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

NRHA Webinar – Nursing Labor Update: View from the Mountaintops

February 2, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Nursing Labor Update: View from the Mountaintops

Wednesday, Feb 22, 1:00 – 2:00 pm CST

Michelle Hehman, MSN, RN, 15+ years of acute hospital experience and former nurse manager of Emergency Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and Jessica Flege, BSN, RN, CMSRN, 10 years of acute care management and certified Medical Surgical Nurse, will discuss the trajectory of the nursing industry and the impact that it is expected to have on staffing, as well as insight into how flexible staffing solutions can help to maintain optimal nurse-patient ratios.

Learning objectives:

  • An overview of the U.S. Nursing workforce, impactful milestones, and the ‘Silver Tsunami’
  • The devastating effects that short staffing has on every hospital
  • Sustainable solutions for delivering optimal nurse staffing
  • How rural hospitals can benefit from flexible staffing solutions

Register

NRHA Webinar – Swing Bed Culture and Attention to Wellness Vital to Rural Healthcare, a Transitional Care Model

February 2, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Swing Bed Culture and Attention to Wellness Vital to Rural Healthcare, a Transitional Care Model

Thursday, Feb 16, 1:00 – 2:00 pm CST

Allevant, a joint venture between Mayo Clinic and Select Medical, helps Critical Access Hospitals by developing post-acute Transitional Care programs using available Swing Beds. Focused on helping patients transition to their highest level of independence, Transitional Care is a program that involves the patient and family, makes available the full resources of the Critical Access Hospital and focuses on measured outcomes and evidence-based processes to ensure patients get the best care possible.

Allevant has supported approximately 100 Critical Access Hospitals across 22 states, including independent and part of health systems. Our clients have cared for over 12,000 patients representing more than 158,000 swing bed days.

With a strong focus on quality, outcomes, and growth, our clients saw an average growth in swing bed days of 55% by the second year. 64% of patients were categorized as complex medical or complex surgical, a growing patient population, and only 7% of Transitional Care patients were discharged directly back to acute care during a program stay of less than 30 days. 76% of patients were discharged from Transitional Care back to independence. The average patient rating was 4.83 out of 5 when asked if patients would “recommend the program to others”.

Register

 

NRHA Webinar – New Year, New Opportunities in Accountable Care

February 2, 2023

NRHA Webinar – New Year, New Opportunities in Accountable Care

Wednesday, Feb 15, 2:00 – 3:00 pm CST

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has continued to hold steadfast on its commitment to have all Medicare beneficiaries in an accountable care relationship by 2030.

As healthcare leaders refresh their strategic priorities in the new year, rural health systems and providers can take advantage of new and existing opportunities in value-based payment to accelerate their path to financial sustainability.

Future and former ACO participants are invited to participate in this interactive webinar, featuring Tim Putnam, President of Rural Health Consulting, Medical University of South Carolina, Kathy Lee, Director of Population Health, Coryell Memorial Hospital, Steve Barnett, President & CEO, McKenzie Health System, and Tim Gronniger, Chief Value-Based Solutions Officer, Signify Health, to learn how they can align with CMS and improve cost savings and quality outcomes for their patient population.

Presenters will discuss new financial incentives, including advance funding options available for certain rural providers. Attendees will also hear from former ACO Investment Model participants who successfully used upfront funding to achieve sustainable success in the Medicare Shared Savings Program

Learning Objectives:

  • Review new opportunities in accountable care, including advance payment options available to certain rural providers.
  • Discuss how rural organizations can use tailored operational, technological, and care management capabilities that meet them where they’re at in their value-based journey.
  • Hear from rural providers who have successfully leveraged advance funding to earn sustainable savings in the Medicare Shared Savings Program and expand their value-based portfolio

Register

SHIP Webinar – Expanding on New Concepts: Z-Codes and Health Disparities

February 1, 2023

SHIP Webinar – Expanding on New Concepts: Z-Codes and Health Disparities

Topic: Expanding on New Concepts: Z-Codes

Date: Thursday, February 2nd, 2023

Time: 12:00 p.m. PT | 1:00 p.m. MT | 2:00 p.m. CT | 3:00 p.m.

ET Duration: 60 minutes Audience: SHIP Coordinators and other SHIP staff

This SHIP Webinar will focus on Expanding on New Concepts through the SHIP grant. We will hear from Madeline Wilson, Quality and Patient Safety Advisor, from the Indiana Hospital Association on Z-Codes and Health Disparities. The collection and application of Z-codes is an important step in identifying community social determinants of health (SDOH) that can be used to encourage community healthiness.

By participating in this webinar, attendees will be able to:

•    Define the relationship between Z-codes and Health Disparities

•    Demonstrate the importance of Z-code collection at rural hospitals

•    Identify appropriate spending opportunities for Z-code implementation through SHIP

This event will be recorded, and playback will be available on the SHIP website. This event is supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) and coordinated by SHIP TA, a program of the National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center).

For more information, please contact: Caroline Bell cbell@ruralcenter.org

Swing Bed Learning Action Network

January 31, 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

 

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) – Upcoming INSPIRE Webinars

January 26, 2023

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) – Upcoming INSPIRE Webinars

Throughout the month of February, the ARC will be hosting several events focusing on the INSPIRE Initiative for communities to learn more about the program. Mark your calendars now to join us on the following dates:

*More information on the in-person application workshops will be forthcoming. Please visit ARC’s website for workshop updates.

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Application Assistance Webinars

January 23, 2023

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program Application Assistance Webinars

Apply to the 2023 Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – accepting applications through February 23. Registered nurses and nurse faculty members may be eligible to have up to 85 percent of unpaid nursing education debt covered in exchange for a two-year commitment of service. There will be two application assistance webinars:

Nurse Corps LRP Application Assistance Webinar #1 January 26, 1 – 2:30 p.m. CT

Nurse Corps LRP Application Assistance Webinar #2 February 15, 1 – 2:30 p.m. CT

HRSA Webinar – Advancing Health Equity among Hispanic/Latino Populations

January 23, 2023

HRSA Webinar – Advancing Health Equity among Hispanic/Latino Populations

Tuesday, February 7, 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm CT

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) IEA’s first session of the learning series, “Getting to Know HRSA” will explore HRSA’s priority areas, programs, funding, and technical resources available to support organizations providing health and social services to Hispanic/Latino populations. During the session, participants will have the opportunity to hear about effective ways to collaborate and stay connected to HRSA to leverage resources and gain access to innovative and high-value programs. The session will be broadcast in Spanish with live language interpretation to English.

Register Here

 

NRHA Webinar – Nursing Labor Update: View from the Mountaintops

January 19, 2023

NRHA Webinar – Nursing Labor Update: View from the Mountaintops

Wednesday, Feb 2, 1:00 – 2:00 pm CST

Michelle Hehman, MSN, RN, 15+ years of acute hospital experience and former nurse manager of Emergency Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and Jessica Flege, BSN, RN, CMSRN, 10 years of acute care management and certified Medical Surgical Nurse, will discuss the trajectory of the nursing industry and the impact that it is expected to have on staffing, as well as insight into how flexible staffing solutions can help to maintain optimal nurse-patient ratios.

Learning objectives:

  • An overview of the U.S. Nursing workforce, impactful milestones, and the ‘Silver Tsunami’
  • The devastating effects that short staffing has on every hospital
  • Sustainable solutions for delivering optimal nurse staffing
  • How rural hospitals can benefit from flexible staffing solutions

Click Here to Register