Wednesday, December 28, 2016
In Practice 
Tips, Tools & Education for Improving Outpatient Care

Immunization News

December 2016 Issue of Needle Tips is Now Available Online

The December 2016 issue of Needle Tips is now online. The new issue highlights the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recent meeting to update current vaccine recommendations for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Meningococcal Serogroup B, Tdap and Hepatitis B. Click here to read the full issue.

Access the  Table of Contents  to download individual sections or pages.
Influenza News

Release of Weekly Maryland Influenza Report

The Maryland Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (DHMH) has released the latest Influenza Surveillance Activity Report. Maryland is showing a lower rate for influenza-like symptoms. 

The percentage is also below the Maryland baseline of 2.2 percent. Click  here to read the full article.
Patient Health News
Patients with Social Needs Addressed, Saw Improved Health Benefits
Patients who received help accessing food and medication, subsequently improved their cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

A recent study is the first to link intervention and outcome, although the findings do not prove that addressing social needs improves clinical indicators. Read More.
Maintaining Heart-Healthy Eating Habits

To help your patients maintain dietary balance this season, please take a moment to review HHQI's Lifestyle Modifications Part 1 video on YouTube. This short video covers the importance of weight reduction and sodium reduction to your patients' cardiovascular health, along with an overview of the DASH eating plan. 

You can also download this video to your computer or mobile device if you prefer to save rather than stream it. You must register to download it, but it's free and simple to do so.
Free HQI Webinars
Patient Engagement: The Key to Managing Health and Wellness
Thursday, January 26 from noon to 1 PM

Join us at noon on January 26, 2017, as guest speaker Dr. Clifford Morris describes the Morris Cardiovascular and Risk Reductions Center's innovative and interactive approach to engage patients by creating individualized programs to treat cardiovascular disease and support wellness. 

Implementing the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in Your Practice

Wednesday, January 18 from noon to 1 PM

Join us at noon on January 18, as HQI practice consultants discuss how to implement the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) into your practice. The webinar will provide information on how to streamline your workflow and leverage your current activities in order to be successful amidst payment reform.

Register here
On Demand Webinar
Controlling Cholesterol for Maintaining Cardiovascular Health

Listen as Adrian Stephens, PharmD, discusses the importance of controlling cholesterol for maintaining cardiovascular health. Dr. Stephens provides practical strategies providers can implement to address common patient barriers. Access the recording here.
Provider Resources
Prevention With the Use of Aspirin

The U.S.Preventive Service Task Force released a recommendation statement about the use of aspirin in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer.

The statement is an update to a previously published guideline summary.

Click here to read the full guideline summary.
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This material was prepared by Health Quality Innovators (HQI), 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 policy.