QIO HHQI Weekly Update :: March 19, 2007  

TIP OF THE WEEK

Communicating for better pain management

The American Academy on Physician and Patient has formulated helpful suggestions about how to improve the clinical negotiation that occurs during the medical interview. Recommended strategies for resolving impediments to provider-patient communication include:

• Educate and empower the patient. This approach is most successful when an effective relationship between the patient and the professional has been established.
• Expand the way you define the nature of the patient's problem. Make use of the patient's own language, cultural beliefs, and attitudes in doing so.
• Discuss possible treatment alternatives. Avoid premature, negative, or sharp criticism of suggestions formulated by patients and develop a new list of options.
• Share decision making with the patient. Patients who are reluctant to use opioids might be more compliant if the drugs are presented as being one part of the recommended solution, such as patient-controlled analgesia. Volunteer to delay a decision until the patient is comfortable with it. Offer to call or meet with a member of the patient's family, if that is what the patient wants.

Excerpted from An Update on Issues, Research and Treatment Trends, Volume 1, Number 2

 

 

IN THE NEWS

DO YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CMS 1500 HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIM FORM?

March 9, 2007 -- CMS -- Due to incorrect formatting of some of the new CMS-1500 (08-05) health insurance claim forms, the April 1, 2007 cut-off for submitting its predecessor, the CMS 1500 (12-90), has been extended until further notification.

 

The old version of the form contains "Approved OMB-0938-0008 FORM CMS-1500 (12-90)" on the bottom of the form (typically on the lower right corner). The revised version contains "Approved OMB-0938-0999 FORM CMS-1500 (08-05)."

 

The best way to identify if your CMS-1500 (08-05) version forms are correct is by looking at the upper right hand corner of the form. On properly formatted claim forms, there will be approximately a ¼" gap between the tip of the red arrow above the vertically stacked word "CARRIER" and the top edge of the paper. If the tip of the red arrow is touching or close to touching the top edge of the paper, then the form is not printed to specifications. Questions may be directed to Brian Reitz at: Brian.Reitz@cms.hhs.gov.

 

OLDER PEOPLE WHO EXERCISE STAY HEALTHIER

March 13, 2007 -- Akron Beacon Journal -- Two separate studies have found that exercise can slow the deterioration of Alzheimer's patients and can prevent disability and delay death among healthy older people. According to research from the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago, the risk of becoming disabled fell 7 percent for every hour spent each week being physically active. Plus, each added weekly hour of activity cut the risk of dying by 11 percent over the next several years. Read more >>

 

SENATE OKS 'HOME FIRST' FOR POOR SENIORS

March 14, 2007 -- Cleveland Plain Dealer -- The Ohio Senate moved the state toward offering seniors more options under Medicaid, approving a bill intended to allow more people to move home from nursing homes. Read more >>

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

ARE YOU READY FOR PAY FOR PERFORMANCE?

Attend one of these half-day meetings to learn more about:

• Current pay-for-performance demonstration projects.
• How Ohio agencies are performing on key measures.
• Best practices and barriers of Ohio agencies.
• Using tele-triage as a quality improvement strategy.

Choose the AM (9-12) or PM (1-4) session. Registration begins 30 minutes prior to the start of the conference. Register today for a meeting in your area:

• 3/20/07: Miamisburg (Dayton area)
• 3/21/07: Toledo
• 3/27/07: Akron
• 3/28/07: Dublin (Columbus area)
• 3/29/07: Dover (New Philadelphia/South Canton area)
• 4/4/07: Cleveland

Who should attend? CEO, Administrator, Operations, Director of Clinical Services, Nurses, or Quality Improvement Coordinator.

Click here for more information or to register now