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Tip of the Week Use SBAR to Improve Information Flow Among Providers
Train your staff to use the Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) technique to enhance communication across care settings. The "SBAR Made Easy - Clinician Module," a 60-minute Web presentation complete with scenario exercises and handouts, is available online at the Best Practice Intervention Tools for Physician Relationships portal on the Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign Web site.
Preferred Home Health Services in Richlands, Virginia, trained nursing staff on SBAR, which resulted in positive feedback from physicans. "The implementation of SBAR has been succesful at our agency," reports Patricia Smith, RN, director of quality management. "Many times we contact on-call physicians regarding a patient with whom they are not familiar, and by using SBAR, the nurse provides information that is relevant and necessary."
Home Care Administrator/Alternates Meeting Slated for Dallas, June 23-25
The Texas Association for Home Care is now accepting registrations for its basic and advanced administrators programs. Discounted registrations available until June 6; advance registration is required. Read more >>
Resource Spotlight
OBQI Web-Based Training This educational module provides a comprehensive online training program on how to implement outcome based quality improvement in a home health agency. The module uses an entertaining storyline to provide an overview of quality improvement concepts and the OBQI process.
Oral Medication Management Resources
The Medicare Quality Improvement Community (MedQIC) Web site provides tools and literature related to the publicly reported quality measures, including oral medication management.
Quality Basics for Providers: Register Now for June 10 Presentation
"Improvement Methodologies: How to Spur Change" is an introduction of the key concepts of several improvement models. For each model, the discussion will focus on the format, key tools and resources necessary for successful implementation. This information should help your team select the model best suited to reaching your quality improvement goals. Register here >> |
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Extra Tip
ALERT: FDA Recalls Heparin for All Provider Types
Help spread the word about recalls by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for injectable heparin prodcuts and heparin flush solutions that may be contaminated with oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS).
Affected heparin products have been found in medical care facilities in one state since the recall announcement. All health professionals are asked to review and examine all drug/device storage areas, including emergency kits, dialysis units and automated drug storage cabinets to ensure all of the recalled heparin products have been removed and are no longer available for patient use. Read more >> |
In the News
HH PPS Corrects Determinations of Early Versus Later Episodes
Home health agencies submitting claims to Medicare contractors for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries should review Change Request 6027, which addresses Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) billing procedures. Revised definitions of "early" and "later" episodes will affect claims processing. Read more >> (53-page PDF) Google Makes No-Cost Online Medical Records Service Available to Public
Google opened public access to Google Health, an online personal health record service, after 18 months of development. Read more >>
Remarks as Prepared on Medicare: Drifting to Disaster
In a speech to the Medicare Trust Fund trustees, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt addresses our nation's efforts to prepare for the challenges of retiring baby boomer generation. Read more >>
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