 | April 2023 | Issue No. 12 |
| When Doing the Right Thing Makes Good Sense Richard C. Bohrer, member, PCC Board of Directors Investing in healthcare infrastructure and services for underserved communities helps to increase access to health care, reduce health disparities, and improve health outcomes. It also helps to stimulate our local economy. The public-private partnerships that form Montgomery County’s local health safety net are examples of smart investments in community health. These programs provide essential primary and preventive medical care, access to medications, specialty care, and behavioral health. |
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|  | Daily Record Names Leslie Graham to Maryland’s Top 100 Women List for 2023 The Daily Record has named Leslie Graham, the Primary Care Coalition’s President and Chief Executive Officer, to its 2023 listing of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. Maryland’s Top 100 Women was founded in 1996 to recognize outstanding achievements by women demonstrated through professional accomplishments, community leadership, and mentoring. “The 2023 Maryland’s Top 100 Women are trailblazers. They are professionally successful, serve as leaders in the community, and demonstrate a commitment to mentoring,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of The Daily Record/BridgeTower Media. “All of us at The Daily Record are pleased to recognize the amazing accomplishments of this year’s Maryland’s Top 100 Women honorees.” |
|  |  | | County Commission on Aging Hosts Free Smart Homes Forum May 4 The Montgomery County Commission on Aging is celebrating Older Americans Month in May by hosting a free Smart Homes Forum on Thursday, May 4. It will be held from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Bohrer Park Activity Center, 506 S. Frederick Rd., Gaithersburg. This year’s theme is “Smart Homes—Smarter Care: Technology that Supports Aging in Place.” The forum will be held during the City of Gaithersburg’s Active Aging Expo. Participants can attend the event in person or virtually via Zoom, and registration is encouraged. |
| | | County’s Asian American Health Initiative Awards Micro-Grants to Organizations for Health and Wellness A total of $71,090 in micro-grants was recently awarded to 10 local organizations that serve Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). The funding was distributed through the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and awarded as part of an Asian American Center of Excellence (AACE) opportunity that was launched in January. It is intended to help organizations develop and increase their capacity to successfully provide health, wellness, and social support programs and services to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI) is one of three minority health initiatives that are part of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services. |
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 | April 30, 10-11:30 a.m., Sunday Serenade. Enjoy live music performed by students from Bach to Rock at Cabin John Regional Park, 7400 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda. Bring your own blankets and chairs for seating. May 1, 4:30-5:30 p.m., May Day Wildflower Walk, Meadowside Nature Center, 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville. Walk through a wildflower trail and end at a Maypole. The fee is $5. Register here. May 2, 5-6:30 p.m., Living Positively with Chronic Pain, a monthly peer support group for individuals living with chronic pain, hosted by Independence Now via Zoom. Register here. May 7, 10 a.m.-noon, New Family Breakfast, hosted by the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County at Griffith Park behind Gaithersburg City Hall. The event is geared toward families new to the area and expectant parents interested in meeting other families who have children with Down Syndrome. Please register each member of your family who will be attending. |
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| | PCC Data Analysis Proves Investment in Montgomery Cares Diabetes Treatment Pays Off The Primary Care Coalition (PCC) has long worked with primary care partners to help patients control chronic health threats like diabetes. In analyzing the data from FY22, PCC found that the return on investment for every dollar spent on treatment for diabetes was $23.12. Over 3,000 individuals were diagnosed with diabetes during the year through the Montgomery Cares program, which PCC administers. Treatment controlled the disease for 1,256 patients, improving their quality of life and increasing productivity. The Montgomery Cares program and its clinical quality measures are in line with national benchmarks for diabetes, and the entire community benefits. The return on investments in diabetes care is high, and the community gains years of increased economic productivity. |
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|  | The Emergency is Ending. The Strategy Shouldn't On Jan. 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced it will end the public health emergency declarations on May 11, 2023. While the emergency has abated in its severity, COVID is still part of our reality. And for those who are underserved, the safety nets that were put in place to protect them are being |
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| removed. While the list of specific ramifications is long, the ultimate result is a return to “business as usual.” Namely, relying on insurance coverage for essential health services. |
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