www.ohiokepro.com
Vol. 3 No. 2
February 2005
Medicare Minute
Women: Living a Heart
Healthy Lifestyle
Healthy Lifestyle
Putting the Home in Nursing Home
Improving daily life for nursing home residents
through culture change
through culture change
Februar y is American Hear t Month, with
a number of obser vances throughout the
month promoting awareness of hear t
health issues. Women's Hear t Health
Day on Februar y 1 provides an
oppor tunity to promote hear t health for
women. More than 240,000 women die
of hear t disease ever y year, five times
the number who die from breast cancer.
a number of obser vances throughout the
month promoting awareness of hear t
health issues. Women's Hear t Health
Day on Februar y 1 provides an
oppor tunity to promote hear t health for
women. More than 240,000 women die
of hear t disease ever y year, five times
the number who die from breast cancer.
Knowledge of hear t disease and risk
factors is impor tant for women of all
ages. For example, women are more
likely to have atypical symptoms of a
hear t attack, including:
Pain or discomfor t in the stomach
Nausea
Fatigue
Dizziness
Pain in the arms, neck, or jaw
Shor tness of breath
factors is impor tant for women of all
ages. For example, women are more
likely to have atypical symptoms of a
hear t attack, including:
Pain or discomfor t in the stomach
Nausea
Fatigue
Dizziness
Pain in the arms, neck, or jaw
Shor tness of breath
Because these symptoms are not
usually attributed to hear t disease,
progression of the disease often goes
undetected in women until a coronar y
event occurs.
usually attributed to hear t disease,
progression of the disease often goes
undetected in women until a coronar y
event occurs.
What You Can Do
To modify risk of hear t disease, women
should consider the following:
Eat a low saturated fat/low
cholesterol diet
Get regular exercise
Do not smoke
Maintain a healthy weight
Manage stress constructively
See your physician regularly to
monitor blood pressure and
cholesterol
To modify risk of hear t disease, women
should consider the following:
Eat a low saturated fat/low
cholesterol diet
Get regular exercise
Do not smoke
Maintain a healthy weight
Manage stress constructively
See your physician regularly to
monitor blood pressure and
cholesterol
Live a hear t healthy lifestyle! Visit the
Ohio KePRO Web site at www.ohioke-
pro.com and click on" Live a Hear t
Healthy Lifestyle" for more information.
Ohio KePRO Web site at www.ohioke-
pro.com and click on" Live a Hear t
Healthy Lifestyle" for more information.
For years, nursing homes have been seen as institutions that, like hospitals,
run on a tight schedule. Residents wake up, eat, exercise, and take their
medications on a schedule that is strictly controlled by the nursing home staff.
run on a tight schedule. Residents wake up, eat, exercise, and take their
medications on a schedule that is strictly controlled by the nursing home staff.
But recently, there have been movements within the nursing home community
to change all of that.
to change all of that.
T
here are significant differences between
nursing homes and hospitals. A person
does not plan to live out the remainder of
his or her days in a hospital. A hospital
rarely becomes a person's home. However,
a nursing home can become a person's
home, and does ever y day.
nursing homes and hospitals. A person
does not plan to live out the remainder of
his or her days in a hospital. A hospital
rarely becomes a person's home. However,
a nursing home can become a person's
home, and does ever y day.
Person- or Resident-Centered Care
Nursing homes across the countr y are
adopting new attitudes toward providing care
to the residents who live there. They call this
"person-centered" or "resident-centered"
care. There are many schools of thought
about how a nursing home can achieve
"person-centered" care, including Action Pact,
The Eden Alternative, Pioneer Network, and
Wellspring.
Nursing homes across the countr y are
adopting new attitudes toward providing care
to the residents who live there. They call this
"person-centered" or "resident-centered"
care. There are many schools of thought
about how a nursing home can achieve
"person-centered" care, including Action Pact,
The Eden Alternative, Pioneer Network, and
Wellspring.
Ohio KePRO Medical Director Alice Stollenwerk Petrulis,
MD, FACP (right) discusses resident-centered care on
WBGU-TV's "60 Plus" with host Catherine Pratt.
MD, FACP (right) discusses resident-centered care on
WBGU-TV's "60 Plus" with host Catherine Pratt.
housekeepers assigned to a cer tain group
of residents, each resident can rely on a
personal suppor t system.
of residents, each resident can rely on a
personal suppor t system.
But in each case, the nursing home takes a
new approach toward caring for its residents.
The staff, instead of deciding on a schedule
for the resident on their own, involves the
residents in decisions about when to get
up, when/what they like to eat, and what
they would like to do with their day.
new approach toward caring for its residents.
The staff, instead of deciding on a schedule
for the resident on their own, involves the
residents in decisions about when to get
up, when/what they like to eat, and what
they would like to do with their day.
In the ultimate model of person-centered
care, the architecture of the nursing home
also transforms from a long, fluorescent-lit
hospital wing to smaller groups of rooms to
form communities. Each community shares
a living room for enter taining and a kitchen
for the residents who live there to share.
care, the architecture of the nursing home
also transforms from a long, fluorescent-lit
hospital wing to smaller groups of rooms to
form communities. Each community shares
a living room for enter taining and a kitchen
for the residents who live there to share.
Nursing homes are adopting new
attitudes toward providing care
to their residents.
attitudes toward providing care
to their residents.
Looking for a nursing home that provides
person-centered care?
person-centered care?
Ask these questions:
What does your nursing home do to
make residents feel comfor table here?
Do you take a person's personal habits
into consideration when you develop
your care plans?
If it doesn't interfere with their care
plans, do you allow your residents to
make choices about:
What does your nursing home do to
make residents feel comfor table here?
Do you take a person's personal habits
into consideration when you develop
your care plans?
If it doesn't interfere with their care
plans, do you allow your residents to
make choices about:
These nursing homes also take steps to
make the visible atmosphere more like home.
These changes can be small, like minimizing
or eliminating the central nurses station and
adding elements like plants or animals.
Many nursing homes go so far as to create
smaller communities, including both residents
and staff members, who function as a
smaller, suppor tive unit. With a consistent
team of nurses, nursing assistants, and
make the visible atmosphere more like home.
These changes can be small, like minimizing
or eliminating the central nurses station and
adding elements like plants or animals.
Many nursing homes go so far as to create
smaller communities, including both residents
and staff members, who function as a
smaller, suppor tive unit. With a consistent
team of nurses, nursing assistants, and
Continued
Ohio KePRO to Promote Electronic Medical Records
T
he Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Ser vices (CMS) has
contracted with the Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs)
in each state, including Ohio KePRO, to promote health information
technology (HIT) in physician office practices and to work with
physicians to improve rates on seven quality measures.
contracted with the Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs)
in each state, including Ohio KePRO, to promote health information
technology (HIT) in physician office practices and to work with
physicians to improve rates on seven quality measures.
Information Technology (DOQ-IT) Project. Software vendors have
been recruited to assist in this endeavor. National suppor t also has
been obtained from physician organizations such as the American
Academy of Family Physicians and several subspecialties.
been recruited to assist in this endeavor. National suppor t also has
been obtained from physician organizations such as the American
Academy of Family Physicians and several subspecialties.
President Bush has stated that Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)
would be available to all Americans in 10 years. David Brailer, MD,
PhD, has been appointed National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology to take the lead on this project.
would be available to all Americans in 10 years. David Brailer, MD,
PhD, has been appointed National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology to take the lead on this project.
"The end result of this project will likely be Pay-for-Performance
contracts, with reimbursement tied to electronic repor ting of data,"
noted Ohio KePRO medical director Alice Stollenwerk Petrulis, MD,
FACP "In addition, physician public repor ting of quality measures, .
similar to what is seen on www.medicare.gov for nursing homes,
home health agencies, and soon-to-be-repor ted hospitals may follow."
contracts, with reimbursement tied to electronic repor ting of data,"
noted Ohio KePRO medical director Alice Stollenwerk Petrulis, MD,
FACP "In addition, physician public repor ting of quality measures, .
similar to what is seen on www.medicare.gov for nursing homes,
home health agencies, and soon-to-be-repor ted hospitals may follow."
The seven quality measures in the project focus on immunization,
diabetes, screening mammography, colorectal screening, hyper tension,
hear t failure, and coronar y hear t disease.
diabetes, screening mammography, colorectal screening, hyper tension,
hear t failure, and coronar y hear t disease.
More and more practices are either considering, or have actually
taken the impor tant steps to implement these increasingly critical
tools. They see the value of an EMR as:
Improved access to patient information
Reduction of errors and improvement in quality of care
Creation of a more efficient office
Improvement in billing accuracy
Reduction in transcription costs
taken the impor tant steps to implement these increasingly critical
tools. They see the value of an EMR as:
Improved access to patient information
Reduction of errors and improvement in quality of care
Creation of a more efficient office
Improvement in billing accuracy
Reduction in transcription costs
Many physicians throughout the state have already collaborated
with Ohio KePRO on ambulator y projects in the last few years, and
will continue to do so as Ohio KePRO moves forward in assisting
physician offices in the implementation of EMRs. Physician stake-
holder groups, such as the Ohio Chapter of the American College of
Physicians, have likewise endorsed the effor ts on this project.
with Ohio KePRO on ambulator y projects in the last few years, and
will continue to do so as Ohio KePRO moves forward in assisting
physician offices in the implementation of EMRs. Physician stake-
holder groups, such as the Ohio Chapter of the American College of
Physicians, have likewise endorsed the effor ts on this project.
Ohio KePRO has added staff from healthcare software companies
who have years of experience in the installation of EMRs. The
enhanced team will assist physician offices in the selection of an
EMR, provide consultation, and offer guidance in implementation to
achieve office efficiency, all at no cost to the office.
who have years of experience in the installation of EMRs. The
enhanced team will assist physician offices in the selection of an
EMR, provide consultation, and offer guidance in implementation to
achieve office efficiency, all at no cost to the office.
National pilot underway
A national pilot is already underway in four states as par t of this
national initiative, which is also called the Doctor's Office Quality-
A national pilot is already underway in four states as par t of this
national initiative, which is also called the Doctor's Office Quality-
Putting the Home in Nursing Home... (cont.)
· When they wake up, eat meals, bathe, or take medications?
· What they do with their day?
Do you have any house pets? And do you allow residents to
have pets of their own?
Tell me about the relationships your residents form with each
other and your staff.
What types of programs or activities do you have that allow
residents to feel like contributing members of society?
· What they do with their day?
Do you have any house pets? And do you allow residents to
have pets of their own?
Tell me about the relationships your residents form with each
other and your staff.
What types of programs or activities do you have that allow
residents to feel like contributing members of society?
Aside from asking these questions, visit the nursing home, talk to
the people there, and make your own judgments. You can also visit
the people there, and make your own judgments. You can also visit
the following Web sites for models of person-centered care for more
information:
Action Pact www.culturechangenow.com
The Eden Alternative www.edenalternative.com
Pioneer Network www.pioneernetwork.net
Wellspring www.wellspringis.org
information:
Action Pact www.culturechangenow.com
The Eden Alternative www.edenalternative.com
Pioneer Network www.pioneernetwork.net
Wellspring www.wellspringis.org
You may also learn more about the quality of care provided at
the nursing home by visiting www.medicare.gov and clicking on
"Compare nursing homes in your area." Or you may call
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
the nursing home by visiting www.medicare.gov and clicking on
"Compare nursing homes in your area." Or you may call
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Executive Editor : Suzana C. Iveljic, MBA
Editor : Daniel B. Moss, BSBA
e-mail: dmoss2@ohqio.sdps.org
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Publication No. 4123-OH-009-2/2005. This material was prepared by Ohio KePRO, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Ohio, under contract with the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Ser vices (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Depar tment of Health and Human Ser vices. The contents presented do not necessarily
reflect CMS policy. For more information, please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or visit the CMS Web site at www.medicare.gov.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Ser vices (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Depar tment of Health and Human Ser vices. The contents presented do not necessarily
reflect CMS policy. For more information, please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or visit the CMS Web site at www.medicare.gov.