| brought to you by the Home Health Quality Improvement (HHQI) National Campaign |
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Happy Home Care & Hospice Month!
Each month, the healthcare industry spotlights a variety of health-related topics to heighten awareness, increase education, or recognize the contributions of professional groups. In November, we celebrate the following observances:
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To help your organization promote these observances, the Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign (HHQI) offers an abundance of tools & resources, educational videos & webinars, and online courses with continuing education credits at no cost or obligation to you.
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New HHQI University CE Course
Creating Dementia-Capable Systems of Healthcare
 One out of 10 people age 65 or older in the United States has Alzheimer's Disease, which is more than 5 million Americans. These numbers are expected to increase as the Baby Boomer generation ages, making the creation of dementia-capable systems of healthcare a high priority. Is your organization prepared?
During this course, you will watch the October 2017 Underserved Populations (UP) Network webinar featuring guest expert Debra Cherry, Executive Vice President of Alzheimer's Greater Los Angeles. D
uring the webinar, Ms. Cherry suggests how your organization and clinicians can improve the care of de
mentia patients in the community setting using components from the Dementia Cal MediConnect Project that her organization found to be successful. Indicators, barriers, and strategies to improve the dementia care provided by your organization are also discussed.
Free Continuing Education Credit for Nurses & Social Workers
This activity has been approved for 1.5 hours of continuing education (CE) credit by the Alabama State Nurses Association, an accredited approver of nursing continuing education through the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). Additionally, 1.5 hours of CE credit for social workers has been approved by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Continuing education credits for this activity will be valid through October 19, 2019. To receive CE credit, participants must watch the 60-minute webinar and enroll in the corresponding course located in HHQI University's Underserved Populations course catalog to complete the post-test and evaluation. Step-by-step enrollment instructions are discussed at the end of the webinar.
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November 2017 HHQI Agency of the Month
 This month, HHQI recognizes
Saint Francis at Home in Newark, Delaware for their dedication to improving home health care quality.
Home health agencies that are active in the HHQI National Campaign and closest to the
national, r
isk-adjusted ACH 20th percentile and/or the national, risk-adjusted Oral Medication Improvement 80th percentile (or better) are eligible for random selection as HHQI Agency of the Month.
Be in the spotlight.
Nominate your agency today
, and if you are selected, your organization will be prominently featured here in HHQI Inside Edition -- which reaches nearly 14,000 subscribers -- and on the HHQI website. Your achievement will also be shared via HHQI's social media channels.
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Two More Agencies Achieve Cardio Milestone 5
 More than 2,400 home health agencies are participating in HHQI's
Cardio Milestones program
. However, only four have achieved the final milestone to date. HHQI would like to congratulate the latest Cardio Milestone 5 agencies -- Covenant HomeCare (Knoxville, Tennessee) and South Nassau Communities Hospital Home Health Care (Oceanside, New York) -- for this outstanding accomplishment!
If improving your patients' cardiovascular health is a priority at your agency, HHQI can provide the resources and assistance you need to make your efforts successful. Our Cardio Milestones program provides a roadmap to achieving measurable improvement in the cardiovascular health of your patient population. This information can simultaneously be used for QAPI development. For more ideas, see HHQI's free Cardiovascular Health Performance Improvement Project (PIP) tool.
You'll automatically achieve Cardio Milestone 1 when you join HHQI's Progressive Cardiovascular Learning & Action Network (CardioLAN). Participation in the CardioLAN provides increased support from HHQI and networking opportunities through specialized quarterly webinars. Learn more about the CardioLAN.
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Change Coming to the HHCDR Cholesterol Measure
Beginning with the January 2018 discharged episodes, the Home Health Cardiovascular Data Registry (HHCDR) Cholesterol Measure will be modified. This change will be reflected in the HHCDR on March 15, 2018.
Subscribe to HHQI's Data Access mailing list for the latest news and updates related to HHQI's free monthly data reports customized for your agency.
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Your Input is Needed! What's on your Webinar Wishlist?
The Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign (HHQI) values your input to help us get our resources and information in front of more home health and quality improvement professionals like you. This month, we want to know:
What webinar would you like to attend more than any other?
What topics, formats, presenters, etc. would constitute a "can't miss" webinar?
Please
send us a quick email
to let us know.
And no, we're not (necessarily) looking to hear repeats of some of our great classic
HHQI webinars, but we'll take that feedback too.
We just want to know what you want to hear about so we can provide it for you and the thousands of dedicated home health professionals we are proud to serve. Thank you in advance for your time. We value your input and would appreciate hearing from you!
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Save the Dates
'Third Thursdays' Event Schedule
Home health professionals are busy. Now, there's an understatement. In order to make the most of your limited time, HHQI's three primary online Networking events -- LiveChat, Cardiovascular Learning & Action Network (CardioLAN) webinars, and Underserved Populations (UP) webinars -- will
each be held quarterly.
Events will rotate to always begin at
2pm (ET) on the third Thursday of the month (with the exception of the December event).
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OCTOBER 19
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JANUARY 18
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APRIL 19
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LiveChats
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NOVEMBER 16
(details below)
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FEBRUARY 15
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MAY 17
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| CardioLAN Webinars |
DECEMBER 14
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MARCH 15
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JUNE 21 |
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Quarterly Networking Event | November 16, 2017 | 2-3pm ET
Get Answers to Your Home Health Questions
 Networking regularly with other home health professionals can fast-track your quality improvement efforts. No matter what challenge your agency is facing, there's a good chance that another agency can offer some valuable first-hand insight. HHQI's quarterly LiveChats are an excellent opportunity to connect and learn what worked -- and what didn't work -- for other agencies when they were in a similar situation.
LiveChat is similar to an online chat room. There is no audio. You will type to ask questions and share your knowledge. It's a fun, casual way to learn from each others' experiences. You can also email your questions to us ahead of time to be addressed during the event.
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Improving Disease Management
In recognition of American Diabetes Month and Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month,
the November 2017 issue of QIO News
looks at innovative approaches to disease self-management; reducing antipsychotics in dementia care and nursing homes; and
improving caregiver and community support. There is also a preview of the 2018 CMS Quality Conference.
In the
Q&A with Sue Fleck,
CMS' subject matter expert for the E
veryone with Diabetes Counts (EDC) program provides an update on the QIO Program's work in the area of diabetes care.
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CMS releases draft of CoP Interpretive Guidelines
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released draft interpretive guidelines for its new Home Health Conditions of Participation (CoP) currently schedule to go into effect January 13, 2018. CMS has asked select groups directly for feedback on the draft of the interpretive guidelines, with comments due by November 15. The agency has previously stated it will likely release the finalized interpretive guidelines in December.
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CMS finalizes Home Health Payment Rule without HHGM
On November 1, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule for the home health care prospective payment system (PPS) 2018 update without finalizing HHGM, which was proposed to be implemented in 2019. Read the fact sheet.
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Million Hearts Names 2017 Hypertension Control Champs
 Million Hearts
®
has recognized 24 health care professionals, practices, and systems as 2017 Hypertension Control Champions. In their work, these Champions were able to achieve blood pressure control for at least 70% of their adult patients with hypertension. Together, the 2017 Champions cared for more than 1.2 million adults and represented a range of small and large health practices and systems. Visit the Million Hearts® website for a full list of the 2017 Hypertension Control Champions.
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Upcoming Industry Webinars, Courses & Other Events
DATE & TIME
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EVENT NAME/REGISTRATION
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HOSTED/PRESENTED BY
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November 13, 2017
3-4pm ET
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National Rural Health Week Twitter Chat: Rural Health Workforce
To follow or participate, use the hashtag
#OurRural
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Co-moderated by Bureau of Health Workforce & Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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November 14, 2017
3-4pm ET
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National Rural Health Week Twitter Chat: Social Determinants of Health
To follow or participate, use the hashtag #OurRural
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Co-moderated by Office of Women's Health & Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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November 14, 2017
3:30-4:30pm ET
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Bureau of Health Workforce |
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November 15, 2017
1:30-3pm ET
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Rural Health Information Hub; presenters from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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November 15, 2017
3-4pm ET
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National Rural Health Week Twitter Chat: Behavioral Health
To follow or participate, use the hashtag
#OurRural
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Co-moderated by Office of Regional Operations (Region 8) & Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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November 16, 2017
9:30am-3pm ET
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Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
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November 16, 2017
6pm ET
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Living with Diabetes: Ask the Experts
Introduction to Getting Active |
American Diabetes Association |
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On-demand
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The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion & Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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| On-demand |
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Johns Hopkins University |
| On-demand |
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Centers for Technical Assistance and Training in Emory's Rollins School of Public Health
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| On-demand |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| On-demand |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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| On-demand |
free registration required
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Medscape
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| On-demand |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| On-demand |
Open School*
More than 30 online courses in quality, safety, leadership, the Triple Aim, and patient-centered care
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Institute for Healthcare Improvement |
On-demand
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Open Door Forums audio podcasts
If you missed the original live event, you can listen to the recording here
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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| On-demand |
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CDC-NDEP |
*Continuing education credit is included, available, or pending.
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| This material was prepared by Quality Insights, the Medicare Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization supporting the Home Health Quality Improvement National Campaign, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The views presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. Publication number 11SOW-WV-HH-MMD-110917 |
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