NC AHEC Practice Support is celebrating 20 years
(2006-2026)
Established in 1972 to address healthcare workforce shortages, NC AHEC Practice Support has evolved from focusing on medical training to providing tailored, on-the-ground, and virtual coaching for primary care, behavioral health, and specialty practices across all 100 North Carolina counties, aiding over 1,300 practices with health IT, quality improvement, and Medicaid transformation. Thank you for 20 years of making a difference in the lives of others in North Carolina.
Updates
NC Healthcare Workforce Demand Survey: Employer Participation Requested
The NC Health Talent Alliance is conducting its annual data collection effort to gather information from healthcare employers to better understand workforce supply, demand, and critical staffing needs across the state. COMPLETE SURVEY
What to expect:
• A Qualtrics survey link for data submission
• Requests for workforce data related to key roles such as Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Medical Assistants (MAs), Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Radiology Technicians, Social Workers (BSW), Social Workers (MSW), Mental Health Counselors, and Community Health Workers, along with additional positions as applicable.
Why this matters: Your participation helps inform actionable insights that drive regional collaboration and statewide planning efforts. These insights are critical in identifying workforce gaps, improving talent pipelines, and supporting long-term healthcare workforce sustainability.
More information and submission resources can be found here.
NC Medicaid Provider Directory API Now Available
NC Medicaid has released a new Provider Directory API, in line with CMS interoperability requirements, offering public access to provider directory information for both Managed Care and NC Medicaid Direct. The data mirrors what’s available in the Provider and Health Plan Lookup Tool and is sourced from NCTracks, along with health plan contract details.
The API is available through the NC Medicaid Interoperability Portal and does not require registration.
Providers are encouraged to review and update their NCTracks information using the Managed Change Request (MCR) process to ensure accuracy. For assistance, contact the NCTracks Call Center at 800-688-6696 or reach the Provider Ombudsman at 866-304-7062 or email at Medicaid.ProviderOmbudsman@dhhs.nc.gov.
NC Medicaid Back Porch Chat
Please join us for the upcoming Back Porch Chat on Thursday, May 21, 2026, hosted by Dr. Brittany Watson, Associate Medical Director Consultant.
Time: noon–1 p.m.
This session will provide important updates across multiple areas of NC Medicaid, including:
• TBI Dashboard Overview and Utilization
• Standard Plan Performance Comparison Tool
• Pharmacy Benefit Administration (PBA) updates
• Care Management for At‑Risk Children / High‑Risk Pregnancies (CMARC/CMHRP)
• Quality Measures Dashboard
• H.R.1
Note: Live Q&A will be available during the webinars.
Training the Collaborative Care Behavioral Health Care Manager and a Child Psychiatrist’s Role
The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) relies on a team-based approach in pediatric primary care, where the Behavioral Health Care Manager (BHCM) and child psychiatrist play complementary roles. The BHCM serves as a central coordinator—supporting patient engagement, tracking progress, delivering brief interventions, and communicating regularly with the care team. The child and adolescent psychiatrist functions primarily as a consultant, reviewing cases, providing treatment recommendations, and guiding the team rather than delivering direct ongoing care. This collaborative structure expands access to behavioral health services and allows each team member to work at the top of their license, improving outcomes for children and adolescents. Click Here for Full Article.
QI Essentials Toolkit: PDSA Worksheet
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) PDSA Worksheet is a practical tool designed to guide teams through testing and implementing changes in quality improvement efforts. It follows the four-step Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle: planning a change, carrying it out, analyzing the results, and refining the approach based on what is learned. Teams typically complete a worksheet for each test of change and repeat multiple cycles to continuously improve outcomes. This structured, iterative process helps organizations make data-driven decisions and refine workflows over time. Click Here to Access.
Practice Manager Bootcamp
Dental Practice Management Sessions
When: April 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026
Location: Live Webinar
Cost: $250.00
PODCAST: What if it's me? A manager's response to turnover
Your best employees keep walking out the door. Maybe it's time to take a painful look in the mirror and consider if your management style may be contributing to the problem. GeGe Beall of Engaged At Work discusses this uncomfortable issue and how you can face it and transform your practice into a place employees enjoy.
Find out more about GeGe at engagedatwork.com.
For information about the North Carolina Practice Management Academy, visit ncahecpma.org
Continuing Professional Development
In-Person | Live Webinar
Looking to grow your skills or stay ahead of regulatory changes? SR-AHEC Continuing Professional Development offers a variety of courses through in-person sessions and live webinars. Our trainings are practical, timely, and tailored to today’s healthcare environment.
Explore upcoming opportunities and register today!
Click here to see our full course catalog
We have a new web address for the Practice Management Academy
ncahecpma.org - Go check it out!
Any bookmark you have should still work because we've mapped the old URL to the new one. If you'd like to see what our new page looks like, you may need to sign out of the academy so you can see the landing page. Anyone can join the free side of the Practice Management Academy. This includes any free courses, access to our group chat, and announcements about upcoming classes and events. We hope this new address and page will be easier to navigate and share.
