Month: February 2023

Webinar – Engaging and Retaining Employees in a Competitive Environment

February 15, 2023

Webinar – Engaging and Retaining Employees in a Competitive Environment

Date: April 19, 2023

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Central Time

Speaker: Shannon Studden, Independent Leadership Consultant

Rural hospitals and clinics across the country are facing significant challenges when it comes to recruiting and retaining qualified employees. Staff turnover leads to work disruptions, workload imbalances, and increased uncertainty for the staff and patients left behind, not to mention the significant time and expense needed to recruit and train those hired in their place.

The Staff Sustainability Cycle is a process for improving the retention of high-performing staff – and as a result, strengthening continuity of health care services and employee well-being. The cycle takes a holistic approach by sharing best practices in recruitment, onboarding, learning & development, engagement & retention, and succession planning.

In this webinar you’ll learn about the elements in the Staff Sustainability Cycle and take a deep dive into some of the key practices that foster employee engagement and retention. We’ll share tools that you can use to strengthen your practices in these areas – thereby ensuring continuity of the critical services your health care organization provides to support the health of your community.

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Build familiarity with the elements of the staff sustainability cycle and the role that each plays in fostering engagement, retention, and continuity of services
  • Adopt best practices at each stage of the cycle
  • Use tools to support staff sustainability best practices

This event meets the requirement for one ACHE qualified education credit.

Register Here

Making the ACO Decision: How to Select an ACO

February 15, 2023

Making the ACO Decision: How to Select an ACO

Date: March 15, 2023

Time: 2:00 – 3:00 PM Central Time

Speaker: Ralph Llewellyn, Eide Bailly LLP

The decision to engage in the ACO movement is a significant one. The first decision is the overall decision to join and embrace the ACO model. As is the case in all major decisions, one needs to ensure the organization understands and embraces the goals and vision of an ACO. The next decision is related to selecting which ACO to participate in. There are large ACOs and there are smaller ACOs. Some are regional while others are national in scope. This session will explore the question of how to select an ACO that is right for an organization.

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Identify variables to be considered when choosing an ACO
  • Compare the various financial models offered by ACOs
  • Recognize suitable questions to ask prior to joining an ACO

This event meets the requirement for one ACHE qualified education credit.

Register Here

Diverting to Care in Communities Convening

February 15, 2023

Diverting to Care in Communities Convening

Missouri Foundation for Health invites you to join them for the Diverting to Care in Communities Convening on March 23, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Tiger Hotel in Columbia, Missouri.

This convening will bring together community representatives across behavioral health, law enforcement, public health, and community care to share efforts currently underway and strategize around future opportunities for improving the way individuals experiencing mental health and substance use emergencies are supported.

You should attend this convening if you:

  • Think arresting people experiencing a behavioral health crisis isn’t working
  • Want to learn with other communities across Missouri
  • Are considering applying to the Foundation’s next Diverting to Care request for applications which will support rural community partnerships between residents, health professionals, and law enforcement

Registration is limited to two representatives per organization. Attendance is capped at 50 so register today!

Register Here

 

Physician leadership is paramount to the success and health of rural hospitals and communities

February 14, 2023

Physician leadership is paramount to the success and health of rural hospitals and communities

With the constantly changing healthcare landscape, there has never been a more crucial time for physician leaders to have the tools, knowledge, and network of peers and experts they need to thrive in their roles.  These are things you don’t learn in medical school.

Physician leaders are unique. Physicians have been trained to take care of patients and provide leadership in doing so. Providing leadership within a rural hospital however is different, one of the resounding reasons for the creation of this program. This program was created for rural hospital CMOs and Physician Leaders by rural hospital CMOs and Physician Leaders.

What kind of value might you receive if you participate in this program? Come find out! Learn about this one-of-a-kind program created by rural hospital physician leaders for rural hospital physician leaders during a live webinar in February.

CMO Certification Program Webinar on February 22nd at 1 pm EST

CMO Certification Program Webinar on February 24th at 12 pm EST

To register for either of these webinar times click here.

Enrollment is open for all Certification Programs for 2023 Cohorts – visit our website for details and application information at www.crhleadership.com

Swing Bed Learning Action Network

February 14, 2023

Swing Bed Learning Action Network

Stroudwater Associates, in partnership with the Missouri Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, will be hosting monthly Swing Bed Learning Action Network (LAN) meetings for all Critical Access Hospitals participating in the Missouri Flex Quality Improvement Program. Each meeting will focus on a different Swing Bed topic. While participation in all LAN meetings is encouraged, individuals can register for the meeting topics most valuable to them. We encourage you to share this information with individuals within your organization who may be interested in participating.

The schedule below includes the meeting date and time, the link to register for each meeting, the meeting topic, and a brief description.

February 24th | 12-1pm CT: Swing Bed 101 – This education provides an overview of the “why” swing bed utilization is important; general Medicare eligibility requirements and rules and regulations to meet the Conditions of Participation for CAHs with Swing Beds. Register here.

March 24th | 1-2pm CT: Understanding the Five Categories of Skilled Services for Swing Bed Admissions – This education provides a review of the categories and criteria necessary for daily inpatient skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or a combination of services. Register here.

April 28th | 12-1pm CT: Swing Bed Documentation – This education will provide a review of required CMS documentation for Swing Bed patients and documentation improvement opportunities. Register here.

May 26th | 12-1pm CT: Swing Bed Quality Improvement and Portal Demo – This education will provide an introduction to Swing Bed data, using data and best practices to measure and improve quality and patient outcomes impacting the growth of your program. Register here.

June 23rd | 12-1pm CT: Swing Bed Strategy, Growth, and Optimization – This education will provide useful strategies for design, marketing, active patient pursuit, and the economic benefits of Swing Bed growth. Register here.

July 28th | 12-1pm CT: Swing Bed Discharge Planning – This education will provide foundational best practice discharge planning processes necessary to support a successful patient discharge thereby, reducing readmissions and unnecessary emergency department visits. Register here.

August 25th 12-1pm CT: Swing Bed Care Spectrum Development – This education will provide interdisciplinary steps to assist your Swing Bed team in formally determining what type of patients are appropriate for your swing bed program, decreasing variability in decision-making, improving efficiency, and growing your program. Register here.

Contact the Stroudwater Team:

Carla Wilber, Senior Consultant: cwilber@stroudwater.com

Lindsay Corcoran, Senior Consultant: lcorcoran@stroudwater.com

Christie Bishop, Consultant: cbishop@stroudwater.com

Megan Zook, Project Coordinator: mzook@stroudwater.com

This work is funded by the Missouri Office of Rural Health and Primary Care Medicare Flex program.

Health Equity and Childhood Oral Health: Improving Access to Care with Medicaid and CHIP

February 14, 2023

Health Equity and Childhood Oral Health: Improving Access to Care with Medicaid and CHIP

This February, the Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign, an outreach and enrollment initiative that reaches out to families with children and teens eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), is recognizing National Children’s Dental Health Month.

This is an opportune time remind families that Medicaid and CHIP cover children’s dental services, such as teeth cleanings, check-ups, X-rays, fluoride treatments, dental sealants and fillings.

 

Call for Applications: National Research Study on Incorporating Play in Pediatric Care

February 14, 2023

Call for Applications: National Research Study on Incorporating Play in Pediatric Care

The Weitzman Institute is excited to announce an opportunity to engage in a national research study focused on embedding a learning through play intervention into pediatric care.

Prescription for Play is a program delivered by medical providers during routine well-child visits for patients 18-36 months.  The program promotes learning through play by supplying free LEGO®️ DUPLO® brick kits and educational materials to pediatric providers to use as prompts to engage caregivers around the benefits of play in early child development.  We are recruiting organizations now to participate in a 6-month feasibility study!

Benefits of Participation in the Study:

  • Enhance the quality of your 18-36 month well-child visits by educating caregivers on the value of play in early childhood
  • Receive LEGO®️ DUPLO®️ bricks for your patients
  • Opportunities to collaborate on publications or presentations on the findings of the study
  • Receive a financial stipend of up to $50,000 for your organization

Interested in applying? Complete the short application below by February 24, 2023.

Apply Now

The above program information is being forwarded by the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC) as a service of this office. ORHPC does not endorse or recommend any vendor or service. Please review for the appropriate use within your organization.

New Policy Brief: CAH Workforce During COVID-19: Barriers and Facilitators for Recruiting and Retaining Staff

February 14, 2023

New Policy Brief: CAH Workforce During COVID-19: Barriers and Facilitators for Recruiting and Retaining Staff

A new policy brief is available on the Flex Monitoring Team website: Critical Access Hospital Workforce During COVID-19: Barriers and Facilitators for Recruiting and Retaining Staff. A survey of Critical Access Hospital CEOs revealed difficulty recruiting and retaining a variety of staff positions, but primarily nurses and respiratory therapists. Barriers and facilitators to these challenges are discussed, as described by survey participants.

View Policy Brief

Expand GME Training at Your Hospital: How to Apply for Section 126 Positions

February 9, 2023

A joint webinar facilitated by CMS, HRSA, and the Rural Residency Planning and Development Technical Assistance Center (RRPD-TAC)

Monday, February 13 at 11:00 am ET

The purpose of the session is to provide a background on Section 126 and the application process (e.g., timeline, eligibility, requirements, etc.). The deadline to submit a completed application for FTE resident slots under Section 126 for Fiscal Year 2024 is March 31, 2023. The FTE resident cap slots awarded under the round are effective July 1, 2024. Frequently Asked Questions on Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021.

Register Here

CDC’s Public Health Associate Program Host Site Application Opens

February 8, 2023

 

CDC’s Public Health Associate Program Host Site Application Opens

USDA RD is pleased to share the following announcement from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Apply to become a PHAP host site!

CDC’s Center for State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support has announced the opening of the Public Health Associate Program (PHAP) host site application, which will close on February 28, 2023. As a host site, an early career public health professional will be placed at your organization for a two-year assignment and will gain experience in public health program operations while helping to increase your agency’s capacity.

Organizations that serve rural communities, from state, tribal, local, and territorial public health agencies; nongovernmental organizations such as community-based organizations, public health institutes and associations; and academic institutions are encouraged to apply.

The host site will receive benefits including:

  • Insights and valuable skillsets from the CDC-funded associate placed at their organization.
  • A partnership with the CDC and added resources to address staff shortages and funding gaps.
  • Online learning opportunities and access to CDC subject matter expertise.

PHAP senior staff are available for one-on-one or group information briefings and webinars. If you are interested in setting up a briefing, please email PHAP@cdc.gov. Rural-serving entities are encouraged to submit host site applications to increase public health services for rural communities.

Find more information on the CDC’s PHAP host site page. Applications must be submitted by February 28, 2023.