Improving Hypertension _ Diabetes Control and Prevention
  
An e-NEWSLETTER from Quality Insights                                                                                   October 20, 2017

In This Issue
PHYSICIAN DISCUSSES IMPORTANCE OF ETHNIC AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITIES WHEN COUNSELING PATIENTS WITH DIABETES

doctorListen to and learn from Dr. Osama Hamdy, MD, PhD, FACE-Medical Director Obesity Clinical Program, Director of Inpatient Diabetes Program, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, as he offers advice about how to be more ethnically and culturally sensitive in teaching a way to decrease the post-prandial glucose rise after eating rice (which can be a disaster).  Watch the recording of this interview here .

dr. hamdy video
wellness challenge events aimed at fighting diabetes and obesity set to take place in november in pittsburgh and philadelphia     

wellness Makeachoice.org  is a new online resource to help in the fight against diabetes and obesity, and is part of a statewide initiative to promote healthy living, physical activity and weight management to prevent and manage prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

"In Pennsylvania, more than 3.5 million adults are living with prediabetes, and more than one million have already been diagnosed with diabetes," said Christina Miller, executive director at Health Promotion Council. "If you think you or a loved one is at risk of diabetes, we encourage you to visit makeachoice.org to identify that risk and learn ways to prevent and manage this preventable disease."
 
The initiative will culminate with two Wellness Challenge events, featuring Fitness and Transformation wellness challenge Motivator Shaun T, during National Diabetes Awareness Month in November. Below please find details about these free events.

Pittsburgh Wellness Challenge
Thursday, November 2, 2017 - 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Register Here
 
Philadelphia Wellness Challenge
Saturday, November 4, 2017 - 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
Register Here
 
AHA HYPERTENSION TREATMENT ALGORITHM OFFERS EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH FOR TREATMENT DECISIONS   

algorithm The American Heart Association ( AHA) has set a goal of improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent and decreasing the mortality from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent by 2020. Almost 80 million adults have high blood pressure. To meet the AHA's 2020 goal we are going to have to move 13.6 million Americans to control their high blood pressure. 
 
algorithmWatch the recording of this webinar, The American Heart Association High Blood Pressure Treatment Algorithm Training , hosted by the Lake Superior Quality Innovation Network, to learn how you can help  the AHA increase high blood pressure control through implementing the AHA Hypertension Treatment Algorithm in your facility. 
 
Now Available: 2018 Electronic Clinical Quality Measure Logic Flows for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals 

HIT icon nowavailableThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the 2018 performance period electronic Clinical Quality Measure (eCQM) Logic Flows for Eligible Clinicians (ECs) and Eligible Professionals (EPs) to the eCQI Resource Center. The eCQM Measure Logic Flows are designed to assist in interpreting eCQM logic and calculation methodology for performance rates. The flows begin with identifying the initial population (denominator) for the measure, and then outline the measure's quality action (numerator) as well as reasons why the measure's numerator was not met. 
 
The eCQM Logic Flows supplement eCQM specifications for the following programs:
  • Quality Payment Program: Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs)
  • Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program for EPs
These flows are intended to be used as an additional resource when implementing eCQMs and should not be used in place of the measure specification. For more information and questions on the measure flows, go to the ONC CQM Issue Tracker.
 
If you have questions about the Quality Payment Programs (QPP), please visit the QPP website or visit the eCQI website to learn more about CQMs. 
flu season is here: cdc fact sheet provides tips on how to make a strong flu vaccine recommendation 

flu vaccine recommendations flurecommendationsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a yearly influenza (flu) vaccine. As a health care professional, your strong recommendation is a critical factor that affects whether your patients get an influenza vaccine. Research indicates that adults are likely to get their flu vaccine if their doctor or health care provider recommends it to them. Most adults believe vaccines are important, but they need a reminder from you to get vaccinated.

The CDC has developed a fact sheet, Make a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation, which includes guidelines for when to vaccinate, types of vaccinations available, and also outlines the SHARE method which clinicians can follow to help them make a strong vaccine recommendation and provide important information to help patients make informed decisions about vaccinations.
 
contact information

For more details about the Improving Hypertension and Diabetes Care & Prevention project, please contact Rhonda Dodson.
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Funding provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Health through the State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control 
Diabetes,  Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health federal grant from the Centers for 
Disease Control  and Prevention. Publication number: PADOH-HD-102017