November Health Observances

National Diabetes Month

Over 38 million people in the U.S. are living with diabetes. Early intervention makes a vital difference in patient outcomes. This November, the American Diabetes Association is leading the charge in diabetes awareness and education. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in screening, management, and connecting patients with essential resources. Visit diabetes.org/adm for provider toolkits, patient education materials, and the latest clinical practice recommendations from the American Diabetes Association.

National Family Caregivers Month

National Family Caregivers Month: This November recognizes the 53 million family caregivers who provide around-the-clock care to loved ones across America, contributing care valued at over $470 billion annually. Consider screening your patients to identify those who are caregivers, as they often neglect their own health while caring for others. Visit NCOA's website for resources to help support the caregivers in your community.

Great American Smokeout | November 21

The annual Great American Smokeout on November 21 encourages tobacco users to take the first step toward quitting. With tobacco use remaining the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., healthcare providers can make a significant impact by starting conversations about quitting. The IPRO QIN-QIO #AskAboutQuitting campaign provides tools and resources to support these vital discussions. Visit our website for cessation resources and campaign materials.

Opioids, Pain Management & Behavioral Health

Shatterproof's Free CEU Program for SUD Care

Shatterproof, a national nonprofit addressing the addiction health crisis, has launched Provider's Pathway, a self-paced e-learning curriculum focused on substance use disorder (SUD) care. The program teaches healthcare professionals effective strategies for creating non-stigmatizing environments while exploring the critical intersections of SUD, stigma, and social determinants of health in clinical practice.

Medical Doctors, DOs, PAs, Nurse Practitioners, and APRNs working in the U.S. can earn free continuing education units that satisfy MATE Act requirements. Enroll at https://tinyurl.com/ProvidersPathway or to learn how you can share Provider’s Pathway with healthcare professionals in your network, contact providerspathway@shatterproof.org.

Understanding Buprenorphine: A Treatment Option for Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects over 50 million U.S. adults, significantly impacting daily life, sleep, mental health, and relationships. Many patients face stigma when seeking treatment, with others questioning their pain's legitimacy or their motives for seeking medication.

For those with moderate to severe chronic pain, buprenorphine can be an effective treatment option when patients work closely with their healthcare providers to develop an appropriate management plan.

IPRO QIN-QIO has developed a comprehensive patient guide to help facilitate informed discussions between patients and their healthcare providers about buprenorphine as a treatment option. This resource aims to support collaborative decision-making for chronic pain management.

Quality Management Infrastructure: Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness Resources for Healthcare Teams

As extreme weather events become more frequent, healthcare professionals need quick access to reliable emergency response resources. The CDC provides essential tools to help our healthcare community prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, including:

• Clinical guidelines and protocols
• Emergency response playbooks
• Crisis communication toolkits
• Laboratory emergency protocols
• Volunteer training materials

These resources are designed for clinicians, emergency responders, laboratory staff, communicators, and disaster relief volunteers. Having these tools ready before an emergency is crucial for effective response. Visit the CDC's Emergency Preparedness Resource Page today.

Tip: Bookmark these resources and review them quarterly with your team.

Prevention, Management, and Care Coordination

Sepsis Survival: From First Responder to Patient

Sepsis affects 1.7 million U.S. adults annually, with nearly 350,000 deaths. Behind these statistics is Josh Woodward, a 33-year-old firefighter who lost both an arm and leg to sepsis. In IPRO's new Surviving Sepsis video podcast series, Josh and his wife Chelsea share invaluable insights about sepsis progression, early warning signs, and their journey to recovery.

Watch or listen to strengthen your understanding of sepsis through their powerful firsthand account. Share with your care teams to enhance sepsis recognition and response.

For comprehensive sepsis prevention resources, visit IPRO QIN-QIO's #STOPSepsisNow campaign page.

Immunization

Protecting Patients with Diabetes: Key Vaccinations

As we recognize National Diabetes Awareness Month, it's a great time to review vaccination protocols for patients with diabetes. Individuals with diabetes face unique challenges as elevated blood glucose levels can compromise immune system function, making preventive care especially critical. Annual influenza vaccination (ideally in September), pneumococcal vaccines, and RSV vaccination for those 60+ are recommended.

Additional recommended immunizations include Tdap, Hepatitis B series, shingles, and COVID-19 vaccines. Most vaccines are covered by Medicare Part B and private insurance with minimal cost-sharing. Learn more and access resources at diabetes.org/about-diabetes/vaccinations

Healthy Equity

IPRO QIN-QIO has developed a comprehensive Health Equity Action Framework to help healthcare organizations systematically identify and address health disparities in their communities. This practical tool guides organizations through a structured process to create more equitable care delivery systems.

The Framework provides 15 actionable steps that help organizations:

• Identify existing health disparities
• Determine which populations are most affected
• Select evidence-based interventions
• Measure and track progress
• Anticipate and address potential barriers

This systematic approach enables healthcare providers to better understand and address both health disparities and unmet health-related social needs in their patient populations, ultimately working toward more equitable health outcomes for all.

Enhance Your Root Cause Analysis Skills with IPRO Learn

Explore IPRO Learn's essential Root Cause Analysis (RCA) course, based on national patient safety standards. This interactive module offers strategies to identify and investigate adverse events, disclose them to patients/families, and support involved staff. Learn to conduct RCAs, implement changes, and prevent future incidents. Ideal for those new to quality improvement. Get started!

Need help? Get step-by-step instructions to create a personalized account in IPRO Learn.