Tuesday, September 13, 2016
In Practice 
Tips, Tools & Education for Improving Outpatient Care
VHQC Launches Medication Safety Initiative During VPhA Meeting
 
VHQC's Cindy Warriner (pictured center) recently attended the Virginia Pharmacists Association Annual Convention in Virginia Beach. She's pictured with Sharon Gatewood, Kelly Goode, president of the American Pharmacists Association, Joe DiPiro, dean of the VCU School of Pharmacy, and Cecily DiPiro.
CMS Announcements:
Providers Choose Pace for Quality Payment Program in 2017

Well in advance of the final rule for the Quality Payment Program - comprising both the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs) - the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has relaxed demands on eligible providers in 2017. Click here to learn more.
Resources for Clinicians
NEJM Resource: Blood Pressure Measurement
The New England Journal of Medicine has produced a clinical training video demonstrating the proper blood pressure measurement protocol.

Million Hearts Tobacco Cessation Guide
Fewer than 1 in 4 tobacco users leave a health care visit with evidence-based counseling and medication. The Million Hearts' new tobacco cessation action guide can help individual practices and systems better identify and treat these patients.

Video: The Origin of Vaccines
Learn more about the efforts of English physician and surgeon Edward Jenner and the history of vaccines.

 
Resources for Your Patients
VHQC Widget Offers Cardiac, Diabetes Tips

VHQC's Patient Dashboard  offers more than 30 educational resources focused on nutrition, healthy living, medication, complications and heart health. Several resources address the needs of caregivers supporting loved ones with diabetes. Access these links:

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Mark Your Calendar
Don't Forget to Register: Using Patient Demographic Data to Address Disparities 

Wednesday, September 21 from noon to 1 p.m. ET 

Despite the many advances in healthcare, racial and ethnic minorities continue to experience health disparities, resulting in higher costs, lower quality of care and poor health outcomes. By gathering patient demographic data on race, ethnicity and language, you can identify disparities and trends among the patients you serve. This session will focus on collecting data to address disparities.

Register now to receive access information. 


Medication Safety Challenge: An Update on Oral Anticoagulant Use and Beers Criteria 

Tuesday, September 20 from Noon to 1 PM ET  

Join VHQC and healthcare colleagues in Maryland and Virginia for the third webinar in our medication safety series focused on oral anticoagulants. Our speaker, Kelechi (K.C.) Ogbonna, PharmD, CGP, will offer recommendations to both prescribers and pharmacists.
 
Register now to receive access information. Review our flyer to learn more about free APCE credit for pharmacists. 


Non-VHQC Events
Behavioral Health Integration: Care Processes and Connections

Thursday, September 22 from 2 to 3 PM
 
Location: The Place at Innsbrook, 4036-C Cox Rd., Glen Allen, VA
 
The Integrating Behavioral Health into Primary Care series of modules offers a review of key concepts and tools that support the integration of physical and mental health care. Primary care practices are increasingly being called upon to address mental health needs as a part of treating the whole person. 



This material was prepared by VHQC, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network Quality Improvement Organization for Maryland and Virginia, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS poli cy.
VHQC/11SOW/9/13/2016/2577