SNI Expansion to Support Public Hospitals Achieve System-Wide Transformation

The new California 1115 Medicaid Waiver presents major opportunities and challenges for California’s public hospital systems to build on the delivery system reforms they have undertaken in recent years. If successful, the transformational and system-wide changes made in quality, coordinated care and patient experience will put public hospital systems on a path to achieve the goals of health reform. In this critical time, SNI is being looked to more than ever for our role in designing and directing programs that accelerate the spread of innovative practices among, and beyond, California’s public hospital systems. SNI is expanding its scope and capacity to roll out new initiatives and enhance how we do our work to maximize impact. Identified priority areas for improvement include inpatient safety and quality, patient experience, and continuing our work in building medical homes in public safety net clinics. Look for future announcements as we expand and launch new efforts.

Contact: Wendy Jameson, Executive Director

New SNI Patient Experience Workshop Report Now Available

On December 1, 2010, CAPH and SNI convened California public hospital leaders for the special session A Focus on the Human Experience of Health Care: The Key to Improved Outcomes at the CAPH Annual Conference in Berkeley. This special session was designed to help key leaders find targeted areas within their systems where they could improve their patients’ experiences. SNI has developed a summary of the convening, which is now available on the SNI website.

Contact: Norma Batongbacal, Communication Associate

SNI’s New Embedding Lean Initiative to Build on Operational Efficiency

SNI’s Embedding Lean initiative, funded by The California Health Care Foundation, will provide matching grants and supportive services to up to five CAPH member hospital systems in California using Lean for performance improvement and that are committed to expanding their use of Lean to transform care. Embedding Lean is a two-year program that will build on work public hospitals have already invested in their systems to eliminate waste and improve operational efficiency, and will increase the number of hospital staff who are trained to carry out Lean performance improvement techniques. This initiative will also provide executive leadership and management with the expert and intensive training needed to lead system-wide Lean transformation.

Contact: Mary Gregory, Senior Program Associate

Register Now: Partnering with Private Provider Organizations to Expand Services and Access Webinar

On Thursday, April 7 from 12 pm to1 pm, CAPH/SNI will host a webinar featuring Quality Leaders Awards Top Honors winner San Mateo Medical Center for their Community Health Network for the Underserved program. As a result, San Mateo County has seen expanded services to the indigent and Medi-Cal populations from 10 major private provider organizations, $12 million in estimated value of partnerships and/or new funding to support the Network, and improved geographic access for low-income women delivering babies within their county. The presentation will be led by San Mateo Medical Center CEO, Dr. Susan Ehrlich and Director of Strategic Operations for San Mateo County Health System, Srija Srinivasan.

Visit the SNI website for more information or email Norma Batongbacal to register.

California Public Hospitals Recognized for Implementing Electronic Records

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin recently paid a visit to San Mateo Medical Center to learn about San Mateo’s Innovative Care Clinic as the first public hospital in the state to implement an electronic medical records system. During her visit, Benjamin shared her commitment to prevention and community health, a top priority for California’s public hospital systems. Read the full article here.

University of California medical centers are going digital, implementing electronic health records. The new systems will help deliver better care, enabling doctors to have instant access to lab tests, arming patients with the right knowledge about their medication, and giving providers the ability to extend care coordination throughout the community. Read more in the UC Health article.

New Reports Show Need for Replication Despite Improvements in HAIs

Twonew reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) have been released, highlighting successes and further challenges in the reduction of hospital-acquired infections (HAI). Both the CDC report and AHRQ report show significant reductions in either central line bloodstream infections acquired in intensive care units (ICUs) or ventilator-associated pneumonias. However, both reports call for action to spread implementation of the successful initiatives. Reducing healthcare-acquired infections is currently one of SNI’s emerging priority areas (see first SNI Bulletin item on the SNI Expansion).

Contact: Seraphin Nicholson, Senior HIT Program Associate

CHCF Health Care Leadership Program Now Accepting Applications

CHCF’s Health Care Leadership Program is a part-time, two-year fellowship that offers clinically trained health care professionals the experiences, competencies, and skills necessary for effective vision and leadership of our health care system. Fellows attend seminars six times during the two-year program and they participate in ongoing learning activities throughout. Click here for more information and to access the program application. Applications are due May 15.

Scholarships Still Available for the 2011-2012 Disparities Leadership Program

The Disparities Solutions Center (DSC) at Massachusetts General Hospital is still offering scholarships for public hospitals to attend its 2011-2012 Disparities Leadership Program, a year-long executive education program. The scholarships cover 50-75% of the tuition based on need. The program is designed for leaders from hospitals, health plans and other health care organizations who wish to implement practical strategies to identify and address racial and ethnic disparities in health care, particularly through quality improvement.The DLP consists of 2 two-day meetings and a series of conference calls and web seminars throughout the year.

Contact: Boris Kalanj, Senior Program Associate for Quality and Healthcare Equity

New Events on the SNI Calendar

April 4, KP Diabetes Overview training, CEU awarded. Contact Sasha Morduchowicz.
April 13, 8:30am to 5:00pm, SNI hosts Panel Management Training led by SFGH/UCSF experts, Oakland. Contact: Sasha Morduchowicz.
April 26, 8:30am to 5:00pm, SNI hosts Panel Management Training led by SFGH/UCSF experts, Burbank. Contact: Sasha Morduchowicz.
April 27, 12:30pm to 1:30pm, CHCF WebinarTransforming the Patient Experience: Clinica Family Health Services. Register here.
May 12, 10:00am to 3:00pm, SNI’s Quality Leaders Forum at the Marriott Burbank Hotel in Southern California. This is a semi-annual meeting of quality improvement experts and leaders from CAPH-member public hospitals. Click here to register.
July 12-13, CQC’s Measurement of Quality Improvement training at the Long Beach Hilton. Register here or contact Shannon Disney.

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