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March 23, 2023

In this issue


  • Register Today! APP Annual Meeting Schedule
  • Supporting Your Practice
  • Updated Masking and Visitation Guidance
  • Service Line Leadership Announcements
  • Epic Updates
  • Doctors Day
  • Women's History Month
  • CME



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Message From Your Physician Governance Leadership

Colleagues,

 

With 2023 well underway, we appreciate your continued partnership. The 2023 Clinical Integration Program officially launched this month and we want to support your performance.


One of the ways APP supports you is through engagement meetings. These include performance discussions with Value Based Care (VBC) Performance Advisors, formerly Field Operations Advisors, Medical Director led physician roundtable sessions and rounding sessions with members of our PHO Boards. We ask for your participation in these meetings to ensure you are aware of value based care program updates, including your individual performance and have the opportunity to share your feedback:

 

  • Participation in these meetings by at least one APP clinician from each practice is an APP membership expectation.
  • Our team is focused on supporting your value based care performance and knowledge of the Clinical Integration Program.
  • Your opinion matters! We welcome your feedback during these meetings.

 

We look forward to connecting with you throughout the year. Please accept our deepest gratitude for all you do to help patients live well. As we go through this difficult time in healthcare, we want to personally assure you that physician well-being is at the top of the mind for us and your local VBC team. We are always available to support our physicians, always feel free to reach out to us.

 

Dean Feldman, MD, Chair, APP Board | President, Advocate Good Shepherd PHO

Emilie Ilarde, MD, FAAFP, Vice Chair, APP Board | President, Advocate Christ PHO

APP Annual Meeting Updates - Register Today!

Join your local leaders and colleagues for the latest updates and information to support our shared success in 2023. There will be ample time for Q&A – your questions and feedback are welcome and encouraged! Please RSVP by clicking on the PHO links! 

*Note there has been a location change for the Lutheran meeting.

PHO

Date

Time

Location

LGH*

4/18/2023

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Johnson Auditorium

Condell

4/19/2023

6-7 p.m.

Condell Conference Center Conference Rooms A-D

Christ

4/20/2023

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Christ Robert N Stein Auditorium

Good Sam

4/20/2023

5:30-6:30 p.m.

Center for Wellness

Good Shepherd

4/26/2023

5-6 p.m.

Good Shepherd Auxiliary Conference Rooms

IMMC

4/27/2023

4-5 p.m.

Olsen Auditorium

Trinity

4/28/2023

8-9 a.m.

Tri Room

Sherman

5/9/2023

5-6 p.m.

Sherman Board Room A and B

South Suburban

5/17/2023

8-9 a.m.

SSH Auditorium

Supporting Your Practice

Clinical Integration Updates: View the latest program updates including MDE being turned on for Cerner and HEDIS MY2022 measures.


Population Health Outreach: We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Learn more.


Our Commitment to Safety: We celebrate good safety catches as part of our ongoing pursuit of zero preventable patient harm. During Patient Safety Awareness Week and always, remember to report all safety events and near misses so we can learn from opportunities. Read this message from Gary Stuck, DO FAAFP, EVP, Chief Medical Officer, Advocate Health | CEO, Advocate Physician Partners.


Review Open Payments before May 15: Review data reported about you by drug and device manufacturers to CMS and dispute any inaccurate information before it is publicly accessible. Register between April 1 to May 15 in CMS Open Payments to access and review any reported data. The data covers transfers of value from 2022 and will publish June 30. Register and review.


Advancing Research:

 

Updated Masking and Visitation Guidance

Effective March 27, Advocate Health Care will be implementing changes across our facilities based on CDC guidance.


Shift to open visitation, allowing unlimited visitors for all patients with exceptions.

  • Pediatrics: Two visitors at one time per patient for Peds General and ICU units 


Change to optional masking.

Illinois has trended under ‘high’ measured by CDC’s COVID community transmission data over the last six weeks, with those numbers expected to continue to decline.

  • We’ll continue to provide masks at all entrances and highly encourage use in congregate settings (e.g., behavioral health settings and inpatient rehab). 
  • Masking continues to be a requirement for patients in transmission-based isolation (e.g., droplet precautions) and may apply in oncology and transplant units. 
  • To ensure our patients feel safe, we expect our physicians, nurses and other clinical teammates wear a mask if requested by the patient during their care encounter.


As with our visitation policy, future masking guidelines may change based on CDC guidance and the volume of respiratory illness cases. View FAQ.

Service Line Leadership Announcements

See the latest Service Line Medical Director leader announcements. More leadership announcements will follow in the coming months.

Epic Updates

Next Epic upgrade April 19: View this overview for safety and efficiency enhancements slated for this upgrade.


Epic Update - Ambulatory Epic Connect: In Basket – Rx auth failed protocol filter, primary care – Medicare and more.


Epic Update - Hospital edition: CancelRx update and clarifications, removal of defer to prescriber option in discharge med rec, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump – workflow updates and more. 

Amazing Moments Made by You

On March 30, National Doctors Day, we join health systems across the nation to express gratitude and appreciation for you - our amazing doctors - for the countless lives you change and the moments you make possible.


Look for a special Doctors Day newsletter on March 30 with messages from our leaders, resources to support your well-being and stories of your colleagues advancing health equity to help all people live well.

Celebrating Women’s History Month

This month - and every month - we celebrate inspiring stories of how women make the world better. Read Lauren Matteini, MD’s story on how she went from seeking support during the pandemic to providing a safe space for over 165 physicians to offer peer support, mentorship and a way to help patients.

Continuing Medical Education

MEDtalks: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion tools and resources

Tuesday, April 4, noon – 1 p.m.

This session will review basic building blocks of DE&I and how it impacts our ability to provide culturally competent care. In addition, we will take a comprehensive look at all the DE&I learning tools and resources available to physicians and APCs.

Register

IDFPR Continuing Education Requirements

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) has issued a series of continuing education requirements. We have several CME offerings to help our licensed professionals meet these requirements. Visit website.

Upcoming CME

March 25: 23rd Annual Cardiovascular Disease Symposium (In-person only/ABIM MOC credit)

April 4: MEDtalks: Diversity, equity and inclusion tools and resources for continued learning

April 12: Integrative Mental Health

April 19: Update on weight management and bariatric surgery

April 19: Scientific Grand Rounds: The future of primary care through salutogenic science

April 20: MEDtalks: Overview of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

April 21: Pediatrics in Review Spring Symposium

April 28: Sports Medicine Symposium: In-season athlete management (In-person/virtual)

April 28: Hot Topics in Pediatric Surgical Subspecialties (In-person)

May 6: Milwaukee Heart Failure Symposium (In-person/virtual)

May 17: 8th Annual Primary Care Medicine Symposium (In-person/virtual/ABIM MOC credit) 

May 17: 8th Annual South Region Primary Care Medicine Symposium (In-person/virtual/ABIM MOC credit)