APP Key Messages | Nov. 24, 2021

Please note: This is an internal Advocate Aurora Health newsletter and safe to open. Use Chrome for best viewing.

Nov. 24, 2021

In this issue

COVID-19 Boosters
Our Focus on Quality
Medicare Advantage and Devoted Health

Thank You for Your Partnership

From Gary Stuck, DO FAAFP

Chief Executive Officer, Advocate Physician Partners | Chief Medical Officer

While I reflect this Thanksgiving on what I’m most grateful for this year, one word comes to mind: partnership.

For over 26 years, partnership has been at the core of who we are as Advocate Physician Partners. And as a virtual medical group of 4,500 aligned and employed physicians, we’ve proven time and time again that we are stronger together.

I am truly thankful for our partnership and your resilience each and every day. As a former APP aligned family medicine physician for 32 years, I understand the challenges you continue to face in managing a small practice – from the COVID-19 pandemic to ever-changing health care regulations and the need to learn new technology. I know it’s not easy to do alone. That’s why we are here as your partner to ensure your success and wellbeing. Whether it’s helping manage a claim, learn a new EMR or succeed in the Clinical Integration program, we have a full support team who has your back so you can focus on what’s most important – delivering high quality patient care.

As your partner, we also know we may not always get things right the first time. Two-way dialogue is critical to our success and I encourage you to reach out to us when you feel more support is needed.

Through it all, it’s amazing what we can accomplish together – even in the most challenging of circumstances. Thank you for all you do. I hope you can take some time to relax and enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.

Update to Limited Visitor Policy

As we enter the colder winter months and peak season for the spread of viruses, effective Nov. 29, we’re updating our Limited Visitor Policy for non-COVID-19 patients in our adult hospitals from one visitor per patient in our facilities to one visitor at a time allowed in a patient’s room. This change provides our sites with flexibility to allow any additional visitors to wait inside onsite based on available space for social distancing in areas such as larger lobbies, cafés, family lounges, etc. Screeners will assist in directing visitors to wait in their vehicles when overcrowding occurs.

COVID-19 booster update

The FDA and CDC approved boosters of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 18 years and over. Data shows immunity from the vaccines can wane over time and boosters provide additional protection. Team members, medical staff and patients can schedule boosters at our patient vaccine clinic locations across Illinois and Wisconsin via the LiveWell app, aah.org or 866-443-2584. Those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine are eligible for a booster 6 months or more after their second shot; those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can receive a booster at least two months after their shot. We can mix and match booster doses in accordance with CDC guidelines .

No-beard policy for those wearing N95s

It’s critical we continue to adhere to our Safe Care Promise practices and COVID-19 infection mitigation strategies to keep our patients, each other and communities safe. As a reminder, a no-beard policy was implemented for those wearing an N-95 during aerosolizing generating procedures. Beards and facial hair can prevent proper fitting and sealing of N95 masks.

Our Focus on Quality

To support you in delivering high quality care, we have a dedicated quality program with an expert team who creates custom tools and resources based on best practices in primary care delivery. Since 2015, we have also supported quality performance by helping practices adhere to NCQA standards and apply for its Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition program.

We want to make your aware of some changes:

We are transitioning our strategy to focus on our APP quality program versus NCQA’s recognition program.
We are no longer submitting NCQA PCMH applications. This means less focus on paperwork and more on implementing quality initiatives to drive clinical transformation and deliver highly efficient, quality patient care.
This change allows for tighter alignment with quality goals – focusing on Medicare Advantage Stars and MSSP quality.
You will still have the support of our quality team. Initial work will include:
Developing standard workflows to support each step of the patient journey: pre-visit planning, office visit, visit closure.
Strategies to close care gaps.
Aligning with our work on core adult Clinical Integration metrics which support MA Stars and MSSP performance.
If you wish to submit an NCQA application, visit this website .

Epic Transformation

Epic default pharmacy change: As of Dec. 13, there will no longer be a default pharmacy listed in Epic. Epic functionality allows a patient to select their preferred pharmacy during their pre-check-in workflow. All physicians and clinical team members should confirm the patients preferred pharmacy before clicking “send” on a prescription.

Blood administration practice updates: The most common cause of negative outcomes associated with transfusion is circulatory overload (TACO). Updates to the blood product order sets in Epic on Dec. 16 will support the physician and APCs important role in preventing this complication by specifying the duration to transfuse blood products. View flyer for details.

Supporting Your Practice

Medicare Annual Enrollment ends Dec. 7: Your office is likely still receiving inquiries from patients about joining Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. It’s important to know:

APP is In-Network with Devoted Health, a new MA HMO plan offered in Illinois.
APP is also In-Network with most MA plans offered by major insurers.
MA plans have many benefits for patients beyond what traditional Medicare provides.
Patients can lean more at advocatehealth.com/medicare.

Product shortage impacts nuclear medicine services: There is a new critical shortage of sulfur colloid which is used for nuclear medicine scans such as gastric empty, GE reflux and bone marrow, liver and spleen imaging. Service impacts begin the week of Nov. 28. See SBAR for details.

Clinical Integration Program: View the "End of Year" checklist and latest program update .

Population health outreach: View the latest.

Chicago Children's Health Alliance (CCHA) update: View the latest news.