Please note: This is an internal Advocate Aurora Health newsletter and safe to open. |
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In this issue
- COVID-19 Vaccine
- CI Program
- Annual Wellness Visits
- EpicCare Link
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Message from the President & CEO |
Watch this short video for an important COVID-19 vaccine update and reflection on Black History Month.
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Clinical Risk Adjustment (CRA) is key to helping our patients live well. Learn the fundamentals through our on-demand CME module – worth CME credit and Clinical Integration points. Learn more.
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Limited vaccine supply
We continue to experience challenges with vaccine supply and shipment delays due to weather conditions across the country. Vaccine supply is extremely limited nationally, and the number of vaccinations – and when we can offer them – are dependent on receiving supply from our states and counties. As our states begin to expand eligibility, based on our available vaccine supply, we continue to vaccinate our most vulnerable patients – those 65 and older and with risk factors. We know our patients are eager to get the vaccine, but we’re committed to ensuring our most vulnerable patients have an opportunity to get vaccinated before we expand to other patients. We expect supplies to become more widely available in the future with increased vaccine production and approval of new vaccines.
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Vaccine second dose delay
As we experience shipment delays in receiving our allocated vaccine from the state, we’ve updated our FAQ to include guidance regarding the timing of receiving a second dose. We are reaching out to impacted patients to inform them of the situation and to let them know that we will contact them when we have supply and can reschedule their appointment. We are working closely with the state to secure supply and will continue to keep you apprised of further developments.
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In case you missed it, check out our Virtual Town Hall hosted on Facebook Live. Advocate Aurora’s Jim Skogsbergh, Dr. Robert Citronberg and Dr. Jacqueline Ivey-Brown answer questions in real time from our consumers on all things
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More COVID-19 updates
Click the button below to review these additional COVID-19 updates.
- Vaccine outreach
- Vaccination hurdles
- Guidance on screening mammography
- Visitor guidelines update
- Changes to n95 collections
- PPE reminder
- CLARIFICATION: New identifier for patients and visitors who cannot wear masks
- Pre-procedure locations updated
- Universal masking guidance – maximizing mask fit
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Clinical Integration Program |
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Electronic appeals now open
Appeals are currently open on APP Pro and will close at the end of day March 18.
2020 Snapshots Available
CI 2020 snapshots in Cerner HealtheRegistries are now available. Follow the below steps to access the 2020 snapshot:
- Log into Cerner HealtheRegistries
- Select “2020 Final Scorecard” link from the landing page
- Select the hyperlinks for measure numerator, denominator or difference to view patient lists which can be used for appeals
Physicians with post snapshot adjustments were notified via email on Feb. 24.
Additional CI reminders:
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Quality and financial performance
There are several ways you can help drive performance that improves quality for your patients and rewards you for your hard work. It’s your important work that builds the APP Single Incentive Fund.
Annual Wellness Visits (AWV): These visits are a great opportunity to refresh care plans and close care gaps. Over 95,000 APP patients did not have an AWV in 2020. Reach out to your Field Operations Advisor for help with patient outreach lists. View quick reference guide.
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EpicCare Link reminders
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Site verifications must be completed by Mar. 1 or users will be locked out. Your Site Administrator* will need to log in and validate the current user list. See verification tip sheet.
- Use the In Basket function to contact the Referral Specialist to review a referral. Learn more about the In Basket module through the eLearning video posted under Quick Links in ECL.
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Enhanced Customer Relationship Management functionality is now in place, including the ability to view sent messages. Learn more.
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Referral Statuses have been updated, including the addition of a new status “Auto Approved." Learn more.
- Correct taxonomy codes are required for claims submission. Claims will be rejected if they are not included.
*Who is my Site Administrator? This is the member of your practice you designated to certify your practice users quarterly, most often your office manager.
Epic upgrade on track for March 28
Planned enhancements to Epic across Advocate Aurora Health hospitals/sites include push notifications via Haiku, multiple storyboard updates, and barcoding for patient registration and transport. The upgrade will also streamline information on MyChart and make it easier for patients to access video visits. Review this overview to see additional safety and efficiency enhancements slated for this upgrade. Education begins the week of March 8.
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See what’s expected of us to uphold antitrust laws: To protect consumers from restrained competition or price fixing, clinicians should not share sensitive business information, allow outside parties to take part in our decision making or create the appearance of coordination with competitors in business planning. Read the policy that guides our interactions with competitors, potential competitors and business partners to uphold antitrust laws.
Accessing eUniversity: We are aware some users are experiencing issues accessing eUniversity due to Microsoft discontinuing Adobe Flash in January. You will now need to access e-University through Chrome or Safari browsers. Please contact the Resolution Center if you continue to experience issues.
Special Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has reopened its insurance enrollment period until May 15. Use this guide to help answer patients’ questions.
Chicago Children’s Health Alliance (CCHA) update: View the latest news.
Government update: View the latest news.
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Black History Month
Wendell Wheeler, MD, pediatrician and President of the Advocate Trinity Hospital PHO, reflects on Black History Month.
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"When my non-Black or Black friends or colleagues ask me how they can be more diverse and inclusive, I tell them these three things:
- Try not to feel unsettled or uncomfortable being the minority in a room or situation. You can either be a shell of who you are or get comfortable. People can pick up on your body language and expressions, so relax.
- Spend time with a diverse group of people, whether your friends, fellow church members or neighbors. I have the luxury of owning my own practice so I don’t have strict time limits on the time I spend with my patients. When the other person feels rushed from you or that you are not seeing them as a person seeking your help, they will wonder what’s going on and not feel heard or seen.
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Openly discuss race with others and work on starting the conversation so it becomes natural."
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Home Hospital program expands care options
Home Hospital, an innovative new program, was launched by the Advocate Aurora Post Acute Division last spring in response to COVID-19 to keep patients safe at home, when clinically appropriate. Care is provided to very ill patients by home health nurses and coordinated by APCs. Patients are referred to Home Hospital from the ED or from Observation units, must be in-network for Advocate Aurora Health at Home and have a physician to manage their care after discharge from the program.
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Uniting to advance patient care. We’ve joined 13 other leading health providers across the United States to form a new company called Truveta, with the vision to save lives with data. Read Wall Street Journal article.
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Children’s COVID-19 vaccine trials underway. Elaine Rosenfeld, MD, pediatric infectious disease director at Advocate Children’s Hospital, discusses COVID-19 vaccine trials in children. View TV coverage.
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Continuing Medical Education |
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How to talk to patients about opioids
Free opioid education to meet IL state mandates
Developed by Michael McNett, MD, director of Non-Interventional Pain Management, this course helps to educate clinicians on the ongoing opioid pandemic and how to communicate about it with the two distinct groups seeking opioids: the reasonable patient and patients who are drug-seeking. The course will meet two of the three hours for the IL-mandated opioid education.
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Be part of the Advocate Aurora CME Speakers Catalogue
The Advocate Aurora Health CME office is assembling a Speakers Catalogue, a database resource for course directors and planners in choosing appropriate faculty for each educational effort. Physicians with a passion for educational speaking and being a content resource for CME and other educational planning committees are encouraged to complete this brief questionnaire.
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CME Website: Webinars & Recordings |
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