SNI Video Making a Difference Now on the SNI Website
SNI is pleased to announce that our video, Making a Difference, is now viewable on the SNI homepage. Created to celebrate SNI’s work with California public hospitals over the last 10 years, Making a Difference shows the impact this partnership has had on patients’ health, effective health care delivery, staff development, and the world of quality improvement. One of the health care leaders featured in the video is Director of the MacColl Institute for Healthcare Innovation Dr. Ed Wagner, the nationally recognized “father” of the Chronic Care Model.
SNI Launches Quality Leaders Awards Webinar Series
For more than 15 years, CAPH and SNI have hosted the Quality Leaders Awards (QLAs), honoring hundreds of innovative and creative strategies employed by California public hospital systems to improve patient care and enhance the capacity to advance community health. SNI is pleased to announce that this year, CAPH members and other partners will have the opportunity to learn more about QLA honorees through the QLA Webinar Series. Kicking off 2010’s call series is an in-depth look into Kern Medical Center’s Impact of Clinical Pharmacists Involvement in Direct Patient Care as Mid-Level Practitioners, with a presentation by KMC’s Ryan Gates, Pharm.D. on Friday, March 26 at 8:00am. Demonstrating reduced hospital admissions and ER visits by 78.9% for diabetes-related complications and a reduction in drug-to-drug interactions by 40%, KMC representatives will share details and insights to their very successful program. Visit the SNI website for more information about the QLA program or to learn more about the 2009 awardees.
Contact: Mary Gregory or Norma Batongbacal
Update on SNI’s Role in Supporting Attainment of “Meaningful Use” of Health IT
CAPH and SNI have partnered with the California Primary Care Association and the California Medical Association to form a new non-profit entity, Cal-REC (Regional Extension Center). While awaiting official notice of grant award, Cal-REC has received a “notice of intent to fund” from the federal government for nearly $33 million to help safety net and other primary care providers achieve meaningful use for health IT. SNI has hired Seraphin Tam Nicholson (see next Bulletin item) to develop and administer Cal-REC service offerings for CAPH-member public hospitals. SNI, with consulting assistance from Mannatt Health Solutions, is convening a series of educational webinars on what California public hospitals must do over the next five years to achieve meaningful use. The first two webinars are scheduled for Wednesday, February 17 from 1:00-2:00pm and Thursday, February 18 from 8:00-9:00am. Call-in information has been provided to CAPH members; contact Mary Gregory for more information.
SNI Staffing Updates
SNI welcomes Seraphin Nicholson to our staff as Senior HIT Program Associate, leading SNI’s development as a Local Extension Center (LEC) under Cal-REC (see Bulletin item above). Seraphin has worked to develop and foster health information exchanges (HIEs) in Southeast and Central Michigan. Her experience includes program development, policy analysis and a program evaluation. She served as the technical expert to provide subject matter expertise to stakeholders involved in HIE planning that included Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Michigan, Henry Ford Health System, the Greater Detroit Area Health Council and the Big 3 Automakers. Seraphin has also developed physician training and education programs for CPOE implementation and has experience in clinical workflow redesign. She holds a double masters in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, and Health Services Administration, from the University of Michigan.
SNI would also like to announce that Norma Batongbacal, who has been with SNI for nearly five years and most recently has served as Program Coordinator, has recently been promoted to Web and Communications Associate. This position allows Norma to fully utilize her extensive education, training and experience in video, Web and other communications media. In this new role, Norma will continue to manage the SNI website and add enhancements to the site to improve user experience, such as the newly added SNI video Making a Difference on the homepage. Norma will also research emerging technologies and social media trends to enhance the learning experience of CAPH members and established SNI programs.
SNI Seeks Senior Program Associate for Quality Improvement
The Senior Program Associate position to advance SNI’s and CAPH’s Quality First Initiative is now open. The Senior Program Associate is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing grant-funded programs that further the CAPH/SNI Quality First Initiative to improve quality of care and patient safety at CAPH hospital systems, in addition to providing guidance and technical assistance to public hospitals related to data collection and transmission of performance data to entities such as CMS, Joint Commission, CHART and the State of California (OSHPD). Click here for the full job description, and for information on how to apply.
Contact: Wendy Jameson, (510) 874-7102
NAPH Safety Net Awards Application Deadline
The National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH) is now accepting applications for their Safety Net Awards program—the association's national recognitions program. The 2010 Safety Net Awards will be presented on June 24 at the NAPH Annual Conference in Denver. These prestigious awards recognize member hospitals and health systems that have implemented creative, successful programs to improve patient care and meet the needs of their communities. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, March 12.
Contact: Pam BradleyIHI National Forum: Speaker Proposals Now Available
The online application for speaker proposals for IHI’s 22nd Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care is now available.If you are interested in presenting at the National Forum, proposals must be submitted by Friday, February 26. For more information on submitting your proposals, please take a look at the template provided by IHI. CAPH-member quality leaders from several hospitals systems have presented at past IHI conferences, and SNI encourages member participation in these speaking opportunities.
Contact: Angelina Ramos or IHI’s Jenna Ward, (866) 787-0831
LOI Due March 12 for Center for Technology and Aging Remote Patient Monitoring Diffusion Grants Program
The Center for Technology and Aging has recently released the Application Guidelines for their Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Diffusion Grants Program. The Center is soliciting letters of intent by March 12 from organizations that are interested in expanding the use of remote patient monitoring technologies that help improve the health and safety of older adults. Organizations seeking grants must propose a strategy for integrating their technology into the fabric of state and national health care delivery and reimbursement systems. Grant applicants are expected to have prior experience with RPM technologies and must be able to demonstrate a positive and measurable impact in the near term as well as projections for replication. Total funding available for this grant program is $500,000, with up to six grants being awarded. For more information about RPM, please refer to the Center’s Position Paper: Technologies for Remote Patient Monitoring in Older Adults (Discussion Draft).
Contact: Margaret Whelly, (510) 285-5685
Upcoming Events and Deadlines