- Latest news from CMS
- Register for upcoming events
- Leadership Lesson: Advice From the Frontlines
- Resources and information on:
- Health Equity
- COVID-19
- Opioid Utilization and Misuse
- Patient Safety
- Training
- Chronic Disease
- Care Coordination and Partnerships for Community Health
- Immunization
- BFAC
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CMS QI Voices
CMS QI Voices: Improving COVID-19 Outcomes in Nursing Homes Across America, a new audio series produced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is available at https://qioprogram.org/cmsqivoices. This series will help busy medical directors, administrators, and directors of nursing and education keep residents and staff safe with actionable information to increase COVID-19 vaccination and the use of available treatments and improve infection prevention efforts in the nursing home and long-term care settings.
In three 15-minute episodes, CMS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lee Fleisher leads clinical discussions with experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics and Research and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. These episodes cover:
- The safety and efficacy of the new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine in long-term care.
- The benefits, risks and side effects of therapeutics for nursing home residents diagnosed with COVID-19.
- National programs and partnerships that support nursing home teams’ efforts to promote COVID-19 infection prevention and vaccination.
In the five-minute episodes, CMS leaders Dr. Paul Rosen and Colleen Frey talk with CMS Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organizations (QIN-QIOs) and the nursing homes they serve to discuss:
How to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence in care settings with high resident turnover.
- How one nursing home is using the power of resident ambassadors to increase vaccine confidence.
- What nursing home staff need to keep doing to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
- When, who and how to cohort in your nursing home.
- How a nursing home serving Native American residents uses a culturally inclusive approach to address health equity and increase vaccine confidence.
The CMS QI Voices: Improving COVID-19 Outcomes in Nursing Homes Across America audio series is available wherever listeners have online access. Listen Here
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Events
Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. ET| 11:30 p.m. CT
Learn strategies for using the AHRQ TAKEheart framework to embed automatic referrals and care coordination into the workflow to improve cardiac rehabilitation participation.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn how to use workflow process mapping to identify situations where cardiac rehabilitation care coordination processes were not firmly established.
- Understand the benefits of performing pre-op cardiothoracic surgery education, including post-discharge outpatient appointment scheduling.
- Recognize how a Cardiac Rehab Change Package can provide a framework for improving processes in the four focus areas of system change, referrals, enrollment and participation, and adherence.
- Learn strategies for integrating workflow into the facility's electronic health record.
Combined Partnerships for Community Health and Nursing Homes: Ideas for National Health Care Decisions Day and Beyond: Looking at Hope in a New Way
Recorded on March 23
*ANCC credit available until 4/22*
Few interactions are as satisfying as helping patients identify and then attain their goals. View the recording below to learn about giving hope as a high-reliability function of health care. Watch Recording
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, April 20 at 2 p.m. ET | 1 p.m. CT (60 min.)
**ANCC 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 the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and what it means for NHSN reporting, influenza vaccination reporting 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 Daly, MA, LNHA, senior quality improvement specialist for Alliant Health Solutions.
The Many Benefits of Nursing Mentorship Programs
National Nurses Week begins on May 6 and ends on May 12, which marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. The week celebrates the contributions of nurses and calls attention to their sacrifices. Nurses perform some of the most challenging work, from life-threatening emergencies to delivering babies to caring for people in their last moments. This is an excellent time for everyone to express appreciation for the incredible work that nurses do every day.
Amid a national nursing shortage, we must especially recognize the importance of developing nurses, and one way to do that is through mentoring. Florence Nightingale was the first person to introduce mentoring in nursing, and she was referred to as the “mentor of matrons.” A mentor can be defined as an experienced individual who guides a novice member’s transition to a new culture and the expectations of a new role. Mentorship programs impact professional development between the mentor and mentee through a dynamic and supportive relationship. The mentor-mentee relationship can be mutually beneficial.
Benefits of a positive mentoring relationship for the mentee:
- Maximizing learning
- Improving efficiency
- Creating meaningful connections
- Increasing confidence
- Building resiliency
Benefits of a positive mentoring relationship for the mentor
- Improving communication and leadership skills
- Expanding connections
- Promoting self-reflection
National Nurses Week is a great time to think about strengthening our nursing workforce. Thank you, nurses, for your dedication, compassion, and hard work!
Alliant Health Solutions' health equity lead, Rosa Abraha, curated the following health trainings, events and resources related to health equity. Check out the resources listed below.
CMS Proposes Policies To Improve Patient Safety and Promote Health Equity
CMS released a press release and factsheet on a proposed rule addressing health equity in fiscal year (FY) 2024.
Key points in the proposed rule include:
- CMS is proposing to make health equity adjustments in the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program by providing incentives to hospitals to perform well on existing measures and to those who care for high proportions of underserved individuals, as defined by dual eligibility status.
- CMS is proposing to recognize homelessness as an indicator of increased resource utilization in the acute inpatient hospital setting, which may result in higher payment for certain hospital stays.
- CMS is proposing to change the severity designation of the three ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes describing homelessness (e.g., unspecified, sheltered, and unsheltered) from non-complication or comorbidity (NonCC) to complication or comorbidity (CC) based on the higher average resource costs of cases with these diagnosis codes compared to similar cases without these codes.
- CMS is proposing to add 15 new health equity hospital categorizations for the FY 2024 IPPS payment impacts. Moving forward, one of the priorities of the CMS Framework for Health Equity 2022-2032 is to expand the collection, reporting, and analysis of standardized health equity data.
- CMS is also proposing that rural emergency hospitals could be designated as graduate medical education training sites. As a result, more medical residents would be able to train in rural settings, which can help address workforce shortages in these communities.
There will be a 60-day public comment period beginning on May 1, and comments can be posted here.
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Podcast AHSCAST - Making Health Care Better
 | Everyone deserves quality health care. Tune into the Alliant Health Solutions Making Health Care Better podcast every other Thursday as they interview guests committed to making health care better. If you are a health care consumer, provider, insurer, system or consultant, this is the podcast for you. View All Podcast Episodes |
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Resources
COVID-19
View All COVID-19 News & Resources
COVID-19 Update: FDA Authorizes Changes to Simplify Use of BivalentmRNA COVID-19 Vaccines
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 bivalent mRNA vaccines to simplify the vaccination schedule for most individuals. This action includes authorizing the current bivalent vaccines (original and omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains) to be used for all doses administered to individuals six months of age and older, including for an additional dose or doses for certain populations. The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized for use in the United States. Read More
CDC Releases Updated Vaccine Effectiveness Studies
The CDC works with partners to study COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness using several data collection platforms and study designs. Vaccine effectiveness studies vary based on the outcome (such as infection or hospitalization), population and study design.
The results of these evaluations are published in the CDC's MMWR or other scientific journals. The CDC's COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Update summarizes these studies to provide a snapshot of how well COVID-19 vaccines are working in different populations and against currently circulating variants. Learn More
NCRN Podcast: The World of Community Health Workers
Alliant Health Solutions is a strategic partner in the Morehouse School of Medicine's National COVID Resiliency Network (NCRN), which is funded by the Office of Minority Health. The second episode of the Morehouse NCRN podcast, Connections: Lessons in Building Healthy Communities, just dropped! This episode explores the world of community health workers—valuable frontline advocates who address health disparities by providing effective, culturally-tailored information directly to community members. Listen Here |Listen to all Podcast Episodes
Opioid Utliziation and Misuse
National Prevention Week: May 7-13, 2023
National Prevention Week is a public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of substance misuse prevention and positive mental health. Learn More
2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain
The 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Clinical Practice Guideline is intended to help clinicians:
- Improve communication with patients about the benefits and risks of pain treatments, including opioid therapy for pain
- Improve the safety and effectiveness of pain treatment
- Mitigate pain
- Improve function and quality of life for patients with pain
- Reduce the risks associated with opioid pain therapy (including opioid use disorder, overdose, and death)
View the Guideline
Prevent Opioid Overdose With Naloxone
Clinicians play an important role in raising awareness about naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose when given in time. Visit the CDC’s naloxone website to learn how to talk with patients about naloxone and reduce their risk of opioid overdose. You can also earn free continuing education credits. Visit Website
Opioid Resources:
Medication Reconciliation Tips for Providers & Staff – Use this resource as a guide to completing med rec. Download Resource
Medication Review Tip Sheet for Patients – Email or print this resource to give to your patients. Download Resource
Medicine Disposal - Use this resource to safely dispose of unused, unwanted and expired medications. Download Resource
Do’s & Don’ts of Pain Medicine - Use this resource to learn how to safely use pain medicine. Download Resource
My Med Bags:
Patient Safety
Influenza Vaccination for Health Care Workers Data Due May 15
Long-term care facilities that are required to report annual health care personnel influenza vaccination data to the National NHSN must do so using the Healthcare Personnel Safety (HPS) Component. The deadline to report the annual health care personnel influenza vaccination summary data through the NHSN HPS Component is May 15, 2023.
Resources:
- Video tutorialon enrolling in the HCP Component of NHSN, modifying user rights for data entry to the HPS Component, and the data collection and reporting required by CMS.
- Training materials
- NHSN HPS Flu Vaccine Protocol 2022
AHRQ Safety Program
In the AHRQ Safety Program for MRSA Prevention, long-term care facilities will receive evidence-based guidance, expert coaching, webinars, tools and strategies to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other multidrug-resistant organism transmission. Register for an upcoming informational webinar and learn how to apply. Register Here
COVID-19 Data Reporting to NHSN After Public Health Emergency Ends
Long-term care facilities are required to continue reporting COVID-19 data to NHSN after the PHE ends on May 11. Changes to the NHSN application may include reduction, simplification or modification of data elements in the LTCF component. Training will be offered by NHSN in June, Be on the lookout for emails from NHSN@cdc.gov.
Join a new LTC IPC Community Forum
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) has partnered APIC with funding from CDC Project Firstline to set up a national forum for IPs and infection prevention champions working in long-term care (LTC) to share resources and get their questions answered. This is open to all LTC professionals focusing on infection prevention regardless of certification status or membership in either APIC or AHCA. If you are interested in participating, complete this three-question survey to provide your name and email.
Training
Infection Prevention Training
Looking to increase staff’s infection prevention knowledge in your facility? Alliant Health Solutions, in collaboration with Rainmakers Strategic Solutions, developed an IP Training Implementation Guide to assist you! Download the IP Training Implementation Guide
Got questions? Need help? Want more information? Contact Rainmakers Strategic Solutions at 800-950-5636 or email NHIPTraining@rainmakerssolutions.com.
Chronic Disease
Alliant Health Solutions has developed a tool to guide providers through the use of The American Lung Association brief self-assessment. The self-assessment is free to use and covers four broad topic areas. The self-assessment can be completed multiple times as programs are built or expanded. Confidential assessment results are provided immediately following the self-assessment with recommendations and links to best practices to help focus improvement efforts. Both a one-page overview of the self-assessment tool and bite-size learning are available on the Alliant Quality website. Visit Website
How Anosognosia Impacts the Care of Patients With Mental Health and Chronic Disease Comorbidities
Take a moment to acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Month in May. This month serves as a reminder to prioritize mental health and recognize its impact on our well-being. One area where mental health can have a significant impact is in the development and management of chronic diseases. Mental illness can make it challenging for individuals to manage their physical health conditions effectively, leading to poorer health outcomes. According to CMS, over 68% of Medicare beneficiaries with two or more chronic conditions also have a mental health condition. The most common mental health conditions reported among Medicare beneficiaries with chronic diseases were depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Medicare beneficiaries with mental health conditions often reported having hypertension, hyperlipidemia, chronic kidney disease and diabetes. These individuals often face significant barriers to accessing the care they need, resulting in higher health care costs and worse outcomes. The cost of treating both mental illness and chronic diseases is substantial. In 2018, Medicare spent over $38 billion on beneficiaries with mental health conditions and chronic diseases.
Notably, these statistics may not represent the full extent of mental health and chronic disease comorbidities among Medicare beneficiaries. Many individuals may not report or receive treatment for these conditions due to the stigma associated with having a mental health condition. Another factor in the underreporting of mental illness to be aware of is anosognosia. Anosognosia is a condition in which an individual is unaware or denies the existence of their own illness or impairment, often related to a mental health condition such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or dementia. This lack of insight can significantly impact treatment outcomes, as individuals may not recognize the need for treatment or refuse treatment altogether. Anosognosia can also make it difficult for caregivers or health care providers to engage with the individual and provide necessary care, as the individual may not understand the severity or implications of their condition. Anosognosia can pose a significant barrier to effective treatment and management of mental health conditions, highlighting the importance of early identification and intervention in addressing these conditions. Three things health care providers can do to better serve patients impacted by both conditions:
- Screening: Screen all patients for mental health conditions, particularly those with chronic diseases. Screening can help identify mental health issues early on and ensure appropriate treatment is provided.
- Coordination of care: Work to coordinate care between mental health and primary care providers. This collaboration can help ensure patients receive comprehensive care that addresses their mental and physical health needs.
- Education: Seek out educational opportunities on the intersection of mental health and chronic disease management. Providers can find free educational opportunities through organizations like the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Care Coordination & Partnerships for Community Health
Alliant Health Solutions (AHS) is launching a new eight-week initiative to impact readmission rates and reduce emergency department visits. Starting soon, AHS will host a focused education series using best practice tools and resources. The series offers group learning opportunities (small virtual groups meeting monthly) and one-on-one nursing home technical assistance with an Alliant QIO quality professional. In addition, participating facilities will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the series. Contact Julie Kueker at julie.kueker@allianthealth.org to secure your spot before the program is filled. AHS looks forward to being a part of your quality improvement journey.
Impact Super-Utilizer Patient Care
Patients who are high utilizers, also known as multi-visit patients (MVPs) or frequent flyers, drive up readmission rates and tie up resources. Often, clinicians and administrators hold out little hope that they can impact these patients. National health care transitions subject matter expert Dr. Amy Boutwell recommends viewing a patient’s multiple visits as a symptom of a deeper problem, then identifying and rectifying that underlying problem.
In this podcast, Dr. Boutwell discusses her MVP Method, which has been used across the country in rural hospitals, community hospitals, safety net hospitals and academic medical centers. Listen to the Podcast
May Readmissions LAN Event: Effective Care Coordination for Cardiac Rehabilitation Eligible Patients
One study found a 25% reduction in long-term readmission risk for cardiac patients who participate in cardiac rehabilitation compared with patients who do not participate. Our May LAN event is an opportunity to hear from an experienced cardiac rehabilitation leader about how their hospital implemented best practices into workflow and EHR systems to improve participation. Bring your questions or best practices to improve care coordination and communication as patients with cardiac rehabilitation referrals transition from acute to post-acute care. Register Here
A New Framework To Create a Culture of Mobility
A functional decline is common during acute care hospitalizations and nursing home stays. Immobility and its associated negative consequences increase the length of stay and institutionally-acquired harm, leading to worse patient outcomes. Johns Hopkins Activity and Mobility Promotion (JH-AMP) established a quality improvement framework that supports the development of a culture of mobility and aims to bring together the related harms of falls, which can impact a patient’s risk for rehospitalization. Download JH-AMP Toolkit
Immunization
Pneumonia Vaccine Myths and Facts
Use the Pneumonia Vaccine Myths and Facts resource and the Pneumonia Spreads Quickly video to educate patients and community members about the pneumonia vaccine. Share these consumer-friendly interventions with nursing homes, partnership for community health members, LINKS organizations and provider settings to reach as many Medicare beneficiaries as possible to maximize the impact on the pneumococcal vaccination rates in your community. These resources were developed with input from Alliant Health Solution’s Beneficiary and Family Advisory Council members from across our seven states.Download Pneumonia Vaccine Factsheet | Watch Video
Nursing Home Resident and Family Council COVID-19 Vaccinations for Wellness PowerPoint
This ready-to-use PowerPoint presentation with a supplemental crossword puzzle can be used by nursing homes to engage patients and care partners in education about the COVID-19 vaccine and booster. The presentation contains notes for each slide to facilitate independent use by nursing homes at resident council or family council meetings. It can be easily customized to meet the needs of a facility’s patient population. Download Presentation
Beneficiary & Family Advisory Council (BFAC)
Browse resources our council has worked on below:
Senior Activity Ideas: How to Celebrate Spring with an Aging Loved One
Even if you live in a mild climate, cold temperatures can affect an older adult’s circulation, making it difficult for them to get outside. A negative consequence of this is that being cooped up in the house can lead to depression and isolation in older adults. The solution to shaking off the winter blues may lie in some of the fun senior activity ideas listed in this article from the Institute of Aging. Read Article
How Senior Caregivers Can Help Fight Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Caregivers
Seniors tend to face challenges during the winter months that younger people or those in better health tend not to ponder. Slip and falls due to wet conditions often top this list since many seniors have trouble with mobility. Hypothermia is often a very real risk since numerous elderly people have trouble paying their heating bills or suffer from decreased circulation. However, there is a condition that is just as hazardous to a senior’s health as any physical danger – Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). But with the right treatment and support, it is possible for caregivers to alleviate their loved one’s symptoms and help keep them safe.Read More
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