Have you Heard the News?

An article titled, “Using Health Information Technology to Enhance Preventive Care in West Virginia” was published in the May/June 2012 edition of the peer-reviewed West Virginia Medical Journal. The article, authored by Dr. Charles Schade, Terri Bliziotes, Patty Ruddick and Dr. Sven Berg, describes Health Information Technology (HIT) Meaningful Use measures that relate to preventive health care, including organizations and resources that are available to assist physicians select, implement, or advance the use of the HIT in the clinical setting.

A case study highlighting Shenandoah Community Health Center’s work with WVMI is featured on HealthIT.gov, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) new Web site designed to be the leading national resource on health information technology (health IT).
With assistance from WVMI’s health information technology regional extension center staff, Shenandoah, a federally qualified health center with about 30,000 patients, has been working on achieving meaningful use. It is also a Level 1 NCQA Certified Medical Home and Joint Commission Accredited.
Read the story at healthIT.gov.

Quality Insights of Delaware’s Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) was recently highlighted on a national forum for its Health Information Technology (HIT) expertise. Delaware REC HIT Practice Coordinator Peter Minio and HIT Privacy and Security Specialist Nicholas Heesters were each featured on the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) National Learning Consortium (NLC) Web site. The NLC features lessons learned from the ONC and its outreach programs (RECs, Beacon Communities, and State Health Information Exchanges) and through the Health Information Technology Research Center (HITRC).

 

Through a new agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Quality Insights will help resolve disputes arising from the the survey and certification process. Long term care facilities that do not agree with a deficiency identified by the state department of health may appeal to Quality Insights. Quality Insights team will review the case, make a recommendation to the Department of Health and also recommend process improvements that may prevent future deficiencies.

Quality Insights of Pennsylvania's HIT Privacy & Security Specialist Adam Kehler was recently  featured on a Mobile Devices Roundtable hosted by the the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT). The videos and materials from the March 16 Mobile Devices Roundtable are available online by clicking here. Adam is featured in panel 3 of the discussion, which centers on how to better safeguard health information while using mobile devices. 

Three WVMI staff members shared their technology expertise at the March spring symposium sponsored by the West Virginia Medical Group Management Association. The trio delivered the presentation, “Meaningful Use and Security” at the Marriott Hotel in Charleston.

Janet  R. Lynch and Nancy C. Armistead  of the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition co-authored an article to be published in an upcoming edition of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

MARC Deputy Director Lynch and Executive Director Armistead co-authored the article, “Prevalence of Arteriovenous Fistulas in Incident Hemodialysis Patients: Correlation With Patient Factors That May Be Associated with Maturation Failure.”

Nathan Gibson has been appointed as WVMI & Quality Insights’ new Privacy Officer. He is responsible for privacy awareness and training and for implementing and maintaining information privacy policies and procedures.

WVMI & Quality Insights Information Security Officer Scott Brannon in January became a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). The designation requires successful completion of a comprehensive exam and a minimum of five years of full-time experience in information security.

Charleston, WV -- A WVMI employee and her family were on hand when the evergreen that outgrew its welcome at their house took center stage at the Dec. 1 annual tree-lighting ceremony at the state Capitol in Charleston.

Sven Berg, MD, MPH, CPE has agreed to join the WVMI & Quality Insights family of companies as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Berg, who will be based in Charleston WV, comes to WVMI & Quality Insights from the United States Air Force, where he has spent his career, first in clinical practice, then in medical administration with 14 years of increasingly responsible positions.

WVMI Chief Executive Officer John Wiesendanger acknowledged Dr. Reginald McClung for achieving Meaningful Use of his electronic health record during the Nov. 8 meeting of the Kanawha County Medical Society.

Quality Insights of Pennsylvania in September was selected by Automated Health Systems to develop a software tool that will assist project staff in collecting various indicators that will be used to assess the quality of health care being provided to patients in the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals KIDMED program. The Quality Insights analytical staff will also design a set of quality reports to be used by AHS in presenting their findings.

Quality Insights of Pennsylvania in August received an expansion of its current contract to help Medicare assess the quality of care provided by the nation’s physicians.

In August 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program (WVMI & Quality Insights are QIOs in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware) an updated charter for leading change.

Here are some of the biggest differences between today’s Program and that of the past:

WVMI & Quality Insights’ HHQI National Campaign published an article in the peer-reviewed Home Healthcare Nurse journal in May.

WVMI has received a Business on Board with Childcare designation from West Virginia KIDS COUNT fund. The award recognizes WVMI’s adherence to key national and local criteria for a childcare-friendly workplace. This includes factors such as establishing child-friendly leave policies and a flexible benefits program.

Quality Insights of Delaware Medical Director Edward R. Sobel, DO, was featured in a February 2011 issue of Medical Economics. Dr. Sobel, who is also a family physician and co-owner of Wilmington-based Family Practice Associates, discussed his practice’s successful implementation and use of an electronic health record (EHR).

 

Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition Deputy Director Janet R. Lynch and Executive Director Nancy C. Armistead published an article in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases in January.

Quality Insights Holdings (WVMI’s parent company) and the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition (MARC) have announced plans to merge in a move that will strengthen and expand both organizations’ focus on improving the quality of health care. The boards of directors of both companies unanimously approved the merger.