D CEO has named PCCI as a finalists in its fifth annual Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards, presented in partnership with the Communities Foundation of Texas. PCCI is a finalist for Organization of the Year (large). All finalists will be featured in D CEO’s August issue and recognized at an awards event in July, where the winners in each category will be revealed.
D CEO’s Names PCCI as a Finalist for its Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards 2022
Starting this month, the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI) is celebrating its 10th anniversary of delivering groundbreaking healthcare results that have pioneered innovative, actionable solutions that more effectively identify needs, prioritize services, empower providers and engage patients in Dallas County and beyond.
PCCI, a mission-driven organization with industry leading expertise in the practical applications of advanced data science and Non Medical Drivers of Health, was founded on May 14, 2012, as a strategic department spin-off from Parkland Health (Parkland). The goal was to provide the flexibility needed for PCCI to be a successful digital innovator in the tech sector so it can most effectively support Parkland’s mission and extend partnerships for impact more broadly. To date, PCCI has proven that through passion, creativity and collaboration, breakthrough innovation to advance the health of vulnerable communities using data-driven applications and Non Medical Drivers of Health (NMDOH) is not only possible, but scalable and sustainable.
“From our singular approach to fighting COVID-19 to helping prevent pre-term births and supporting children with asthma, our steadfast mission has been to empower clinical decisions through advanced applications and uses of data. This is intended to tell the full story of every patient and our community’s health and act as a galvanizing force for customizing care at scale to support positive change,” said Steve Miff, CEO and President of PCCI. “Because of the passion of our team, the groundwork we have laid in our first decade and the ongoing collaboration and support of Parkland and many other North Texas partners, PCCI has been able to show how powerful data can be in revealing inequity and guiding actions to understand and support the communities that need care the most.”
During the first 10 years of its existence, PCCI has worked closely with some of the most notable healthcare leaders in Dallas and nationally. This includes its collaboration with Dallas County Health and Human Services, in its launch and implementation of COVID-19 public health initiatives to help minimize the pandemic’s harm on Dallas County and its residents.
“These past two years have shown how powerful data can be in revealing inequity in order to focus on those communities that need the most help. For example, our COVID-19 Proximity and Vulnerability Indices helped guide the County’s healthcare leaders to understand where to allocate resources for testing and vaccinations,” Miff said. “During our first decade, we have collaborated with philanthropic foundations, federal agencies, rural and urban health systems, payers, local municipalities, community organizations and others who share our common passion in finding the most impactful ways to address the needs of vulnerable populations. Investments in PCCI have resulted in millions of patients engaged with the impact producing millions of dollars in savings for providers and patients.”
As an affiliate of the Parkland system, PCCI has an ongoing focus on developing and supporting a wide variety of programs that have helped improve care and create efficiencies across the Parkland system.
“Parkland has received continual benefits from PCCI because it has been, achieving advanced innovations that are aligned with Parkland’s strategy,” said Fred Cerise, MD, President & CEO of Parkland and PCCI Board member. “PCCI has been uniquely positioned to support the Parkland community with innovative solutions that empower all of us. It is no exaggeration to assert that with its digital health strategy, Parkland will lead the way for better health for our patient population.”
For the remainder of 2022, PCCI will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with programs and activities highlighting its successes and future initiatives. For more information about PCCI’s anniversary and how to join its efforts to expand equitable access to care, go to: www.pccinnovation.org.
About Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation
Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI), founded in 2012, is celebrating a decade a not-for-profit, healthcare innovation organization affiliated with Parkland Health. PCCI leverages clinical expertise, data science and Non Medical Drivers of Health to address the needs of vulnerable populations.
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Big data is making a big difference in the fight against COVID-19 in Dallas, and the potential promise goes well beyond the pandemic.
Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation, a nonprofit research and data analytics company, is helping providers target their outreach efforts to the most vulnerable residents. PCCI tracks real-time data on vaccinations and COVID-19 cases, and overlays it against underlying health conditions and socioeconomic factors.
That creates “a vulnerability index” and other tools that allow officials to assess which areas face the greatest risks — not just at the ZIP code level but in areas as small as census blocks…
– Click the link below to read the full story –
One of Dallas’ top media outlets, D CEO Healthcare, ran a story on the reaction to PCCI, IHI and the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center publishing an article in the New England Journal of Medicine on PCCI’s herd immunity program for Dallas County:
“Dallas County is home to some of the best COVID-19 data in the country. So when Steve Miff met with experts from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to publish his recent paper in the New England Journal of Medicine about herd immunity, he found that his out-of-town colleagues were jealous of the depth and breadth of information.”
Go here to read the full article: https://www.dmagazine.com/healthcare-business/2021/09/info-envy-dallas-countys-public-health-data-is-among-the-best-in-the-country/
MSN News:
Across the state, more than 23,000 new positive COVID-19 cases were reported. And the Delta variant, which is responsible for most of the new cases, is making it harder to reach herd immunity.
The problem is that the Delta variant has put the state further back from herd immunity, but also moved the goal line further out.
Steve Miff is the CEO of Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation and says we are around 76% right now, but the state, with Delta, needs to get in the mid 90s to achieve herd immunity.
Click the following link to read the full story:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/dfw-hospital-beds-filling-up-with-covid-19-patients-delta-making-it-harder-to-reach-herd-immunity/ar-AAOt46k
In a story in the DCEO Healthcare, PCCI research says Dallas County will need 95 percent immunity, explains how several factors are extending vulnerability to the virus, and teaching us about the next one.
The battle against the COVID-19 virus steals the headlines, but another war is being waged under the surface. Data analytics professionals and public health officials are constantly fighting to stay ahead of the massive amounts of data generated by the pandemic. In Dallas, PCCI leads that effort and develops lessons for future pandemics.
Click this link to read the full story:
https://www.dmagazine.com/healthcare-business/2021/09/how-todays-covid-data-informs-tomorrows-public-health-measures/
According to a report in the Dallas Morning news, PCCI data indicates that upwards of 95% of Dallas County residents need protection against COVID-19 to reach herd immunity. Herd immunity refers to the condition in which a population is indirectly protected from infection because enough people are vaccinated or have natural immunity to a disease.
Click this link to read the full story:
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2021/09/17/upwards-of-90-of-dallas-county-residents-need-protection-against-covid-19-to-reach-herd-immunity/?outputType=amp
Episcopal Health Foundation selects six communities to participate in $8 million Texas Accountable Communities for Health Initiative
TACHI project aims to build sustainable community-based partnerships to address underlying, non-medical causes of poor health
Partners include organizations focused on housing, social services, employment training, health care, and more
HOUSTON – (July 20, 2021) – The Texas Accountable Communities for Health Initiative (TACHI), launched by Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF), has announced that six local communities from across the state have received funding as part of an $8 million project to go beyond the doctor’s office to improve the health and well-being of Texans.
Each community was awarded funding to establish an Accountable Community for Health (ACH) – a community-based partnership formed by local organizations from different sectors to address underlying, non-medical community health needs like safe housing, food security, safe places to exercise, and more. TACHI will grant funds to each ACH site, depending on specific needs, over a four-year period.
The TACHI sites selected are:
• Austin Rundberg
• Bastrop County
• Brazos Valley
• Greater Northside in Houston
• Gregg County
• Williamson County
• Learn more: www.txachi.org
“This is an important step forward to position these community-based organizations to advance community-led, financially-sustainable strategies to improve health, not just health care in their own neighborhoods,” says Shao-Chee Sim, EHF’s Vice President for Research, Innovation and Evaluation. “The goal is to improve health outcomes for under-served Texas communities by focusing on healthy living in communities, not sick care. That’s why the unique ACH partnerships are addressing community conditions outside of hospitals and doctors’ offices.”
ACHs include organizations focused on health care, housing, social services, public health, employment training, economic development, and more. Along with grant funding, TACHI offers the six community collaboratives technical assistance and peer-learning opportunities focused on topics related to health equity, community engagement, governance, data infrastructure, and financial sustainability.
“Essentially, ACHs serve as a local platform for bringing community organizations and residents together to address a shared community health goal, achieve greater health equity, and find ways to pay for the improvements over the long term,” Sim said.
EHF provides funding and leadership for the project. Two key partners are also working to ensure TACHI sites are making positive health impacts in their communities:
• Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI) serves as the Project Management Office. PCCI, an independent affiliate of Parkland Health & Hospital System is a nonprofit, data science, and innovation organization known for their ground-breaking work in building connected communities of care.
• Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC) serves as the external evaluator. GHPC, housed within Georgia State University’s nationally ranked Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, will conduct both formative and summative evaluation of TACHI to help PCCI and EHF understand how the initiative is making progress towards the stated goals.
To learn more, visit https://www.txachi.org/.
More information on TACHI Sites
Austin Rundberg » The Austin Rundberg site is a small, urban community located in the City of Austin bounded by I-35 and Mopac. Lone Star Circle of Care will serve as the backbone for this collaborative.
Bastrop County » Located east of Austin, Bastrop County Cares will serve as the backbone for this collaborative.
Brazos Valley » Located in Bryan/College Station, Texas A&M University will serve as the backbone for this collaborative.
Greater Northside – Houston » Based in Houston, Avenue CDC will serve as the backbone for this collaborative.
Gregg County » Located in Longview in East Texas, Community Healthcore will serve as the backbone for this collaborative.
Williamson County » North of Austin, the Williamson County Health Department will serve as the backbone for this collaborative.
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To schedule an interview, contact Brian Sasser at bsasser@episcopalhealth.org or 832-795-9404.
Related materials:
Texas Accountable Communities for Health Initiative: https://www.txachi.org/
Episcopal Health Foundation: www.episcopalhealth.org
By providing millions of dollars in grants, working with congregations and community partners, and providing important research, Episcopal Health Foundation is supporting solutions that address the underlying causes of poor health. EHF was established in 2013 and is based in Houston. With more than $1.2 billion in estimated assets, the Foundation operates as a supporting organization of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and works across 57 Texas counties. #HealthNotJustHealthcare
In the Saturday, May 8 edition of the Dallas Morning News, PCCI’s CEO Steve Miff’s Op/Ed piece was published encouraging residents of Dallas County to receive their COVID vaccines in order for the county to reach herd immunity by June. To read the entire editorial, click on the image below:
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/05/08/dallas-reaches-herd-immunity-at-80-immunity-we-are-at-35/?outputType=amp
Dallas, Texas – Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI), which improves healthcare for vulnerable populations using advanced data science and clinical experts, has named Russell “Rusty” Lewis as Chief Digital Technology Officer, where he will accelerate the advancement of PCCI’s digital technology platform and data applications.
“We are so pleased to welcome Rusty to our team of clinical and data science experts who are leading the industry in solving some of the most challenging issues facing vulnerable populations,” said Steve Miff, PCCI’s CEO and President. “Rusty is joining an existing dynamic team of top industry experts and his experience and vision will make PCCI’s groundbreaking AI/ML platform even more robust and impactful. Our partners and collaborators will find his humble, yet fun and outgoing personality a pleasure to work with.”
As a member of PCCI’s advisory team since 2017, Lewis is uniquely familiar with PCCI’s programs and leading-edge technology, enabling him to make a rapid impact. He will assume duties immediately, reporting to PCCI’s CEO in Dallas.
Lewis’ professional career spans a wide range of health care firms and technology roles, and most recently served as President of AppianRX, a manufacturer of healthcare-oriented artificial intelligence products. Previous to that, he was Group SVP of Data, Analytics, and Product Delivery for Vizient and Provista. Lewis also served as SVP and Chief Technology Officer for McKesson and later served as President of the Automation and Technology division of AmerisourceBergen.
Lewis has also served as a senior executive in a number of venture-backed health information technology (HIT) start-ups including Ameritech Health Connections, Bridge Medical Systems, and Skylight Healthcare Systems. Lewis began his career at Texas Instruments and holds more than 15 international and U.S. patents spanning handwriting recognition, virtual reality, clinical software and medication management systems. He is author of two books – “Impact of Information Technology on Patient Safety” and “Barcode and Auto-ID Implementation Guide” – both of which are published by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
Lewis holds degrees in computer science and applied mathematics from Southern Methodist University. He is a past board member of the National Alliance for Healthcare Information Technology (NAHIT) and Microsoft’s Healthcare User’s Group (MSHUG).
About Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation
Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI) is an independent, not-for-profit, healthcare intelligence organization affiliated with Parkland Health & Hospital System. PCCI leverages clinical expertise, data science and Non Medical Drivers of Health to address the needs of vulnerable populations.
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