Alabama | Indiana | Kentucky | Mississippi | Tennessee
August 2018
Rural Mississippi Community Empowers Pharmacists and Reduces Hospital Readmissions
People with complex medication routines who are admitted to the hospital are at a higher risk for readmission due to several factors, including gaps in the continuity of care. Care transitions can be difficult and as patients transition from the hospital setting to home, they are particularly vulnerable to medical error, especially to adverse drug events (ADEs). 

Three Rivers Community Coalition in northeast Mississippi saw this as an opportunity for improvement in their rural community. Working with atom Alliance quality improvement advisors and the local hospital, the Coalition implemented pharmacy-directed transitional care in 2013. As a result, the rate of hospital readmissions for patients receiving this intervention has dropped from 26 percent to about 10 percent in five years.
Featured Resource
Be Antibiotics Aware Word Search for Patients
This word game was designed for patients to complete while waiting to see their healthcare provider. It encourages patients to learn more about antibiotics and how they can avoid unnecessary prescriptions. The game also has a glossary on the back page to educate patients on the antibiotic-related terms.
Former Smoker Contributes Success
to QuitLine
Jeffrey Rickman of Dyersburg, Tenn., is just one of thousands who used the Tobacco QuitLine for assistance in quitting his smoking habit. Some can’t kick the habit. Others do by following the same assistance Rickman used.

The 45-year-old called 1-800-QUIT-NOW after a visit to a hospital for a medical appointment where he saw a brochure for the service.
According to  data gathered  by the  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services  (CMS), seven percent of people with Medicare are blind or have low vision, and nearly 15 percent are Deaf or hard of hearing.

Like those with limited English proficiency, the Deaf and blind require specific treatment to ensure they can properly communicate with providers and receive quality healthcare.
man in wheelchair
Patients trust you to give them the best counsel on how to protect their health. You know that immunization is an important preventive measure – but it’s unlikely that getting vaccinated is on the radar for your adult patients.

Your strong recommendation is critical in ensuring that they get the vaccines they need to help them stay healthy.

Featured Learning Opportunity
Early Recognition and Management of Sepsis
for Long-Term Care
Guest speaker Angela Craig leads an in-depth, on-demand training series on sepsis for long-term care staff. She is an experienced ICU Clinical Nurse Specialist at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Tennessee where she leads their sepsis program. She has critical experience in caring for sepsis patients and developing and implementing sepsis protocols.
Beginning August 16, join Angela for live virtual workshops to address your questions after you’ve watched each session online at your convenience. Workshops will be every two weeks for one hour. Angela will answer questions, clarify key takeaways from the sessions and direct you to more resources for your sepsis program.
Upcoming Events
August 14

Performance Feedback and Targeted Review Office Hours Session
If you participated in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2017, your MIPS final score and performance feedback are now available for review on the Quality Payment Program website.
August 14
Getting to the “Heart” of Influenza
Learn about the relationship between influenza and cardiovascular disease with a strong focus on improvement strategies targeting both the cardiovascular patient population and the agency staff.
August 14
and
August 16



How to Maximize your EHR Use in MIPS: Advice for Solo and Small Group Practices
Using your Electronic Health Records system to its fullest potential can help streamline your processes, maximize time and resources, and assist in achieving a better MIPS score. (Offered twice)
Tuesday, August 14

Thursday, August 16
August 22
Community Action Network Virtual Meeting
This new group for community coalition members aims to improve the coordination of healthcare and decrease preventable hospital re-admissions by sharing ideas across state lines.
August 29
Reducing Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing in Outpatient Settings using Behavioral Interventions
During this webinar participants will hear from guest speaker Dr. Daniella Meeker about interventions designed to improve care decisions, without limiting the choices available to physicians.
View our  upcoming atom webinars  page and our  calendar  page for more details.
Featured On-Demand Learning Opportunity
Streamlining Care for Sickle Cell Pain in the Adult Emergency Department
This video features Dr. Patricia Kavanagh, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine/Boston Medical Center addressing acute pain management in Sickle Cell patients who present to the emergency department (ED).
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This material was prepared by atom Alliance, the Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO), coordinated by Qsource for Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Mississippi and Alabama, under a contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Content presented does not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 18.A1.05.037