April 2016
brought to you by the Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign

 

  CAMPAIGN NEWS
  
In This Issue
This month, HHQI recognizes Texas-based Nurses Unlimited  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, risk-adjusted ACH 20th percentile and/or the national, risk-adjusted Oral Medication Improvement 80th percentile (or higher) 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 16,000 subscribers - and on the HHQI website. Your achievement will also be shared via HHQI's social media channels.
First HHA Achieves HHQI Cardio Milestone 5

The HHQI team is happy to announce the first home health agency in the country to achieve Cardio Milestone 5: Visiting Nurse Association of Kansas City, Missouri. In addition to meeting all previous milestones, Milestone 5 requires an agency to demonstrate and maintain improvement rates in one or more of the cardiovascular health topics for at least 3 months. Please join us in congratulating Lynn Schnepf, Nancy Schroeder, Connie Grisham and the entire Visiting Nurse Association of Kansas City, MO team for an outstanding accomplishment!

Currently, more than 1,500 home health agencies are on the road to cardiovascular health improvement by participating in HHQI's Cardio Milestones program. Is your agency one of them? Visit the HHQI website to find out. 
 
If you don't see your agency's name, you can join HHQI's Cardiovascular Learning & Action Network (CardioLAN) now to achieve Cardio Milestone 1 and start the journey! 
 
Please note: You must be registered on the HHQI Campaign website before being able to join the CardioLAN. Registering will also give you instant access to free information & resources in our Best Practice Intervention Packages (BPIPs).

 

  CAMPAIGN RESOURCES
  
Free Continuing Education Credit for Nurses
Meeting the Needs of Caregivers & Care-Receivers
The newest course available in the HHQI University General course catalog provides strategies for meeting the needs of caregivers and patients with long-term healthcare needs, particularly Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia. Nurses who successfully complete this course will earn 3.0 hours of free continuing education credit approved by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation through the Alabama State Nurses Association. Learn how to enroll.
Free Continuing Education Credit for Nurses & Physical Therapists
Exercise Prescription for Heart Failure Patients
During this special 2-hour Cardiovascular Learning & Action Network (CardioLAN) event, nationally recognized physical therapy experts   Dee Kornetti, PT, MA and Cindy Krafft, PT, MS from Kornetti & Krafft Health Care Solutions provide detailed interdisciplinary information and resources to facilitate accurate exercise prescription and dosing in the home health setting for the patient with heart failure. A clinical decision-making guide assists in the determination of course of care (i.e., restorative or maintenance) for the home care patient with cardiomyopathy.

This webinar was broadcast live and recorded on March 17, 2016. Nurses and physical therapists can still earn free continuing education credits upon successful completion of the corresponding course in HHQI University. Learn how.

  

  CAMPAIGN EVENTS

  
Free Continuing Education Credit for Nurses & Medical Social Workers
April 21: Long-Term Negative Effects of Trauma

This educational webinar presented by HHQI's Underserved Populations (UP) Network will provide information and data on how a traumatic event(s) in a person's life, even as a child, can have chronic lasting effects with development and functioning. 

The individual can have higher incidence to many behavioral health, negative lifestyle behaviors, and triggers that effect their health and welfare. Understanding how trauma may be the underlying cause for vulnerable populations can assist with care planning. Learn more or register now.
Save the Dates
New "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 to always occur from  2-3pm (ET) on the third Thursday of the month.

JANUARY APRIL JULY OCTOBER
LiveChats
 FEBRUARY MAY AUGUST NOVEMBER
CardioLAN Webinars MARCH JUNE SEPTEMBER DECEMBER

Click on the Networking Event type above for specific dates and available registration or reminder links. You can also browse our  online event calendar .

  QIN-QIO CORNER
 
2015 QIO Program Progress Report Released by CMS

The latest program progress report recently released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) highlights how Quality Innovation Network-QIOs (QIN-QIOs) nationwide are bringing together local providers, partners and other stakeholders to achieve bold goals in healthcare quality improvement.

By clicking through the interactive online report, you will be able to:
  • View highlights from the second year of the QIO Program's five-year performance period;
  • See actual data-driven recruitment results from QIN-QIOs;
  • Read real-life examples of how QIN-QIOs have worked with partners and health care providers to address quality improvement challenges;
  • Share engaging video clips featuring QIO Program leadership, stakeholders and partners in health quality improvement;
  • Catch up on highlights from CMS' 2015 Quality Conference, which was attended by providers, beneficiary advocacy groups, federal agencies, nationwide healthcare quality improvement organizations and others.

 

  INDUSTRY NEWS & RESOURCES
  
Current & Upcoming Health-Related Observances

Each month, the healthcare industry puts the spotlight on a variety of health & wellness issues that impact home health patients and professionals. Follow the links below for more information and resources to get involved and help spread awareness. You can also follow HHQI on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for ongoing related content. Share your favorite photos and free resources & events with our followers too!
MAY 2016
Upcoming Webinars & Other Events

DATE & TIME
EVENT NAME
PRESENTED BY
April 12, 2016
12-1 PM CT		 Improving Patient Perception of Care in Home Care The Joint Commission
May 10, 2016
1-2 PM ET		 Culturally Congruent Care:
Why Diversity Makes a Difference*		 American Nurses Association
On-demand thru
July 23, 2017		 Pharmacotherapy for Adults with Alcohol-Use Disorders in Outpatient Settings: A Monograph* Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

*Continuing education credit is included or available.
Key Dates: Home Health Compare & Star Ratings Reports

The Quality of Patient Care Star Ratings Preview Reports are now available in the CASPER folders. These reports contain data that will be publicly reported on the Home Health Compare website in April 2016.  Below is calendar of key dates for the next three quarters of Home Health Compare updates:


APR 2016
JUL 2016
OCT 2016
Preview reports available in CASPER 1/7/16
4/7/16
(or before)
6/30/16
(or before)
Quality of Patient Care Star Rating suppression request deadline 1/25/16 4/25/16 7/18/16
Deadline for submitting missing or corrected data 2/19/16 5/20/16 8/19/16
Home Health Compare updated
4/13/16
7/13/16
10/5/16

Geriatric Home Health Resources from CHAMP

Champ logo 

The Collaboration for Homecare Advances in Management and Practice (CHAMP) Program was the first national initiative to advance geriatric home care excellence. CHAMP's valuable resources and e-presentations are still available online.

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-040516