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Sept. 9, 2021
In this issue

  • Epic Connect Go-Live
  • Vaccine Mandate Deadlines
  • Supporting Your Practice
First APP Practices Are Live on Epic Connect
From Gary Stuck, DO, FAACP, Chief Medical Officer
Chief Executive Officer, Advocate Physician Partners

I’m excited to share the great news that our first six APP aligned practices are now live on Epic Connect – the ambulatory platform to fully integrate with Advocate Aurora Health’s instance of Epic.

Having our APP practices on Epic allows us to advance our population health work and supports care coordination across the network. The integration creates a single patient record to greatly enhance safety and help us perform better on quality, total cost of care and clinical integration.
Vaccine verification: Full vaccination and proof of vaccination status are required by Oct. 15 to maintain medical staff membership/privileges at Advocate Aurora Health. Complete the vaccine verification form by Oct. 15. Fax to 630-929-9815 or scan and email to ASC-IL-AAHcredentialing@aah.org. Questions? Contact your local Medical Staff Services team.
Exemption notifications: All those who applied for COVID-19 vaccination exemption have been notified of their exemption status. For questions on exemptions, email AAH-covidexempt@aah.org.
Where to get vaccinated: Employee Health Walk-In Vaccine Clinics are open across Illinois and Wisconsin or use the LiveWell app (Apple App Store/Google Play) to schedule or go to any outside COVID-19 vaccination provider. 
UPDATE! Limited Visitor Policy: Effective Sept. 8, our Limited Visitor Policy allows for one visitor at a time in the facility for obstetrics and labor and delivery patients; Labor and delivery patients may also still have one doula (same doula) for duration of birth parents’ stay. View the updated Limited Visitor Flier and visitor policy grid.
Prescribing alert - Ivermectin: The FDA, CDC and other health agencies continue to recommend against the use of ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. We support physicians and APCs in denying patient requests for ivermectin for COVID-19 infection based on evidence-based prescribing practices. Review SBAR. 



Post-COVID-19 recovery clinics: There are specialty clinics near the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and Advocate Christ Medical Center campuses to support patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and are experiencing continued symptoms of the virus. A team of specialists works in partnership with the patient’s PCP to develop a custom treatment plan. You may refer your patients to the clinic and the team will reach out obtain an order. Learn more about the post-COVID-19 recovery clinics at Advocate Outpatient Center – N. Clark St., Chicago |  Advocate Christ Outpatient Pavilion – Oak Lawn
Improving Population Health Performance
Clinical Integration Program: We have eight core adult measures that are more heavily weighted, are reported on a rolling year basis and align with measures in most value-based agreements. We have an opportunity for improvement. View latest results and what you can do:

  • Access your CI scorecard to see if you are doing well or need to improve.
  • Consider your office workflows. Do they include evaluation and discussion of these care needs – with every patient, at every visit?
  • It’s important to engage patients who have care needs/gaps who are not scheduled for visits yet this year.

Medicare Advantage (MA) Stars: The goal of MA Medication Adherence Stars measures is to ensure that patients in the targeted categories consistently refill their medications. Patients who are adherent to their medications are more likely to achieve therapeutic goals, delay disease progression, and have a better quality of life. Learn more on APP Pro.
Leadership Announcement

Ghanshyam M. Shah, MD, MBA, was named to the position of Chief Medical Officer, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, effective Sept. 13. 

Supporting Your Practice
  • Get to know Devoted Health: We recently announced that APP will participate with Devoted Health to launch an MA HMO plan for seniors across northern Illinois in 2022. RSVP for the final 30-minute webinar to learn more on Friday, Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. or view recording. This communication is for internal educational purposes only and should not be forwarded to patients. All 2022 plan offerings are dependent on CMS contract approval. 

  • IMPACT deadline: The state of Illinois recently sent notification that all providers participating in IL Medicaid plans (including Meridian via their APP agreement), must update their profile in the IMPACT system. Failure to do so can result in missed communications or claims denials. Complete by Sept 15. Learn more.

  • MeridianHealth update: Changes were made to the Meridian platform impacting eligibility verification, claims, and prior authorization submission processes. Learn more. 

  • Clinical Integration program: Review latest update.

  • Now live! Enhanced scheduling for mammography: Advocate Aurora Health has launched a consumer-first scheduling experience for screening mammography across Illinois and Wisconsin to make it easier for new and existing patients to schedule a mammogram via the LiveWell app, online or by phone. These enhancements help support your work in the APP Clinical Integration program as mammography screening is one of eight core adult measures.


Please “Read more” for additional important updates: 

  • Flu shot reminder - exemptions due Sept. 17
  • Pharmacy and therapeutics updates
  • Medical Benefit Drug Update: Synagis® (palivizumab)
  • Advocate Aurora Research Institute Update 
Continuing Medical Education

Connecting and reconnecting to your "why": Reigniting and keeping the flame alive
Friday, Oct. 1 | noon – 1 p.m. 
  
The Physician and Provider Wellness webinar series offers an hour away from your responsibilities to reconnect to your purpose and “why” for entering the medical profession. Learn the difference from our speakers between “flourishing” and “surviving” in your practice while through our panel discussion expanding your awareness of Advocate Aurora Health and national services available to support your connection to your strengths and purpose.  
APP Pro
COVID-19 Info Center
CME Website: Webinars & Recordings
Contracting