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Monday,
October 23, 2006
The National Quality Forum (NQF) has endorsed a revised list of serious reportable events, defined as measurable events of concern to the public and health care providers that are significantly influenced by a health care organization’s policies and procedures. The list includes one new event – artificial insemination with the wrong donor sperm or egg – and revised specifications for six events on its 2002 list. View the revised list at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061016/dcm087.html?.v=1. NQF also endorsed a revised list of safe practices to include three new practices and 23 changes to practices on its 2003 list. This list is available at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061016/dcm086.html?.v=1&printer=1. NQF endorses voluntary national consensus standards for measuring and publicly reporting on health care performance. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat
Susan Hale, RN
A look inside Susan’s nomination –
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
BWC Delays Start of Inpatient Hospital PPS Late last week the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) announced it will delay the start of its new Health Partnership Program (HPP) inpatient hospital payment methodology to Jan. 1, 2007. The HPP is BWC's managed care plan for state-fund injured workers, and earlier this year BWC announced it would replace the current Medicaid-cost-plus inpatient payment plan with one based on the Medicare inpatient hospital prospective payment system. A memo from BWC Medical Director Greg Jewell, MD, stated BWC is not satisfied with the results of tests on the payment software it purchased to group and price inpatient bills, so it decided to push back the implementation until the first of the year for more complete testing and to train BWC staff and the 26 HPP managed care organizations on the new system. OHA applauds BWC's decision and OHA's Finance and ABC Committees will continue to work with BWC on a mutually acceptable transition to the new inpatient payment plan. (Charles Cataline, charlesc@ohanet.org) Updated Hospital Incident Command System Available Hospitals can now access an updated version of the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS), an incident management system that helps hospitals improve emergency planning and response capabilities. Previously called the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System, HICS provides a guidebook and planning and training tools developed by a panel of national experts with support from the American Hospital Association and its American Society for Healthcare Engineering. HICS will help hospitals implement the 17 elements of the Hospital-Based National Incident Management System released last month by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. View the updated version of HICS at www.emsa.ca.gov/hics/hics.asp.
To assist Ohio hospitals in the implementation of HICS, OHA will be conducting educational and training classes, developing specific guidelines to ensure National Incident Management System compliance based on responsibilities during a disaster/emergency, and developing a Hospital Operational Field Guide for hospitals to use during a disaster or emergency. (Carol Jacobson, carolj@ohanet.org)
Cancer Society Offers Community Investment Grants The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) Ohio Division is accepting applications from hospitals and other community organizations and worksites that collaborate with ACS to increase cancer awareness and promote prevention and early detection of breast cancer. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to partners striving to reduce the incidence of breast cancer among employees or in other workplaces, especially those lacking health insurance.
The Request
for Proposal for the Community Investment Grants is available at
www.cancer.org/ohiogrants. Applications are due by 5 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 3. For more information, contact Krista Kopperud
at 614.718.4472 or
Krista.Kopperud@cancer.org.
Thursday,
October 26, 2006
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week released Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Healthcare Settings with new guidelines outlining strategies to prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections in health care settings. During the past 30 years, the proportion of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics has taken a sharp increase. For example, in 1972 only 2 percent of the bacteria that cause “staph” infections were drug resistant—by 2004, 63 percent were resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat them. The guidelines encourage hospitals and health care facilities to:
View the full report at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/pdf/ar/mdroGuideline2006.pdf. (Carol Jacobson, carolj@ohanet.org; Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat
Sharon Minjares,
MS, RD, LD A look inside Sharon’s nomination –As a licensed, registered Dietitian and Health Promotion Coordinator at Lake Hospital System, Sharon Minjares is a tireless advocate for promoting good health through sound dietary and fitness practices. She designs, implements and teaches numerous educational programs that raise awareness and address the important national healthcare issue of obesity. These programs effectively engage Lake Hospital System Phase II Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab patients, elementary students, area residents and employees in the greater community. As a popular speaker, her local events are well attended. Through various media, Lake Hospital System programs & her own dedicated outreach activities at grade schools, grocery stores & other venues, Sharon’s efforts have a tremendous impact by teaching how to realistically reach and maintain healthy dietary and fitness habits for life.
At its most recent meeting, the OHA Board of Trustees approved a 2007 OHA budget with no increase in the current dues rate that will be based on hospitals' 2004 operating expenses. The Board also approved a special assessment of 1.5 cents per $1,000 in expenses – the same as in 2006 – with one cent going to the Special Litigation Fund and one-half cent for the Strategic Issues Fund.
A new slate of Board officers and Trustees-At-Large for 2007 was approved. Next year’s chair is William Harding, President & CEO, Union Hospital, Dover. The 2007 chair-elect is Kevin Martin, President & CEO, EMH Regional Healthcare System, Elyria and the Secretary/Treasurer is Michael Stephens, President, Greene Memorial Hospital, Xenia.
The Board agreed to restrict release of a draft 2006 community benefit report to member hospitals ONLY rather than publicly as originally expected. A public report with 2005 data will be released by June 2007. Hospitals will receive support materials including an overview, frequently asked questions, definitions, resources and OHA contact information.
Preparing for Election Day, staff updated the Board on key races and ballot initiatives affecting Ohio hospitals. Election information that can be shared with hospital employees is available on the Friends of Ohio Hospitals’ Web site at www.friendsofohiohospitals.org. The Board also discussed OHA’s priorities for the lame duck session in the Ohio General Assembly and success of the Friends of Ohio Hospitals’ campaign, which has reached 95 percent of its goal.
The Board approved principles governing pay-for-performance and hospitals’ tax-exempt status. The final pay-for-performance principles are online at www.ohanet.org/research/ref/FinalP4PAsApprbyOHABrd10-06.pdf. The tax-exempt principles will be shared with hospitals after an additional principle calling for consistent treatment of all non-profit charitable organizations is added and approved by the Board at its next meeting.
The Board also discussed progress of the 2006 Hospital Care Assurance Program and OHA’s activities and strategies around hospital real property tax exemption, and reappointed three Foundation for Healthy Communities Board members to new three-year terms. (Jim Castle, jimc@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat A 2006 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Christine C. Myers, RN, BSN, CWOCN Community Outreach Nurse, Patient Resources/SeniorCare Services Lakewood Hospital Lakewood
A look
inside Christine’s nomination – Second, Christine also functions as a community outreach nurse, conducting health screenings and education in the local hospital community. She is a champion for senior health issues. © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
July 24, 2008. |
