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INSIDE EDITION
July 2014
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CMS Releases Proposed 2015 Home Health PPS Changes

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted the new proposed PPS changes that include changes for 2015 and introducing 2016 roll-out of Home Health (HH) Value-based Purchasing Model. Comment period is open from July 7 until September 2, 2014. Learn more.

In This Issue

 

  AGENCY OF THE MONTH
  

 

Congratulations to Reverence Home Health & Hospice

 

"Living our values in the form of Reverence, Wisdom, Creativity and Dedication is the focus of our care to others. Being selected as the July 2014 Agency of the Month by Home Health Quality Improvement is an honor that recognizes our commitment to our Values and our service to others. We appreciate HHQI establishing the foundation for the best in clinical care in the key areas of reducing avoidable hospitalizations and improving the management of oral medications. Congratulations to the Reverence Home Health & Hospice team for your expert service to those most in need."


Linda Young

President

Reverence Home Health & Hospice

 

Want to show off your agency's commitment to quality improvement? Submit your nomination today.

 

 

  PARTICIPATING AGENCY & INDUSTRY NEWS
  
 
Mathews Burwell confirmed as HHS Secretary
 
On a bipartisan vote of 78 to 17, senators approved Sylvia Mathews Burwell to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -- the government's largest domestic department, ending a quick confirmation process that was devoid of the bitter partisanship surrounding the 2010 Affordable Care Act and the changes it is bringing to the U.S. healthcare system. Read more from The Washington Post. 

New Study

Hospitalization risk factors among Medicare home health patients


A new study identifies key OASIS risk factors for Medicare home health patients using OASIS data. Analysis found the most influential risk factors were skin wound, guarded rehabilitation prognosis, congestive heart failure, depressive symptoms, dyspnea severity, and Black race. Read the full study.

Participating Agency in the News

Local media features Colorado Plains Medical Center Home Care

 

The Fort Morgan Times in Colorado recently highlighted Colorado Plains Medical Center Home Care's track record of meeting high quality standards in a recent article on the home care industry. Read the article.

Success Story
Reducing hospital readmissions: It takes a village

 

In September 2012, the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC), which is the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Arkansas, was awarded a Special Innovation Project through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reduce hospital readmissions within the dual-eligible population. Visit MyHHQI Blog to learn how AFMC made this effort a success.

  

Do you have a success story you'd like to share with the HHQI community? Please contact us at [email protected]. You give us the details; we'll do the writing and use our communications channels to share it so others can learn from your success.

Partner News

VNAA Releases Blueprint for Excellence: Hospice and Palliative Care

 

The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) has released the latest in its pathway to best practices, the Blueprint for Excellence, focused on hospice and palliative care. Noting the rise in hospice use and spending for Medicare beneficiaries, VNAA convened leading subject matter experts and clinicians from its membership, academia and accrediting bodies to design best practices for end of life care. Read the press release. 

Partner News

The Future of Home Health Project: Envisioning a better world for aging, disabilities, and independence

 

This year, the Alliance for Home Health Quality and Innovation embarked on a project with the goal of developing a research-based strategic framework for the future of home health care in the United States. The Future of Home Health (FOHH) Project aims to improve the understanding of how home health care is currently used, and how it should be used in the future for older Americans and those with disabilities in the U.S. 

 

Visit MyHHQI Blog to learn more.

 

 

  EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
  
Free, evidence-based educational resources on a variety of topics

 

HHQI's free Best Practice Intervention Packages (BPIPs) offer practical applications of quality improvement strategies in simple steps and are designed to be implemented at a self-set pace. All packages are evidence-based and free for all providers, regardless of setting. You can even add your agency's logo and contact information to many of the associated clinician and patient tools.

 

Take advantage of free, evidence-based educational resources on the following topics today!

 

Disease Management: Heart FailureDisease Management: Diabetes
Cardiovascular Health Part 1:
Aspirin Therapy & Blood Pressure Control
Cardiovascular Health Part 2:
Cholesterol Management & Smoking Cessation
Immunization and Infection PreventionPatient Self-Management
Fall PreventionImproving Management of Oral Medications
Fundamentals of Reducing Acute Care HospitalizationCross Settings I
(Transitional Care and Coaching Models)
Cross Settings II
(Self-Care Management and Telehealth)
Cross Settings III
(Preparing for industry changes)

 

Registration with the HHQI National Campaign is required to access the BPIPs, but registration is simple and also free. Register now.

Million Hearts and EatingWell magazine launch heart-healthy nutrition resource

 

With summer in full swing, outdoor cooking and casual gatherings provide great opportunities to experiment with new, heart-healthy recipes. When planning your next summer-inspired meal, be sure to check out the new Healthy Eating & Lifestyle Resources Center -- a comprehensive online tool developed in partnership with the CDC's Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and EatingWell magazine. 

 

Browse hundreds of fresh and heart-healthy recipes for every meal, including grilling and picnic/potluck favorites. Desserts included! 

 

  
EatingWell
Deviled Eggs
  
Grilled Steak
with Pepper Relish

  
Double-Corn
Blueberry Cobbler

AHA/ASA release new hypertension resources

 

For Healthcare Professionals -- Controlling Hypertension in Adults is a downloadable pocket guide featuring the American Heart Association's Hypertension treatment algorithm and is a critical tool focused on 8 principals for an effective, systemic and team-based formula for the healthcare setting.

 

For Patients -- Understanding and Managing High Blood Pressure was designed to facilitate dialogue between patient and provider. The guide provides practical information to educate the patient on risk factors, treatment, and measurement of high blood pressure and empowers the patient to manage their high blood pressure with tips for daily living. You can also order free copies.

Additional Geriatric Home Health Resources

  Champ logo

The Collaboration for Homecare Advances in Management and Practice (CHAMP) Program was the first national initiative to advance home care excellence for older people. CHAMP's valuable resources and ePresentations are still available online. Visit the CHAMP website.
 

 

  DATA REPORTS
  

 

Available Now: June 2014 HHQI Data Access Reports 

  
The Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign Data Access site was recently updated with your agency's June 2014 Acute Care Hospitalization (ACH), Oral Medications, Influenza, Pneumococcal, and Cardiovascular Risk reports. If your agency is registered for the Home Health Cardiovascular Data Registry (HHCDR) and has submitted applicable patient data, a new HHCDR Report is also available. Log in to HHQI Data Access now to view your reports.

 

If you are a CMS-reporting agency that has not yet registered for HHQI Data Access, your customized reports are waiting for you! Visit the HHQI Data Access website now to browse resources or to register.

 

As always, if you have questions, please contact us at [email protected].

  

 

  NETWORKING
  

 

HHQI to present at Gulf Coast Home Care Conference & Expo

 

HHQI RN Project Coordinator Cindy Sun will be presenting at the 14th Annual Gulf Coast Home Care Conference & Exhibition, July 29-31, 2014, in Point Clear, Alabama. She will deliver two presentations: Collaborative Care Transitions and Data-Driven Cardiovascular Home Health. View the conference brochure.

No-Cost Webinar from HHQI's Underserved Populations Network

  

July 9, 2014 @ 3-4pm (ET)  

Population Health Management from the Home Health Perspective

 

Webinar Objectives:

  • Learn from a Home Health collaboration with an insurer to improve health of the underserved and non-homebound populations
  • Ideal for organizations caring for Medicaid patient populations
  • Explore strategies and interventions to successfully reduce hospital admissions and Emergency Department visits for patients with chronic diseases (e.g., CHF, COPD, and Diabetes)
UP logo no background
Guest Speaker:
 
Sharon N. Fisher, BS

Healthcare Senior Executive

Circle Home, Inc.

Lowell, Massachusetts

No-Cost Webinars from Industry Partners

 

DateTimeTopicSpeaker(s)Presenting Organization
July 103pm (ET) Community Based Diabetes Self-Management: Part of the Solution

password:
community
Kate Lorig, RN, DrPH, Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine; Director, Stanford Patient Education Research CenterIntegrating Care for Populations & Communities NCC
July 243pm (ET)Behavioral Health

password:
community
Eli Veitzer, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Business Development;
Ben Miller, PsyD 
Integrating Care for Populations & Communities NCC 
August 111:30am (ET)Evidence-Based Self-Management Interventions: The Stanford Programs & moreKate Lorig, RN, DrPH, Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine; Director, Stanford Patient Education Research CenterHealthSciences Institute

  

Each month, HealthSciences Institute (HSI) and the Partners in Improvement Alliance host free, non-commercial skill-building webinars featuring expert presentation and discussion. Upcoming webinars are listed above, or you can view HSI's complete Learning Collaborative Event Schedule.

 

 

  ASSISTANCE
  

  

A Wealth of Home Health Knowledge at Your Fingertips     

  

Is your agency facing a specific QI challenge? Chances are, another agency in the HHQI community has had a similar experience, and they might be able to offer some advice and resources. 

 

HHQI's next LiveChat is Friday, July 11 at 2pm (ET), and it's the perfect opportunity to network with the HHQI team and other home health agencies. 

 

LiveChat is a casual, online forum where home health professionals can learn from each other by asking questions and sharing best practices.

 

We hope you'll join us! Set an email reminder now.

feedback Preparing for the future: Help us, help you!

  

Your input is extremely important to continue improving the HHQI National Campaign's free resources. Please help us by submitting your feedback.

 

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