QIO News Posts
AHRQ Releases Updated Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines health literacy as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” Health literacy...
CDC Releases Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
This week CDC released its guideline detailing recommendations for primary care clinicians who are prescribing opioids for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care. The guideline addresses 1) when to initiate or continue...
Tips for Becoming a More Informed Medicare Consumer
Each day, individuals make important choices about their finances, health, privacy and more. During National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 6–12, 2016, non-profit organizations and government agencies can help Medicare consumers take advantage of their rights...
Healthcare Quality Information System (HCQIS) Extended System Maintenance
This is a reminder about the planned Healthcare Quality Information System (HCQIS) extended system maintenance from Wednesday, March 16, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. EST through Monday, March 21, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. EST. It will involve all HCQIS applications, Web sites and...
Medication Adverse Event Reporting Highlights Challenges and Opportunities
Minnesota's Star Tribune recently highlighted data from the Minnesota Department of Health showing an increase in medication adverse events in hospitals in the state. According to the news story, disabling or fatal medication errors have vexed hospital officials...
Location, location, location: Study finds 5x increase in hand sanitizer use when located in hospital high-traffic area
Washington, February 29, 2016 – Placing alcohol-based hand sanitizers (AHS) in the middle of a hospital lobby floor in front of the visitor entrance increased visitor usage by 528 percent, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of...
Influenza is Spreading and Serious; Please Keep Vaccinating Your Patients
Flu Season is Underway; We Still Need to Be Vaccinating Patients According to this week's FluView report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seasonal influenza activity continues to increase slightly in the United States. Flu activity most often...
Colon Cancer: Preventable, Treatable and Beatable
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to encourage Americans to get preventive screenings and increase education on the importance of early detection. Officially dedicated and launched in 2000...
New Guidance on Diabetes Care in Elderly Residential Facilities
New American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines addressing diabetes management in long-term care and skilled nursing facilities emphasize treatment simplification, avoidance of hypoglycemia and the need to reassess therapeutic goals for patients who are nearing the...
WebEx Opportunity: 2016 Adult Immunization Schedule & Immunizing Adults: Challenges and Opportunities
2016 Adult Immunization Schedule and Immunizing Adults: Challenges and Opportunities Tuesday, March 8th 2016 2:00 – 3:00 pm (CT) Each year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) publishes an adult immunization schedule that outlines recommended...