August 18, 2017
Hospitals Leading Efforts to Reduce Violence
Violence in our communities and workplaces has become all too commonplace. In 2014, there were more than 365 violent crimes per 100,000 Americans across the country; in our state, that number is more than 446 per 100,000 Marylanders.
 
This phenomenon shatters lives and cripples communities. For hospitals, whose nurses and doctors must try to pick up the pieces, and who are often at direct risk of violence themselves, combating this threat is no longer a conceptual, long-term goal, but rather an imperative need to improve the lives of those you serve and the hospital employees who care for them.
 
Earlier this month, the American Hospital Association released a report showing that in 2016, hospitals and health systems spent $2.7 billion to combat the effects of violence. Preparedness and prevention to address community violence accounted for $280 million; unreimbursed medical care for victims totaled $852 million; $1.1 billion was spent on security and training costs; and $429 million went to medical care, staffing, indemnity, and other costs to cover violence against hospital employees.
 
The financial toll is sobering. The human toll is unfathomable.
 
That's why hospital leaders should take some time to familiarize themselves with AHA's yearlong Hospitals Against Violence initiative. The initiative's website offers many resources and much information on how to combat violence in communities and hospitals.
 
In addition, MHA and the Maryland Nurses Association in September will host a workplace violence forum for hospital nurses and nurse leaders (invitations have been sent to every hospital in Maryland). The forum will feature experts on resiliency, so that employees can better cope with stress and crises, as well as best practices in hospital workplace violence prevention programs. There will also be an opportunity to engage in an open discussion on workplace violence issues in Maryland.
 
While the forum is an important opportunity for Maryland's hospital nurse leaders to learn from one another so they can take steps to combat violence, turning the tide on this systemic public health challenge will take a long-term commitment from many community stakeholders. Hospitals, as they so often are, will be at the forefront.

HRSA Proposes Delay for 340B Rule
The Health Resources and Services Administration this week proposed delaying until July 1, 2018, the effective date of its final rule on 340B drug ceiling prices and civil monetary penalties for manufacturers. The final rule has been subject to multiple delays since January, and most recently was scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, 2017. "...additional time is needed to more fully consider previous objections regarding the timing of the effective date and challenges associated with complying with the rule, as well as other objections to the rule," the notice states. Ashley Thompson, AHA senior vice president for public policy analysis and development, said, "Given the skyrocketing prescription drug price increases that have presented hospitals and their patients with remarkable challenges, the 340B program is as critical as it has ever been in helping eligible hospitals obtain a reduced price for outpatient drugs, allowing them to stretch scarce federal resources to expand and improve access to comprehensive health care services for our nation's most vulnerable patients. This is why we are once again disappointed in the continued delay of the 340B ceiling price and civil monetary penalties rule..." 
AHA Accepting Applications for Quality Award
The American Hospital Association is accepting applications for an award that was on hiatus for a year while its focus and scope were updated. The 2018 application for the AHA Quest for Quality Prize builds on the field's work to improve quality and safety, and embraces hospital and health system efforts to "Advance Health in America." The 2018 application also seeks to better capture how hospitals are working to improve the health of their communities. Up to five hospitals/systems will receive site visits for consideration for honors. One winner will receive a $75,000 prize and up to two finalists will each receive $12,500. Learn more about the prize and download an application at the Quest for Quality website. Applications are due by midnight, Central Time, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017.
Armstrong Institute to Hold Opioid Stewardship Symposium
The Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality is holding a symposium, "Opioid Stewardship across the Care Continuum," on September 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The symposium will be in the Chevy Chase Auditorium at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and those who cannot attend can live-stream the event. The in-person cost is $300 and the live-stream cost is $250. Experts in pain management, patient safety, public health, drug policy and government will discuss the components of responsible prescribing and how it can help with the opioid crisis. Click here for details and registration.
Health IT Conference Seeks Presenters
The Workgroup of Electronic Data Interchange, a health IT association in Virginia, is seeking speakers for its end of the year conference, December 4-6 in Reston, Va. The group is looking for hospital staff to present success stories or challenges regarding data exchange and HIT automation. The workgroup is a nonprofit organization focused on the use of health IT to improve health care information exchange - enhancing quality of care, improving efficiency and reducing costs. Its membership is composed of providers, payers, solutions experts, reps from state and federal government, and more. Contact Michael McNutt ( mmcnutt@wedi.org or 202-618-8802) if you are interested in presenting.
The Leadership Challenge
 
In the world of leadership research there are a handful of studies that continue to be relevant year after year. The Leadership Challenge by Kouzes and Posner is one of those works.

Prime's Value to Member Hospitals
 
Prime is the shared service/group purchasing subsidiary of the Maryland Hospital Association. Its goal is to help our member hospitals reduce the cost of care.

AHRQ Reports Continued Gains in Health Care Quality
 
Health care quality continued to improve overall through 2015, with notable gains in patient safety and person-centered care, according to the latest annual report on health care quality and disparities from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

TOP NEWS FROM THE WEEK
The Daily Record, By Tim Curtis, August 14
 
Hospitals & Health Networks, By Marty Stempniak
 
The Baltimore Sun, By Pamela Wood, August 15
 
WJLA, By Kristine Frazao, August 15
 
The Daily Record, By Heather Cobun, August 16
 
WAMU, By Patrick Madden, August 16