Category: In the News

FCHN participates Oregon Nurse Association Lobby Day

Posted on March 22, 2025 by - In the News

Although not affiliated with the union arm of ONA, some representatives of the FCHN leadership team are professional members and traveled to Salem to support selected bills with legislators.

Deb Fell-Carlson, BSN, RN, MSPH, FCHN Executive Director, reconnected with Mary Crawford-Seekatz, RN and ONA Board Member after many years! They are both from Lebanon, Oregon.

Senate Bill 537, which is designed to help prevent violence to healthcare workers, was a main focus. There were a number of bills related to nurse autonomy, and FCHN representatives had an opportunity to bring up Senate Bill 529 in that context. SB 529 allows for reimbursement for nursing care in the community, something which is currently prohibited.

Springing Into Spring, 2025!

Posted on March 8, 2025 by - In the News

Mission Connexion Conference

Representatives from the FCHN attended the international Mission Connexion conference at Sunset Church in Beaverton, January 17-18, 2025. FCHN had an exhibit booth and were able to speak face to face with many of the approximately 2,000 attendees. There were some excellent sessions with speakers from all over the world sharing about their ministries. The exhibit hall was equally diverse, with mission organizations providing materials for attendees. It was a wonderful experience all around!

Health-Related Social Needs Grant Update

FCHN leaders have been working with consultants from Vibe Health Solutions to develop infrastructure to allow us to refer individuals for services related to nutrition, climate, and housing more efficiently, and to allow FCHN and our team to receive reimbursement for the time spent on these activities. FCHN’s primary function is Outreach and Education (O&E) under this grant and efforts are ongoing with many meetings throughout each week to work on various aspects.

FaceBook and Social Media

Have you “liked” and do you “follow” our FCHN FaceBook page? Please do so! Reaching a certain audience size improves functionality; something we need!

Community nursing (including faith community nursing!) reimbursement update

FCHN is working at the local, state, and national level to help move legislation forward to allow direct reimbursement for nurses delivering care in the community. Active collaboration is ongoing with the Health Ministries Association, American Nurses Association, Oregon Nurses Association, Oregon Health Sciences University, and others to move this into the spotlight. A hearing on Oregon Senate Bill 529 which would allow direct reimbursement for community nursing, including faith community nursing, and community health workers was held on March 6, 2025, and Erica Chavez, Melissa Isavoran, and Deb Fell-Carlson testified in support of the Bill. Ron Steele attended the hearing as well. There was no opposing testimony. Track Senate Bill 529 on the Oregon Legislature website.

Do you have your National Provider Number (NPI)?

FCHN, Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing, the American Nurses Association, and the Health Ministries Association encourage ALL REGISTERED NURSES to obtain a National Provider Number in anticipation of direct reimbursement for community nursing. The American Nurses Foundation (ANF) has launched a well-funded Reimagining Nursing Initiative with a Direct Reimbursement Model as a sub-initiative. This initiative is building evidence to inform researchers on funding/reimbursement pathways for registered nurses (RNs) serving in the community, including FCNs. Nurses who want to be reimbursed for nursing services from third party payors, such as Medicare, must have a National Provider Number, or NPI.

Learn More!

The ANA has a landing page with information on obtaining an NPI, an ANA position statement describing the value of the NPI for registered nurses, and has created an infographic on unique nurse identifiers.

Congratulations, St. Martins’ Episcopal Church Homeless Outreach!

Posted on February 27, 2024 by - In the News

Congratulations, St. Martins’ Episcopal Church Homeless Outreach!

Wendy Fierro, Health Minister, accepted the Faith Community Health Network’s first annual Matthew 25:35-40 Award on behalf of St. Martins’ Episcopal Church Homeless Outreach at the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Awards Gala on February 23, 2024. Marcy Shanks, Ethics Officer with FCHN presented the award. Also on hand were Linda Tedisch, FCHN Vice President and Chaplain Wes Sedlacek, Reverend Carol Sedlacek and Deacon Keehna Sture representing St. Martins. This award recognizes a faith community in Linn, Benton, or Lincoln County, Oregon for consistently selfless service to the community throughout the previous year.

See more photos of this event at the Lebanon, Oregon Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

Congratulations, St. Martins’ Episcopal Church Homeless Outreach!

Summer is well underway!

Posted on July 10, 2023 by - In the News

Summer is well underway!

Faith Community Health Network team is on the move!

The FCHN is planning a presence at National Night Out again this year, always held on the first Tuesday of August, which will fall on August 1 in 2023. You can learn more about this event here.

National Night Out 2022

We are hosting a dynamic presentation by Angel Harris on August 23, 2023 at the LBCC Health Occupations Center! Join us for Nurses Leading the Way Towards Health Equity – WHAT WE DO MATTERS! Cost is $50. This will be great learning while also meeting the cultural competency training requirement for healthcare licensure. Angel Harris is amazing! You can register on our events page here.

Plan now to attend our Foundations of Faith Community Nursing and Health Ministry Course coming up this fall! Cost is $275 for Linn, Benton and Lincoln County residents or $325 for out of area attendees. This is six days of JAM-PACKED learning! You can register on our events page here.

Faith for the Homeless: Nursing Group Offers Hope in Troubled Times

Posted on May 22, 2023 by - In the News

Faith for the Homeless: Nursing Group Offers Hope in Troubled Times
Faith Community Health Network was featured in an article by Lebanon Local on July 22, 2022.

Faith community nursing is a recognized specialty acquired through the completion of the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course. It allows nurses and health ministers to provide care to their congregation and community by recognizing not only the wellness of the mind and body, but of the spirit as well.

lebanonlocalnews.com
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The Power of Faith, Friendship & Exceptional Care

Posted on May 22, 2023 by - In the News

The Power of Faith, Friendship and Exceptional Care

Faith Community Health Network was featured in an article by Samaritan Health Services on June 06, 2022.

Faith community nurses are licensed nurses who have taken special training to minister to people at their places of worship. “As soon as I saw Ron’s legs and the overall condition he was in, I knew action had to be taken,” said Fell Carlson.

samhealth.org
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