by sfredenburg | Apr 13, 2021 | Behavioral Health Outcomes, Chronic Disease Self-Management, Diabetes Care, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Medication Safety, Patient Safety, Quality of Care Transitions, Uncategorized
Confidante. Helper. Friend. Trusted Resource. These are all descriptors for Jordan Bergmann, a community health worker (CHW) who helps bridge the gap for individuals in need of community services or health care programs in Bismarck, North Dakota. “In order to connect...
by sfredenburg | Mar 18, 2021 | Featured, Great Plains QIN, Public Observances
In the midst of the most challenging public health crisis of a lifetime, recognizing the impact of public health professionals on communities and lives is more important than ever. While these individuals are worthy of daily praise, National Public Health Week sets...
by sfredenburg | Mar 18, 2021 | Chronic Disease Self-Management, Diabetes Care, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Quality Care Coalition
As blood circulates through every major organ, it becomes a key source of information for how well the body is functioning. A routine schedule to screen and test for high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels can help manage, and even prevent, a...
by sfredenburg | Mar 18, 2021 | Featured, Great Plains QIN, Patient Safety, Public Observances, Quality of Care Transitions
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes” – Benjamin Franklin. In homage to Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote, National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) has been held the day after the tax deadline (April 16) since 2008. Created to...
by sfredenburg | Mar 15, 2021 | Covid-19, Featured, Quality Care Coalition
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on racial and minority populations, including American Indian and Alaska Native communities. National Minority Health Month in April raises awareness of health disparities among racial and minority populations....
by sfredenburg | Mar 8, 2021 | Chronic Disease Self-Management, Diabetes Care, Featured, Great Plains QIN
Changing eating and exercise habits are common lifestyle recommendations for improving health and preventing disease. Too often a health crisis or unexpected chronic disease diagnosis turns these recommendations into medical necessities. Implementing an effective...
by sfredenburg | Mar 8, 2021 | Cardiac Care, Chronic Disease Self-Management, Diabetes Care, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Medication Safety, Patient Safety, Uncategorized
Community Health Workers (CHWs) are critical for improving quality improvement initiatives because they provide insight into patient needs and the patient experience. As trusted members of the communities they work in, CHWs see firsthand the gaps that exist in health...
by sfredenburg | Feb 16, 2021 | Chronic Disease Self-Management, Diabetes Care, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Medication Safety
“With age comes wisdom” is a familiar adage. Healthcare professionals recognize age also brings increased risk for adverse drug events and health complications. Medication is a common treatment option, but changes in an aging body can lead to unintended harm from...
by sfredenburg | Jan 18, 2021 | Chronic Disease Self-Management, Featured, Great Plains QIN
Shannon Bacon Named Health Equity Manager When every individual has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible, health equity has been achieved. This concept serves as the foundation of the community health center program, whose members in North and...
by sfredenburg | Jan 18, 2021 | Featured, Medication Safety, Opioids
An official Health Advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was recently released regarding an increase in fatal drug overdoses driven by synthetic opioids. A record increase in overdose deaths of 18.2 percent was reported from June 2019 to...
by sfredenburg | Dec 14, 2020 | Chronic Disease Self-Management, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Hospitals, Medication Safety, Opioids, Patient Safety
Emergency departments are among the frontline providers for assessment and treatment of substance use, opioid use and non-fatal drug overdose. According to the Avoid Opioid web site, opioid deaths in South Dakota have steadily increased since 2012 and unintended...
by sfredenburg | Dec 14, 2020 | Cardiac Care, Chronic Disease Self-Management, Featured, Great Plains QIN
Chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, require ongoing management in order for individuals with these conditions to stay at their healthiest. That doesn’t stop because of a pandemic, family emergency, or otherwise. For some, the added stress of the...
