August 14, 2009
Volume 53, Issue 32
Over 400 Participate in WHA’s August 11 Recovery Audit Contractor Forum
Representatives from CMS, CGI, PRG Schultz provide program details
On August 11, more than 400 hospital representatives participated either by phone or in person at the Wisconsin Hospital Association’s Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Forum. Individuals representing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS); CGI Federal, Wisconsin’s RAC; and PRG Schultz, Wisconsin’s RAC subcontractor, presented a three-hour session in Madison, Wisconsin.
The presenters also met with WHA’s Task Force prior to the start of the RAC Forum. This meeting was an opportunity for the Task Force to foster future communication and relationships with CMS/CGI/PRG Schultz as the RAC program rolls out in Wisconsin.
"Wisconsin providers have many questions and concerns regarding the RAC program. Therefore, we appreciated the opportunity to have representatives from CMS, CGI and PRG Schultz with us to answer some of those issues," said RAC Task Force Chair Mike Decker, CEO of Divine Savior Healthcare in Portage. "The RAC Task Force looks forward to working together with them as we transition into the RAC audits in Wisconsin."
Presenting first at the Forum were Scott Wakefield, CMS’ RAC project coordinator for Region B, and Patricia Rosinki, RN, CMS project officer for RAC Region B. Rosinki provided an overview of the "who, what, when, where, how and why" of the RAC program. She encouraged individuals who had questions or concerns to "pick up that phone" and call. The next series of presenters were Rob Rolf, Mary Hoffman, Drs. Seaward and Berman, and William Davis, all of whom were from either CGI Federal or their subcontractor, PRG Schultz. They provided information on their credentials, responsibilities and the RAC program audits.
The Forum then moved into a lively question and answer period which lasted the remaining 1.5 hours. Presenters answered a list of previously received questions; a variety of those questions and answers are available on CGI’s Web site at: http://racb.cgi.com/Docs/CGI%20RACB%20FAQ.htm.
For those who were unable to attend or listen to the WHA RAC Forum on August 11 or would like to review what was said in greater detail, the audio recording is posted on WHA’s RAC page at www.wha.org/governmentRelations/rac.aspx.
In related RAC news, this week CGI released a sample demand letter. Access the letter on CGI’s Web site at: http://racb.cgi.com/Letters.aspx.
Wisconsin Hospitals Prepare for Fall Novel Influenza A/H1N1 Outbreak
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health continues to collaborate with hospitals and clinics as it develops its response to the anticipated return of Novel H1N1 that could occur as early as September 1. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended five target groups for immunization:
Pregnant women
Household contacts of children aged younger than six months of age
Children and adults aged six months to 24 years
Health care and emergency workers
Individuals aged 25 to 64 years who have underlying conditions that put them at risk for complications and/or hospitalizations from the H1N1 flu.
In an effort to assure that hospital and clinic workers have access to the Novel H1N1 vaccine, pre-registration for hospitals and clinics will begin in late August. Availability will be based on supply.
The Wisconsin Division of Public Health’s Hospital Preparedness Program is also enhancing the hospital personal protective equipment (PPE) stockpile. Train-the-trainer sessions for PPE fit-testing will be available to hospital staff at no cost.
Hospitals are encouraged to continue to use www.pandemic.wisconsin.gov as the source for up-to-date information on Novel H1N1.
Online Video Series Teaches Basics of Popular Health Care Improvement Methodologies
The Wisconsin Hospital Association, in collaboration with the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, has developed a four-part online video series designed to provide general information about a variety of improvement models and tools.
The "Health Care Performance Improvement Education Series" focuses on three of today’s most popular improvement models used in health care: Lean, Six Sigma, and the IHI Model for Improvement.
"If a hospital is considering employing a quality improvement methodology for either a specific project or organization-wide, the videos in this series are an ideal and efficient way to acquaint staff, beyond the hospital’s quality department, with the concepts of these improvement models," said Dana Richardson, vice president of quality initiatives for the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
Each video focuses on one specific model and includes a basic, general description of that methodology. In addition, each video shares the advantages and disadvantages of using that specific model and examples of the types of projects or changes for which the particular model should be used. Resources needed to best utilize each model are discussed, as well as how each model complements other improvement methodologies.
The fourth video focuses on choosing the right improvement tool for a particular project, and what the next steps are, once you’ve chosen your tool or model. The videos can be viewed as a series or as individual modules, depending on the viewer’s interest.
The videos were produced by the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Innovations in Medical Education department and are currently available for viewing at http://videos.med.wisc.edu/event.php?eventid=95. For questions about the series, contact Dana Richardson at drichardson@wha.org or 608-274-1820.
President’s Column": An "Unruly Mob"?
If recent public opinion polls are to be believed, attempts to paint opponents of Congressional health reform legislation as either "Un-American" or an "Unruly Mob" don’t seem to be working. But the name calling does represent a tactic to distract the public from the fact that an increasing number of voters are rejecting the type of health reform (a.k.a. health "insurance" reform) currently included in several major initiatives that are percolating in ongress. The public seems to be saying…"We don’t want that kind of reform!"
The strategy to call out the opposition isn’t new. It’s common to see passionate champions of ideas, even bad ideas, resort to name calling as a tool to demean detractors. Both sides do it. But it’s a bit unusual to see the Speaker and Majority Leader of the House of Representatives use such descriptions in opinion columns and on network talk shows. Such rhetoric is an indication that things aren’t going well. And as the Chicago Sun Times noted in an editorial this week, "We’re thrilled by the intense public debate…this is what democracy is all about…ordinary people standing up and saying their piece…."
Rasmussen Reports, a Washington, DC-based polling firm that was the most accurate predictor among peers in "calling" last year’s national elections, released a couple of polls last week that show a staggering drop in public support for the type of health reform being pushed by President Obama and many (but not all) Congressional Democrats. Here are some of the findings:
Q. Who do you fear more to make health care decisions?
A. Federal Government – 51%......... Insurance Companies – 41%
Q. Do you support or oppose the health reform plan proposed by President Obama and Congressional Democrats?
A. Support – 42%........... Oppose – 53%
A drill down of poll results found 62 percent of independent voters opposing the "Obama approach." Those same independents by a large margin (59 percent) offered up that in their opinion, health care QUALITY will go down if government assumes a stronger role in health care "reform."
These results—not the occasionally raucous, in-district meetings, are what’s really behind the growing panic that has resulted in the name calling and, at least in several venues, the deployment of purple shirted SEIU members who have attempted to out shout the shouters.
Unless something happens to reverse this opinion poll trending, look for Congressional Democrats and the President to significantly scale back the size and scope of a reform initiative after the summer recess. The new proposal will likely be less expensive and have a significantly reduced role for government. Let’s hope that it also focuses on actually reforming Medicare by better aligning payment with delivery and outcomes…a necessary reform goal that’s been mostly invisible to date.
Steve Brenton
President
September 23-25, 2009
Five Health Care Organizations Receive Wisconsin Forward Award
It was another stellar performance for health care organizations at the 2009 Wisconsin Forward Award ceremony held August 11 in Madison. Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, received the Governor’s Forward Award of Excellence; St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison; St. Clare Hospital & Health Services and St. Clare Meadows Care Center (Baraboo) were recognized at the mastery level, and Upland Hills Health in Dodgeville achieved proficiency.
In accepting the highest award of the evening, Sacred Heart President Steve Ronstrom said, "Sacred Heart Hospital started as a small community hospital that has transformed to a highly-specialized regional care center with the best technology that science and innovation have to offer. We receive this honor on behalf of our patients, and in the continuing legacy of the Sisters of St. Francis."
"Hospital and health system domination of the prestigious Forward Awards over the past few years is truly a testament to our members’ incredible commitment to performance improvement," said WHA President Steve Brenton. "Forward Award winners deserve the visible recognition they received in Madison this week and are a real benchmark for others to emulate."
Community
Benefits: Ministry Health Care – Good Samaritan Health Center, Merrill
Job shadowing day at Good Samaritan Health Center provides insight into health care careers for high school students
The health care industry offers a wide variety of opportunities that can follow several different career paths.
Students from the health occupations class and others who have indicated a general interest in health care to their career counselor at Merrill Senior High School recently learned more about those opportunities first-hand in a job shadowing day at Good Samaritan Health Center in Merrill. Participants took time to learn some of the basics on protected health information, infection control and ethics, along with general career information.
After a tour of the facility, students were given a choice of two areas to receive more in-depth information. Those areas included general and specialty medical, radiology, rehabilitation services, laboratory, pharmacy and other miscellaneous areas of hospital operations.
"We hope these students took away some valuable information as they continue to consider their career choices," said Carol Crevier, coordinator of community health and wellness at Good Samaritan. "Our plan is to continue this program every semester with the hopes that these students will one day choose to become part of our valuable staff at Good Samaritan."
A member of the Ministry Health Care System, Good Samaritan Health Center was founded in 1923 by the Holy Cross Sisters. It is a primary care hospital providing inpatient care and surgery, outpatient surgery, oncology services, spiritual services, extended care, a full range of therapy, radiology and laboratory services as well as respite, emergency, and walk-in clinic services.
Community
Benefits: Luther Midelfort Oakridge, Osseo
Students at Eleva-Strum learn health and hiking through pedometers!
The seventh and eighth grade physical education classes at Eleva-Strum School are all trekking someplace different in the world, while learning about healthy lifestyle skills and geography. "But we lost our ability to track our steps," said Joshua Skoug, Physical Education Teacher. The few pedometers the school had available weren’t working to support the program.
That’s when the school’s Food Service Director Christine Mercer-Cleasby went to work. Soon there after, Luther Midelfort Oakridge in Osseo followed through to support the school’s initiative.
Luther Midelfort Oakridge recently donated 100 pedometers to the school, so the student program could continue.
"I didn’t know if the students liked doing this or not until I didn’t have the pedometers out and they started asking me why—that’s how I knew they really enjoyed the program," Skoug said.
The classes track the average of steps per day and keep a tally of their trips across places like Asia or the Lewis and Clarke Expedition across America.
"Now we will be able to have all the kids use pedometers during our classes," Skoug said. Thus far, the class has tracked more than 1,000 miles. "The students not only learn about health and fitness, but also about where they have been because they do reports of their locations along their way," said Skoug.
The use of the pedometers will not stop this year. They will keep using them for future classes. Next year, the high school physical education class will begin its introduction to fitness and look at the health benefit of walking each day and about lifetime health fitness. "You don’t know how much we appreciate the pedometers. We can’t thank Luther Midelfort Oakridge enough for this donation," Skoug added.
This is just one example of how Luther Midelfort Oakridge continues to be active in community education, healthy initiatives, and support of youth programs like clinic days for school youth, the annual Tryathlon in Osseo, physician participation in Osseo’s Elementary School Child Development Day. The facility is also in the process of planning its first Family Health Fair in Mondovi.
Community
Benefits: River Falls Area Hospital, River Falls
Bike Safety/bike helmets
Each year, River Falls Area Hospital (RFAH) partners with the local fire department to sponsor a bike rodeo during Town & Country Days, a celebration of River Falls’ agricultural heritage. Area youth and families are invited to this free event, which includes bike registration, bike helmet fitting, bike alignment, and bike safety instruction, including time on the bike safety course set up in the parking lot of Meyer Middle School.
The 2008 event on June 19 consisted of nurses from RFAH helping staff the helmet checks on all participants. RFAH also provided free replacement to participants whose helmets were found to be inadequate.
Submit hospital community benefit stories to Mary Kay Grasmick, editor, at mgrasmick@wha.org.
Survey Says: Economy Drives Confidence to Record Lows
(From Solutions Spotlight, included in this week’s packet.)
The Employee Benefit Research Institute recently released their 2009 Retirement Confidence Survey. According to the survey, only 13 percent of workers say they are very confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement, which is the lowest level in 13 years. As for retirees, only 20 percent reported that they were very confident in having a financially secure retirement.
The leading cause of the drop in confidence is economic uncertainty, followed by inflation and cost of living. Negative experiences such as job losses, wage reductions, loss in retirement accounts, and increased debt also contributed to the loss in confidence. Only about 25 percent of workers felt they would have enough money to cover basic health care expenses in retirement.
The results of this survey indicate that 28 percent of workers expect to extend the age at which they wish to retire. Most are delaying the date with the intention to increase their retirement assets. Seventy-two percent of workers plan to work while retired to supplement their retirement income.
Finally, workers are responding to this loss in confidence in several ways:
43 percent are changing the way they invest in their retirement plan;
25 percent are actually saving more; and
25 percent are seeking advice from an investment professional.
For assistance in developing an employee education program to address these concerns, contact Forrest Ross at 800-362-7121 or fross@wha.org.