FROM: Theodore O. Will, Chief Executive Officer
DATE: Sep 02, 2005
SUBJECT: CMS 8TH SOW AND "TARGET SETTING"
IPRO CONTACTS:
Pauline Kinney, R.N., M.A., L.N.H.A., Director - NHQI, extension 402
In November 2002, the Federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), launched the National Nursing Home Quality Initiative (NHQI). As the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for New York State, IPRO has been charged by CMS with assisting New York nursing homes (NHs) to improve the quality of care provided to all residents.
The Nursing Home Quality Initiative has two major components:
Throughout the past three years, many New York facilities have made significant improvements in the care being provided to residents by taking advantage of these materials and the support of IPRO's NHQI staff. We are pleased to report that New York has ranked among the most successful states during this period.
IPRO is pleased to announce that our contract with CMS has been renewed for another three years, and we have entered our 8th Scope of Work as the Medicare QIO for New York effective August 1, 2005. As in the 7th Scope or Work, IPRO will be working on the expanded nursing home initiative both with statewide and an Identified Participant Group (IPG) of nursing homes throughout New York.
During the 8th Scope of Work, we will be working to improve performance on the clinical topics of high-risk pressure ulcers, chronic pain, depression and restraints. IPRO continues its commitment to provide NHs with the tools, materials and skills necessary to develop and implement successful Quality Improvement projects.
CMS requires IPRO to work with ALL nursing homes in New York on specific tasks. One of the most significant responsibilities is to assist facilities to set improvement targets on an annual basis for at least the high-risk pressure ulcer and physical restraint quality measures.
Setting targets allows providers to establish internal quality improvement goals and measure improvement by incorporating the publicly reported data into their internal quality improvement efforts. To facilitate target setting, IPRO staff will work with NHs to use the "Setting Targets-Achieving Results" (STAR) web based tool.
Information about STAR is enclosed with this memo. At this time, we encourage you to meet with your team to discuss target setting, share the material, and set your targets. IPRO staff will contact you during the week of September 26, 2005 to review the target setting process, field questions, provide additional information and training as necessary.
To assure continuity throughout the 8th Scope of Work we ask that you assign a facility "Target Setting" contact/liaison. Please submit (via fax) the attached fax-back form to IPRO no later than September 16, 2005.
If you should have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Pauline Kinney at pkinney@nyqio.sdps.org or 516-209-5402.