The August 2024 issue of Alliant Health Solutions Cares & Shares: A monthly newsletter highlighting events and resources for those caring for Medicare beneficiaries.
- Register for Upcoming Events
- View Past Events
- Leadership Lesson: Advice from the Frontlines
- Resources and Information on:
- COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness
- Opioid Utilization and Misuse
- Patient Safety
- Training
- Chronic Disease
- Care Coordination and Partnerships for Community Health
- Immunization
- BFAC
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Events
Upcoming Educational Events
Nursing Home Readmission Affinity Group: Addressing the Sepsis Care Gap: A Comprehensive Assessment of Nursing Home Facility Practices
*NAB credits awarded* *CE for physicians and nurses available*
Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. ET /12:30 p.m. CT
Join us for an insightful session that delves into the critical assessment of sepsis care capacity. This engaging session will explore using a sepsis gap analysis to evaluate the preparedness and capabilities of interdisciplinary teams in providing optimal sepsis care. Our expert speakers will guide participants through identifying gaps, assessing current practices, and implementing strategies to enhance sepsis care.
Learning objectives:
- Learn from a patient what matters most to them when care planning for sepsis risk.
- Examine programmatic and clinical strategies to prevent and manage sepsis, specifically the Sepsis Gap Analysis Tool and the Sepsis Early Recognition and Response Pathway for Nursing Facilities.
- Discuss how sepsis quality improvement initiatives can be integrated into the facility assessment process.
Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
*CME credit awarded*
Join us and invite your clinical colleagues to our Boost educational events. In this session, we'll take a deeper dive into your challenges and questions from our earlier office hours session.
Register Here
Past Educational Event
Nursing Home & Partnership for Community Health LAN: Community-Driven Strategies for Improving Vaccination Acceptance
Recorded on July 25
Get insights into the journeys of two communities that have successfully improved vaccination acceptance. You’ll learn about a statewide project that used interviews, focus groups, and surveys to identify and address barriers to immunizations. We also explored how another region, in partnership with the state nurses association, enhanced equitable access to COVID-19 vaccination through the implementation of mobile vaccination clinics.
Watch Recording | View Materials
Were You Able to "Use Tomorrow" What You Heard During the LAN Events?
If Yes, Click Below.
Nursing Homes LAN Attendees: Click here
Partnership for Community Health LAN Attendees:Click here
Thursday, August 15 at 2 p.m. ET | 1 p.m. CT (60 min.)
**CME and NAB credit awarded**
Join the monthly Shop Talk sessions hosted by the Alliant patient safety team. Attendees will receive updates on the NHSN database and CMS requirements.
This month, we will discuss updates to CMS NHSN reporting requirements, COVID-19 and respiratory virus updates, and NHSN updates. There will also be a live question-and-answer session to help with your immediate needs. Submitting data accurately into NHSN will help you more confidently plan your risk assessments and quality improvement initiatives.
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Join the Alliant Health Solutions-LTC NHSN Group!
Joining the group and conferring rights to Alliant Health Solutions-LTC to view NHSN data allows for seamless support and technical assistance.
View Step-By-Step Guide
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Leadership
Words of advice from leaders on the front lines.
This month’s leadership lesson is from Amy Ward, MS, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, Alliant’s patient safety manager.
Infection Prevention Leadership: Harnessing the Power of Influence for Safer Health Care
Effective leadership in infection prevention and control is key to ensuring resident safety and regulatory compliance. During my decade as an infection preventionist (IP), I experienced firsthand the challenge of being in a position that was vital to the facility’s success but lacked the formal authority and recognition of leadership positions. Developing your ability to influence others was an effective strategy to overcome this challenge.
At the Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention and Epidemiology (APIC) 2024 Conference, I attended a session by Tiffany Dogan, the infection prevention program manager at UCLA Health. who described influence as the intersection of character and connection. When developing the capability to influence, Dogan shared that we must first understand our own character traits of integrity, honesty, and authenticity so we can build meaningful and trusting relationships with others.
I remembered the ongoing struggle of trying to improve compliance with transmission-based precautions at my facility. As I evaluated how I could lead this change and improve compliance, I realized that I didn’t need direct authority. What I needed was to interact with staff as individuals with different levels of knowledge and interest. I needed to show them that I’m trustworthy and a safe person they can come to with questions about IP practices. As I got to know my colleagues and understood their needs, I became an IP influencer and compliance improved.
IPs are critical to the overall success of health care facilities. Investing time in developing your character and regularly connecting with your coworkers can help you harness your influence capabilities. These principles could help you avoid F tags in infection prevention and control areas and create a safer and more supportive environment for residents and staff.
Resources
COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness
New COVID-19 Resources
- Become Your Own SUPER HERO by Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine – This new flyer is available in English, Spanish, and Creole. Download today!
COVID-19 Vaccine: Updates and Need To Know
What’s available until fall 2024
- Pfizer may be available through your wholesaler or pharmacy.
- Moderna will continue to ship directly and have vaccines available to wholesalers/distributors until the 24-25 vaccine is available.
- Novavax is not available until the next fall season.
How to order
- Moderna can be pre-ordered directly at Modernadirect.com or through your medical supply company.
- Novavax does not have direct ordering, but you can pre-order through your medical supply company or pharmacy.
- Pfizer can be ordered directly at primevaccinespfizer.com or through your medical supply company or pharmacy.
- Small ordering requirements are available.
- Ask about discounts that can be applied to your account.
- Ask about reimbursement programs for open or unused vaccines.
Consents
When working with your local health department or big box pharmacy, ask for the most current consent forms. Using your own consent form?
- Make sure the pharmacy or HD accepts it.
- Make sure the pharmacy or HD accepts verbal consent.
- Sample consents can be found at immunize.org.
Pre-order the COVID-19 vaccine for next year
- Eliminate access issues by ordering your COVID-19 vaccines with your flu vaccines.
- Direct ordering is now available.
- Pharmacy pre-orders – check with the pharmacy to see when available.
- Medical supply company – check to see when available.
Flu, COVID and RSV Vaccine Coadministration
Flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines can be given at the same visit. For patients who prefer to receive each vaccine at a separate visit, there is no minimum waiting period between vaccines. Learn More
Impact of COVID-19 on Long-Term Care
A team of Canadian patient and public partners and researchers studied the impact that COVID-19 had on the physical health, mental health, and well-being of residents in long-term care. One hundred and eighty-four care partners completed the survey to share their perspectives. Findings are discussed in detail in the report, Through the Looking Glass. Access the Report
Emergency Preparedness: Using Tabletop Exercises to Prepare for Extreme Heat Events
Extreme heat is a leading causes of weather-related illness and death in the United States, causing more fatalities in a typical year than hurricanes, tornadoes, severe storms, and floods. One important tool communities and providers can use to plan for extreme events is a tabletop exercise. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Integrated Heat Health Information System developed an Introduction to Heat Tabletop Planning and Coordination Guide. Use this guide to develop and hold a future tabletop exercise within your community or your facility. Download Guide
Emergency Preparedness: Recent Mass Software Outage
In July, a global software outage impacted airlines, health care and businesses. This event was a reminder to review and update downtime procedures and cybersecurity policies for facilities. Alliant Health Solutions recently created a cybersecurity and downtime procedure checklist for providers. Refer to this checklist for more information on how you can use lessons learned to update plans. Download Cybersecurity Checklist
Opioid Utliziation and Misuse
National Survey on Drug Use and Health Identifies Gaps in Cascade of Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder
Data from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health were applied to a cascade of care framework to estimate and characterize U.S. adult populations who need opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, receive OUD treatment, and receive medications for OUD. More Information
International Overdose Awareness Day 2024: ‘Together We Can’ End Overdose and Honor Lives Lost
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) on August 31, 2024, is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind. This year’s theme is “Together we can,” which highlights the power of our community when we all stand together. More Information
Patient Safety
- Sepsis Alliance Summit – Learn how you can help better identify, diagnose, and treat this deadly condition in your practice. Mortality increases by 4-9% for every hour that treatment is delayed. You can help save lives and limbs by staying up-to-date on current recommendations and guidelines around sepsis by joining the 5th Annual Sepsis Alliance Summit. Register today.
- Sepsis Alliance Toolkit – Check out the Sepsis Awareness Month Website to download the free toolkit to help you spread awareness about sepsis.
- Alliant Health Solutions Tools – Alliant has many tools and resources including the new early recognition and response care pathway in the sepsis section of the Infection Control Webpage.
- CDC Print Materials – Request free printed materials from CDC here. Use keyword “sepsis” to order posters, brochures, infographics and factsheets now to have them available during sepsis awareness month.
Registration is now open for the 2024 Annual NHSN Post-Acute Care Training. This training will include Long Term Care Component, Dialysis Component, and Healthcare Personnel Safety Component (Healthcare Personnel Vaccination) and Analytics. Access this website for registration and CE information. Register Here
Training
Newly Updated CMS Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff and Management Modules 5 and 8
Learn about the impact of dementia in caring for nursing home residents with COVID-19 and how to protect the emotional health of nursing home staff through this no-cost, updated Quality, Safety & Education Portal (QSEP) online training developed by CMS. View Training
Chronic Disease
People with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) should ensure that they are up to date with certain immunizations to protect their health and reduce the risk of complications. It's crucial for individuals with diabetes and CKD to discuss their vaccination status and needs with their health care provider. The recommended vaccinations may vary based on the individual's age, overall health, vaccination history, and other specific risk factors. Health care professionals can provide personalized recommendations and schedule the appropriate vaccinations to ensure optimal protection against preventable diseases.
The CDC’s Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool is a great resource for helping patients assess their vaccination needs and address them with their providers. View Assessment Tool
Care Coordination & Partnerships for Community Health
Alliant Health Solutions created a resource to help patients learn more about stroke warning signs and symptoms. Download the resource, available in English and Spanish, for patient education about early warning signs of stroke. This two-page zone tool has a blood pressure tracking page to aid patients in self-monitoring chronic disease. Download English Resource | Download Spanish Resource
Immunization
Celebrating National Immunization Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month highlights the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Click Here to view the CDC’s webpage of resources to help raise vaccine awareness and acceptance.
Alliant Health Solutions launched its 2024-2025 Seasonal Vaccination Campaign with tools and resources to support nursing homes. Monthly emails to all nursing homes with key milestones will help your facility stay on track with the 2024-2025 seasonal vaccination campaign. Email nursinghome@alliantquality.org if your facility did not receive the first email in July or if you would like to add additional receivers to the distribution list.
Promoting Heart Health Through Vaccinations
Staying up to date with vaccinations is an important part of being heart healthy. The American College of Cardiology has two flyers to promote vaccinations for individuals living with heart disease. Share the CardioSmart® Protect Your Heart with the Vaccines You Need and Flu Shots and Your Heart infographics with patients, community organizations, friends and neighbors to raise awareness.
Boost Vaccine Uptake with NFID's #ShotOfScience Campaign and Spanish-Language Resources
Vaccines are not effective unless they are used! Click Here to view the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) #ShotOfScience Campaign to help increase your facility’s vaccine uptake. Materials available from the campaign include a vaccine safety infographic and a vaccine science social media toolkit. In May 2024, the NFID launched a Spanish version of its website to make these essential resources even more accessible. Click here to subscribe to NFID’s mailing list to get up-to-date infectious diseases news delivered directly to your inbox.
Beneficiary & Family Advisory Council (BFAC)
Browse resources our council has worked on below:
Wherever your travels may take you, be prepared for your health before, during, and after your trip. The CDC has created some helpful tips to follow while traveling. Get Travel Tips
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Visit the News & Announcements section of the Alliant Health Solutions website.
For more information about Alliant Health Solutions:
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