March 2018

 

   FEATURED RESOURCES
  

Warmer weather is just around the corner! As many of us anticipate the official beginning of spring later this month, there's also a diverse list of health-related observances to celebrate along the way. 

HHQI has free resources to help you promote many of these annual events among your patients and staff. Visit the March Resources page on the HHQI website.
In This Issue
HHQI University Offers 70hrs of Free Nursing CEs

With the recent addition of two new courses, HHQI University now offers a total of 45 free online courses, including four courses designed specifically for home health aides and community workers. These courses offer a combined total of 70 hours of free continuing education credit for nurses and a handful of credits for physical therapists and social workers. Learn more about the latest courses below:

During the  Cardiac Rehab Roundtable  course,  you'll watch the 2018 Heart Month webinar presented by the Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign (HHQI) and hear from leading national experts who will discuss patient qualifications for cardiac rehab participation and the services that are included. We'll also review available alternatives for homebound patients. 

During the Recognizing & Reporting Changes in Skin Conditions course, home health aides and community workers will learn about healthy aging skin; risk factors for breakdown; what to look for regarding abnormal skin issues; and what to report to the manager, nurse, or therapist.  This information aligns with the new aide education requirement in the Home Health Conditions of Participation - ยง484.80(b)(3). The agency is ultimately responsible to be sure the information aligns with policies and state regulations, as well as providing further clarifications.
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If you're new to HHQI University, visit the Student Resources page on the HHQI website to learn how to register and enroll in courses.

 

  CAMPAIGN NEWS
  
March 2018 HHQI Agency of the Month

This month, HHQI recognizes Quality Home Health Care of Phoenix, Arizona for their dedication to improving home health care quality.

Home health agencies that are active in the HHQI National Campaign and closest to the  national, r isk-adjusted ACH 20th percentile and/or the national, risk-adjusted Oral Medication Improvement 80th percentile (or better) are eligible for random selection as HHQI Agency of the Month. 

Be in the spotlight.  Nominate your agency today , and if you are selected, your organization will be prominently featured here in HHQI Inside Edition -- which reaches more than 13,000 subscribers -- and on the HHQI website. Your achievement will also be shared via HHQI's social media channels.
Measure Changes Coming to the HHCDR

The current cholesterol measures (HHQI Measures #241 & #2) are being sun-setted and will be removed from HHQI's Home Health Cardiovascular Data Registry (HHCDR) beginning in 2018. 
 
Additionally, two new cardiovascular measures will soon be added to the HHCDR. Beginning with January 2018 episode discharges which will be available in the HHCDR on March 15, 2018, participating agencies will have the opportunity to submit patient data regarding statin therapy (HHQI Measure #438) and cardiac rehab referral (HHQI Measure #0643).
 
Download this flyer to learn more, or visit the HHCDR Measures page on the HHQI Data Access website for complete specifications.

  

  CAMPAIGN EVENTS

  
Save the Dates
'Third Thursdays' Event Schedule
 
Home health professionals are busy. Now, there's an understatement. In order to make the most of your limited time, HHQI's three primary online Networking events -- LiveChat, Cardiovascular Learning & Action Network (CardioLAN) webinars, and Underserved Populations (UP) webinars -- will  each be held quarterly. 

Events will rotate and always begin at  2pm (ET) on the third Thursday of the month .

JANUARY 18
APRIL 19
JULY 19
LiveChats
FEBRUARY 15
MAY 17
AUGUST 16
CardioLAN Webinars
MARCH 15
(details below)
JUNE 21 SEPTEMBER 20

Click on the networking event type above for available registration or reminder links. You can also browse our online event calendar  or subscribe to our mailing lists  to receive details (topics, objectives, speaker info, & registration links) as soon as they are available. 
AT YOUR SERVICE:
Benefits of Working with Your QIN-QIO

Quarterly CardioLAN Webinar | March 15, 2018 | 2-3pm ET | REGISTER NOW

Who in today's home health world couldn't use a little extra help in improving the quality of delivered care? Surprisingly, many agency leaders are not taking advantage of one of the largest federal programs dedicated to healthcare quality improvement. Each state's local Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) is comprised of health quality experts & clinicians who are available to support your work for cardiac health improvement.

The Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign's March 2018 CardioLAN webinar will explore the collaborations between a few QIN-QIOs and their community home health agencies. Join us as we share ideas, strategies, and unforeseen benefits resulting from these relationships.

Please visit the March 2018 CardioLAN webinar page to register or for more information, including learning objectives, featured experts, and presentation slides as soon as they are available.
MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED FOR THIS WEBINAR.
If you'd like to be among the first to know about upcoming educational events, subscribe to our topic-specific mailing lists. Details will be delivered straight to your inbox as soon as they are available, so you'll be sure to get a seat for our most popular webinars.

 

  INDUSTRY NEWS & RESOURCES
  
Upcoming Industry Webinars, Courses & Other Events

DATE & TIME
EVENT NAME/REGISTRATION
HOSTED/PRESENTED BY
March 14
3pm ET
Managing the Opioid Crisis: Perspectives from Rural Communities CMS QIO Program National Disparities LAN
March 16
2pm ET
Empowering Nurses to Protect Themselves and Their Patients: Disaster Preparedness through the Seasons*
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
March 20
1:30pm ET
Dementia Care:
Person-Centered Care Planning and Practice Recommendations Call
Medicare Learning Network (MLN)
March 20
2:00pm ET
Living with Diabetes: Ask the Experts
American Diabetes Association
March 21
2-3pm ET
Home Health Care News
March 27
1:30pm ET
Hospice Quality Reporting Program Webinar Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
March 27
2:30pm ET
ElevatingHOME
March 28
2pm ET
IMPACT Act Special Open Door Forum Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
On-demand Public Health Response to Severe Influenza*
CDC's Public Health Grand Rounds
On-demand Open School*
More than 30 online courses in quality, safety, leadership, the Triple Aim, and patient-centered care
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
On-demand
Open Door Forums audio podcasts
If you missed the original live event, you can listen to the recording here
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
On-demand CDC-NDEP
*Continuing education credit is included, available, or pending.

Reference to any specific organization or its products or services is for information and convenience and  does not constitute endorsement , recommendation, or favoring by Quality Insights, the Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign, or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

This material was prepared by Quality Insights, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality 

Improvement Organization supporting the Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign, 

under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services. The views presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 

Publication number 11SOW-WV-HH-MMD-030818