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Monday,
September 6, 2004
OHA is closed in observance of Labor Day.
Tuesday, September 7, 2004
With summer slipping away, OHA is thinking ahead to flu season and what hospitals can do to promote immunization this fall. OHA is partnering with the Ohio Department of Health and Ohio KePro to ramp up the focus on immunizing health care workers and appropriate patients. With the guidance of hospitals, we plan to create a Web site and other materials to remove barriers and dispel myths about immunization to improve immunization numbers.
How can you help?
Statewide Briefings Discuss 2006-07 Budget
The Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future will hold public budget briefings
this month and next throughout the state. The briefings will focus on
the fiscal year 2006-2007 budget and actions steps for preventing
possible cuts that could impact many areas, including the health care of
1.7 million low-income Ohioans. They are free and open to concerned
citizens and those affiliated with education, higher education, health
care, social service organizations, libraries, local and state
government, business, the faith community and the media.
- Sept. 9, Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, 10 a.m. to noon
- Sept. 10, Columbus, YWCA of Columbus, 10 a.m. to noon
- Sept. 13, Toledo, Toledo Public Library, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- Sept. 13, Defiance, Defiance College, 2-4 p.m.
- Sept. 21, Medina, Medina County Administration Building, 10 a.m. to noon
- Sept. 22, Dayton, Dayton Job Center, 10 a.m. to noon
- Oct. 1, Canton, Goodwill Industries of East Central Ohio, 2-4 p.m.
- Oct. 12, Cleveland, location to be determined, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
For more information on the Campaign to Protect Ohio’s Future, visit www.protectohio.org. (Berna Bell, bernab@ohanet.org)
Wednesday,
September 8, 2004
Applications are now available for the 2005 American Hospital Association McKesson Quest for Quality Prize, which honors leadership and innovation in patient care quality, safety and commitment. The award winner will receive $75,000 and two finalists will receive $12,500 each. Other hospitals may be recognized with Citations of Merit.
All U.S. hospitals are eligible. In 2005, the award will honor organizations that:
1. have committed to achieving the Institute of Medicine’s six quality aims - safety, patient-centeredness, effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness and equity
2. can document progress in achievement of multiple aims
3. provide replicable models and systems for the hospital field.
Applications are due Oct. 15. Find the application form and more information at www.aha.org/aha/awards-events/quest_for_quality/index.html. The award is supported by grants from McKesson and the McKesson Foundation.
Thursday,
September 9, 2004
The price of accreditation will cost providers a little more next year. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations’ (JCAHO) Board of Commissioners this week approved overall survey fee increases across all the organization’s accreditation programs for 2005. JCAHO last increased survey fees in 1999 for the 2000 accreditation year. JCAHO cites the need for further investments in the new accreditation process introduced last year as the impetus for the cost increase.
The increase will vary by program, and by the types and services provided within each program. JCAHO’s estimated average triennial survey fee increase for hospitals in 2005 is $2,700, and $3,000 for networks. Critical access hospitals, laboratories, assisted living, ambulatory care, long-term care, home care, and behavioral health care also face increases between $300 and $1,065. Additionally, as of Jan. 1, 2005, JCAHO will add a certified health care engineer to surveys of hospitals with 200 or more beds. The $3,500 cost will enhance the evaluation of the life Safety Code.
For the complete list of estimated fee increases, see a JCAHO news release at www.jcaho.org/news+room/news+release+archives/fee_increase.htm. The final fee schedule will be available later this month. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)
Birth Defect Info System Comments Due Soon
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) recently posted draft rules on its
Web site that would require hospitals, doctors and freestanding birthing
centers to report detailed information regarding children with birth
defects.
The information gathered would create a comprehensive registry of every child born with birth defects, called the Birth Defects Information System, allow ODH to help connect families with organizations providing services for special-needs children, and provide information for research that could prevent birth defects in the future.
OHA is currently reviewing the draft rules and will post its comment letter when complete. Hospitals are encouraged to comment on the draft rules as well. Without substantial comments from hospitals, the draft rules will likely become final early next year. Comments should be forwarded to ODH by Sept. 26 by e-mail at bcmh@odh.ohio.gov or fax at 614.728.3616. Comments can also be mailed to:
Ohio Department of Health
Attn: Genetics Section/Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps
246 N. High Street, P.O. Box 1603
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1603
For more information, go to www.odh.state.oh.us/Rules/Draft/Chap57/Dr57_lst.htm and review Chapter 3701-57: Birth Defects Information System. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
OHA Center for Education
Don’t miss the following OHA educational seminars. Visit
www.ohanet.org/education/education_programs.asp or call
614.221.7614 for more information about these and other upcoming
seminars.
Hospitalists: The Complete Picture 2004
Sept. 24, Ohio State Medical Association offices, Hilliard
Ohio Patient Safety Institute: Designing a Safe Hospital
Sept. 30, Holiday Inn East, Columbus
Improving Hospital Performance: The Statistical Imperative
Oct. 1, Ramada Plaza, Columbus
Trustee Dinner Seminar Series
Sept. 28, Findlay Inn & Conference Center, Findlay
Sept. 29, Holiday Inn of Cambridge, Cambridge
Sept. 30, Roberts Convention Centre, Wilmington
Oct. 6, Sheraton Suites Cuyahoga Falls, Cuyahoga Falls
Friday,
September 10, 2004
Economic developers in Cuyahoga County should focus on the health care industry when investing in workforce development, according to a report released this week at the Cleveland Workforce Summit. The report, Inroads: Strategies for Economic Growth, was developed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ Bureau of Labor Market Information to address the challenge of renovating workforce development practices to create and sustain businesses in the Cleveland area.
The report showed the health care industry in Ohio and the Cleveland area has been “remarkably resilient” in the face of economic recession and continued to grow through the 2001 recession. The report also cited high relative wage rates for health care professionals, the health care industry’s contribution to local economic development, and higher wage rate increases for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses as reasons to invest in health care workforce development practices.
According to the report, the health care industry actually benefits the local economy, with total wages for hospital employees in Cuyahoga County increasing 12.8 percent from 2000 to 2002. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)
Fellowship Educates Patient Safety Leaders
Health care providers interested in applying for the Patient Safety
Leadership Fellowship for the 2005-2006 year have until the start of
2005 to submit their applications. The fellowship program offers
participants tools and models for developing and implementing strategies
and practices to improve patient safety across the nation’s health
systems.
The program is sponsored by the Health Research and Educational Trust, the Health Forum, the American Hospital Association and the National Patient Safety Foundation in partnership with the American Society of Healthcare Risk Managers, American Organization of Nurse Executives and Society of Hospital Medicine. For more information and an online application, visit www.healthforumfellowships.com.