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Monday, November 7, 2005
Hospital Comments Needed on Patient Feedback Survey

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week released its final Hospital CAHPS survey instrument, the first national survey to collect uniform patient feedback on hospital care. Supported by the American Hospital Association, the survey will be implemented next year as part of the Hospital Quality Alliance, the public-private collaborative that includes all eligible Ohio hospitals.

CMS will publish the survey in the Nov. 14 Federal Register and accept comments through Dec. 7. Participation in the survey will be voluntary and results will ultimately be publicly reported on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Web site at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/. For more information on the survey or the Hospital Quality Alliance, visit the CMS Web site at www.cms.hhs.gov/quality/hospital/. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)

Scholarships Available to Healthcare Office Admin Students

The Ohio Society of Healthcare Administrative Professionals (OSHAP), an affiliated society of the Ohio Hospital Association, has established a scholarship fund to support the continuing education of individuals seeking a degree in healthcare office administration. OSHAP will award two scholarships, up to $500 each, to undergraduate students attending Ohio schools. Applicants must have a high school education, a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher of a 4.0 scale and acceptance into a study program at an Ohio school.

Scholarships are awarded each year and applicants may reapply in subsequent years. To obtain application forms and additional information, contact Paula Almendinger, OHA’s manager of personal membership groups, at paulaa@ohanet.org or 614.221.7614. (Paula Almendinger, paula@ohanet.org)

Tuesday, November 8, 2005
HHS Announces Pandemic Flu Plan
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released its pandemic flu plan to serve as a guide for how the nation’s health care system can prepare and respond to a flu pandemic. Pandemics occur when a new influenza virus gains the ability to pass between humans. The world has seen three pandemics in the twentieth century, and history and science suggest a strong likelihood of a pandemic during the current century. A large outbreak of avian influenza in Asia and Europe, and its ability to transmit to humans, has health officials preparing for the possibility of a pandemic flu.

The National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza focuses on stopping, slowing and limited the spread of a pandemic to the U.S.; limiting the domestic spread of a pandemic and decreasing disease, suffering and death; and sustaining infrastructure and minimizing the impact to the economy and the functioning of society. The federal government recently launched www.pandemicflu.gov to help individuals remain informed about what the government is doing and let them know how to decrease their risk.

All Ohioans are now eligible to receive a flu vaccine and are encouraged to do so. Vaccination remains crucial for individuals identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as high risk and for health care workers who come in contact with high risk patients. To learn more about who should get a flu shot or to view Ohio’s pandemic flu plan, visit www.ohanet.org/flu/. (Carol Jacobson, caroj@ohanet.org)

Radiation Protection Professionals Honored
This week, Nov. 6-12, is National Radiation Protection Professionals Week, celebrating the discovery of X-rays on Nov. 8, 1895, and honoring radiation protection professionals. These professionals help protect the public from the hazards of radiation by ensuring radiation and radioactive materials are used safely and beneficially in health care as well as the many other disciplines that rely on the benefits of radiation. OHA recognizes Ohio’s radiation protection professionals this week and the positive contribution they make to health care in Ohio.

Health Care Leader, Former OHA Board Chair Left His Mark
Bernard J. Lachner, former head of the Ohio State University Hospitals and Clinics and chair of the OHA Board of Trustees in 1969-70, passed away Nov. 4. Lachner was instrumental in forming OSU’s Graduate Program in Hospital and Health Services Administration, serving as its first director. A member of the Health Care Hall of Fame, Lachner made many contributions to health care in Ohio and nationwide, also serving as chairman of the American Hospital Association board in 1981. OHA recognizes Mr. Lachner for his service to Ohio’s hospitals and extends its deepest condolences to his family for their loss.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake Forest, Ill. Contributions are requested in lieu of flowers at : Bernard Lachner Graduate Scholarship Fund #60389, Ohio State University Medical Center, 1375 Perry St., 5^th floor, Columbus, OH 43201.

Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Election Results Are In…
Ohioans went to the polls yesterday, deciding five statewide issues as well as various tax levies and other county ballot issues impacting hospitals. Of the five statewide issues on the ballot, only Issue 1 received enough voter support to pass, while voters said no to Issues 2-5. OHA supported Issue 1, which would create and support high tech jobs, and opposed Issue 3, aimed at allowing special interests in and outside of Ohio to give 10 times more money to a statewide candidate than individuals or political action committees without requiring disclosure of the revenue’s source.

Issue 9 in Springfield, which would have established an independent oversight committee to monitor operations of the recently-merged Community Mercy Health Partners, was voted down. The issue was strongly opposed by Citizens for the Future of Our Hospital, which felt strongly that the not-for-profit hospital’s board of trustees, not a city commission, should retain legal authority to govern the facility. City Commissioner Kevin O’Neill and Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland also opposed the measure, expressing concern about the cost, and the Springfield City Commission refused to endorse the proposal as a citywide ballot issue.

In Morrow County, voters renewed a 2.5 mill, five-year Morrow County Hospital levy to support the hospital’s continued service to the community. Voters also passed a sales tax levy renewal of one half of 1 percent for Adams County Hospital. Southwest General Health Center in Cuyahoga County received voter support for a 1 mill, five-year tax levy renewal that will go to improving hospital operations and services.

Taft Names New BWC Head
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is now working under the leadership of William E. Mabe, who was recently named administrator and CEO of the organization. Gov. Bob Taft appointed Mabe and charged him with implementing the recommendations of the BWC Management Review Team, which was created by the governor in June to review the BWC investment portfolio and assess investment and audit staffing. The team issued its final action report to the governor on Oct. 31.

Mabe served in multiple capacities at Nationwide before retiring in 2003 and pursuing a career as an adjunct professor at Franklin University and a management consultant for R.E. Nolan Management Consulting. Mabe replaces Tina Kielmeyer, who had served as interim administrator since June. She will remain as chief operating officer of BWC.

CMS Releases Final Outpatient PPS Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this week released its 2006 Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, applying a full 3.7 percent market basket update. Combined with changes in the rule mandated by the Medicare Modernization Act, the average payment increase will be 2 percent for urban hospitals and 3.9 percent for rural hospitals. MMA requires the rule to end “hold harmless” payments for small rural hospitals and rural sole-community hospitals, but provides an adjustment to the rural sole-community hospitals that will increase payments by 7.1 percent in 2006.

CMS will pay for most separately payable drugs, including pharmacy overhead costs, at the rate of the average sales price plus 6 percent. The final rule does not reduce payments for multiple imaging procedures as originally proposed. It does not reduce the target for outlier payments from 2 percent to 1 percent of total outpatient spending and it increases the fixed dollar threshold to $1,250. The final rule will appear in the Nov. 10 Federal Register and will take effect Jan. 1, 2006. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org)

Thursday, November 10, 2005
PHC Makes SARS a Class A Disease, Hears Other Proposed Changes
Among other action at its meeting last week, the Public Health Council (PHC) adopted revisions to the list of reportable communicable diseases, including the addition as of Jan. 1, 2006, of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) as a class A reportable disease that must be reported immediately to the local board of health. This brings the list of diseases that must be reported to local health departments to more than 100. The revised rule will be available online at www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/odhrules.aspx. The council also approved Ohio Department of Health plans to create a new Bureau of Public Health Preparedness that will include a hospital preparedness program under the direction of Acting Bureau Chief William McHugh.

PHC heard several pieces of new business, including proposed changes to the trauma center reporting rule that carry the support of trauma centers and proposed changes to the rules governing the handling of radioactive material, radiation protection standards, disposal of radioactive waste and certified radiation experts hospitals must utilize. The proposed rules are now available at www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/ and will receive public hearings before the PHC at its Dec. 15 meeting. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)

ACS Patient Navigators Work With Caregivers to Offer Cancer Help
The American Cancer Society (ACS) offers a Patient Navigator Program to provide personalized guidance to patients, helping them reduce barriers to screening and treatment for cancer. Trained ACS staff, patient navigators work with patients, families and caregivers to assist with the many needs encountered along the battle against cancer.

They can help:

Provide up-to-date cancer information and education
Link patients and families with local, national and ACS resources and programs
Help explain financial, health care, community, social and other systems

Patient navigators do not offer medical advice, infringe upon the physician/patient relationship or limit options to seek other sources of cancer information or support. For a list of Ohio’s 20 ACS patient navigators, visit www.cancer.org/docroot/COM/content/div_OH/COM_6_1x_Patient_Navigator.asp?sitearea=COM. Linking patients with a local patient navigator can help caregivers focus on the clinical aspects of treatment, knowing the patient also has access to social and support needs. All patient navigators can be contacted at 1.888.ACS.OHIO.

Hospitals’ Heartbeat
A 2005 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award

Dennis Lewis
Director of Education and E.M.S. Coordinator
Brown County General Hospital, Georgetown
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A look inside Dennis’ nomination –
“In addition to the incredible hours Mr. Lewis puts in at the hospital, he remains actively engaged with the community and the local emergency medical services within the county and neighboring communities. His selflessness to make himself available at all hours of any given day identifies him as not only an outstanding health care employee, but also as a true humanitarian. Mr. Lewis is so well known and respected throughout the community that it is difficult to speak of life squad issues of any sort without his name being mentioned as a reliable source of information and support. Members of life squad associations travel from other counties to receive training provided by Mr. Lewis even when other training is closer to their individual locations.”

Friday, November 11, 2005
Hospitals Lead the Way
Ohio’s hospitals continue to rise the top as innovators, employers and quality health care providers. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations recognized the Greater Cincinnati Patient Safety ICY Collaborative, a 10-hospital initiative, as the winner of the 2005 Ernest A. Codman Award in the multi-organization category.

The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati received a National Employer of the Year Award from the National Association for Persons to Support Employment for its efforts to hire and retain people with disabilities.

The Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department of Summa Health System, Akron, was honored by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation with the first Program Innovation Award for creativity and excellence in patient care.

Former OHA Board member and supervisor of the Surgical Clinic at Good Samaritan Hospital, Dayton, Walter A. Reiling, MD, was named to the Ohio Board of Regents. Dr. Reiling is the only member of the Board of Regents hailing from a health care background, and he will help the Board develop appropriate policies for educating health care workers.

Several Ohio hospitals received Total Benchmark Solution’s Top 100 Quality Award: Mercy Hospital Clermont, Batavia; Community Health Partners West, Lorain; Fisher-Titus Medical Center, Norwalk; Mercy Hospital Anderson, Cincinnati; St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo; Kettering Medical Center - Sycamore, Miamisburg.

Modern Healthcare magazine’s list of 100 top cardiovascular hospitals for 2005 included: University Hospitals of Cleveland; Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Good Samaritan Hospital, Dayton; Akron General Medical Center; Summa Health System, Akron; Bethesda North Hospital, Cincinnati; Christ Hospital, Cincinnati; Toledo Hospital; Southwest General Health Center, Middleburg Heights. (Mary Sterenberg, marys@ohanet.org)

Hospitals’ Heartbeat
A 2005 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award

Thomas Preston, RRT, NPS, RPFT
Technical Coordinator, Respiratory Care and ECMO
Children's Hospital, Columbus
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A look inside Thomas’ nomination –
“Tom Preston, RRT, NPS, RPFT, has been at the heart of building Columbus Children’s Hospital’s strong and unified respiratory team, implementing innovations for even the most fragile neonates and critically ill patients. As Technical Coordinator for the Children’s Respiratory Care team, Tom has led through example and been an exemplary self-starter. His commitment to quality patient care is married with passion for innovation, education and challenging the norm. Tom is happiest at the bedside but confident in any situation, whether motivating peers or working with physicians, administrators and all members of the healthcare team. He has been instrumental in establishing several best practices in critical care and ECMO management. Tom has raised the bar and set expectations high for excellence in the practice of respiratory care.”