2017 Progress Report: Putting Patients at the Core
As a valued partner in our quality improvement activities, we are pleased to share with you the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) 2017 Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program Progress Report, which highlights how Quality Innovation...
More Than a Memory Lapse: Dementia Care Training in South Dakota
Can’t find your car keys? Forgot why you walked into a room? Realized too late you were supposed to meet a friend or colleague? Most everyone has experienced these moments of memory lapse, especially during the back-to-school season when routines are altered and...
Essentia Health-Fargo Builds Teach-Back Capacity
Effective communication is essential for the delivery of quality healthcare. Poor communication during hospitalization, and at the time of discharge, negatively impacts patient outcomes and patient satisfaction. Studies have shown the impact of teach-back in reducing...
Rooks County Health Center Receives 2018 Sepsis Hero Award
Rooks County Health Center (RCH) in Plainville, Kansas will be accepting a 2018 Sepsis Hero award given out by the Sepsis Alliance, September 13, 2018, in New York City. Rooks County Health Center was nominated for the facility’s great work in improving sepsis...
Rasmussen College of Nursing Incorporates Teach-Back Methodology
There are many factors that affect retention of health information with a wide range of results, but overall studies indicate that only about 50% of information provided by healthcare providers is retained. Depending on conditions, 40 – 80% can be forgotten...
Nebraska Leads the Country in Innovative Approach to Medication Reconciliation and Opioid Safety
Like most of the country, Nebraska providers over-prescribe opioids. The CDC Prescription Drug Overdose Web site reports that Nebraska providers are writing 72-82.1 opioid prescriptions for every 100 persons in the state. In addition, an analysis of data gathered by...
Spreading the Word for a Healthy Community: Huron’s Team Approach to Antibiotic Stewardship
From allergy season to flu season and beyond, the common symptoms of a stuffy nose, cough and sore throat lead many individuals to their local clinic in search of relief. The presence of a fever increases the possibility of a bacterial infection; but most often the...
The Power of Community, Collaboration and Networking
Nebraska healthcare professionals have been privy to two exceptional learning opportunities earlier this month. Great Plains QIN – Nebraska hosted the 15th Annual Nebraska Healthcare Quality Forum on June 7 and the first Annual Nebraska Antimicrobial Stewardship...
New Leadership Team Rolls Up Sleeves to Exceed Composite Score Goal
Nursing homes across the country receive a Nursing Home Quality Measure Composite Score derived from 13 Long-Stay Quality Measures. The composite score monitors quality from a systems view and serves a guide to identify areas for quality improvement change. The...
Awáŋič’iglaka (To Take Care of One’s Own Health): Using Traditional Alternatives for Pain Management
A growing body of evidence suggests that complementary approaches help to manage some painful conditions. The Standing Rock Opioid Steering Committee hosted a pain summit in North Dakota in April designed to share positive information and alternative traditional...