Nebraska's homeland security model
By Governor Dave Heineman

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:
I recently had the opportunity to give a presentation to some of our state's leading students, experts and educators on Nebraska's unique approach to homeland security and bioterrorism preparedness. I suspect that few Nebraskans know how extensive our model for homeland security is.

Nebraska has been working to address the challenges presented by threats to our security and the Nebraska Model was developed to guide the complex process of ensuring the safety of thousands of Nebraska families. The Nebraska Model is an integrated, coordinated and comprehensive approach to homeland security preparedness.

We have not only included emergency management, military, fire and law enforcement officials, but also our health care community, state and local agencies, as well as agriculture, transportation and public health officials. In addition, we have sought out experts in Nebraska's private sector and academic community to ensure we are ready to respond in any situation.

Read the governor's complete letter to Nebraska citizens.

— Office of the Governor, April 15, 2005.

Deadly flu samples turn up at 20-some labs in Nebraska
OMAHA - Labs at about 20 Nebraska clinics and hospitals have received packages containing a dangerous flu virus inadvertently sent in a testing kit, state health officials said Friday. The state's chief medical officer, Dr. Richard Raymond, said he believes that most of the material has already been destroyed.

There is minimal risk to the public, Raymond said earlier this week, because the virus has been around for nearly 50 years and there have been no reported illnesses since its deadly outbreak.

Known as the "Asian flu," the 1957 H2N2 virus killed between 1 million and 4 million people around the world. Officials from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Control are working with national, state and local officials and labs to ensure the destruction of the samples. They were sent to 18 countries and more than 4,000 labs, including probably every state.

Warnings have been sent to Nebraska's 120 or so hospitals and laboratories, officials said.

Including the Asian flu virus in testing kits, apparently a mistake by a lab in Ohio, was "inappropriate," Raymond said earlier this week.

Because the testing regimen is proprietary, he said, he would not give the names of the 20 labs or their locations. He did say they were scattered throughout the state.

Dr. David Lawton, health surveillance administrator for the state Health and Human Services, said the sending of virus or other test materials "is a normal process of lab testing and of certifying technicians."

"It's just not unusual," Lawton said Friday. "The fact that this virus was included in the survey (testing) was unfortunate."

"We're probably being overly cautious,but there's good reason," he said. "We don't want something to happen because we caused it."

Lawton said the Nebraska Public Health Lab at the University of Nebraska Medical Center is probably the only lab in the state that would have any real use for such a virus.

Raymond gave confirmation earlier this week that the Nebraska Medical Center Hospital in Omaha had received the virus. "That specimen is now kept in the Nebraska Public Health Lab," Raymond said.

More reports of the packages in Nebraska are unlikely, Lawton believes, because the 20 labs already reporting are the only ones that would do the sort of work necessary for the testing.

Among the 20 labs was one at the Grand Island Clinic. Administrator Pat Enck told The Grand Island Independent that the clinic received the warning about the package contents before it was opened. It has since been destroyed, she said.

Raymond said the specimen sent to the medical center hospital, now secured at the public health lab, will be kept on hand for awhile in case an outbreak occurs among lab workers.

- By Nelson Lampe/The Associated Press, Lincoln Journal Star, April 15, 2005.

Use new 2-1-1 Web site to connect with local human services information
Where do you look to help others connect with local assistance for rent, utilities or food? How do you find local information on counseling, medical support groups or hotlines? An easy way to get connected with information and answers on a wide variety of health and social services in your community and in other cities and towns across the state is just a click away.

Nebraska's new 2-1-1 Web site, www.ne211.org, offers local human services information to people across the state, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You may search for information in several ways on the 2-1-1 Web site, including searches by location and type of service. Case managers, as well as government and social service providers, will find the Web site helpful as a "one stop shop" to help connect clients with services. The Web site also will be a handy resource for people trying to find services for themselves or even a friend or relative in another Nebraska community.

The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center provides administrative and technical support to the collaborating organizations. The following four database partners contributed data to the ne211.org Web site: Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department; Nebraska Respite Network (Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services); Panhandle Partnership for Health and Human Services; and United Way of the Midlands (host of the 2-1-1 Call/Resource Center, serving 19 Nebraska and eight southwest Iowa counties).

Organizations providing funding for 2-1-1 telephone service in their community include: Cozad United Way; Fremont Area United Way; Gothenburg United Way; Heartland United Way; Lexington United Way; Sarpy/Cass Department of Health and Wellness; Three Rivers Public Health Department; Two Rivers Public Health Department; United Way of the Kearney Area; United Way of Lincoln-Lancaster County; United Way of Siouxland; and United Way of Western Nebraska.

For more information, contact Teri Perkins, Research Specialist, University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, at tperkins@nebraska.edu, or by phone at 402-472-5678.

— NEBHANDS news, April 15, 2005.

Rally for a Healthy Nebraska
Wednesday, May 4
11:00 a.m. at the Capitol in Lincoln

Join Voices for Children in Nebraska, along with Nebraska Appleseed and Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), for a Rally for Healthy Nebraskans in Lincoln on May 4, 2005. This is part of the national Cover the Uninsured Week 2005 to bring attention to the plight of uninsured and those at risk of becoming uninsured due to anticipated cuts in Medicaid on the federal and state level.

Help us tell the story of why we must protect Medicaid and make health insurance more affordable for Nebraskans. Come speak out on behalf of all Nebraskans who struggle daily because they are uninsured or have been dropped from Medicaid. If you have a story to tell about being uninsured or have hardships after leaving Medicaid, now is the time to share it. If you just think this is the right thing to do - come along and we will craft a message for you to share.

Read the complete news release from Voices for Children.

- News release, April 13, 2005.


House Republicans express qualms over Medicaid cuts
Forty-four House Republicans asked Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) to restore $20 billion in federal Medicaid funding that would be cut under the House fiscal 2006 budget proposal and to add $1.5 million to fund a commission on Medicaid reform. The lawmakers said they were concerned that the cut would hurt patients and providers while not leading to the "comprehensive reform and improvement that the program needs." The Senate budget plan does not reduce Medicaid funding and includes $1.5 million for a Medicaid reform commission. The House still must name members to the conference committee that will reconcile the two chambers' budget proposals, and a date hasn't been set for the committee's first meeting. The letter and news release from Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) are posted on the American Hospital Association's Web site. Read the documents.-- by Tony Fong

— Modern Healthcare's Daily Dose, April 15, 2005.

Pedriatric vaccine stockpile drops
WASHINGTON - Just three years after the largest and most serious shortage of childhood vaccines in two decades, the federal government's stockpile of childhood vaccines, designed as a buffer against future shortages, is nearly empty - and without immediate prospects of being filled.

Three of the four companies that produce the shots recommended for every American child told the federal government last year they would not sell their products for this little-known but important piece of the nation's public health infrastructure.

Although opinions differ, it appears that the Pediatric Vaccine Stockpile has become an innocent bystander wounded in the government's crackdown on deceptive accounting practices.

No one has accused the vaccine manufacturers of wrongdoing. However, they can no longer treat as revenue the money they get when they sell millions of doses of vaccine into the stockpile because the shots are not delivered until the government calls for them during emergencies. Instead, the vials are held in the manufacturers' warehouses, where they are officially considered unsold in the eyes of auditors, investors and Wall Street.

Today, the stockpile contains 13.2 million doses of vaccine, less than one-third of the goal of 41 million doses. It is supposed to hold supplies of eight shots that together protect against 11 childhood diseases. However, for two of those products - including the workhorse DTaP, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis - it contains no doses. The missing vaccine is not in storage in company warehouses or anywhere else. It simply does not exist.

Read the complete Washington Post story by David Brown online at http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2005/04/17/nation/doc42617b086a606370993934.txt. 

- Lincoln Journal Star, April 17, 2005.


Shelli Cornwell new administrator at Genoa Community Hospital
The Board of Trustees for Genoa Community Hospital has hired Shelli Cornwell to replace departing administrator Joyce Beck.

Ms. Cornwell has a bachelor of science degree in human services counseling from Wayne State College and earned a master's degree in health care administration from Bellevue University.

For the past 12 years, Ms. Cornwell worked as program director and substance abuse counselor at Catholic Charities in Columbus.

As administrator, she will oversee the operations of four facilities, as well as manage the hiring and development of staff members, develop policies and manage the financial budget.

Human Resources newsletter available to hospitals
Berens & Tate, P.C. is an affiliate member of the NHA. The company provides a monthly email newsletter, "Laborwatch," covering matters of interest in the area of labor relations, employment litigation, and human resource issues. The newsletter is free for NHA member hospitals. Please see the linked copy of the March 2005 edition for your review.

If you would like to subscribe to Laborwatch, please email Tim Louden at Timl@berenstate.com. 

— Berens & Tate release, April 13, 2005.


CMS seeking comments on Medicare quality demonstration
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will hold an open door forum April 20 to receive public comment on a Medicare quality demonstration for which the agency plans to solicit applications in the next few months. CMS is still finalizing the demonstration design, but said it intends to use the demonstration "to identify, develop, test and disseminate major, multi-faceted improvements to the entire health care system." It said factors to be studied as part of the demonstration include financial and non-financial incentives to improve health care safety, quality and efficiency; use of best practice guidelines; variations in utilization and outcomes measurement and research; shared decision making between providers and patients; and culturally and ethnically sensitive health care delivery. The agency is accepting comments on the demonstration through May 6. For more on the demonstration, authorized by the Medicare Modernization Act, visit the CMS Web site.

- AHA News Now, April 15, 2005.


HHS issues HIPAA enforcement rule
The Department of Health and Human Services has issued for publication in the April 18 Federal Register a proposed rule setting forth the procedure for imposing civil monetary penalties on entities that violate the administrative simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The proposed rule follows an April 2003 interim final rule that set forth the procedure pending a complete enforcement rule. AHA is reviewing the proposed rule and expects to provide comments as appropriate, said Lawrence Hughes, AHA regulatory counsel and director of member relations. The association commented on the interim rule in a June 2003 letter.

- AHA News Now, April 15, 2005.


2005 Bioterrorism Symposia Series
April 20-21, 2005, Norfolk
May 24-25, 2005, Kearney
June 16-17, 2005, Gering

See the brochure for program details and registration.

Achieving Patient Safety: Reconciliation of medications across the continuum of care
April 25, 2005
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The Cornhusker Hotel and Convention Center
333 S. 13th St.
Lincoln, NE 68508

Objectives of this full day workshop are:

• Understanding the importance of medication reconciliation in patient safety
• Understanding the tasks required to achieve reconciliation of medications across the continuum of care
• Translating the tasks required to achieve reconciliation of medications into policies and procedures appropriate for your facility
• Identifying organizational barriers to implementation of medication reconciliation
• Identifying strategies to overcome organizational barriers to medication reconciliation

See the NHA Web site, Events page, for more information.

NHA Leadership Institute - Fuller Series
May 10, 2005
Embassy Suites
Lincoln, NE

In this session of the NHA Leadership Institute you will learn how to assess your organization's environment, increase awareness of cultural issues, identify the skills and qualities associated with collaborative leadership and creating clarity.

Register online at the NHA Events page. Please contact Jon Borton, director of education, at 458-4907 or jborton@nhanet.org if you have questions.

2005 Compliance Briefing Series
7-session conference call series
May 10 thru November 8, 2005
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CT

May 10-OIG Supplemental Compliance Guidance for Hospitals Who Should Attend: Compliance Officers, human resource officers, legal counsel, risk managers, reimbursement specialists, chief financial officers, and business office managers.

Cost: $110 for members/$160 for non-members per session OR $680 for members/$790 for non-members for entire series.

For More Information: Contact Jon Borton, director of education at 402/458-4907 or jborton@nhanet.org. 

Center for Bio-Preparedness: Mass Fatalities
May 10-11, 2005
The Cornhusker Hotel and Convention Center
333 S. 13th St.
Lincoln, NE

July 26-27, 2005
Holiday Inn Convention Center
110 2nd Ave.
Kearney, NE

An interactive lecture and exercises designed to provide a professional overview of issues and lessons learned in mass fatalities response.

For more information and registration, please contact Sandra Logue at 402/552-2529 or slogue@unmc.edu. 

Warren Memorial Hospital Golf Tournament
May 13, 2005
8:30 a.m. Registration, 9 a.m. Shotgun Start
Friend Country Club
Friend, NE

For more information, call Amy Fish at 402/947-2541.

NHA Golf Tournament and Mid-Year Meeting: "Credibility and Patient Care"
Golf Tournament
June 8, 2005
Indianhead Golf Course
Grand Island, NE

Mid-Year Meeting
June 9-10, 2005
Interstate Holiday Inn
Grand Island, NE

NHA members will gather June 9-10, 2005, for the annual Mid-Year Meeting. This year's theme, "Credibility in Patient Care," focuses on creating a culture of excellence, building a positive workforce and defining methods of collaboration among health care providers.

The first keynote speaker is Al Stubblefield, CEO of the Baptist Health Care Corporation and author of "The Baptist Health Care Journey to Excellence: Creating a Culture that WOWs!" Following Mr. Stubblefield is John Belt, consultant, executive coach and trainer who will discuss building a positive workforce. At the close of the afternoon, NHA Director of Clinical Health Information Monica Seeland will provide an update on the NHA Quality Plan.

Thursday evening includes casual socializing and fun at the Sponsor's Reception. During the reception enjoy the smooth jazz sounds of Mac McCune.

Friday's program will feature a collaborative roundtable discussion with representatives from the Nebraska Medical Association, Nebraska Pharmacists Association, Public Health Association, Rural Health Association, the Nebraska Center for Nursing and the Nebraska Organization of Nurse Executives.

The Mid-Year Meeting is designed to bring all members of NHA together as we address issues and concerns facing hospitals today. Don't miss this great opportunity to network with your peers at this important program.

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