Trauma
System Advisory Board seeks applicants
Nebraska is still accepting applications for several Trauma System Advisory Board appointments that are expiring this summer. Those expiring appointments are: Region 3 - an emergency medical dispatcher; Region 4 - an out of hospital provider and a consumer; and Statewide Board - an EMS
instructor, a consumer and an elected official. For a description of the Trauma
System Advisory Boards click
here or click
here to download an application. For more information contact Sherri Wren,
EMS Trauma Program, at 402/471-0539 or email sherri.wren@hhss.ne.gov.
UNMC seeks nominations for J.G. (Jack) Elliott Award
The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is currently accepting nominations for the 2008 J.G. (Jack) Elliott Award.
The award is given annually to an individual who has made significant
contributions to medicine and health programs for the state of Nebraska. The
award is given in memory of Elliott, a former Scottsbluff resident who served on
the University of Nebraska Board of Regents for 20 years until his death in
1974. The recipient will be selected by the chancellor of the Medical
Center based on input from individuals or groups chosen by the chancellor. Click
here to read more.
Governor
will proclaim September as Pain Awareness Month
Lincoln, NE – In partnership with the Nebraska Pain Initiative, Governor
Dave Heineman will proclaim September as Pain Awareness Month in Nebraska on
Wednesday, August 15, 10:30 a.m. in the Warner Chamber of the State Capitol
Building, Lincoln. The Nebraska Pain Initiative is a program of the Nebraska
Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership (NHPCP).
“Fifty million people live with chronic pain in the U.S. and persistent
pain accounts for 25 percent of sick days taken in the United States. Pain Awareness Month
is a time to recognize pain as a significant and under-recognized public health
issue. The Nebraska Pain Initiative invites everyone with an interest in this
important issue to take part in Pain Month activities,” said Aloha Schmid, RN,
CHPN, president of NHPCP. Click
here for more information.
Senate
OKs wider children's health program
Washington (AP) - The Senate passed legislation Thursday to add 3 million lower-income children to a popular health insurance program in bipartisan defiance of President Bush's threatened
veto. The 68-31 vote, one day after the House passed a more ambitious and expensive version over bitter Republican opposition, handed Democrats a solid achievement to trumpet as they leave Washington for a summer break.
It also gave Democrats, who secured a veto-proof margin, a chance to draw a stark distinction between their priorities and Bush's on an issue that resonates with voters.
"For the life of me, I can't understand why the president would want to veto this legislation," said Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the Finance Committee chairman. "It's moderate, it's bipartisan, it helps low-income kids. ... It's just the right thing to do for the country."
Bush has proposed spending $5 billion to extend the State Children's Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP). He says the Senate's $35 billion expansion would balloon the decade-old program beyond its original mission of covering working poor children and would move more people toward government-run health care.
Architects of the legislation "have seized the reauthorization of SCHIP as
a license to raise taxes, increase spending and take a giant leap forward into
the land of government-run health care," said Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.,
the minority leader. He was one of 31 Republicans to oppose the measure, while
18 Republicans joined 48 Democrats and two independents to support it. Read the full article in the Omaha World Herald.
— Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Associated Press, August 3,2007.
House Democrats tie children's health expansion to Medicare cuts
Washington — House Democrats pushed through legislation Wednesday to add 6 million lower-income children to a popular health insurance program while making deep cuts in federal payments to Medicare HMOs, defying a veto threat from President Bush.
On a 225-204, mostly party-line vote, the House passed the legislation, which would add $50 billion to the decade-old State Children’s Health Insurance Program
(SCHIP) and roll back years of Republican-driven changes to Medicare.
The bill would slash federal payments to private insurance companies that cover elderly and disabled patients under Medicare and shift money to doctors and benefits for lower-income beneficiaries. The rest of the children’s health increase would come from hefty increases in taxes on tobacco products.
Read the full article in the Lincoln Journal star.
— Julie Hirschfeld Davis, The Associated Press, August 2, 2007.
Report:
New Orleans hospitals bleeding money
Five New Orleans hospitals that have carried much of the city's medical
burden since Charity Hospital was closed by Hurricane Katrina are hemorrhaging
money. By year's end, the hospitals that provide 95 percent of the medical
services in metro New Orleans will lose a total of $135 million, figures
compiled by the Louisiana Hospital Association show. By 2009, the losses are
expected to swell to $405 million. Read
the full article.
— USA Today, August 1, 2007.
Women
in Tilden, NE showing skin for a good cause
Women in Tilden, Nebraska, are showing some skin to raise money for a good
cause. The women's photos are featured in a calendar in provocative, yet
tasteful poses. The calendars are being sold to raise money for the Tilden
Community Hospital and Clinic.
Georgia Wyatt is Miss August. “They were trying to match people up with
their hobbies or jobs and I am a local artist and I am a gardener so they put
the two together,” said Wyatt. To order a calendar call Tilden Community
Hospital at 402/368-5343.
— KMEG TV, July 27, 2007.
Children's
Hospital offers Healthy Futures classes
Omaha, NE – Children's Hospital is offering "Healthy Futures," a
dynamic, interactive program that promotes healthy food choices and overall
fitness for overweight children and their families. Classes will begin Monday,
August 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Children's Hospital, 8200 Dodge
Street.
The Healthy Futures program will help children gradually attain their genetic
body build, which may range from willowy to a more rounded shape. Healthy
Futures will strive to improve a child's self-esteem and help families enjoy the
improved health benefits of regular exercise. Children participating in the
program will have a good time as they learn healthy eating habits and the
importance of exercise.
Read
the full news release from Children's Hospital.
Faith Regional
receives General Trauma Center designation
Norfolk, NE – Faith Regional Health Services received official notification that it has been designated as a General Level Trauma Center, also referred to as Level III Trauma Center, from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS). As part of the Statewide Trauma System, Faith Regional becomes the third hospital in the state to achieve the designation of a General Level Trauma Center following a year long application and review process.
“To undertake the process of meeting Nebraska’s requirements to become officially designated as a General Level Trauma Center required the efforts of many people at Faith Regional,” said Susan Cohee, RN,
trauma coordinator at Faith Regional.
There are four trauma level designations: Comprehensive (Level I), Advanced (Level II), General (Level III) and Basic (Level IV). Through the Statewide Trauma System these designations work together to provide optimal care for trauma victims, prevent
unnecessary death and disability. A General Trauma Center provides evaluation and stabilization to patients, general medical and surgical inpatient services and transfers patients to higher levels of care as needed.
Read
the full news release from Faith Regional Health Services.
FAMC
approved as continuing education provider for nurses
Fremont, NE – Fremont Area Medical Center was recently approved to be an official provider of continuing nursing education. The accreditation will make it more convenient for FAMC nursing staff, and any other nurses who work or reside in the area, to fulfill their continuing education requirements. All classes are held on the third floor of FAMC’s Health Park Plaza, located at 450 East 23rd Street in Fremont.
Upcoming program topics include: PICC Care and Management; Tobacco Cessation Products and Programs; Wound Care; and Telemetry Monitoring. For more information on upcoming programs or to register, contact FAMC’s Department of Nursing Excellence at (402) 727-3356 or visit
www.famc.org.
FAMC is an approved provider of continuing education by the Nebraska Nurses Association (NNA), which is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation.
— Fremont Area Medical Center News Release, July 30, 2007.
If your hospital has news to share send it to Christy Rasmussen, director of communications,
at crasmussen@nhanet.org.
CMS
releases final IRF, SNF rules for FY 2008
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) placed on display
final rules for the inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) and skilled nursing
facility (SNF) prospective payment systems for fiscal year 2008. The IRF
rule implements a market basket update of 3.2 percent and fails to extend an
important measure that allows certain patients to count toward “75 Percent
Rule” compliance based on selected secondary conditions. “The AHA and our
rehabilitation hospitals and units are deeply disappointed that CMS chose not to
extend the comorbidities provision, which will further restrict access to care
for patients who need medical and rehabilitation care,” said AHA Executive
Vice President Rick Pollack. Based on current estimates, 7 percent of the
patients who qualify under the 75 Percent Rule today based on this provision
would no longer be eligible given this change, which would take effect July 1,
2008. The final SNF
rule would increase payments by the market basket update of 3.3 percent and
makes no major policy changes.
— AHA News Now, July 31, 2007.
Health
Leaders identify favorite quality strategies
Health information technology (IT), public reporting of quality measures and
financial incentives to improve care are among the strategies favored by health
leaders to improve health care quality and safety, according to a new survey
by the Commonwealth Fund. Nine in 10 respondents think Medicare should require
all health care providers to use electronic health records within 10 years, and
70 percent think the federal government should play a leading role in financing
health IT. Six in 10 respondents support publicly reporting on health care
provider performance, and five in 10 support pay for performance and other
financial incentives to improve health care quality. Three-quarters of
respondents favor reforming Medicare payment to encourage “medical homes”
that coordinate patient care. The online survey was completed by 214 opinion
leaders in health policy, health care delivery and finance.
— AHA News Now, July 30, 2007.
FDA
alerts food services to product recall
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning food service operators,
including hospitals, not to use certain canned food products produced by
Castleberry's Food Co. of Augusta, GA, due to possible botulism contamination.
The hot dog chili sauce, chili with meat, corned beef hash and other products
were included in a recent nationwide recall.
Food service operators should immediately remove and secure any recalled
products as directed. For details, see the FDA announcement
or call 888- SAFEFOOD (FDA) or 888-674-6854 (U.S. Department of Agriculture).
Human illnesses have been associated with two of the recalled products.
AHA:
Hospitals encouraged to preview quality data
Hospitals have until Aug. 14 to preview their latest quality data for the
Hospital Quality Alliance and report any problems to their Quality Improvement
Organization. They also should review their demographic data and submit
any changes to their state survey agency’s coordinator by Aug. 17.
— AHA News Now, July 31, 2007.
Hagel,
Durbin reintroduce bill to increase public health workforce
U.S. Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) last week
reintroduced the Public Health Preparedness Workforce Development Act. This
legislation aims to increase the pipeline of qualified public health workers at
the federal, state, local and tribal levels by offering scholarships to students
going into the public health field. It also encourages current employees to stay
in the public health field by providing loan repayments in exchange for a
commitment of a designated number of years of service in public health. Sens. Hagel and Durbin have introduced similar legislation in the last two Congresses.
“There are critical public health workforce shortages in federal, state,
local and tribal health agencies. The ability of the public health system to
respond to emerging infectious diseases, food-borne illnesses, or bioterrorism
relies on a well-trained, adequately staffed public health workforce at all
levels. We must address this problem before it becomes a crisis,” Hagel said. Read
the full article.
— Southwest Nebraska News, July 26, 2007.
Reminder:
recognize our veterans in NHA’s “Salute to Veterans in Health Care”
The Nebraska Hospital Association’s “Salute to Veterans in Health Care”
will feature the names of Nebraska’s brave veterans and current servicemen and
women who work in our hospitals/health systems. Names will be published in the
fall edition of the NHA’s quarterly magazine, Healthier Nebraska. Help
the NHA recognize an important part of the health care team by submitting the
names of those individuals that have served or are currently serving our country
and who are current or former employees, volunteers, trustees, or board members
of your organization. Please note: recognition is not limited to one person
per facility. Deadline for submissions is August 30, 2007. For more
information or to download the submission form click
here or contact Christy Rasmussen, director of communications, at
402/742-8151 or crasmussen@nhanet.org.
Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care
Partnership- Hospice 101 Conference
August 9-10, 2007 – North Platte and Lincoln, NE
Jefferson
Community Health Center Charity Golf Tournament
August 10, 2007 – Fairbury, NE
Nebraska
Society of Healthcare Engineers 2nd Annual Golf Outing & Recognition Lunch
August 23-24, 2007 – North Platte, NE
Nebraska Rural Health Conference
September 6-7, 2007 – Holiday Inn Convention Center, Kearney
Kimball Hospital Foundation Golf Classic
September 8, 2007 – Kimball, NE
NHA 2007 Annual Convention and Trade Show
October 31-November 2, 2007 – Cornhusker Marriott Hotel, Lincoln
,
NE
Visit the Events page on the NHA Web site for more information on any of the events.
If you have an event you would like listed on the NHA Web site, submit it to
Heather Bullock, marketing and events coordinator, at hbullock@nhanet.org.
NHA Newslink is published by the Nebraska Hospital Association, 3255 Salt Creek Circle, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68504-4761. Phone 402/742-8140, Fax 402/742-8191. Christy Rasmussen,
director of communications, at 402/742-8151, or email, crasmussen@nhanet.org.
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