Together for Quality is the Health Quality Innovation Network's (HQIN) monthly newsletter. This issue includes insight on the importance of health information exchange during COVID-19, care transitions and in rural communities and information about a new care directive in South Carolina. The issue also features another opportunity to get to know HQIN, information about our new website and important resources and events you don’t want to miss.
Health Information Exchange Vital to Health Care
Now More than Ever
In an interview with the Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN), Angie Bass, President and CEO of Midwest Health Connection (MHC), one of the largest health information exchange (HIE) networks in the United States, shared her perspective on the important role HIE plays in COVID-19 response, rural health and care transitions.
POST Form Allows Patients to Put Their Treatment Preferences into Action
In South Carolina, a relatively new directive called Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) gives patients choices on treatments, provides direction for providers and is transferable across the care continuum. Patients facing serious illness or nearing the end of life may be unable to make decisions about their care or communicate their treatment preferences to health care providers. Without the ability to share their wishes, these patients may end up receiving care they do not want.
Learn more about POST as well as two learning sessions being offered by CCME, HQIN's quality improvement partner in South Carolina, on June 24.
Get to Know HQIN: Meet Sheila McLean
Sheila McLean, MBA, LNHA, CPHQ, Vice President at Health Quality Innovators, which leads the Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN) and quality improvement initiatives in Virginia, enjoys using creativity to solve health care challenges.
The Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN) is excited to announce the launch of a brand new website at www.hqin.org. The new site features an interactive home page, an events page highlighting upcoming HQIN learning opportunities, COVID-19 resources, our Innovation in Action blog, an easy-to-use resource center and more. Our blog and resource center feature filtering options designed to help you quickly locate relevant information and resources by topic and/or setting. The site also includes a search bar that groups results by type (blog post, resource, events) to help you quickly navigate to the information you need. On our blog, social share buttons make it easy to share posts with others via social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter or via email.
COVID-19 reporting requirements for nursing homes became effective on May 8, 2020 when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its interim final rule. The rule requires nursing homes to report data using the Long-term Care Facilities (LTCF) COVID-19 Module in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Healthcare Network (NHSN). To help you better understand the requirements and the reporting module, HQIN’s nursing home team has compiled the latest guidance and resources from the CDC for quick access.
How to Use Chronic Care Management Services During COVID-19
Thursday, June 25 | 12:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. CT
Patients with multiple chronic conditions are at a higher risk of mortality or other clinical complications if their conditions become uncontrolled. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these high-risk patients have become more reluctant to seek medical treatment. Chronic Care Management (CCM) services are an effective way for clinicians to manage their high-risk patients remotely while supporting social distancing recommendations. During this webinar, we will provide an overview of CCM services including strategies for implementation, billing considerations and resources for clinicians and patients.
Through the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosts a weekly webinar series on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. CT to provide training for infection control processes in nursing homes. Upcoming topics include:
June 18: Clinical Care: Managing COVID-Positive Residents
June 25: PPE Strategies for COVID Care
July 2: Transparency: Resident and Family Notification
Click here to register for these events or to view and register for the entire series.
Navigating COVID-19: Supporting Individuals with Dementia and Their Caregivers
Tuesday, June 23 | 12:00 p.m ET/11:00 a.m. CT
The current COVID-19 public health emergency presents new and unique challenges for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) as well as the family and friends providing care for them. Providers and health plans can play a key role in supporting individuals with ADRD and their caregivers as they navigate these challenges. This webinar will provide information on how COVID-19 affects and presents in people with ADRD, strategies for family and friend caregivers for supporting those with ADRD living at home during COVID-19, and opportunities for health care systems to prepare to meet the needs of people with ADRD diagnosed with COVID-19.
Sheila McLean, MBA, LNHA, CPHQ, Vice President at Health Quality Innovators, which leads the Health Quality Innovation Network (HQIN) and quality improvement initiatives in Virginia, enjoys using creativity to solve health care challenges.
