Administrative Memos

200504

FROM: Theodore O. Will, Chief Executive Officer
DATE: Oct 07, 2005
SUBJECT: Home Health Quality Initiative: Acute Care Hospitalization Teleconferences and Regional Workshops
IPRO CONTACTS:

Sara Butterfield, RN, BSN, CPHQ, CCM, Upstate Director, HCQIP, (800) 233-0360 Ext. 104

IPRO, in contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is working to transition the Home Health Quality Initiative to the priority areas identified in the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) 8th Scope of Work (8th SOW), which began August 1, 2005. One of the key, national goals of the 8th SOW is to reduce the rate of avoidable acute care hospitalizations for patients receiving home care services.

Recent analyses of OASIS data suggest the following:

• The hospitalization rate for home health patients has been steadily rising over the past three years.
• In CY2003, 25% of all hospitalizations occurred within seven days of the beginning of the home care episode.
• Hospitalized home care patients have relatively unstable chronic conditions.
• Of all episodes ending with hospitalization, regardless of referral source, 68% had been hospitalized within two weeks prior to the beginning of the home health episode.

• Coordination of care transitions throughout the continuum
• Identification of patients at high risk for hospitalization
• Stabilization and management of patients with complex, chronic conditions
• Promotion of patient/caregiver self-management
• Utilization of systems and technology to promote effectiveness and efficiency of care

IPRO is pleased to invite you to a series of teleconferences and regional workshops. The purpose of these sessions is to address use of the Outcomes-Based Quality Improvement (OBQI) process in Plan

of Action development and implementation of evidenced-based strategies targeting reduction of avoidable acute care hospitalizations.

The initial part of this educational series consists of a two-part Webex teleconference presentation which will be conducted as follows:

Thursday, October 20, 2005
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Thursday, October 27, 2005
2:00 pm - 3:30 PM

These first two sessions will provide an overview of the initiative and introduce the Acute Care Hospitalization Improvement Matrix, which contains evidenced-based guidelines and strategies that can be used to develop and implement a Plan of Action for your agency.

There is no cost to your agency for participation. The Webex presentation can be accessed via the Internet or you can choose to listen in via telephone. We strongly encourage your participation in both of these sessions, as the content for Part 2 will build on principles reviewed during the Part 1 session. Please register for participation on-line by visiting our website at www.ipro.org and accessing the "Upcoming Events" section.

In advance of these Webex sessions, we will be forwarding to you an introductory Acute Care Hospitalization Planning Packet that will contain your agency-specific OBQI Reports, a Case Mix Analysis Tool identifying the risk factors for your agency's hospitalized and non-hospitalized patient population, and information on the Acute Care Hospitalization Improvement Matrix.

In November, we will hold a series of regional workshop meetings throughout New York State. These workshops will provide an opportunity for your agency to receive one-on-one assistance in developing a Plan of Action targeting reduction in avoidable acute care hospitalization. Further information regarding the November workshop meetings will be provided in the near future.

If you have questions regarding this memorandum or would like additional information, please contact Sara Butterfield at 1-800-233-0360 Ext.104.

We look forward to your participation in this important series of Webex calls and workshop meetings. Working together, we can have a significant impact on the quality of care provided to patients.

Thank you for your continued collaboration on this valuable initiative!