Please note: This is an internal Advocate Aurora Health newsletter and safe to open. |
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In this issue
- COVID-19 Vaccine
- CI Program
- EpicCare Link
- Hyperkalemia Study Survey
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Preparing for a Successful Year |
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Don Calcagno, SVP, Population Health & Managed Care | President, APP
Carrie Nelson, MD, System VP/CMO Population Health and Health Outcomes | Chief Clinical Officer, APP
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With 2020 in the rearview mirror, we look forward to brighter days ahead with the promise the vaccine brings to ending this pandemic. Thank you for your resilience and hard work last year amidst the many challenges we faced. You proved time and time again that we can accomplish anything when we band together as a virtual medical group. |
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As we shift our focus to 2021, there are several way individual physicians and PHOs can help drive performance that improves quality for our patients and rewards our clinicians for their hard work. It’s your important work that builds the APP Single Incentive Fund.
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Message from the President & CEO |
View this video message from Jim Skogsbergh for a special look back at 2020 and an update on COVID-19.
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Patient vaccinations underway
This week, and in alignment with the launch of Phase 1B, we started vaccinating our patients. We are prioritizing patients who are 65 or over and have risk factors that make them the most vulnerable. Eligible patients are being contacted by email, text or phone call when it’s their turn to schedule their vaccination at any of our hospitals and other select locations. Patients should not call our vaccine clinic locations or their doctor’s office to try and schedule. We continue to invite eligible 1A health care workers as vaccine supply is available.
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Communicating with patients about the vaccine
We know you are fielding many questions from patients about the COVID-19 vaccine. Please keep these resources handy and check the COVID-19 Information Center for updates to help you explain our vaccination process and prioritization plan:
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Patient-facing office staff vaccine invitations and scheduling
Invitations have been sent to all patient-facing office staff you have requested to receive them. We understand that scheduling may be a bit challenging due to varying appointment availability.
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Action requested: Please ask your staff who have received vaccine invitations and who have not yet scheduled their first vaccine dose in Live Well/My Advocate Aurora to check the schedule often before Feb. 1 for open appointment slots. They may find more availability in the North Illinois PSA due to how vaccine supply is being allotted to counties. They may schedule at any Advocate hospital with availability. Please note that the authorization code in the vaccine invitation will expire on Feb. 1. If your staff has already scheduled their first or second dose, they are not impacted by the code expiring.
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Reminder – Do not share vaccine appointment codes. These codes are not transferrable and should not be shared. If someone other than the invited recipient attempts to schedule, the appointment will be canceled. In addition, this reduces appointment availability for our eligible patients age 65 and older to schedule.
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Please note for Sherman PHO: The code for APP patient-facing staff in the Sherman PHO has been deactivated due to it being shared outside the Advocate system. APP physicians in the Sherman PHO who have patient-facing office staff who have received an invitation but have not yet scheduled their vaccine appointment should email [email protected] with their name, office name, APP physician’s name and preferred email address by Feb 1. We will follow up with next steps for these individuals.
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Co-administration with other vaccines
Due to the lack of data on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines administered simultaneously with other vaccines, Advocate Aurora is following CDC guidance to administer the COVID-19 vaccine series alone with a minimum of 14 days before or after administration of any other vaccine when possible. Here's what you need to know/do:
- Please withhold routine vaccinations until 2 weeks after patients receive their COVID vaccination series whenever possible.
- Do not delay COVID-19 vaccinations or other vaccinations in this 2-week window if the presumed benefits outweigh the unknown risks of vaccine co-administration.
- If patients have inadvertently received another vaccine within the prior 2-week period, do not delay COVID-19 vaccination. Patients may proceed with scheduling.
- If COVID-19 vaccines are administered within 14 days of another vaccine, doses do not need to be repeated for either vaccine.
- Through the APP CI program and other initiatives, it is important to evaluate your specific patient needs to ensure they are receiving necessary care and vaccinations to keep them healthy and safe.
- When a decision is made to delay routine vaccination, ensure staff reschedules them for optimal protection for our patients as well as to support quality goals.
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Patient questions on vaccine safety and efficacy |
Questions continue on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. Check out this new infographic to help you address patient questions or concerns.
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Monoclonal infusion services available
Monoclonal antibody infusions are available at locations throughout Advocate Aurora Health. Please review patient eligibility criteria and important patient information, including Illinois location options. Please see the COVID-19 Information Center for referral process, quick start guide, and site map.
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Elective surgeries update
As COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to decline across our system, many of our sites are increasing inpatient elective surgeries and procedures based on their local site and PSA dynamics and in accordance with their ability to adhere to our Safe Care Promise. These decisions are being made and implemented at the site level.
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Convenience testing
COVID-19 testing is available to all Advocate Aurora team members, physicians and APCs (including APP physicians), regardless of symptoms or exposure. Call Employee Health at 1-855-663-4327 to schedule. Calls are accepted from 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Results will be available on the Live Well app 24 hours after the test is completed. Testing will be available at ACL locations.
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SafeCheck screening app
SafeCheck identifies COVID-positive team members and physicians and prevents potential exposures. This is now live at South Suburban, in addition these other IL hospitals: Condell, Good Samaritan, Good Shepherd, Lutheran, Sherman, Trinity.
Prepare to use SafeCheck by viewing the FAQ and instructions, and download the app via the Apple Store or Google Play. Providers without an aah.org email address can register as a new user with their preferred email address.
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Clinical Integration Program |
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New this year: Rolling 12-month measurement period
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Background: This year, APP will begin calculating Cerner registry and HEDIS measures in a “rolling 12-month” measurement period. The rolling 12-month measurement period calculates measure performance by looking backward to the previous 365 days. This new approach to view patient data will not impact your 2021 incentive and will align with the industry standard and payer measurements.
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What this means for you: Patients will only appear as unmet for a measure when they are due for services. Resources will focus on regularly running unmet patient lists to identify patients due for services for better efficiency instead of showing all unmet patients with future due dates.
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For more information and examples, read more.
Updates and reminders
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Review this week's update
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Visit the Introducing CI 2021 page on APP Pro
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Simplified electronic appeals submission process available with user guide. Appeals can be submitted online for the 2020 program year between Feb. 21 – Mar. 12.
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EpicCare Link: What you need to know |
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EpicCare Link (ECL) is your tool for all referrals to Advocate Aurora and APP physicians and to review claims and enrollment for patients in HMO managed care plans and to contact the APP Resolution Center.
Important Updates & Reminders
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New prompt: When you contact the APP Resolution Center (847-298-000), you can now select option 4 – for issues regarding ECL access or login assistance.
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Who to contact: Reach out to your Field Operations Advisor directly if you are experiencing ECL issues as they will log tickets with the Help Desk on your behalf. Please note the Customer Service (CRM) function in ECL routes messages to the APP Resolution Center and not to your FOA.
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Customer service (CRM): You can now attach documents when sending a message.
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Managed care referrals update: There has been an update to the required fields for referrals for Radiology Services only. For Radiology Services referrals going forward, the Referred To Location will be required instead of the Referred To Provider for referrals sent to Advocate Aurora Health. The Referred To Provider will be still required for all referrals sent to non-Advocate Aurora Health facilities. This change will make it easier for your practice to complete these referrals as you may often not know the name of the provider who will be reading an image.
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Signed order: An order for outpatient hospital services must be signed by the ordering physician in order to be valid. This function was previously achieved by electronic signature in ERMA, but this function is not currently available in ECL. Please scan a signed order and attach to the referral in ECL.
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New webinars: Access these recordings under Quick Links in ECL:
- Part 1: ECL Managed Care Overview
- Part 2: Example of a Common Referral Type—Surgery/Procedure
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Feedback needed: Hyperkalemia study survey |
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It’s not uncommon for patients to have surgery delayed or cancelled due to hyperkalemia. As part of an upcoming study, “The Impact of Hyperkalemia within the Hospital Setting,” Douglas Slakey, MD, Chief of Surgical Services at Advocate Christ Medical Center, and team are conducting a survey about hyperkalemia in the immediate pre-operative period and in the emergency department.
- Survey participants: Physicians and APCs in surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, internal medicine, family medicine and nephrology.
- Timing: Now through Feb. 28
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CRA Education Series: Live sessions begin soon
Complete and accurate documentation of chronic conditions, known as Clinical Risk Adjustment, ensures we close care gaps and are reimbursed for the care we provide. Check out this education series developed to support you in this work. View courses.
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Cryoprecipitate “Cryo” drug shortage
Currently there is a nationwide shortage of cryoprecipitate, “cryo,” which is a plasma-derived blood product used to restore fibrinogen levels during cases of acquired bleeding. Fibryga is the preferred alternative fibrinogen concentrate product currently on formulary.
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Patient outreach
We continually conduct patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close care gaps, including cervical cancer screening and asthma control mailers. Learn more.
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Chicago Children’s Health Alliance (CCHA) update
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Research that is changing lives
View the international, PubMed-indexed Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews; a quarterly, peer-reviewed medical journal published by Advocate Aurora, devoted to advancing patient-centered care practices, health outcomes and patient experiences.
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The community groups working to eradicate Chicago’s food desert problems. Tony Hampton, MD, regional medical director and physician at the Advocate Outpatient Center in Beverly, discusses the barriers to better healthy living and the Advocate Trinity’s Food Farmacy program. Read article.
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In-school learning and vaccinations. Dr. Robert Citronberg, executive medical director of infectious disease and prevention at Advocate Aurora, discusses the safety of reopening schools and progress on vaccinations for COVID-19. View TV coverage
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Continuing Medical Education |
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CME Website: Webinars & Recordings |
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