November 23, 2022

In this issue

• Message of Gratitude
• Supporting your practice: Cerner update, Fee Schedule, Visitation Policy Changes
• Epic updates: Dec upgrade
• CME



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Message of Gratitude

From Gary Stuck, DO FAAFP, CEO, APP | Chief Medical Officer 

Don Calcagno, President, APP | SVP, Population Health & Managed Care

For over 27 years, Advocate Physician Partners has been a strong partnership among physicians and hospitals that, at the core, improves patient care and lowers costs. Our work together has made APP the national leader in value-based care - a testament to the strength of our work together.

As we head into Thanksgiving, we are reminded about the importance of gratitude. Sure, there will always be challenges and problems to solve, but it reminds us to be thankful for what we have.  

We are thankful for you and your practice's partnership in programs that drive high-quality patient care. It has been a particularly challenging few years, and we know it's not easy to do alone. We are here as your partner to ensure your success and resilience.

As your partner, two-way dialogue is critical to our success, and we encourage you to reach out to us with feedback. 

Through it all, it's amazing what we can accomplish together. Thank you for all you do. We hope you can find some time to relax and enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.

Cerner update: The Cerner Registries are now available for use. The deadline to enter manual data entry has been pushed back to Jan. 10, 2023.

Fee schedule updates: The APP Consolidated Finance Committee recently approved several updates to the APP Fee Schedule to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. Please see details here.

Clinical Integration updates: View the latest program update.

Patient outreach: We are conducting patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Read more.

Blood products are in short supply: Every unit counts. You can help by preventing a unit of RBCs, platelets, plasma or cryoprecipitate from being wasted. Be very conservative with blood products. In stable patients, give one unit and check laboratory values before ordering a second unit. View upcoming blood drives.

Limited visitor policy in effect: We're now allowing two visitors in hospitals and two visitors for outpatient, EDs, clinics and surgery centers. Review our updated policy.

Keep patients safe with an interpreter: Interpreters can be a critical tool for the family and patient experience and can even transform patient equity by improving health outcomes. Review the Advocate Aurora Health Language Services Interpreter Workflow to ensure that interpreters are available when and where they’re needed. 

Advancing Research: Cancer clinics across the system are participating in a clinical trial assessing whether radiation therapy is necessary when treating people with low-risk breast cancer. Read the study.

Feedback wanted! We’re interested in your perspectives on a variety of services offered by Advocate Aurora Health. Please take this 2-minute survey.

Epic upgrade on track for Dec. 14: View this overview for safety and efficiency enhancements slated for this upgrade.

Epic Update: Ambulatory Epic Connect: Critical Isotope storage BPA, family practice/pediatric high B/P BPA, controlled substance prescriptions update for IL only and more.

Epic Update: Hospital edition for Physicians and APCs: Medicare changes for prescribing controlled substances, upcoming changes to prescribing for controlled substances – IL only, critical Isotope shortage BPA and more.

Continuing Medical Education

34th Annual Cardiology Update

Sat. Dec. 3, 7:45 – 11:45 a.m.

Attendees will receive a comprehensive review of the latest cardiovascular practices to diagnose and treat patients, advances in clinical cardiology and how to utilize a daily team approach to optimize patient outcomes. 

Upcoming CME



Nov. 30: Project ECHO Memory Care

Dec 1: Scientific Grand Rounds: Benefits of integrating a pregnancy support tool

Dec. 3: 34th Annual Cardiology Update

Dec. 9: Prepare-Enrich Certified Facilitator Training

Dec. 14: Evidence-Based Behavioral Health Series: Clinical Risk Adjustment

Dec. 15 & 16: Evidence-Based Behavioral Health Series: Chronic pain psychology care