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Register Now for the Super-sized 2007 OHA Annual Meeting Registration is now open for OHA’s Annual Meeting June 18-20 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. With an added third day of programming for 2007, this year’s Annual Meeting promises to offer expanded opportunities for continuing education credits, networking and recognition. Key events for the Annual Meeting include: · Gov. Ted Strickland will speak at a Health Policy Forum and Advocacy Luncheon Monday, June 18. · 86 nominees for Health Care Worker of the Year and recipients of OHA’s leadership awards will be honored at the OHA Recognition Dinner the evening of June 18. · Alvin Jackson, M.D., director of health, will provide remarks and present the first David Hendershot Rural Health Promotion Award at a Leadership Lunch Wednesday, June 20. · Sixteen programming tracks will offer professional development on everything from physician recruitment to finance to risk management. · More than 70 Corporate Partners will preview state-of-the-art technology, operational solutions and cost-cutting measures for hospitals.
OHA this week sent programming and registration materials to hospitals. Complete Annual Meeting information and online registration is available at www.ohanet.org/annualmeeting/. (Joe Ruggles, joer@ohanet.org)
Tuesday, May 1, 2007 Hand Washing Reminder Signs NOT Required Despite a letter sent recently to some hospitals by the Ohio Healthcare Compliance Center regarding a new hand washing posting advisory, there are no new Ohio Department of Health (ODH) requirements for hand washing reminder signs to be posted by health care providers. Both the Ohio Healthcare Compliance Center and the Ohio Food Service Compliance Center are selling posters with hand washing reminders, but there is no state requirement to use these or any other reminder signs.
Hospitals can access information on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and requirements at www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/ and for interested hospitals, ODH provides a hand washing poster and related information at www.ohiopandemicflu.gov/publications.htm#posters for voluntary use as hospitals and their infection control practitioners consider appropriate. Additional materials are being developed and will be posted as they become available. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
Wednesday,
May 2, 2007 The Ohio House of Representatives yesterday unanimously passed Substitute House Bill 119, the 2008-2009 state budget. Sub bill 199 includes the following expansions for children’s health coverage:
The House’s budget also preserves the inpatient update for adult hospitals and coverage for pregnant women up to 200 percent FPL, and makes the following changes:
The Senate
began reviewing the budget Tuesday and is expected to wrap
up action by June 12. OHA will be launching a letter-writing
campaign to the Senate for the week of May 14 and will
coordinate Medicaid-related testimony for May 31. OHA will
advocate in the Senate for the restoration of family
coverage as well as funding for rural obstetrics, critical
access hospitals and trauma centers. (Bridget Gargan,
bridgetg@ohanet.org)
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.
Responding When Disaster Strikes ProMedica Health System
Five week
old, Dylan Frught was one of the 5,000 children separated
from their families in the hectic days after Katrina hit.
Dylan was being treated after heart surgery in a Baton
Rouge, La. hospital when his parents, Sheryl and Matt, were
forced to leave him behind. The Frught’s evacuated to Port
Clinton, Ohio, and sought shelter with family. ProMedica
Health System in Toledo learned of baby Dylan and his family
in nearby Port Clinton. The health system acted immediately
to help reunite the family by transporting baby Dylan, free
of charge, to the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) at
Toledo Children’s Hospital. Baby Dylan would have survived
in Baton Rouge, but in Toledo Children Hospital’s care he
could be in the presence of his loved ones.
Thursday,
May 3, 2007 The Ohio Department of Health has officially adopted the rules for enforcement of the Ohio Clean Indoor Air act, which was passed by voters last November. Effective today, violators will be issued a warning for the first violation, and fines ranging from $100 to $2,500 for subsequent violations. For a summary of the law as it pertains to Ohio hospitals and health systems, view OHA Bulletin 06- 012. The final rules, OAC 3701-52-01 to -09, can be found at www.odh.ohio.gov. (Stacey Conrad, staceyc@ohanet.org)
Two cases recently before the Ohio Supreme Court could have an impact on Ohio hospitals. In the first, a split Ohio Supreme Court decision allows a registered nurse working as an intermittent employee to receive unemployment compensation benefits upon completion of her fixed-term contract. Reversing the appellant court’s ruling, the Supreme Court concluded that employees who agree to specified termination dates do not waive their right to unemployment benefits. Hospitals are encouraged to review the terms and conditions under which they use intermittent workers to determine if this ruling affects those employees’ eligibility for unemployment benefits.
In the second case, the Ohio Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Arbino v. Johnson & Johnson, a products liability case challenging Ohio’s non-medical, non-economic damage cap, punitive damage cap, and collateral source statutes. OHA, the Ohio State Medical Association and the Ohio Osteopathic Association filed an amici curiae brief in the case specifically to explain the critical importance of non-economic damage caps to medical liability claims. OHA made its amici appearance because the outcome of the case could affect how the Supreme Court will rule in future cases challenging Ohio’s medical non-economic damage cap. (Nancy Falk, nancyf@ohanet.org; Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)
Friday, May 4, 2007 The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) drafted amendments to several rules governing Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) protocols and requirements. Due to confusion about the interpretation and application of the “DNR Comfort Care” and “DNR Comfort Care – Arrest” designations, the amendment combines these into a single DNR option. It also clarifies the types of actions that are authorized and prohibited for patients with valid DNR order, and creates a DNR order form with the new protocol to improve the process for health care practitioners. Other major draft amendments alter the definition of “component of CPR,” change or eliminate requirements for DNR identification jewelry and identification items, require practitioners to inquire ask patients about DNR declarations, and prohibit tampering with DNRs. View the draft rules at www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/drafts/3701-62.aspx. ODH is requesting comments on the draft new and amended rules by May 28. Include the words “Do Not Resuscitate Rules” in the subject line of all comments sent via regular mail or e-mail to ODH at the addresses below and provide a copy of comments to OHA’s Rick Sites at ricks@ohanet.org.
Selina G. Anderson, Researcher Westat to Survey Ohio Providers This Summer The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has contracted with Westat to survey a sample of Ohio health care providers about Ohio KePRO, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for Ohio. If contacted, please take the opportunity to complete this voluntary, confidential survey online or by phone. Ohio KePRO collaborates with hospital personnel, physicians, and home health and nursing home professionals to examine practices and improve systems of providing care. The Westat survey is an opportunity to share your experience with Ohio KePRO’s services and provide valuable insight for shaping the future of health care quality improvement in Ohio. © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
January 03, 2008. |
