Alabama | Indiana | Kentucky | Mississippi | Tennessee
September 2019
Looking Ahead: Let's Build on our Success
Thank you for participating in our previous quality improvement initiatives. We made measurable strides towards our shared goal to make healthcare better in our region. See our Report Card here.

As we move forward, we will continue to help you by facilitating collaboration with your peers, interpreting your data, connecting you to the tools you need and providing continuing education at no cost.

We are currently focusing on key areas for healthcare quality improvement, such as:
  • Keeping patients and families safe throughout the healthcare journey
  • Increasing access to high quality, integrated behavioral healthcare
  • Tackling the opioid epidemic
  • Improving chronic disease self-management through patient-centered approaches
  • Improving healthcare delivery in nursing homes
  • Reducing unnecessary hospitalizations

atom Alliance is working with local community coalitions to address these key areas. By connecting members in a comprehensive approach, community coalitions achieve tangible, data-driven change. Members share knowledge, insight and aggregate data in order to improve healthcare quality in their area.

Join your peers as we come together and continue to make healthcare better. Email TechAssist@qsource.org to get involved.
2018 Performance Feedback Review Deadline Sept. 30
MIPS eligible clinicians, groups, and virtual groups (along with their designated support staff or authorized third-party intermediary), including APM participants, may request CMS to review the calculation of their 2020 MIPS payment adjustment factor(s) through a process called targeted review.

If one of your practices believe an error has been made in their 2020 MIPS payment adjustment factor(s) calculation, they can request a targeted review until Sept. 30, 2019.
Medicare Helps Seniors use Opioids Safely
Doctors may prescribe opioids, a class of drugs used to treat pain, after surgery or an injury. Although opioids can be an important part of treatment, they have serious risks like addiction, abuse, and overdose, especially if used continuously. This is true even for seniors and other people with Medicare coverage.

That’s why Medicare is working with doctors and pharmacists to help you use opioids safely. Medicare is also using new drug management programs to look for potentially high-risk opioid use.
Sickle Cell Patients Share Photos and Treats to Improve Care at Memphis Emergency Departments
On September 10, patients and quality improvement experts will be popping up at some local Memphis hospital emergency departments (EDs) to offer a tasty treat and a view of sickle cell disease (SCD) through patients’ eyes. Project PopSickleCell is part of September’s National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. It supports doctors and nurses caring for sickle cell patients, particularly given the heightened awareness of pain management and the opioid epidemic.

Local sickle cell patients were asked to share revealing photographs of their lives. Patients’ photographs are poignant and intended to help ED clinicians better understand the potential stigma, challenges, and barriers to appropriate care for patients living with SCD.
Flu Resources for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Facilities
Post-acute and long-term care facilities can strengthen their employee immunization programs to protect employees and patients with these helpful resources:

Upcoming Events
Oct 2
Healthcare Made Better Through Community Coalitions
It truly does take a village to make a difference. As a nursing home participating in a community coalition, you join your peers from across the spectrum of care to address the most pressing local healthcare issues.

In this webinar, you'll learn how to:
  • Coordinate with community-based efforts to continue work in our coalitions that focus on quality improvement
  • Build on existing interventions to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions
  • Engage with a wide variety of healthcare providers and stakeholders from your local area
View our  calendar  page for more details.
Igniting Powerful Change: A Look at Our Progress Together
Together, we have made an impact on the quality of care delivered in our states and beyond. While quality improvement is a never-ending cycle, our work as your Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) cycles every five years. Let's take a moment to celebrate our successes since 2014.
Connect with atom Alliance

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This material was prepared by atom Alliance, the Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO), coordinated by Qsource for Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi and Alabama, under a contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Content presented does not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 19.CORP12.MWE.08.003