June 2016
brought to you by the Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign

 

  CAMPAIGN NEWS
  
June 2016 Agency of the Month
In This Issue
This month, HHQI recognizes Massachusetts-based Lahey Health at Home  for their dedication to improving home health care quality.

Home health agencies that are active in the HHQI National Campaign and closest to the national, risk-adjusted ACH 20th percentile and/or the national, risk-adjusted Oral Medication Improvement 80th percentile (or higher) are eligible for random selection as HHQI Agency of the Month. 

Be in the spotlight. Nominate your agency today, and if you are selected, your organization will be prominently featured here in HHQI Inside Edition - which reaches more than 16,000 subscribers - and on the HHQI website. Your achievement will also be shared via HHQI's social media channels.
Be First to Know with New Topic-Specific Mailing Lists

Now you don't have to wait for HHQI's monthly newsletter to get updates on the latest campaign resources & events. If you'd like to receive succinct emails containing details about new Best Practice Intervention Packages (BPIPs), data reports, webinars, workshops, and online courses as soon as they are available, you can subscribe to HHQI's new topic-specific mailing lists:
  • BPIPs: Be among the first to know when new or updated Best Practice Intervention Packages are available.
  • CardioLAN: Cardiovascular health-related webinars, resources, and information as soon as it is available.
  • Data Access: Information about HHQI data reports and other data-related resources and events as soon as it's available.
  • Educational & Networking Opportunities: Information about upcoming webinars, workshops, and other events as soon as it's available.
  • HHQI University: Information about free online courses and CE credits from HHQI as soon as it's available.
  • UPDate: Quarterly newsletter focusing on Underserved Populations (UP) issues.
HHQI Inside Edition will continue to be distributed as a monthly digest of most recent and upcoming campaign information for those who prefer to receive one longer email per month.

 

  CAMPAIGN RESOURCES
  
Recorded Webinar with Free CEs for Nurses 
Patient Safety Culture: A Foundation for a QAPI Program

QAPI is coming. How should your agency prepare for it? While there are resources available that will give step by step guidance, the one area that serves as a foundation for a successful Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement (QAPI) program is an organizational culture that puts patient safety first. QAPI is about changing the culture of how care is provided and engaging all members of an organization. An organization with a strong patient safety culture not only has a foundation for their QAPI program but also the cornerstone for future performance initiatives.

During this free webinar, you'll learn how to assess your organization's culture and about different frameworks that can be implemented to improve your organization's culture.

Guest Speaker:
Tina Hilmas, RN, BSN
Project Manager
Center for Patient Safety

FREE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT  |  Participants who watch the webinar and complete 30 minutes of corresponding coursework in HHQI University will receive 1.5 Nursing CEs. Continuing education credits have been approved by the Alabama State Nurses Association, an accredited approver of the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). Get detailed instructions.

To be among the first to know when new online courses are available, subscribe to our HHQI University mailing list.
COMING SOON: Best Practice Intervention Package (BPIP)
Fundamentals of Reducing Hospitalizations

On July 1, 2016, HHQI will release a new BPIP focusing on the status of hospitalizations within home health as well as other cross-setting initiatives effecting home health agencies. The Fundamentals of Reducing Hospitalizations BPIP will include categories of key evidence-based interventions for prevention as well as tools and resources to reduce avoidable hospitalizations. Target audience is both leadership and healthcare clinicians. A Patient Multimedia Module will be included; this is a short video file that helps patients determine if they might be at-risk for a hospitalization and steps to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations. 

Also, HHQI has applied for 2.25 hours CEs for Nursing (ANCC) through the Alabama State Nurses Association for a corresponding course in HHQI University.

To be notified as soon as this and future BPIPs are available, please join our BPIPs mailing list.

  

  CAMPAIGN EVENTS

  
Save the Dates
New "Third Thursdays" Event Schedule
 
Home health professionals are busy. Now, there's an understatement. In order to make the most of your limited time, HHQI's three primary online Networking events -- LiveChat, Cardiovascular Learning & Action Network (CardioLAN) webinars, and Underserved Populations (UP) webinars -- will each be held quarterly. 

Events will rotate to always occur from 2-3pm (ET) on the third Thursday of the month.

JANUARY 21APRIL 21JULY 21OCTOBER 20
LiveChats
FEBRUARY 18
MAY 19
AUGUST 18NOVEMBER 17
CardioLAN WebinarsMARCH 17
JUNE 16
SEPTEMBER 15DECEMBER 15

Click on the Networking Event type above for available registration or reminder links. You can also browse our online event calendar or subscribe to our Educational & Networking Opportunities mailing list to receive details (topics, objectives, speaker info, & registration links) as soon as they are available.
Quarterly CardioLAN Webinar | June 16 | 2-3pm ET
Making Your CASPER Data Work for YOU

Please join the HHQI team as we welcome Kathryn Roby, Home Health & Hospice Consulting Director for Qualidigm, for this free, interactive webinar. Attendees who complete the corresponding coursework in HHQI University (30 minutes), will receive 1.5 Nursing CEs.*
 
This webinar will provide information on how to access the CASPER system, identify and interpret CASPER agency data, develop a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) based on CASPER data, and support a model for improvement such as the Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) plan with CASPER Data. Appropriate for healthcare leadership and clinicians. 
 
Visit the HHQI website to register and for specific webinar objectives, continuing education details, and presentation slides as soon as they are available. All participants are encouraged to ask questions during the webinar or email them in advance.

* Nursing CEs for this activity have been approved by the Alabama State Nurses Association, an accredited approver of the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC).
WORKSHOP | July 29 | 1-5pm CT | Free CEs for Nurses 
Free Hands-On Data Workshop in Point Clear, Alabama

During this interactive afternoon workshop, RN Project Coordinators from the Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign team will provide personalized hands-on guidance on data interpretation and the next steps toward developing and sustaining a strong Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement (QAPI) plan.  

Learning Objectives:
  • Interpret your agency's custom Acute Care Hospitalization reports from HHQI & identify gaps in patient care
  • Distinguish 3 or more free evidence-based tools/resources to address gaps in patient care
  • List 3 additional support resources to assist with development and sustainment of a QAPI plan
Free, Open to All Home Care Providers
The free workshop is hosted by the Home Care Association of Alabama, the Homecare Association of Louisiana, and the Mississippi Association for Home Care. However, this workshop is not limited to members of these associations or home health agencies in these states. All are welcome. Registration is required. Visit the HHQI website for more information.

If you would like to be notified of future workshops like this one, please join our Educational & Networking Opportunities and/or Data Access mailing lists. When workshop locations are chosen, we will email the details to subscribers in the region.

  QIN-QIO CORNER
 
The Strategic Innovation Engine Seeks Innovative Practices

The Strategic Innovative Engine (SIE), the latest addition to CMS' Quality Improvement Organization program, is designed to identify, evaluate and spread proven quality improvement practices. It is seeking innovative ideas from throughout the health care system that will further CMS' three part aim of better care, healthier people/communities and smarter spending. The SIE recently issued its first Call for Innovative Practices on five topics:
  • Managing multiple chronic conditions
  • Engaging patients and families as active members of the care team
  • Coordinating care within and across settings
  • Streamlining patient flow
  • Integrating behavioral health into care
Organizations that have created or adapted a proven innovative practice in one or more of these topics are invited to apply. Submissions will be evaluated by an Expert Panel. Selected innovations will be widely disseminated and organizations publicly recognized for their practice through unique networking access, and participation in presentation or poster sessions at the CMS Quality Conference. Sign up for the SIE mailing list and stay up to date.

 

  INDUSTRY NEWS & RESOURCES
  
Current & Upcoming Health-Related Observances

Each month, the healthcare industry puts the spotlight on a variety of health & wellness issues that impact home health patients and professionals. Follow the links below for more information and resources to get involved and help spread awareness. You can also follow HHQI on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for ongoing related content. Share your favorite photos and free resources & events with our followers too!
JUNE 2016
JULY 2016
  
Medicare's 51st Anniversary
July 30
Upcoming Webinars & Other Events

DATE & TIME
EVENT NAME
PRESENTED BY
June 7
3-4pm ET		Mobilizing for Health at the Grassroots LevelRobert Wood Johnson Foundation
June 9
2-3pm ET		Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Hypertension: Beginning the Conversation*American Heart Association
June 14
1-2pm ET		Undiagnosed Hypertension in the Safety Net: Improving Identification & Diagnosis of Patients Hiding in Plain SightMillion Hearts® & National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)

June 22
12-1pm ET		Using Health Information Technology to Improve Primary CareAHRQ & EvidenceNOW Technical Assistance Center
On-demand thru
July 23, 2017		Pharmacotherapy for Adults with Alcohol-Use Disorders in Outpatient Settings: A Monograph*Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

*Continuing education credit is included or available.
Key Dates: Home Health Compare & Star Ratings Reports

The Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings Preview Reports are now available in the CASPER folders. These reports contain data that will be publicly reported on the Home Health Compare website in July 2016. Below is calendar of key dates for the next two quarters of Home Health Compare updates:
JUL 2016
OCT 2016
Preview reports available in CASPER
4/7/16
(or before)
6/30/16
(or before)
Quality of Patient Care Star Rating suppression request deadline4/25/167/18/16
Deadline for submitting missing or corrected data5/20/168/19/16
Home Health Compare updated
July 2016
October 2016
Million Hearts® 2015 Hypertension Control Champions

Million Hearts® recognized 18 health care practices and systems as 2015 Champions for their efforts to achieve blood pressure control for at least 70% of their adult patients with hypertension. Watch for more information on the 2015 Champions in the coming months. Read the press release.
Geriatric Home Health Resources from CHAMP

Champ logo 

The Collaboration for Homecare Advances in Management and Practice (CHAMP) Program was the first national initiative to advance geriatric home care excellence. CHAMP's valuable resources and e-presentations are still available online.

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality 

Improvement Organization supporting the Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign, 

under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services. The views presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 

Publication number 11SOW-WV-HH-MMD-060216