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Monday,
March 12, 2007 Late last year, ODH released the 10 quality measures developed by four national entities – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Joint Commission, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and National Quality Forum – to be reported by hospitals. To assist hospitals in reporting these measures, OHA created a secure Web site to capture and help hospitals report to ODH the required measures. The OHA Web site went live last week at www.core.ohanet.org, allowing enough time for the data to be reviewed, edited and validated by hospital staff prior to submission of the data to ODH. To register for a user ID and password, and to receive instructions on how to use the site, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=900963327761.More information is available in an OHA member bulletin at www.ohanet.org/Bulletins/2007/07-005.htm. (Mary Drake, maryd@ohanet.org) ODH Accepting Comments on Proposed
Freestanding Birthing Center Rules Surgical and Abbreviation Protocols Prevent Errors The Ohio Patient Safety Institute’s Ohio Surgical/Procedural Verification Protocol and the Joint Commission’s surgical verification protocol are helping hospitals reduce medical errors, according to a recent survey of OHA Insurance Solutions, Inc. (OHAIS), a medical liability insurance company created by OHA. Of the 23 hospitals surveyed, 22 have adopted some form of standardized surgical procedure verification protocol, which has prevented a wrong patient, wrong site or wrong procedure occurrence in at least 13 instances identified by the facilities. The OHAIS survey also reviewed hospital protocols to eliminate dangerous medication abbreviations Twenty-two of the 23 hospitals have adopted a standardized “do not use” list of abbreviations and 11 of the surveyed hospitals noted a decrease or elimination of medication errors related to abbreviations. For more information, see today’s OHA news release, Communication is Key to Patient Safety, online at www.ohanet.org/media/news_release/2007/safety031307.htm. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org) Commitment to Communities SPOTLIGHT The efforts of Ohio’s hospitals – and the 300,000 people working in these facilities – go far beyond providing basic health care services. Below is one example of the many ways Ohio’s hospitals support their communities. Caring for the Community’s Most
Vulnerable The clinic is one extension of St. Rita’s mission to improve the health of its community – an effort focused on some of the patients who need help most. Oveta has been getting life-saving medical care for the past eight years at St. Rita’s Med-Care Clinic. She was diagnosed with diabetes and has since lost 25 pounds and undergone cataract surgery to improve her vision. Karen had no family doctor, no health insurance and a family to care for. She and her family now get regular check-ups, immunizations and preventive services at the clinic. After years without visiting a dentist, Carla now sees a dentist and hygienist regularly at the clinic. She had two root canals and restoration on 14 teeth to restore her smile and her self-confidence. Wednesday, March 14, 2007 Strickland Expanding Coverage for Working Parents Health care was a major focus of Gov. Ted Strickland’s first state of the state address today. Calling on Ohio government to make tough choices and invest in what matters, Strickland announced his biennial budget proposal will provide health care coverage to many uninsured Ohioans by restoring or expanding Medicaid eligibility for working parents up to 100 percent of the federal poverty line – a major advocacy priority of OHA in 2007 – for pregnant women up to 200 percent of the federal poverty line and for children in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Strickland also announced he is seeking permission from the federal government to use Medicaid funds for private health insurance premium assistance, which he estimated would allow 300,000 Ohioans to pay for coverage that is otherwise beyond their means. Strickland’s budget would also:
Because OHA believes it is important to provide new and stable funding streams for new programs rather than divert funds from existing sources, such as providers, the association will continue working with Strickland’s administration to identify appropriate funding sources for his proposals. Strickland is expected to release his full 2008-2009 budget proposal tomorrow. Stay tuned to HEALTH e-NEWS Plus for details on the potential impact on hospitals. The full state of the state transcript is available on OHA’s Web site at www.ohanet.org/advocacy/state/stateofstate.htm. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org) Commitment to Communities SPOTLIGHT The efforts of Ohio’s hospitals – and the 300,000 people working in these facilities – go far beyond providing basic health care services. Below is one example of the many ways Ohio’s hospitals support their communities.
On the Job
Training Project Search, a collaborative effort between MedCentral, Richland Newhope Center and Pioneer Career and Technology Center, is a program that provides job training to students with disabilities. The program teaches students job skills, and may ultimately lead to employment with the system. The students work at Mansfield Hospital from 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. and return to their classroom at the end of the day for a wrap-up session. Students rotate to a new job every 10 weeks, trying out different departments such as human resources, biomedical engineering, sterile reprocessing, housekeeping and nursing. Project Search is modeled after a program initiated by Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati – a program that resulted in the hiring of 70 students as employees.
Thursday,
March 15, 2007 The State Medical Board of Ohio issued a notice of public hearing and draft rules as required under Senate Bill 154, legislation enacted in June 2006 revising the laws regarding the practice of physician assistants (PA). The rules include requirements for PA prescriptive authority, supervision and practice requirements. In addition, the rules include scope of practice for PAs working in a health care facility. The Medical Board will hold a hearing on these rules April 2. Hospitals are encouraged to review the rules – available at www.med.ohio.gov/rules/proprules.htm – and provide comments by March 23 to Jean Scholz at OHA at 614.221.7614 or jeans@ohanet.org. Board of Nursing Finalizes New
Interpretative Guidelines
Friday, March 16, 2007 Gov. Ted Strickland’s proposed 2008-2009 budget was introduced this week and includes a 3.3 percent inpatient update for all Ohio hospitals in 2008 and a 2.9 percent update in 2009. OHA was pleased to learn that the budget calls for the restoration of Medicaid coverage to parents making up to 100 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and that the governor does not plan to divert the Hospital Care Assurance Program funds that are crucial to many Ohio hospitals. By restoring Medicaid coverage for parents to 100 percent FPL, 25,000 Ohioans will regain health coverage. OHA has been advocating for restoration of this coverage in collaboration with the Ohio Family Coverage Coalition. Securing an inflationary update for hospitals, restoring Medicaid coverage to parents up to 100 percent FPL and protecting HCAP funds are among OHA’s top priorities for the 2008-2009 budget. With the support of member hospitals, OHA looks forward to working with the governor’s office and the legislature to help finalize and enact the budget over the next several months. The official budget will not be released until next week and OHA will provide members with a detailed analysis of all issues impacting hospitals. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org) © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
January 03, 2008. |
