Illinois Hospital Association

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April 29, 2008

Upcoming Quality Improvement Educational Events

TO: Chief Executive Officers
  Chief Medical Officers
  Chief Nursing Executives
  Directors of Public Relations
  Directors of Quality
  Infection Control and Prevention Directors
  Directors of Community Relations


There are a few upcoming educational events that you should be aware of that will be of benefit to your hospital staff as they seek to better understand the environmental changes impacting care delivery and quality improvement. The programs include:

  • "Excelling and Accelerating Quality Care and Outcomes" - Illinois Hospital Quality Leadership Conference – May 15 and 16
  • "Transparency: Living in Glass Hospitals" – Voices of Experience 3 Part Series – May 30, July 23, and October 15
  • "Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?" and "Necessary Treatment for Unnatural Causes" airing on WYCC TV-20 on Sundays at 8:00 p.m. on May 4, 11, 18, and 25
    •

    "Excelling and Accelerating Quality Care and Outcomes" - Illinois Hospital Quality Leadership Conference – May 15 and 16
    IHA and the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council are co-hosting this upcoming educational session focused on providing attendees with the latest information on fast changing issues in quality improvement, performance measurement, and public reporting. Well-known national and state leaders will spearhead the presentations and discussions along with some thought provoking research and findings on topics affecting health outcomes and quality care.

    "Transparency: Living in Glass Hospitals" – Voices of Experience 3 Part Series
    This 3 part series is designed to coincide with various public reporting requirements at national and state levels. Each of the sessions will be 3 hours and will be available via televideo conference locations at IHA offices in Naperville and Springfield; Mercer County Hospital in Aledo; and Pinckneyville Hospital in Pinckneyville.

    May 30 – Topics for Discussion focus on public information now and in near future, public relations tips on explaining information and results to the public and your community, and advantages of conducting an accountability audit and engaging physicians, clinicians, and boards in discussion
  • Hospital Quality Alliance and Next Steps
  • Illinois Report Results – Hospital Specific and Comparative Information from COMPdata will be prepared for each participating hospital
  • Health literacy – how to communicate hospital results to the public and community in terms that they can understand
  • Importance of conducting an accountability audit given the increasing availability of hospital specific information provided by government and commercial organizations

    • July 23 – Topics will focus on preparing for the first release of nurse staff information, SCIP infection results, and MRSA and C-Diff public reports.
    Providers from states in which nurse staff ratios and infection information are public will provide insight into the public reaction and tips on how best to prepare your hospital for internal and public inquiries and the media. Hospitals will be provided with their own hospital specific reports on nurse staff information and MRSA and C-Diff infections.

    October 15 – Topics will focus on Medicare’s inpatient and outpatient expanded public reporting requirements, value based exchanges, and the value based purchasing plan to become effective October 1, 2008.
    There will also be presentations and COMPdata reports provided on healthcare acquired payment reduction targeted areas using hospital data and the Present on Admission code results. Outside speakers will include a value exchange designated organization and local health plans to discuss their future payment incentive initiatives.

    Additionally, pending the targeted availability date by the Illinois Department of Public Health, a discussion on the Consumer Guide utilizing inpatient and outpatient hospital information will be weaved into the July or October meeting discussions. Prototypes developed by IDPH will be shared as soon as they are available.

    Registration and Fees. Each of the programs in this series will be half day morning sessions and will be broadcast via televideo conference to multiple sites. Refreshments will be provided at each site along with meeting materials and reports. The more attendees from your hospital, the lower the price per person. Registration fees for the entire three program series are $90 for 1 attendee, $75 for each additional attendee. For more information and to register, click here.

    "Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?" and "Necessary Treatment for Unnatural Causes"
    WISE WYCC TV-20 is airing the program on 4 consecutive Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. starting on May 4. WYCC TV-20 will follow each of the programs with a 30 minute unique roundtable discussion with leading local health professionals. Dr. Terry Mason, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, will be the roundtable leader and will have guests from various healthcare sectors in Illinois, including Dr. Damon Arnold, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health; local physicians appearing in the national PBS series; and local community health leaders. To view the schedule and set up an automatic viewing reminder, please go to the WYCC TV-20 web site (click here). 

    This PBS series has been widely viewed by many as it had previously been broadcasted in early spring in markets throughout the United States. The "Unnatural Causes" series has become a topic for discussion in healthcare board rooms, community settings, and in the classroom. For additional information and resources on the series, please go to http://www.pbs.org/unnaturalcauses/index.htm. IHA will also have several participants at the Illinois Hospital Quality Leadership Conference discussing the series.

    Staff Contact: Pat Merryweather