QIO HHQI Weekly Update :: July 2, 2007  

TIP OF THE WEEK

HHQI National Campaign “Strategies for Success”

The 70-minute audio recording of the Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign “Strategies for Success” Teleconference (June 20, 2007) is now available. If you missed this live event, click here to hear home health agencies and a physician give practical application scenarios for using the campaign data and interventions. Home health leaders share how the national campaign is our opportunity “to shine” as we work toward the united vision of reducing avoidable hospitalizations.

TELECONFERENCE TOOLS

• Listen now (MP3)
• Download the Agenda
• Go to the HHQI National Campaign Web site to join the campaign

 

 

IN THE NEWS

DIABETES CARE ACCOUNTS FOR ONE OF EVERY EIGHT HEALTH CARE DOLLARS IN 2005, STUDY FINDS

June 22, 2007 - - Kaiser Network - - About one of every eight federal health care dollars in fiscal year 2005, or nearly $80 billion, was spent treating people with diabetes, according to a study by the National Changing Diabetes Program and the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, CQ HealthBeat reports. The study, which was the first comprehensive review of all federal diabetes spending, found that improved coordination between government agencies that contribute to federal diabetes funding is needed to more effectively prevent and treat the disease and its complications. Read more >>

 

ROLE REVERSAL: YOUR AGING PARENTS AND YOU

June 22, 2007 - - ABC News - - A recent national public opinion poll by USA TODAY, ABC News and the Gallup Organization finds that four in 10 baby boomers with a living parent currently provide them with personal or financial assistance. Among those who expect to be called on to provide assistance in the future, 72 percent are concerned about their ability to handle it. Most boomers think the options for quality elder care are good, but cost is a major worry. Read more >>

 

DECLINE IN MORTALITY BYPASSES WOMEN WITH DIABETES

June 19, 2007 - - Physician’s First Watch - - Women with diabetes have been "left behind" in the decades-long declines in overall and cardiovascular mortality, according to an update of NHANES data released online by Annals of Internal Medicine. Read more >>

 

STOLEN OHIO MEDICAID PROVIDER EFT FILES

June 15, 2007 - - ODJFS - - Ohio has been made aware that information on a data storage device reported stolen on June 15, 2007 included Medicaid Provider EFT files. These files contain provider names, tax ID numbers, addresses and bank account information. The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services (ODJFS) continues to believe that it is highly unlikely that the information contained in the stolen device has been accessed because specialized knowledge and equipment are required to extract it. ODJFS provided answers to frequently asked questions. Read more >>

 

COMING ATTRACTIONS

TRANSFORMATIONAL GRAND ROUNDS REGISTER NOW

Learn how the "Patient Care Can't Wait!" philosophy guided one agency to improve on 10 of 11 quality measures

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Time 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET

More info…

 

Wright Memorial Home Health and Hospice is a rural home health agency in Trenton, Missouri that has in the last year improved on 10 of the 11 publicly reported quality improvement measurements, and now performs in the top 10th percentile nationwide for eight of those measures. Wright Memorial attributes their remarkable improvements to teamwork, open communications, constant awareness, and always believing that patient care can't wait. The agency staff will share their key strategies, including front-loaded visits, Friday calls, keeping an eye on the numbers, and always finishing step one before moving onto step two. These efforts have helped improve their clients. Ambulation, dyspnea, pain, and other clinical measures, as well as avoid hospitalizations and increase their likelihood of being discharged to the community.