Please note: This is an internal Advocate Aurora Health newsletter and safe to open.
April 22, 2021
In this issue

  • COVID-19 Updates
  • Epic Connect
  • EpicCare Link
  • Phone system updates
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Our DE&I focus remains a top priority as we live out our purpose of helping people live well. Click here for a message from CEO Jim Skogsbergh. Also, be sure to also watch this Real Talk Express video, where Jim and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Erickajoy Daniels talk about our challenges and opportunities related to DE&I. 
Your Role in Our Shared Success
Gary Stuck, DO FAAFP, Chief Medical Officer | CEO, APP

Our recent APP Annual Meeting was an important time to connect as a virtual medical group. In case you missed it, view the recording and a recap of the takeaways and answers to your questions. I’d like to reinforce some of the key topics we discussed. It’s this important work that helps us improve quality for our patients and build the incentive fund.
COVID-19 Updates
Click the button below to read the full details on these timely updates.

  • Don’t forget! We’ve transitioned to SafeCheck screenings: As previously shared, effective April 19, team members including physicians/APCs must complete SafeCheck screenings before work at an Advocate Aurora site via the LiveWell app (Apple Store / Google Play) to enhance our process in keeping with our Safe Care Promise. 

  • Walgreens Clinics services update: As vaccination rates increase in our communities, we have fully activated our services at our Advocate Clinics at Walgreens, effective April 21.

  • COVID-19 PCR test result notification: Starting April 26, all Advocate Aurora EDs and provider offices will begin calling patients with COVID-19 PCR test results. These calls will no longer be handled by Population Health RNs who have managed the process since March 2020. This change aligns with our IL ICC/UCCs calling patients with these test results since February.

  • Advocate Aurora joins study to better understand vaccination decisions: We’re partnering with the University of Illinois, Chicago to conduct a research study exploring the motivators and barriers for health care workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Get started.

Messages from the President & CEO
Annual Meeting: In case you missed it, view Jim Skogsbergh’s message of gratitude, commitment to our pluralistic model and more.

Bi-weekly update: Watch Jim’s latest video for a brief COVID update and a look at our 2021 first quarter results.
Epic Transformation
Epic Connect Program
Next week we kick off implementation for our first group of practices. Over the coming months, we'll gather best practices and learnings while sharing your colleagues' feedback throughout their journey. We’ll begin the broad program roll out in waves later this summer. Learn more about the program on APP Pro.
“Our Epic transition journey has started on a strong footing. The support team has given our practice highly organized, timely and accurate information to move forward. The support team has been very accommodating, engaging and all the team members have given us the right answers to elevate our comfort that we are set for success with this project. We are excited and looking forward to this Epic transformation! "

Sandeep Chandra, MD, Christ PHO
EpicCare Link updates
The transition to ECL on Jan. 1 was a major system conversion and we appreciate your continued patience as we navigate system issues and resolutions. To provide the best service, we continue to evaluate and modify workflows and processes. As a result, we will make revisions and adjustments as needed. View full message for updates on:

  • Claims turnaround time
  • Claims errors
  • Claims rejections
  • Sequestration

We are pending claims and holding until we are able to apply the system fixes to avoid unnecessary rework for all parties. You do not need to resubmit or submit claims appeal or send in additional or multiple secure messaging inquiries.
Additional Epic updates
  • Event notifications: On April 27, you will begin to receive additional information about your patients from Advocate Aurora via either EpicCare Link In Basket or Direct Messaging to help improve care coordination and patient outcomes and reduce potential hospital readmissions. To comply with the CMS Interoperability and Patient Access rule, we will automatically share admissions, discharge and transfer (ADT) notifications with a patient’s PCP/preferred provider. Learn more.

  • Epic upgrade coming June 16: To continuously improve our use of Epic in providing safe and efficient care for our patients, we conduct periodic upgrades. This year, Epic upgrades are moving to a quarterly cadence at our Advocate Aurora sites with the goal of reducing downtimes. Watch for more details. This does not impact EpicCare Link.
 
  • Electronic order entry: Coming in June for APP physicians. Take time now to ensure your physician members have access to Epic, either through hyperspace of EpicCare Link. Contact your FOA for next steps if your physician(s) do not currently have access.
Phone System Updates
Effective May 3, the APP Resolution Center will be implementing a new cloud-based phone system that will provide increased call tracking and improve our efficiency in managing incoming calls. As a result, the prompts for callers contacting APP have changed.

  • View revised phone prompts.
  • The APP resolution Center phone number, (847) 298-6000, remains the same.
Supporting Your Practice
  • Clinical Integration Program: Review latest update.

  • Your feedback in action: We continuously use your feedback from Engagement Check-In surveys and other outlets to help make Advocate and APP the best place for you to practice and for your patients to receive care. Check out the latest update.

  • Open Payments Program: Physicians to review attributed payments by May 15: Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, this program highlights financial relationships between physicians and drug/device manufacturers. The review and dispute period for 2020 data submitted by applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations (GPO) is open until May 15. You have the chance to dispute incorrect data with the reporting entity before it is published on the public Open Payments website on June 30. Learn more.

  • Post Acute Division is now Continuing Health: This name change reflects the full scope of care and wide range of patients served by this division, as well as the important role it plays in supporting T25 and our purpose of helping people live well. Continuing Health includes Health at Home, the Post Acute Network; rehabilitation services, virtual health and more. View more details
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  • National Nurses Week: May 6-12, we recognize National Nurses Week to celebrate and honor the tireless efforts, passion and devotion to clinical expertise our nurses show every day. Express gratitude to your nurse colleagues and follow us on social media to read inspiring stories of Advocate Aurora nurses during Nurses Week.

Please “read more” for additional important updates:

  • Clinical Risk Adjustment education series
  • Patient outreach
  • Emails will archive or be deleted and Skype ends
  • Innovation series: Upcoming dates, April 26, May 3 and 10
  • Chicago Children’s Health Alliance (CCHA) update
  • Violence Prevention Month FAQ
Elevating Our Expertise
Healthcare innovation: Advocate Aurora’s new investment arm focuses on whole-person health with telenutrition platform Foodsmart and home-care services company Senior Helpers. Read article. 
Cardiovascular disease in US South Asians: Alan Brown, MD and Shoeb Sitafalwalla, MD recently had their study of prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in South Asians in the US: A clinical perspective from the National Lipid Association published on the Journal of Clinical Lipidology and National Lipid Association’s websites. View the study. 
Continuing Medical Education & Events
APP Pro
COVID-19 Info Center
CME Website: Webinars & Recordings
Contracting