-based approach.

Collaborative Communication Strategies to Manage Blood Pressure
Ways to collaborate with your patients to control BP, including five communication skills that may help improve engagement.

Taking Medicine is Taking Action (Available in 18 languages)
Patient resource for care teams to use when prescribing medications to control hypertension.

SMBP

SMBP Medicaid coverage
Outlines coverage available for SMBP devices and SMBP service codes (please note this is based on Feb 2025 data)

7 step SMBP quick guide
Outlines how to do SMBP according to the evidence and embeds tools/resources to support the steps

SMBP patient training checklist - In Person | SMBP patient training checklist - Virtual
Helps ensure all necessary information is relayed to patients so they can accurately self-measure their BP. One version is for in-person training, the other is for trainings done virtually.

SMBP module
Can be used to training care teams on SMBP and the seven steps for SMBP

SMBP training video (available in English and Spanish)
Can be used to support patient training on how to properly self-measure

What to know before taking your own blood pressure (available in 18 languages)
Provides patients information about what SMBP is and why it is important

How to measure blood pressure at home (available in 18 languages)
Outlines for patients steps to perform self-measurement correctly

7 day blood pressure recording log
Can be used by patients to capture self-measured BPs

The Network Offers:

Direct one-on-one technical assistance
Two in-person learning sessions per year
Topical technical assistance webinars
Peer-to-peer learning and exchange
Technical assistance for patient portals
Remote patient monitoring opportunities
Security audit assessments with breach mitigation and response planning
Telehealth service advancements

Examples of Technical Assistance Include:

EHR reporting and documentation to facilitate electronic UDS Reporting and user group webinars
EHR optimization to assure data is captured in structured fields
In-depth analysis of the annual HRSA Quality Improvement Awards - complete with individual health center reports
HIPPA and Risk Management Technical Assistance
HIT security webinar series
Data connectivity to other population-based programs/entities
PRAPARE webinars for implementation at health centers
Quality improvement and management best practices and tools

Successes Reported by HCCN Members:

LA HCCN (49.4%) surpasses the national average (42.8%) for childhood immunizations
LA HCCN membership more than doubled over the past 6 years
In house data analytics expertise to assist with data analysis to help with grant opportunities
(2) Certified NCQA experts in-house
Successful implementation of the Azara DRVS tool in over 20 participating health centers
Supporting financially (and with in-house expertise) the implementation of several add-on DRVS modules, including: Referral Module, FOT/FIT Module, Controlled Substance Module