N E W S   R E L E A S E

Testing to inform national research to assess the impact of COVID-19 on racial minorities and underserved communities across the country

Woodland Hills, CA (Feb. 22, 2021) – Health Net has selected Wesley Health Centers, also known as JWCH Institute, to participate in a national research study to understand the impact of COVID-19 on racial minorities and underserved communities.

In partnership with Health Net, Wesley Health Centers is offering COVID-19 screenings at no cost to patients to confirm rates of current and previous COVID-19 infections. Community members in the Wesley Health Centers area can call a patient navigator at (866) 733-5924 to schedule an appointment to receive a COVID-19 PCR test (to confirm current COVID-19 infection) and antibody testing (to confirm previous COVID-19 infection) at no cost.

Testing is available at the following locations.

Bell Shelter 5600 Rickenbacker Bell, CA 90201

Lancaster 45104 10th Street West Lancaster, CA 93534

Lynwood North 3591 Imperial Highway Lynwood, CA 90262

Those who test positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by a medical provider from their test site. They will also receive monitoring kits and a daily call from a study nurse for the first 14 days to provide medical advice and help monitor any progression of symptoms. Participants will also receive once-per-week follow up calls for one month and check-ins throughout the five-year study.

Communities of Color Disproportionately Impacted by COVID-19 in California

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that race and ethnicity are risk markers for underlying conditions that impact health including socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and increased exposure to the virus due to occupation (e.g., frontline, essential, and critical infrastructure workers). Further, previous research has shown that Black and Hispanic Americans as well as American Indians/Alaska Natives are twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 as white Americans.

“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on California, particularly our communities of color,” said Brian Ternan, President and CEO of Health Net of California and California Health and Wellness. “As part of our mission to transform the health of our communities one person at a time, together with Wesley Health Centers, we hope to increase access to COVID-19 testing and provide important data and evidence-based solutions to improve health disparities.”

“We need to fully understand how various social determinants of health place our communities at increased risk of infection and poorer health outcomes,” said Al Ballesteros, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wesley Health Centers. “Our mission is to provide access to services, which improve the health status of individuals and families, including people experiencing financial, social, and cultural barriers to healthcare.”

“Longitudinal studies of the health of survivors are going to give us vital information about this disease and the disparities that it exposes. I know the citizens of Los Angeles are eager to step up and share their experience over the next five years as their contribution to what we will know about COVID, and we’re proud to serve alongside them,” said Dr. Alex Chen, Chief Medical Officer at Health Net.

Quest Diagnostics will provide COVID-19 molecular diagnostic testing.

“COVID-19 testing is critically needed in underserved communities, and we’re pleased to team up with Wesley Health Centers and Health Net to provide testing in areas where it is needed most,” said Ron Coursey, Vice President of Federally Qualified Health Centers and Public Health of Quest Diagnostics.

A National Initiative to Raise Awareness, Address Health Disparities

The testing initiative is part of a broader research study by Health Net’s parent company Centene, a leading multi-national healthcare enterprise, and the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF), an independent research and educational organization dedicated to ensuring high-risk racial and ethnic populations receive optimal healthcare. Together, the organizations will analyze testing data to assess the impact of COVID-19 on minorities and underserved populations in California and across the country.

Once testing is complete, Centene and NMQF have convened a team of researchers to analyze and translate survey data, and, based on the findings, provide valuable data and evidence-based solutions to inform the public health response and help reduce healthcare disparities among underserved populations.

 

About Wesley Health Centers (JWCH Institute, Inc.)

Wesley Health Centers (JWCH Institute, Inc.) is a 501 (c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center established in 1960. Wesley is the largest provider of homeless health care in California and our mission is to “improve the health status and well-being of under-served segments of the population of Los Angeles County through the direct provision or coordination of health care, health education, services, and research”. We currently operate 35 sites, which include primary care clinics, dental clinics, school-based sites, mental health and substance use treatment sites, homeless health care, and mobile units to provide quality and integrated care to low-income and homeless residents throughout LA County.

About Health Net

At Health Net, we believe every person deserves a safety net for their health, regardless of age, income, employment status or current state of health. Founded 40 years ago, we remain dedicated to transforming the health of our community, one person at a time. Today, Health Net’s 3,000 employees and 85,000 network providers serve more than 3 million members. That’s nearly 1 in 12 Californians. We provide health plans for individuals, families, businesses of every size, people with Medicare and people with Medi-Cal — Coverage for Every Stage of LifeTM. Health Net also offers access to substance abuse programs, behavioral health services, employee assistance programs and managed health care products related to prescription drugs. We offer these health plans and services through Health Net, LLC and its subsidiaries: Health Net of California, Inc., Health Net Life Insurance Company and Health Net Community Solutions, Inc. These entities are wholly owned subsidiaries of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC), a Fortune 50 company providing health coverage to more than 25 million Americans. For more information, visit HealthNet.com.

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Media Contacts: Jaime Botello Public Relations Manager Media.Inquiries@HealthNet.com

Tricia Hernandez Development Director twaite@jwch.org

About the COVID-19 Testing Initiative & Minority and Rural Health Coronavirus Study (MRCS)

There is an urgent need to raise awareness about how COVID-19 has disproportionately affected racial minorities and other vulnerable populations.
At Wesley we are partnering with Centene and the National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) on a national COVID-19 testing and research study.
Our hope is to increase access and testing, so we can better understand the impact of COVID-19 on racial minorities and underserved communities across the country.
We want to encourage everyone to get tested to protect their health and the health of their family.
We need everyone to participate in this study to help improve the long-term health of our community.

By participating in this study, we can help:
Spur further testing;
Better understand the impact of the virus on racial minorities; and
Inform the public health response to help address health disparities.

Study Details & Locations
Testing will be available at no cost to you on a first come, first served basis at the following location(s):
Wesley Health Centers – Lynwood located at 3591 Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262
Monday – Friday 8am – 2pm

Wesley Health Centers – Lancaster located at 45104 10th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534
Monday – Friday 8am – 2pm

Wesley Health Centers – Bell Shelter located at 5600 Rickenbacker Road, Bell CA, 90201
Monday – Friday 8am – 12pm

Health staff from Wesley will administer the tests and will be equipped with appropriate PPE. All participants will be expected to adhere to local rules regarding social distancing and disease prevention.
We will offer COVID-19 screenings to confirm rates of current and previous COVID-19 infections via PCR and antibody tests, respectively.
Study participants must be 18 years or older.
Participation is voluntary.
Through the study, we will collect nasal/nasopharyngeal swab and blood sample specimens to use for COVID-19 testing [Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and antibody] and future genetic, biological and biomarker analysis.

Those who test positive for COVID-19 will be contacted by a medical provider from their test site. They will also receive monitoring kits and a daily call from a study nurse for the first 14 days to provide medical advice and help monitor any progression of symptoms.

Participants will also receive once-per-week follow-up calls for one month and check-ins over the course of the five-year study.
Up to 10,000 people may be enrolled in this study.
Once testing is complete, Centene and NMQF have convened a research team to analyze and translate survey data.
Based on their findings, they will provide solutions to inform the public health response.
Their research will be released in the coming months.

We have taken steps to make your visit safe and convenient.

It is important to keep your loved ones healthy in the flu season.
Schedule your appointment today!

>> Lea la versión en español aquí.

Dear Wesley Health Center’s patient:

We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice, and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it is both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our dental clinics to keep patients and staff safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up to date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.

You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

• Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. The dental clinic will use teledental (audiovisual appointments) to limit a patient’s, need to physically be in the office. The teledental appointments will be conducted by a Dentist 1-2 days prior to your in-person appointment.
• You will be asked those same screening questions again when you are in the office.
• We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
• You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
• Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you are offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
• We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (866) 733-5924 or click here.

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors, and friends.

Sincerely,

The Dental & Oral Health Care Team

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• Download Oral Health Care Protocols [in English]
• Download Oral Health Care Protocols [en español]

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We continue to monitor the latest guidance for Coronavirus (COVID-19). Our priority is to keep you and our community safe and healthy. We are taking proactive steps to maintain a safe workplace and have adopt practices protecting the health of our employees, patients and the community.  We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

What You Need to Know About COVID-19 SOCIAL DISTANCING What does it mean and why is it important? Social Distancing is the practice of reducing close contact between people to slow the spread of infections or diseases. Social Distancing measures include limiting large groups of people coming together, closing buildings and cancelling events.
AVOID Group Gatherings Sleep Overs Play Dates Concerts Theatre Outings Athletic Events Crowded Stores Malls Bars & Restaurants Non-essential Travel	USE CAUTION Visiting a Grocery Store Picking Up Medications Playing Tennis in the Park Essential Travel Pick up & Delivery of Food Visitors in your Home Mass Transit	SAFE TO DO Take a Walk Go for a Hike Yard Work Play in your Yard Clean Out Closet Read a Good Book Listen to Music Cook a Meal Family Game Night Go for a Drive Group Video Chats Stream a Show Call or Text a Friend Call or Text an Elderly Neighbor

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Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus:

• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/
• California Department of Public Health https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
• LA County residents can also call 2-1-1

 

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Additional COVID-19 Information:

Stay Informed on COVID-19

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

JWCH Recognized for Exceptional Care as 2019 Recipient of the Health Resources and Services Administration Quality Improvement Award

 

September 5, 2019, Los Angeles– In late August, the U.S. Department of Health Services announced nearly $107 million in Quality Improvement Awards to 1,273 health centers across the United States. This year JWCH is proud to announce that we were selected as 2019 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program Quality Improvement Awardee. JWCH was honored as a Health Center Quality Leader with a silver badge, designating JWCH as one of the nation’s top 20% of health centers that achieved the best overall clinical performance outcomes in 2018.  JWCH also received recognition in three other areas, including reducing health disparities by meeting or exceeding Healthy People 2020 goals for low birth weight, hypertension control, and diabetes control (1^st Tier Health Disparities Reducer Award), increasing both the number of patients served and patients’ ability to access comprehensive services (Health Access Enhancer Award), and delivering patient-centered care (PCMH). In addition to these quality of care recognitions, JWCH received a $150,472 grant as a result of our excellent performance which we will reinvest in quality improvement projects to further increase the quality, efficiency, and value of the health care services we provide to our patients.

 

Background:

JWCH Institute, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) Federally Qualified Health Center established in 1960. JWCH is the largest provider of homeless health care in California and our mission is to “improve the health status and well-being of under-served segments of the population of Los Angeles County through the direct provision or coordination of health care, health education, services, and research”. JWCH operates 31 sites, which includes primary care clinics, dental clinics, school-based sites, substance abuse treatment sites, homeless health care, and mobile units to provide quality and integrated care to low-income and homeless residents throughout LA County.