KHC webinar: Advance Care Planning III
Our March webinar—hosted by the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative in partnership with the Center for Practical Bioethics, KFMC Health Improvement Partners, and the Health Quality Innovation Network—will feature Part III on Advance Care Planning (ACP). This session is intended for physicians, mid-level practitioners, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals. Parts I and II are available in the KHC Education Archive.
10-11 a.m., Wednesday, March 24
Register here
Part III: This session will cover the role of standardized medical order sets in relation to ACP. It will address advanced illness medical order sets and accelerated ACP for use in a health crisis or amid a pandemic.
No-cost infection prevention learning series for outpatient setting
Enrollment is now open for physician offices, clinics, and other ambulatory settings to participate in a new statewide Infection Prevention Learning Action Network (LAN). This virtual learning series is offered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in partnership with the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative (KHC).
The KDHE-KHC LAN will provide nine bi-weekly virtual learning modules over the lunch hour covering the basics of infection prevention beginning Feb. 25 and ending June 17. This learning series is for frontline health care workers, technicians, and office staff with an interest in learning and applying basic infection prevention principles and protocols. There is no cost to participate. Download the KDHE-KHC Learning Action Network informational flyer.
There is no cost to participate. Please enroll by Feb. 22, 2021. Deadline for enrollment is March 10. Please consider who among your team members would benefit from this initiative and enroll here: www.khconline.org/LAN-registration.
Webinar: Compass HQIC Annual Update for NHSN Measures
The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance system with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) is a widely used health care-associated infection (HAI) tracking system. Through use of the NHSN system, facilities can input data, utilize benchmarking reports, identify areas of concern and track progress toward improving infection prevention. Each year the NHSN issues updates to the six components of Patient Safety, Long-term Care Facility, Outpatient Dialysis, Health care Personnel Safety, Biovigilance, and Outpatient Procedure.
This one-hour webinar at 10 a.m. Feb. 23 will explore key changes to the 2021 definitions and information in the Patient Safety component. The program is designed as an update to aid hospitals in preparing for the 2021 reporting year and completing NHSN Annual Safety Survey. More information or register here.
Webinar: KDHE Vaccine Provider Update
This webinar will be focused on sharing three important new efforts on vaccine administration in Kansas, including introduction of new provider reporting.
1:00 - 2:00 p.m., Feb. 17
Register here for log-in information
Kansas Pharmacist SIDP certification scholarship program
KHC and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Healthcare-Acquired Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance (HAI/AR) Program are pleased to again partner to provide reimbursement assistance to select candidates who successfully complete the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP)’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Certificate Program. Pharmacists are eligible if they are actively working with a Kansas acute care hospital and/or long-term care facility to advance its antimicrobial stewardship program. KDHE will accept scholarship applications through Feb. 22, 2021. Up to 15 scholarships may be awarded. View the 2019 scholarship awardees here. Click here for more information: www.khconline.org/SIDP-program
CMS Updates FFS Billing FAQs
This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services updated their COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions document for Medicare billing. The document includes billing and reimbursement information on Medicare services and payment systems as well as information on waivers and rules associated with COVID-19.
FDA Authorizes Emergency Use of Eli Lilly Monoclonal Antibody Combination
This week, the FDA announced approval of the emergency use of Eli Lilly’s bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older weighing at least 40 kilograms) who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 and who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19. Under the EUA, fact sheets that provide important information about using bamlanivimab and etesevimab administered together in treating COVID-19 as authorized must be made available to health care providers and to patients and caregivers.
COVID-19 vaccine messaging guide
The American Medical Association has updated its “COVID-19 vaccines guide for physicians,” including translating the information into Spanish. In addition to providing information reflective of public health guidance, the guide is intended to equip organizational spokespeople with thoughtful messaging, including social media content. It includes words to avoid, sample social media posts, information on how to handle detractors online, among other things.