September 2018
brought to you by the Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign (HHQI)
FEATURED RESOURCES
HHQI's online resource library has literally hundreds of free resources that home health agencies can use for staff and patient education. The volume of resources can be overwhelming, and we want to make it easy for you to find our most popular tools. So each month, we'll highlight a favorite resource from an HHQI team member or a campaign participant.

This month, in observance of World Heart Day on September 29, we asked HHQI RN Project Coordinator Cindy Sun to share one of her favorite cardiovascular health resources from HHQI.
"As clinicians, we’re always looking for interesting ways to convey information to our patients. The Risk Factors for Heart Attack Word Search (also available for stroke ) does just that. For patients who are recovering and starting to get bored waiting for their bodies to heal, this is a great activity they can do as homework between visits. Crossword puzzles for heart attack and stroke risk factors are also available. Learning while playing—the best form of education!"
What's your favorite HHQI resource? We love to hear how our resources have helped agencies, and you could help someone else in the HHQI community. We can give you credit or keep your recommendation anonymous. Please email us !
Coming November 2018
New Falls Prevention BPIP & CE Course
Falls Prevention Awareness Day is September 22, the first day of Fall. The HHQI team is currently working to update our Fall Prevention Best Practice Intervention Package (BPIP). In addition to the BPIP update, we're also developing a corresponding HHQI University course so you can earn free continuing education credits! If you subscribe to our topic-specific mailing lists , you'll be among the first to know when the updated BPIP and course are available in November 2018.
September Observances
HHQI has free resources to help you promote many of September's annual healthcare observances among your patients and staff. Visit the September Featured Resources page on the HHQI website.
CAMPAIGN NEWS
Celebrating the HHQI Agency of the Month!
This month, HHQI recognizes Centra Home Health of Lynchburg, Virginia for their dedication to improving home health 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 better) are eligible for random selection as HHQI Agency of the Month. 

BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT. Nominate your agency today! If you are selected, your organization will be prominently featured here in HHQI Inside Edition — which reaches nearly 13,000 subscribers — and on the HHQI website. Your achievement will also be shared via HHQI's social media channels.
CAMPAIGN EVENTS
September 20, 2018 | 2-3pm ET
Cardiovascular Disease:
Reduction of Risk and Treatment through Diet & Lifestyle Changes
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, and you likely care for patients who have or are at risk for CVD. During this HHQI CardioLAN webinar, you’ll learn more about Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC), the foundation of primary prevention of CVD. We’ll examine heart-healthy dietary habits—such as the Mediterranean and DASH diets—and explore other aspects of TLC, including exercise, tobacco cessation, stress management and behavior modifications. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to help your patients integrate TLC into their daily routines.
Learn How to:
  • Explain 2 scientific causes of CVD.
  • Identify 3 therapeutic lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk for CVD.
  • Describe a healthy diet to help reduce CVD.

Meet Our Guest Expert
Janine Dray-Daris ,
MSH, RDN, LD/N
Professor,
University of North Florida
ISPP Program
Coordinator & Instructor
Outpatient Diabetes Dietitian
Earn Free Continuing Education
This continuing education activity has been approved for 1.25 contact hours by Alabama State Nurses Association, an accredited approver of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
 
To receive continuing education (CE) credit, participants must watch the webinar and enroll in the corresponding course in HHQI University's Cardiovascular Health course catalog to complete related coursework. Step-by-step instructions will be reviewed at the end of the webinar. 
Please visit the HHQI website to register and for the latest on CE status and webinar materials as soon as they are available.
Want to be among the first to know details about upcoming webinars?
 Join the CardioLAN and subscribe to our mailing lists to receive details (topics, objectives, speaker info, & registration links) as soon as they are available.
QIN-QIO CORNER
2017 QIO Program Progress Report
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its 2017 QIO Program Progress Report . This new report highlights notable achievements from the Program last year, including data-driven results and success stories from the Quality Innovation Network (QIN)-QIOs and Beneficiary and Family Centered Care (BFCC)-QIOs.
INDUSTRY NEWS & EVENTS
CMS Releases Final Guidance on Home Health CoP
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Home Health Condition of Participation Final Guidance on August 31, 2018. HHQI is actively working on updating our free QAPI resources and HHQI University QAPI courses to reflect any significant updates from the final version. Watch for an announcement of the release of the updated QAPI materials on HHQI's social media, the next Inside Edition, or by subscribing to our topic-specific mailing lists .
CDC Releases Vaccination Recommendations for 2018-19 Influenza Season

HHQI is reviewing the new recommendations and will be updating the Immunization and Infection Prevention Best Practice Intervention Package (BPIP) with significant changes. Look for the updated BPIP to be released in late-October. Subscribe to our BPIPs mailing list for notifications.
Million Hearts® Featured in New Vital Signs Report
Cardiovascular events continue to devastate lives, livelihoods, and entire communities. Yet many cases of heart disease and stroke are preventable! A new CDC Vital Signs report shows that while some progress is being made in preventing these events, it is not happening widely or quickly enough, and not for all Americans—even middle-aged adults are being hit hard.

The cure does not depend on a new miracle drug or device—in fact, we already know the solution. Small changes, sustained over time, can prevent millions of cardiac events. The Vital Signs report outlines opportunities that exist for everyone—employers, clinicians, public health professionals, communities, and more—to make small changes that work to prevent heart attacks and stroke.

You are likely already using some of these strategies in the important work you do. We hope the Vital Signs report brings attention to your efforts and inspires new actions you can take to advance the progress you’ve already made. (Review the related Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report to see how your state is doing.)
Here’s one action you can take right now: Read the latest Vital Signs report ; discover how you can make small changes in your own life, community, and care setting; and share what you learn and discuss solutions with your peers. Join me in using this opportunity to its fullest potential: preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes!

Janet Wright, MD, FACC
Executive Director,
Million Hearts®
Webinars, Courses & Other Events
September 12
12:00 p.m. ET
Host: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
September 12
1:00 p.m. ET
Host: ElevatingHOME
September 12
2:00 p.m. ET
Host: Home Health Care News
September 12
3:00 p.m. ET
Host: Quality Innovation Network National Coordinating Center (QIN NCC)
September 12
2:00 p.m. ET
Host: HEALTHCAREfirst
September 13
1:00 p.m. ET
Host: ElevatingHOME
September 18
1:30 p.m. ET
Host: Medicare Learning Network
September 19
12:00 p.m. ET
Host: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
September 26
12:00 p.m. ET
Host: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
September 26
2:00 p.m. ET
Host: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
September 26
3:00 p.m. ET
Host: Quality Innovation Network National Coordinating Center (QIN NCC)
October 10
3:00 p.m. ET
Host: Quality Innovation Network National Coordinating Center (QIN NCC)
On-demand
Host: ElevatingHOME
On-demand
Host: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
* Continuing education credit(s) included, available or pending.

Reference to any specific organization or its products or services is for information and convenience and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Quality Insights, the Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign, or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
STAY CONNECTED:
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-090618