Make time to share your success stories

Every day, case managers like you make a real difference in the world of healthcare. Unfortunately, most of the time, the results of what you do may go unrecognized. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

If you’d like to share a best practice, success story, or maybe even have the time to prepare a poster presentation about a quality improvement project your organization has created, here’s your chance. The Case Management Society of America has extended its Call for Presentations, Posters, & Symposium Programs for our 17th Annual Conference & Expo – Denver 2007. If you have a story to tell, why not tell it in a national forum where other case managers can hear it — and maybe put your ideas to good use? To submit a proposal for consideration, go to www.cmsa.org.

This year, CMSA has implemented a couple of new ways to thank those who submit proposals. First, everyone who submits will be entered into a drawing for a complimentary conference registration (applicable to all speakers noted on the Call for Presentations). Second, if your proposal is not selected for the final program, your topic may be considered for further development as a continuing education article. If interested, please indicate so by selecting “yes” in the appropriate box when completing your online proposal.

Exploring end-of-life care for children

I had the opportunity to work at a children’s hospital in the early ‘80s, and found it to be a place like no other. I think that’s probably why I sat in my car recently for 10 minutes listening to a story on National Public Radio (NPR). I know you’ll also find it well worth your time. As palliative or end-of-life care programs become more common in hospitals, many are realizing that children should be included and given a voice in that care. NPR’s Melissa Block visited one of the country’s top pediatric palliative care programs — the Pediatric Advanced Care Team (PACT) at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) — for a rare glimpse inside the world of end-of-life care for children. Take a few moments to listen to this moving and informative story, which you’ll find at the NPR web site.

CMS to sets the stage to reward those who can demonstrate they improve patient care

In an effort to reward providers who practice and can demonstrate quality care efforts, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced this week that they will cut Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates by 5.1 percent in 2007. Hospitals, meanwhile, will get a 3 percent raise for outpatient care on the condition that they submit data proving that they’re following guidelines for improving patient care. CMS head Mark McClellan says the cuts are due to more treatments being given to each patient, which doesn’t necessarily improve outcomes. That is why hospitals won’t receive higher reimbursements unless they submit data on improving care. This move toward outcomes-based payment isn’t surprising. CMS’ actions are in line with the larger industry trend toward pay-for-performance. To read more, see this Washington Post article.

Stricter guidelines proposed for conscious sedation

Conscious sedation, a form of anesthesia in which medication is used to help a patient relax during a medical procedure, has become a popular alternative to general anesthesia in recent years. This has placed pressure on busy anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists to administer the drugs, and some surgeons would like to be able to carry out the procedures themselves. But safety experts warn that anesthesia is tricky and must be performed by a trained professional. The fact that state regulation of the procedures varies greatly doesn’t make the situation any safer. This fall, the University HealthSystem Consortium is rolling out guidelines that outline best practices for administering anesthesia. Hospitals are also adopting stricter standards that require certification training every two years. To read more, see this Wall Street Journal article from August 9, 2006 (subscription required).

Tackling cultural diversity: Finding ways to bridge the gap

Case managers today are called on to address a wide range of issues. Cultural diversity is one of the challenges we’re all looking for ways to better understand. Learning what others are doing can help all of us meet this challenge more successfully. With that in mind, I invite you to let me know what you are doing in your organization to address cultural diversity.

An article from Fierce Biotech highlights what providers in the state of Michigan are doing to better meet the needs of their culturally diverse patient pool. Michigan’s Oakwood Hospital is attracting foreign-language patients by providing medically qualified interpreters on staff. In areas where there are a high number of people who speak english as a second language, having interpreters on hand attracts a loyal base of customers through word-of-mouth. Economically, it’s a smart move. According to a recent report in the Detroit Free Press, the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia projects that the buying power of several minority populations will grow at nearly twice the rate of their white counterparts between 1990 to 2008. Hospitals can’t afford to ignore this growing base of patients, and other providers are taking notice as well.

Other Michigan hospitals are catering to patients with different cultural and religious backgrounds in a number of ways. Some offer foreign-language prenatal classes, or halal and kosher menus. Two others offer bloodless surgery to attract Jehovah’s Witnesses and Christian Scientists. Knowing the ethnic and religious backgrounds of patients and catering to their needs are good ways to attract business while at the same time making the patient feel comfortable. To learn more, read this Detroit Free Press article.

There is also a pilot program taking place in the State of California to test a new video and voice application. This system features consoles within treatment centers that let physicians access interpreters to share information with patients, improving care and treatment. Called the Health Care Interpreter Network, it is currently being piloted by three California hospitals and already handles about 3,000 calls each month. To read more, see this Information Week article.

New airline rules may compromise health needs

Case Managers need to inform their patients who are planning air travel how to cope with the rigid new airline rules banning most liquid substances from flights. Experts say the ban could put many passengers’ health at risk, and the long lines and anxiety at security checkpoints could also aggravate health problems. Heart patients who take nitroglycerin, for example, may fear carrying it on board since nitroglycerin is related to an explosive compound, and diabetes patients may not be able to stick to their medication schedules. To learn more, see this ABC News article.

Human resource managers focus more on benefits, including healthcare

Today, younger workers entering the workforce want to make sure that healthcare is one of the benefits their potential employers offer. Take a few minutes to read a recent research report that shows how human resources managers are putting more effort into offering practical benefits such as health care coverage and flexible hours, instead of luxury perks. This is indicative of a shift in what younger workers are looking for as they enter the labor force. To read more, see this Yahoo! /Reuters article.

More drugs added to state’s price-comparison Web site

In response to last week’s Across My Desk, a reader asked about resources she can share with her team on the most common drugs seniors take, and which drugs they may want to avoid due to serious side effects. I’m in the process of researching this and will provide more information next week. Meanwhile, I wanted to share a resource I found while researching this topic that may not answer all the questions, but does provide comparative information on the cost of drugs. The State of Florida now provides its citizens with a website, MyFloridaRX.com, that allows consumers to compare drug prices on line. They’ve recently doubled the types of prescription drugs for which patients can make such price comparisons. To read more about this, see this Jacksonville Business Journal article.

If your state provides a similar service to help consumers better understand their medications or offers ways to tackle the high cost of drugs, send me the link and I will share it with everyone in next week’s Across My Desk.