Monday, November 26, 2007
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Issues Revised Form I-9
Earlier this month, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a new employment verification I-9 form.  Employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for all new employees hired in the U.S.  Although the new form will become effective as soon as it is published in the Federal Register, the USCIS encourages all employers to start using the revised Form I-9 immediately. 

The revision removes five documents for proof of both identity and employment eligibility. They include: Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-570); Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570); Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-151); the unexpired Reentry Permit (Form I-327); and the unexpired Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571). According to USCIS, the forms were removed because they lack features to help deter counterfeiting, tampering and fraud.

The revised Form I-9 and the "Handbook for Employers, Instructions for Completing the I-9" are available online at www.uscis.gov or can be ordered from USCIS by calling 1.800.870.3676. 

Public Hearing on PA Rules for Formulary Scheduled
The State Medical Board of Ohio will conduct a public hearing Dec. 10 on proposed new rules on the physician assistant (PA) formulary. In addition to the proposed rules on PA practice, rules on the determination of proficiency in spoken English and amendments to rules on the use of prescription drugs for the treatment of intractable pain will be heard by the Medical Board. Anyone affected by the proposed action may present oral or written testimony. Those who wish to present testimony should contact Sallie Debolt, executive staff attorney, at 614.644.7021 or Sallie.Debolt@med.state.oh.us.

The full text of the proposed rules will be available at www.registerofohio.state.oh.us/ and http://www.med.ohio.gov. The hearing will be held in the Lobby Hearing Room on the 1^st Floor of Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus at 1 p.m. (Jean Scholz, jeans@ohanet.org)

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Patient Protection Act Saves Ohioans $2.4 Million
The Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) this month announced that the Patient Protection Act, which has allowed consumers since 2000 to appeal health care claim denials to an Independent Review Organization (IRO), saved Ohioans nearly $2.4 million in 2006. The law enables Ohioans to appeal coverage and contractual decisions made by their health insurer, including appeals based on medical necessity decisions. It also allows consumers who were previously denied coverage for a health insurance claim, or who had coverage reduced or terminated, the right to request that an IRO review the case.

External reviews are assigned to one of nine randomly-selected organizations accredited by ODI, and ODI internally reviews disputes involving contractual matters such as coverage limits or definitions of coverage. Decisions by the IRO in favor of the consumer are binding on the insurer, while consumers retain the right to file private lawsuits even if the IRO decision is not in their favor. Consumers do not bear the cost of an external or contractual review, and hospitals often assist patients in filing the appeals.

In 2006, a total of 156 IRO reviews were conducted for numerous types of services with the majority for surgery and hospitalization. ODI reviewed a total of 190 contractual cases. Out-of-network issues were the top reason for review. For additional information about Ohio’s Patient Protection Act, please call the ODI consumer hotline at 1.800.686.1578. View the 2006 report at www.ohioinsurance.gov/Legal/Reports/2006_HB4_Governor_Final.pdf. (Mary Gallagher, maryg@ohanet.org)

Hospitals’ Heartbeat
A 2007 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award

Barbara Markward, RN, BSN
Heart Failure Advocate
St. Rita’s Medical Center
Lima
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A look inside Barb’s nomination -
Barb is a 30-year employee of St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima. Barb resides in Ottoville with her husband Tom and is the mother of Kevin and Tammy. Barb's entire career has been dedicated to improving the life of patients with cardiac disease. Barb began her career in the Coronary Care Unit, and then advanced to a cardiac case manager for the Coronary Care Unit and Open Heart Unit. Barb is currently working in the position of a heart failure advocate. In the spring of 2006, Barb received the prestigious St. Rita's Medical Center Legend Award. Barb is actively involved in multiple activities with the American Heart Association, her community and her church. Barb demonstrates on a daily basis her commitment to those in need.
 

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Event Recognizes Success of School AED Program
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and Akron General Medical Center hosted an event today to recognize the conclusion of a statewide initiative to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in Ohio schools. Akron General served as administrator of the Ohio School AED program, using the allocated five million dollars to place 4,544 AEDs in schools. Speaker of the House Jon Husted, Senate President Bill Harris and ODH Director Alvin Jackson were among those who attended today’s event to applaud this initiative.

Twelve lives already have been saved through the use of these devices, according to Terry A. Gordon, DO, a cardiologist with Northeast Ohio Cardiovascular Specialists and a member of the medical staff at Akron General who spearheaded the project. Earlier this month, a 13-year-old boy from Vernon, Ohio, who collapsed at school was revived through the use of an AED obtained through the program.

Plans are being made to obtain funding and expand the program nationally. Dr. Gordon is working to enlist the aid of state and congressional leaders to help champion the effort to put an AED device in every school in America. View a news release for more information.

Hospitals’ Heartbeat
A 2007 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award

Cathy Kopinsky, LSW
Program Coordinator/Community Outreach Specialist
St. Vincent Charity Hospital
Cleveland
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A look inside Cathy’s nomination -
Through her work as a program coordinator with the Community Outreach Department, Cathy exemplifies the values of St. Vincent Charity Hospital—respect, integrity, quality and teamwork. Promoting the ideal of “a hospital without walls,” Cathy, a licensed social worker, connects local residents with health care and social services through the hospital’s outreach programs, including the Healthy Heart Program, Lupica Towers Initiative and School Partnerships. A member of the hospital’s Mission and Values Committee, Cathy helps hospital staff members reach out to the community through organized service projects. She serves on two community boards that promote projects for students and residents. Known for her gentle yet passionate commitment, Cathy leads others in efforts to help the needy and underserved in the hospital’s surrounding neighborhoods.

Thursday, November 29, 2007
OSHA Gives Final Rule on Employer-Paid Personal Protective Equipment
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) this month announced a final rule on employer-paid personal protective equipment (PPE). Under the rule, nearly all PPE will be provided at no cost to the employee. OSHA anticipates the rule will result in more than 21,000 fewer occupational injuries this year. Employers will have six months from date of release to change their PPE policies.  

The proposed rule would have established a uniform requirement that employers pay for all types of PPE required under OSHA standards, except for certain safety-toe shoes and boots, prescription safety eyewear and logging boots. The proposal cited two main justifications for requiring employers to pay for PPE. First, OSHA preliminarily concluded that the OSH Act requires employers to pay for PPE that is necessary for employees to perform their jobs safely. Second, OSHA preliminarily concluded that the proposed rule would enhance compliance with existing PPE requirements in several practical ways, thereby significantly reducing the risk of non-use or misuse of PPE (64 FR 15406-07). The rule appeared in the Nov. 15 Federal Register and is available at www.osha.gov. (Carol Jacobson, carolj@ohanet.org)  

OHA Challenges Appeals Court Ruling on Negligent Credentialing
OHA made an amicus curiae appearance this week in a case appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court. OHA asks the Court to accept the appeal from a lower court ruling that a hospital could be sued for negligent credentialing without a prior finding that malpractice had been committed by a physician. The case, Schelling v. Humphrey, involved a podiatrist who reportedly had a criminal history of theft but was a member of the hospital's medical staff at the time he allegedly injured the plaintiff as a result of substandard care. As part of bankruptcy proceedings involving the podiatrist, the plaintiff received compensation without a finding or admission of negligence.  OHA argues in its amicus curiae brief that a plaintiff should not be permitted to sue a hospital for negligent credentialing until physician malpractice has been adjudicated or stipulated. (Rick Sites, ricks@ohanet.org)  

Hospitals’ Heartbeat
A 2007 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award

Pat West
Payroll Clerk
Trinity Medical Center East
Steubenville
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A look inside Pat’s nomination -
As a veteran employee of Trinity Medical Center East, Pat has consistently shown a dedication to her job and compassion for her fellow man. Pat has worked diligently to advance her abilities within the organization. She started her employment in 1967 as a housekeeper and has assumed more responsibility on a daily basis. She now serves as the payroll clerk for Trinity Medical Center East, which is obviously an extremely critical position for the institution. Pat stands for what is right, exemplifies the highest principles and exhibits this philosophy in her everyday life. Pat is respected and highly regarded by everyone at Trinity Medical Center East. A finer individual would be difficult to find.

Friday, November 30, 2007
Governor Signs Shaken Baby Education Bill
Gov. Ted Strickland today signed Senate Bill 144, sponsored by Sen. Steve Stivers (R-Columbus), legislation that would establish the Shaken Baby Syndrome Education Program within the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

Under the provisions of the bill, ODH will convene a work group of child abuse prevention advocates, infant care experts, hospital maternity unit directors and others to develop educational materials for parents. It requires hospitals that operate maternity units, obstetricians, pediatricians and others to download the materials from the department’s Web site and provide them to new parents. The bill also establishes a tracking system whereby the state can monitor the effectiveness of the educational program and revise materials as needed through data reported by public children’s service agencies. OHA lent its support to the bill, and will work to educate maternity unit directors on the new requirements closer to when the education materials are ready for distribution. (Jeff Klingler, jeffk@ohanet.org)

Hospital Emergency Departments Face Host of New Pressures
The caregivers in hospital emergency departments (EDs) are trained to deal with high pressure situations, and growing patient numbers and stagnant reimbursement are putting them to the test. These factors are making it more of a challenge for hospitals to secure emergency on-call coverage from specialists.

A study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change this month found 73 percent of EDs nationwide reported inadequate on-call coverage by specialist physicians. Total Ohio ED visits hit nearly 5.9 million in 2006 and the rate of ED utilization has increased by close to 10 percent since 2003, growth that could translate into patients being required to wait longer or be transferred to another facility at additional cost. Hospitals recognize the impact on patients and strive to find creative ways to secure adequate on-call coverage for the ever-growing caseload in their EDs such as adding physicians to hospital staffs or offering additional reimbursement for on-call duty.

Inadequate reimbursement – both for physician specialists and for hospitals – further jeopardizes on-call coverage and ultimately patients’ health and costs. The state this month unexpectedly revoked a planned increase in the reimbursement hospitals and physicians receive for treating Medicaid patients. Learn more about this issue in OHA complete November HealthBeat at www.ohanet.org/healthbeat/2007/1107.htm.

Hospitals’ Heartbeat
A 2007 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award

Jaime Truax, MPT
Physical Therapist
Trinity Medical Center West
Steubenville
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A look inside Jaime’s nomination -
As a member of the Physical Rehabilitation Department, Jamie demonstrates a caring and professional work ethic. She has served the department as a therapist for over six years and has consistently offered assistance when needed. Her selfless service demonstrates her willingness to provide the best patient care possible when leading by example. Jamie has acquired her master’s degree while working full time at Trinity Medical Center West.  She also serves on a variety of hospital committees such as the Employee Satisfaction Team and is the department’s Continual Quality Improvement presenter. Jamie’s work ethic and values are appreciated by her co-workers and patients. She always supports her co-workers and her department with a caring demeanor. Every day, Jamie embodies the values of Trinity Health System; Service, Reverence and Stewardship.