by Kelsey Olson | Sep 10, 2024 | Care Coordination, Chronic Disease Self-Management, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Home Health, Medication Safety, Opioids, Patient Safety, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition
A new analysis highlights the connection between smoking and opioid use. Data from the AHRQ Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and the National Health Interview Survey reveal that smokers are significantly more likely to use prescription opioids than non-smokers....
by Keri McDermott | Sep 10, 2024 | Care Coordination, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Hospitals, Immunizations, Nursing Home Quality, Patient Safety, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition, Quality of Care Transitions
An Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is a preventive visit designed to help patients update their medical providers about their current health status. During an AWV, a patient answers questions in a health risk assessment (HRA) to update their personalized prevention plan....
by Keri McDermott | Aug 28, 2024 | Care Coordination, Chronic Disease Self-Management, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Home Health, Hospitals, Medication Safety, Nursing Home Quality, Patient Safety, Public Observances, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition
Falls threaten the safety and independence for older Americans and can create a heavy economic and personal burden. National Falls Prevention Awareness Week will be observed September 23 – 27, 2024. Throughout September we will work to bring attention to the issue of...
by Kelsey Olson | Aug 28, 2024 | Covid-19, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Home Health, Hospitals, Immunizations, Nursing Home Quality, Public Observances, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified vaccine hesitancy and refusal of vaccines as a significant global health challenge¹. To mitigate these issues, public health experts are increasingly focused on understanding the underlying causes of vaccine hesitancy...
by Kelsey Olson | Aug 23, 2024 | Cardiac Care, Chronic Disease Self-Management, Events, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Patient Safety, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition
The South Dakota Tobacco Control Program is hosting a webinar series this fall on tobacco cessation. Additional information and registration links for each session are included below. Be sure to register and take part in these important conversations. Tobacco...
by Kelsey Olson | Aug 23, 2024 | Cardiac Care, Care Coordination, Chronic Disease Self-Management, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Health Equity, Home Health, Patient Safety, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition, Quality of Care Transitions
Hypertension remains a leading, yet preventable, cause of global mortality, claiming over 10 million lives annually. Despite its significant impact, blood pressure control rates remain alarmingly low. While high-income countries achieve approximately 50% control, this...
by Kelsey Olson | Aug 20, 2024 | Cardiac Care, Chronic Disease Self-Management, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Immunizations, Nursing Home Quality, Patient Safety, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition
A new study has uncovered a startling connection between influenza and heart attacks. Researchers found that people who contract the flu face a significantly heightened risk of experiencing a heart attack, particularly within the first week of illness. Surprisingly,...
by Kelsey Olson | Aug 9, 2024 | Care Coordination, Events, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Healthcare-Associated Infections, Hospitals, Nursing Home Quality, Patient Safety, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition, Quality of Care Transitions
Most people who survive sepsis make a full recovery, but it can take time and may involve long-term physical and emotional effects. These effects are sometimes called post-sepsis syndrome, a condition that affects up to 50% of sepsis survivors. It’s important to...
by Kelsey Olson | Aug 9, 2024 | Antibiotic Stewardship, Care Coordination, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Healthcare-Associated Infections, Hospitals, Nursing Home Quality, Patient Safety, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition
A recent global study spanning 204 countries revealed a startling truth: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are on the rise.¹ This alarming trend is directly linked to increasing life expectancy as older individuals are significantly more susceptible to these infections....
by Kelsey Olson | Jul 31, 2024 | Care Coordination, Featured, Great Plains QIN, Home Health, Hospitals, Nursing Home Quality, Patient Safety, Q Tip Podcast, Quality Care Coalition
Pneumonia is a leading cause of illness for the elderly population which includes residents that live within the long-term care setting. Nursing Home Acquired Pneumonia (NHAP) is spread through contact with bacteria, viruses and fungi. These germs are present in...