by sfredenburg | Jan 4, 2019 | Antibiotic Stewardship, Cardiac Care, Care Coordination, Diabetes Care, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Hospitals, Meaningful Use, Medication Safety, Quality Payment Program
Healthcare is personal. Any individual in need of healthcare services becomes vulnerable. The level of comfort and confidence relayed by healthcare professionals at every stage of care can impact positive health outcomes. Long waits, big words and confusing bills may...
by Keri McDermott | Dec 4, 2018 | Featured, Great Plains QIN, Healthcare-Associated Infections, Hospitals
Clostridium difficile (klos-TRID-e-um dif-uh-SEEL), often called C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. On November 25, NPR reported that C. diff, first seen as a problem...
by Keri McDermott | Dec 3, 2018 | Care Coordination, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Hospitals, Success Story
Great Plains QIN facilitated a WebEx on Teach-Back in late October to demonstrate the use of teach-back to support patients and families throughout the healthcare journey. The teach-back method, also called the “show-me” method, is a communication...
by selsen | Oct 23, 2018 | Antibiotic Stewardship, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Home Health, Hospitals, Medication Safety
The pharmaceutical industry is changing. Changes such as value-based reimbursement, physician shortage, demand for better patient outcomes, rising cost of prescription drugs and the increase in diagnosis of chronic diseases is forcing these changes to occur. It is...
by sfredenburg | Oct 23, 2018 | Antibiotic Stewardship, Cardiac Care, Care Coordination, Diabetes Care, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Home Health, Hospitals, Quality Payment Program
Each fall, healthcare professionals in South Dakota trade a day or two of patient rounds and healthcare services for conference sessions and networking. From mid-September well into October, content experts share their insights on a broad range of topics from...
by sfredenburg | Oct 21, 2018 | Cardiac Care, Care Coordination, Diabetes Care, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Home Health, Hospitals
As year-end approaches, employers and every individual approaching retirement age is carefully considering the impact of rising healthcare costs and insurance premiums. Decisions related to lifestyle, employment and even medication or recommended health treatment are...
by selsen | Oct 16, 2018 | Featured, Great Plains QIN, Home Health, Hospitals
Currently there is an estimated 5.7 million individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia; according to the American Alzheimer’s Association. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the number of Americans...
by sfredenburg | Oct 16, 2018 | Antibiotic Stewardship, Care Coordination, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Home Health, Hospitals, Medication Safety
After a stay in the hospital, the majority of patients will transition home while others may enter a skilled nursing facility. Each individual’s journey back to health comes with challenges and requires a coordinated effort of family, friends and healthcare...
by selsen | Sep 27, 2018 | Antibiotic Stewardship, Featured, Healthcare Acquired Conditions in Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Immunizations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) hosted their annual press conference to kickoff flu vaccination season last week. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October before...
by selsen | Sep 11, 2018 | Featured, Great Plains QIN, Hospitals
The Health Information Portability and Accountability Act, a 1996 law known as HIPAA, protects a patient’s right to see and get a copy of personal health records, but for some patients and doctors, it has caused concern. Many patients are using electronic...
by selsen | Aug 3, 2018 | Featured, Great Plains QIN, Healthcare Acquired Conditions in Nursing Homes, Healthcare-Associated Infections, Hospitals, Immunizations
Immunizations not only help your body fight off disease, they help prevent you from spreading them. Though many people associate immunizations with children, as you age many vaccinations wear off and you may need new or booster shots. Based on your age, health...
by Keri McDermott | Jun 22, 2018 | Antibiotic Stewardship, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Hospitals
On June 13, News Medical reported that Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) are more effective when nurses are educated about antimicrobial stewardship and buy in to the cause, according to a recent study conducted at Jefferson Health in New Jersey. “Our findings...
