Plan, Do, Study, Act

The Hospital & Clinics Program team at the Colorado Rural Health Center can assist providers by teaching them the PDSA Cycle, which is used to test and implement changes for improvement. For more information on having this study conducted at your facility please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org

CMS Provider Education Resources

Please click here  for a list of CMS Provider Education Resources updated on September 28, 2011.  Education Makes the Difference!!

Do you have a healthcare provider at your facility who is interested in loan repayment?

 Let them know that the Colorado Rural Outreach Program (CROP) Loan Repayment Program fall 2011 application cycle is opening in October. The application cycle is open from October 1, 2011 to October 31, 2011.  CROP is a grant applied to by a healthcare facility on behalf of a healthcare clinician:

Eligibility requirements for facilities

Public, non-profit or private healthcare facility.

• Located in a designated rural county.
• Ability to contribute a monetary award: Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) will “match” this award amount up to $10,000, making the total amount awarded to the clinician $20,000. Award may be funded through other avenues in the community, e.g., a local business, community college, fundraiser, etc.
• Retention grant - facility may apply for CROP on behalf of a clinician already employed.
• Recruitment grant – facility may apply for CROP to assist in recruitment by guaranteeing loan repayment.
• Award may be used for a different financial incentive to a clinician if they do not have loan debt, e.g., a bonus or other community request.

Eligibility requirements for healthcare providers

 Any clinician providing medical, dental or mental healthcare. Must be providing direct patient care.

 Clinician may be employed at facility or be in the process of being hired, Facility may re-apply for same clinician for up to three years. Facility may apply for more than one clinician, but preference will be given to only one applicant.  Awardees will be notified four weeks after application cycle closes.

 Please download the application packet and coversheet. Please complete and save the coversheet in Microsoft Word. You may submit your application via e-mail or postal mail. If submitting via e-mail, please make the narrative and all attachments ONE inclusive document. The coversheet may be separate. Please send your CROP application to:

 Attn: Grants Manager

Colorado Rural Health Center

3033 S. Parker Rd., Suite 606

Aurora, CO 80014

http://www.blogger.com/rp@coruralhealth.org

Main: 303.407.2031

Fax: 303.832.7496

www.coruralhealth.org/programs/loanrepayment/crop.htm

CRHC/AHEC Webinar: Recent Federal Proposals

October 4, 2011, 2:00-3:00 MST
The White House proposal that was released recently calls for reducing the nation’s debt by $3 trillion over the next ten years. The deficit reduction plan puts forth significant reductions in Medicare and Medicaid spending that will drastically impact rural healthcare providers and communities, including lowering CAH reimbursement, eliminating CAH designation for any facility within 10 miles of another hospital, reducing the Medicare bad debt payments for PPS hospitals, lowering the federal matching rate for Medicaid to the states, and reducing the Medicaid Hospital Provider Fee. Read NRHA's response to the White House proposal. As Congress moves forward with deficit reduction activities in the coming weeks, this proposal will be under consideration. Members of Congress need to hear from their constituents about the impact these cuts will have on rural providers and access to care in rural communities. CRHC, in partnership with the Area Health Education Centers, will be hosting a webinar on October 4 from 2:00-3:00 pm to discuss these proposals and provide information and resources for communicating with your elected officials. Click here to register for the webinar. Please contact Jen Dunn or Sara Schmitt with questions.

Diabetes Update - Learning Collaborative Webinar Event

Friday October 7th at 10:30AM (CT)

 

Diabetes Update - Learning Collaborative Webinar Event with Dr. Maria Collazo-Clavell Consultant, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism & Nutrition at Mayo Clinic Assistant Professor at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

 

Diabetes affects 25 million Americans at a total cost of $174 billion. In addition to diabetes-related complications and premature death, people with diabetes have medical expenditures approximately 2.3 times higher than those without diabetes. In this diabetes update we will share the latest recommendations for managing type 2 diabetes and:

• Discuss recent controversies surrounding DM2 management
• Identify HgbA1c, blood pressure and lipid management goals
• List third treatment options when metformin and sulfonylurea are insufficient
• Describe the role of incretin therapy in DM2 management

 

Register >>

Annual CRHC CAH Workshop

November 3-4, 2011
CRHC’s Annual CAH Workshop (formerly the CRHC CAH Advisory Council Meeting) will take place on November 3-4, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center. This meeting is geared towards CAH CEO’s, CFO’s, and Quality Directors and all CAHs are invited to attend. This annual meeting provides participants the opportunity to discuss key accomplishments and goals, get updates on issues affecting Colorado’s CAHs, and provide input on CRHC’s programs and services for CAHs. This year’s agenda includes Roundtable Discussion, Cost Reporting, QI Process Mapping, Policy and Legislative Update, CAH Roles in Building Healthy Communities, and CAH Strategic Priorities. There is no fee for CAH staff to attend. CRHC will pay for one night’s lodging for three staff from each CAH and up to $150 in mileage reimbursement per CAH. For more information and to register, click here.

CRHC Regional CAH Board Workshops: "Connecting with the Community: The Board's Trusteeship Role"

• October 6, 4:00pm-7:30pm – Grand Junction, CO
• October 10, 4:00pm-7:30pm – Yuma, CO
• October 11, 4:00pm-7:30pm – Walsenburg, CO

The CRHC is pleased to present three regional workshops with Charney Associates’ board and governance expert and CEO, Bill Charney. For more information and to register, click here.

QHi Benchmarking Tool - Back to Basics Webinar

October 5, 2:00 to 3:00 CST
The next Back to Basics Review of the Quality Health Indicator project website, QHi will be on October 5. QHi is a web-based benchmarking tool for CAHs and rural hospitals under 50 beds. During this review QHi will walk through the basics of adding users, selecting measures, entering data and running reports through the system. This webinar is geared towards those new to or interested in the system or those in need of a refresher. QHi is available at no charge to all Colorado CAHs. For more information, please contact Jen Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org.

Partnership for Patients Webinars!

The National Quality Forum is hosting the final two webinar in its series on patient safety:

• September 28 – Obstetrical Adverse Events: During this webinar, thought leaders will discuss the goal set for hospitals to reduce 30% of preventable obstetrical adverse effects.
• October 5- AvertingVenous Thromboembolism (VTE) and Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI): In this session, the thought leaders will discuss the goal set for hospitals to reduce 50% of preventable VTE’s by 2013.

Go to the this site to register for an upcoming webinar or watch an archived webinar:

Wish you had more time and expertise in grant writing to access funding?

We offer a grant writing program available to rural individuals, groups, organizations, and communities to help ensure that comprehensive affordable, high-quality healthcare services are available at the local level in the state of Colorado. Our menu of options includes everything from a complete grant writing package, to services such as budget development, letter of intent preparation, or customized workshops.  For more information please contact Erica Petramala at ep@coruralhealth.org

Alert! Medicare eRx Payment Adjustment - November 1, 2011 Deadline Approaching

Eligible professionals and group practices should determine if they are subject to the 2012 eRx payment adjustment by reviewing the MLN Article SE1107 . If you believe that you may be subject to the 2012 eRx payment adjustment, you should determine if you meet any of the hardship exemption categories specified by CMS in the 2011 Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Final Rule. A Quick Reference Guide is available to help you understand the changes that the eRx Final Rule made to the 2011 Medicare eRx Incentive Program. As a result of changes to the program, eligible professionals and group practices have until November 1, 2011 to submit a significant hardship exemption request and rationale. Individual eligible professionals must submit their hardship exemption requests through the Quality Communications Support Page and group practices participating under the group practice reporting option (GPRO) must submit hardship exemption requests via a letter to CMS. Additional information and resources are available at www.cms.gov/erxincentive.

Reminder: Registration is NOW open - Agency for Healthcare Rearch

Reminder: Registration is NOW open for data submission to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database. If you have already registered, please take the time to complete your data submission.
First, please take a few minutes to view our submission instructional video for details on registering and submitting your medical office data to the submission system here.   Medical offices that have administered the AHRQ survey can now voluntarily submit their data to the Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database, which is open September 15 to October 15, 2011 for registration and data submission. Medical offices, health systems, or vendors in the United States that have already completed administration of the AHRQ Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture and are prepared to submit their data by October 15, 2011 are eligible.
This database is a central repository for survey data from medical offices, health systems, or survey vendors that have administered the AHRQ medical office survey instrument. One of the purposes of the database is to produce comparative results to help medical offices identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in their patient safety culture. Comparative results are reported in the aggregate and do not include any information identifying participating medical offices.

To register, please click here

Approval of Joint Commission's Continued Deeming Authority for CAHs

CMS has issued a notice in the Federal Register announcing its decision to approve the Joint Commission for continued recognition as a national accreditation program for critical access hospitals (CAHs) seeking to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid programs. For more information, click here.

New Issue Focuses on Smoking Cessation Programs

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) announces the September 28 issue of the Health Care Innovations Exchange.   The featured Innovations describe two programs that led to increased use of smoking cessation resources and higher quit rates. The featured QualityTools provide practical approaches for treating tobacco dependence in the clinical setting and for achieving tobacco-free hospitals and health systems.  More innovations and tools related to smoking cessation are available on the Innovations Exchange Web Site, which contains more than 650 searchable innovations and 1,625 searchable QualityTools.
Spotlight:
Systems Change: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence
Based on the Public Health Service (PHS) Clinical Practice Guideline- 2008 Update
Thank you for joining AHRQ’s Health Care Innovations Exchange for a free Web Seminar on Linking Clinical Care and Communities for Improved Prevention on September 1, 2011. Event materials can be found here. New issues of the Innovations Exchange are published biweekly on Wednesdays. Please contact us at info@innovations.ahrq.gov with any questions or comments.

Free Simulation Training Available to CAHs

Through a generous grant from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Work, Education and Lifelong Learning Simulation (WELLS) Center is pleased to offer 4 hours of free simulation training to Colorado’s rural critical access hospitals. The grant includes:

4 hours Onsite Introduction to Simulation, Facilitation and Debriefing- Prepares facilitators on effective use of simulation and reflective thinking in debriefing

Scenario Development

4 Hours Onsite Simulation Training including: Simulation Clinical Coordinator and Simulation Technical Coordinator, 1 mannequin and associated simulation equipment

 Your hospital will only need to provide:

• Simulation training Facilitation and Debrief
• Facility Set Up – Equipment/Supply needs will be determined during scenario development process
• Staff preparation for simulation training: communicate expectations, goals, etc.

 This is a unique opportunity to provide a dynamic training experience for your staff. In addition to training for individual disciplines, think about using simulation for inter-professional simulation training and process/systems review such as the implementation of a rapid response team or new patient safety policies and procedures. Please contact Heidi Miller, Business Specialist, at 720-848-5444 or via email at heidi.miller@uch.edu to schedule your training or if you need more information. Please click here for a listing of services and scenarios as a reference. WELLS Center will work with the educators to customize the scenarios for each facility

Webinar: The Business Side of Quality

October 18, 1:00-2:30This decade will be a time of important choices by most healthcare leaders about their business philosophies and approaches to quality. How organizations manage quality and how high they set the bar will play a significant role in determining critical business outcomes. A hospital can easily satisfy the next survey but financially, operationally and reputationally fail if its quality activities do not support it in practicing up from the rules with the goals of securing relationships, productivity and outcomes where we get it right the first time. During this session, presented by Darlene Bainbridge, we will discuss the business side of quality and taking the next steps in having our quality programs help us to secure stronger futures. Click here to register

CRHC Regional CAH Board Workshops

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) is pleased to present three regional workshops with Charney Associates’ board and governance expert and CEO, Bill Charney. Through these workshops, “Connecting with the Community: The Board’s Trusteeship Role”, participants will gain an understanding of:
Recognizing the community as the "moral owners" of the hospital/district
Two primary components of "linkage": "needs assessment – collecting input for future board activities; "advocacy" – how to convey messages back to the community
Key concepts in demonstrating pro-active leadership
Methods of carrying out these activities including communications through local media, environmental scanning, surveys, meetings with key stakeholders, presentations to board at board meetings, and community presentations

• October 6, 4:00pm-7:30pm – Grand Junction, CO
• October 10, 4:00pm-7:30pm – Yuma, CO
• October 11, 4:00pm-7:30pm – Walsenburg, CO

There is no charge for Colorado CAHs and their Boards to attend. To register, click here

ICD 10 Billing & Coding Live Webinar Rescheduled to September 27th!!!

Important Note: For those of you registered, and for those would like to take advantage of our rescheduled webinar date, the ICD 10 Billing & Coding Webinar has been rescheduled for Tuesday September 27th, 2011 from noon - 3:00 PM.  We will be accepting last minute registration forms thru Monday, September 26th at 2:00pm.  Now is your chance to be proactive and join this interactive & educational webinar to get your practice ready for ICD 10 coming soon!  For questions or to register please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org

Complete CRHC's Policy and Advocacy Survey Today

Complete CRHC's Policy and Advocacy Survey Today

Please inform the Colorado Rural Health Center’s (CRHC) policy & advocacy efforts for 2012 by completing our annual survey. Your feedback is invaluable and will help guide our work. The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete and can be accessed by clicking here. The survey will be open until Friday September 30, 2011. Please complete the survey only once per person. Your responses are greatly appreciated!

Colorado Healthcare Employers:

Don't miss your opportunity to meet experienced healthcare talent in nursing and allied areas at the Connect with Success Healthcare Career Fair & Education Event, Tuesday, October 18th (9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) at the Pueblo Convention Center, sponsored by the Colorado Hospital Association and the National Healthcare Career Network. This event is open to member AND non-member organizations looking to promote their employer brand to the Colorado healthcare community. Booth cost is $399 and space is limited! Reserve your space now. Click here to register.

White House Releases Deficit Reduction Proposal Calling for Medicare, Medicaid Changes – CRHC/AHEC Webinar

October 4 2:00-3:00 MDTThe White House proposal that was released earlier this week calls for reducing the nation’s debt by $3 trillion over the next ten years. The deficit reduction plan puts forth significant reductions in Medicare and Medicaid spending that will drastically impact rural healthcare providers and communities, including lowering Critical Access Hospital (CAH) reimbursement, eliminating CAH designation for any facility within 10 miles of another hospital, reducing the Medicare bad debt payments for PPS hospitals, lowering the federal matching rate for Medicaid to the states, and reducing the Medicaid Hospital Provider Fee. Read NRHA's response to the White House proposal.

As Congress moves forward with deficit reduction activities in the coming weeks, this proposal will be under consideration. Members of Congress need to hear from their constituents about the impact these cuts will have on rural providers and access to care in rural communities. CRHC, in partnership with the Area Health Education Centers, will be hosting a webinar on October 4 from 2:00-3:00 pm to discuss these proposals and provide information and resources for communicating with your elected officials. Click here to register for the webinar. Please contact Jen Dunn or Sara Schmitt with questions.

Vaccinate Early to Protect Against the Flu / 2011-2012 Influenza Vaccine Prices Are Now Available

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a yearly flu vaccination as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Remind your patients that annual vaccination is recommended for optimal protection. Medicare pays for the flu vaccine and its administration for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries with no co-pay or deductible. Take advantage of each office visit and start protecting your patients as soon as your 2011-2012 seasonal flu vaccine arrives. And don’t forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Get the Flu Vaccination – Not the Flu.

Remember – Influenza vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. CMS has posted the 2011-2012 seasonal influenza vaccine payment limits here

Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D-covered drug. For information about Medicare’s coverage of the influenza vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for healthcare professionals and their staff, visit here

340B Peer-to-Peer Webinar Series

The Health Resources Services Administration’s Healthcare Systems Bureau - Office of Pharmacy Affairs is hosting a series of leadership webinars around the 340B Drug Pricing Program. A new community, 340B Peer-to-Peer, has been created in the Healthcare Communities Portal. All 340B eligible and covered entities are encouraged to join this group and to participate in this new innovative technical assistance model. Following is a list of the webinar topics with links to register to participate:

 

• September 28th @ 2:00 pm EST: Medicaid Billing Practices to Ensure Compliance and Increase Revenue - Register
• October 12th @ 2:00 pm EST: Contract Pharmacy Implementation and Integrity - Register
• October 26th @ 2:00 pm EST: Preventing Diversion Systems for Verifying Patient Eligibility - Register
• November 9th @ 2:00 pm EST: Methods to Ensure Program Integrity while Maximizing Inventory Practices in a Mixed-use Setting - Register
• November 30th @ 2:00 pm EST: Creating a Sound Plan for In-House Pharmacy Implementation - Register
• December 14th @ 2:00 pm EST: Designing and Implementing a 340B Formulary including Integration of Sliding Fee Scale and PAP Programs - Register

Looking for a cost effective non-biased peer review service?

Our program offers specialty - matched, confidential, medical opinions from a rural provider, for a rural provider, based on objective review of medical records. The program is a collaborative effort among Colorado's rural providers, and not only provides a cost effective way to manage peer review requirements, but also provides an effective means to improve patient care through identifying opportunities for process improvement.  For more information please contact Jennifer Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org

Connecting Health Education to Service: A Comprehensive Networking Event

October 13, 2011This event, held October 13 at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Campus in Aurora, is an opportunity for your site to directly recruit healthcare professionals and network with Colorado healthcare professional school staff and faculty. This is also an opportunity for healthcare professional students and residents to learn about your site and the options that are available to them in the healthcare safety-net. We hope this opportunity to directly recruit and also network across organizations will stimulate innovative solutions to the workforce issues facing Colorado, specifically, the shortage of primary care healthcare providers in Colorado’s safety-net.
Providers in attendance will include Physician Residents, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, and Dental students as well as other students from different disciplines.
We encourage you to have two to three people from your site, including an administrator or HR personnel and a healthcare provider, attend this event. Please plan to arrive 30-45 minutes early to set up your booth. Travel reimbursement is available for organizations with staff travelling over 50 miles.
Contact Sara Leahy with questions or for more information.
Click here to register if you are a staff member at a hospital or clinic
Click here to register if you are a faculty member, resident or student

Save the Date!! CRHC Regional CAH Board Workshops: "Connecting with the Community: The Board's Trusteeship Role"

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) is pleased to present three regional workshops with Charney Associates’ board and governance expert and CEO, Bill Charney. Through these workshops, “Connecting with the Community: The Board’s Trusteeship Role”, participants will gain an understanding of:

• Recognizing the community as the "moral owners" of the hospital/district
• Two primary components of "linkage": "needs assessment – collecting input for future board activities; "advocacy" – how to convey messages back to the community
• Key concepts in demonstrating pro-active leadership
• Methods of carrying out these activities including communications through local media, environmental scanning, surveys, meetings with key stakeholders, presentations to board at board meetings, and community presentations

 

There is no charge for Colorado CAHs and their Boards to attend. Please save the date for one of the regional meetings below. Location and registration information will be available soon.

 

• October 6, 4:00pm-7:00pm – Western Slope
• October 10, 4:00pm-7:00pm – Eastern Plains
• October 11, 4:00pm-7:00pm – Southern Colorado

For more information please contact Jennifer Dunn at jd@coruralhealth.org

CMS Now Accepting Suggested Individual Measures and Measures Groups for Consideration in the Physician Quality Reporting System

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now accepting quality measure suggestions to be considered for use in Physician Quality Reporting System future rule-making years. To learn more about the Physician Quality Reporting System Call for Measures and instructions on submitting candidate measure(s), visit the CMS Measures Management System (MMS) Website.

All suggestions must be received by CMS no later than October 7, 2011, 5:00 p.m. EST.

Effective January 2010, CMS revised the manner in which incentive payment information is communicated to eligible professionals receiving electronic remittance advices. CMS has instructed Medicare contractors to use a new indicator of LE to indicate incentive payments instead of LS. LE will appear on the electronic remit. In an effort to further clarify the type of incentive payment issued (either PQRI or eRx incentive), CMS created a 4-digit code to indicate the type of incentive and reporting year. For the 2010 PQRI incentive payments, the 4-digit code is PQ10. This code will be displayed on the electronic remittance advice along with the LE indicator. For example, eligible professionals will see LE to indicate an incentive payment, along with PQ10 to identify that payment as the 2010 PQRI incentive payment. Additionally, the paper remittance advice will read, “This is a PQRI incentive payment.” The year will not be included in the paper remittance.

Who to Contact for Questions?

If you have questions about the status of your PQRI incentive payment (during the distribution timeframe), please contact your Provider Contact Center. The Contact Center Directory is available at http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/CallCenterTollNumDirectory.zip, on the CMS website.

To assist eligible professionals understand their 2010 PQRI Incentive Payments, a guide titled 2010 PQRI Incentive Payments, is posted on the CMS website. 

  2011 Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Final Rule was Published in the Federal Register

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce that the 2011 Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Final Rule was published in Federal Register on September 6, 2011. 

Help Planning for Version 5010 and ICD-10 is Available from CMS

Do you need help with the transition to Version 5010 or planning for ICD-10? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has created an interactive timeline widget that is now available on the CMS ICD-10 website. This user-friendly tool can help you and your organization:
Understand what you should be doing right now to prepare for the switches to Version 5010 and ICD-10
Know the steps you'll need to take in the future and when
Stay on top of approaching transition deadlines to help manage the implementation process
The content of the widget is tailored with specific information for large and small provider practices, payers and vendors. Also available are printer-friendly versions of the timeline information to download and use as check lists.
CMS also has other new resources to help you transition, including fact sheets and frequently asked questions for both Version 5010 and ICD-10. With the Version 5010 deadline fast approaching, it will be important to take advantage of these new resources now to ensure you are on the right track.
The transitions to Version 5010 and ICD-10 involve significant preparation, and require business and systems changes throughout health care industry. CMS is committed to helping you better prepare for Version 5010 and ICD-10.
Please visit the ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare, and to download and share the widget today!

National Health Service Corps and CAHs – Informational Webinar

Recently it was announced that the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program is expanding eligibility so that CAHs may apply to become NHSC-approved sites.
Please join the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for a Webinar on Wednesday, September 21 from either 10 am to 11 am ET or from 2 pm to 3 pm ET (attend one session). The Webinar will provide detailed information about the change in policy, the NHSC, and the site application process and answer any questions you may have. For additional information about NHSC sites, including application requirements and responsibilities of a Corps site, we encourage you to review the NHSC Service Site Reference Guide, which can be accessed at http://www.nhsc.hrsa.gov/communities. The Reference Guide is currently being updated to include CAHs, and a new version is expected in late September.
To participate in the Webinar, please attend one of the following sessions. When logging into the Webinar, please login as “Guest” and enter your full name.

Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Time: 10 am-11 am ET
Web Address: https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/nhsccaha/
Phone Number: 1-888-790-2045
Passcode: 22277

Date: Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Time: 2 pm-3 pm ET
Web Address: https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/nhsccaha/
Phone Number: 1-888-396-9931
Passcode: 44466

AHRQ’s Spanish-Language Resources

AHRQ has a growing number of videos, guides and pamphlets in Spanish to address specific health conditions as well as getting quality health care and preventive services. For the podcast or transcript, please click here

Connecting Health Education to Service: A Comprehensive Networking Event

This event, held October 13 at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Campus in Aurora, is an opportunity for your site to directly recruit healthcare professionals and network with Colorado healthcare professional school staff and faculty. This is also an opportunity for healthcare professional students and residents to learn about your site and the options that are available to them in the healthcare safety-net. We hope this opportunity to directly recruit and also network across organizations will stimulate innovative solutions to the workforce issues facing Colorado, specifically, the shortage of primary care healthcare providers in Colorado’s safety-net.
Providers in attendance will include Physician Residents, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, and Dental students as well as other students from different disciplines.
We encourage you to have two to three people from your site, including an administrator or HR personnel and a healthcare provider, attend this event. Please plan to arrive 30-45 minutes early to set up your booth. Travel reimbursement is available for organizations with staff travelling over 50 miles.

Contact Sara Leahy with questions or for more information.

• Click here to register if you are a staff member at a hospital or clinic
• Click here to register if you are a faculty member, resident or student

Influenza Vaccine Rule

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is working on a Board of Health rule to require all licensed healthcare facilities to develop a policy to provide or make available influenza vaccine for all healthcare workers beginning September 2012. At the last stakeholder meeting on 9/1 to review the current rule draft, CDPHE agreed to revise the draft based on community feedback, including incorporating language that requires facilities to conduct an assessment and develop a site-appropriate policy as well as adjusting the definition of healthcare worker to differentiate between workers whose primary work areas are/are not in direct care settings. Click here for the latest draft keeping in mind the changes referenced above. The next CDPHE meeting to discuss the rule is scheduled for September 14. Please click here for posting of this rule. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact jd@coruralhealth.org or ss@coruralhealth.org.

CRHC Receives Rural Health Information Technology Network Development Funding

CRHC, in partnership with Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center in Walsenburg, CO and several other Critical Access Hospitals across the state, was awarded one of 40 Rural Health Information Technology Network Development (RHITND) Awards on Sept. 1, 2011. The three-year Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) funding will be used to develop a virtual data center network and IT staff support consortium for rural providers across the state. This has been a long-standing goal for CRHC's strategic plan driven by the Board, leadership, and rural members. Through this data center consortium, large economies of scale will be realized to greatly reduce costs and support adoption and ongoing operations of health information technology across rural healthcare facilities.

Congratulations to Telluride Medical Center Foundation in Telluride, CO who was also awarded funding. To view the full HHS release and list of awardees, click here. To learn more about this funding or to see how your facility can participate, please contact Cari Fouts at cf@coruralhealth.org.

Brief Behavioral Health Interventions in Primary Care - Free Webinar

September 14, 2011; 1:00-2:30 pm EST
Brief behavioral health interventions in primary care offer primary care and behavioral health clinicians a viable option to improve the health of patients with both behavioral health and general health needs. This webinar presented by SAMHSA will overview evidence-based brief behavioral health interventions for common conditions—such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and diabetes—seen in primary care offices. Parinda Khatri, PhD and Ken Mays, MD, from Cherokee Health Systems, will highlight the rationale and framework for brief interventions, review evidence-based interventions, and share real-life applications. In addition to gaining knowledge of key components, factors for consideration, and referral guidelines, participants will learn practical skills and applications of brief interventions in primary care settings. Target Audience: Primary care and behavioral health clinicians
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER *Space is limited

Do you find yourself in constant catch up mode with a backlog of work?

If you find that your team is constantly in catch up mode you will find that by measuring demand, capacity and backlog, you are likely to find opportunities to make things better.  Measuring demand, capacity, activity and backlog enables capacity problems to be resolved at the appropriate point of system.  By clearly understanding these four measures and identifying the bottleneck and its constraint you can manage and plan, increase throughput, and focus improvement.  To schedule a Provider Capacity Demand Study and for more information, please contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org or 303.309.6807

HCPF – At A Glance

The August At a Glance newsletter is now available online by clicking here. This publication provides updates from the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF).

Register Now for Sixth Webinar on New Patient Safety Series on September 9

HHS’ Partnership for Patients has teamed up with the National Quality Forum to launch a series of free patient safety Webinars, the sixth of which focuses on preventing pressure ulcers and falls, is scheduled for September 9. Featured speakers are Mary Tinetti, M.D., Director, Program on Aging, Yale University School of Medicine, and Dan Berlowitz, M.D., Director, Center for Health Quality Outcomes and Economic Research, Veterans Affairs. The session will discuss the Partnership for Patients goals of reducing falls while maintaining patient mobility and reducing preventable pressure ulcers in acute-care settings. Follow up Webinars will include topics on obstetrical adverse events and venous thromboembolism. Select to register for the September 9, 1 – 2:30 p.m., EDT, Webinar.

NHSC Region VIII Community Connection

September 7, 2011
Region VIII Community Connection
(CO-MT-ND-SD-UT-WY)

Network, Connect, Enjoy!

Join your National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) colleagues in Denver on Wednesday, September 7, 2011!

• Network with other providers committed to primary care and the underserved.
• Connect with local, state, and regional organizations committed to supporting you and learn from leaders in primary care.
• Enjoy appetizers and drinks in a casual environment.

Date:  Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Time:  6:00-8:30 p.m.
Who:  NHSC & CHSC clinicians, scholars, alumni, and stakeholders from
     Region VIII
Location: Sheraton Denver Downtown
    1550 Court Place, Denver, CO 80202
RSVP:   mailtp:NHSCDenver@hrsa.gov by August 31, 2011


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