Weekly Report

May 11, 2012

• Hospitals, Physicians, and Moms Receive Attention for Drop in Elective Deliveries
• ER is for Emergencies Patient Education Brochures Available - Best Practice B
• Hospitals Asked to Help Stop the Spread of Pertussis
• Two Innovation Awards to Benefit Washington State
• Seattle Children's Stronger Video Goes Viral
• Recently Named Interim CEOs
• Evergreen Healthcare Introduces Refreshed Brand as EvergreenHealth

Hospitals, Physicians, and Moms Receive Attention for Drop in Elective Deliveries

This week, the media gave a lot of attention to the work hospitals, physicians and expectant mothers across Washington State have been doing to dramatically increase the number of babies born at full term.

Last year, the proportion of babies born between 37 and 39 weeks via induction or c-section with no medical reason plunged by 65 percent, from 15.3 percent in the third quarter of 2010 to 5.4 percent by the fourth quarter of 2011. This represents more than 650 fewer early elective deliveries statewide over a year. Data by hospital can be seen at www.wahospitalquality.org. The gains were made by rapidly changing long established obstetric practices based on new research demonstrating the short and long term hazards of delivery prior to 39 weeks.

The effort to reduce early elective deliveries is a partnership between physicians, the Washington State Hospital Association, the Washington State Health Care Authority, the Washington State Department of Health, the March of Dimes, midwives, and regional perinatal coordinating nurses. It remains an ongoing focus for statewide quality improvement in obstetrics. Read more. (Beth Zborowski, bethz@wsha.org)

ER is for Emergencies Patient Education Brochures Available - Best Practice B

Patient education is one of the seven strategies aimed at reducing unnecessary ER visits. Together with the Washington State Medical Association and the Washington Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, WSHA has developed a patient education brochure to help educate the public about how to choose the best place to go for care. The brochures will be available to order through WSHA's online bookstore next week.

Washington hospitals have a brief window to decrease the number of low acuity Medicaid emergency room visits and avoid the state enacting payment cuts. To avoid the cuts, hospitals must implement seven best practices by June 15, 2012. For more information about the seven best practices, visit the ER is for Emergencies page of the WSHA website or contact Carol Wagner by emailing carolw@wsha.org. (Beth Zborowski, bethz@wsha.org)

Hospitals Asked to Help Stop the Spread of Pertussis

Hospitals are being asked to engage in stopping the spread of pertussis or whooping cough. Cases continue to increase quickly in our state. As of the end of April 1, 132 pertussis cases were reported compared to 117 last year during this same time period. This is the highest number of reported cases in more than six decades. Public health officials believe the epidemic will continue for several months.

Last month, the Washington State Department of Health shared recommendations for vaccination, testing and treatment with health care providers. In addition, the department is asking hospitals and health systems to:

• Ramp up education and vaccination efforts for health care personnel.
• Urge everyone who lives with or cares for an infant to be vaccinated and make it easy for them to do. Women are now recommended to get a single dose of Tdap vaccine while pregnant (after 20 weeks gestation).
• Check the vaccination status of all post-partum women and offer vaccine to anyone who has not been vaccinated.
• Review and reinforce policies around sick visitors.
• Use the state immunization registry to check the status of patients and vaccinate them if they are not up-to-date.
• Recall patients who need a Tdap shot.
• Continue to test and treat suspected pertussis cases.

A joint letter from the DOH and WSHA President and CEO Scott Bond was sent to all WSHA members earlier this week with links to additional resources. Read the complete letter for more information. (Beth Zborowski, bethz@wsha.org)

Two Innovation Awards to Benefit Washington State

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation recently announced the first set of recipients of Health Care Innovations Awards. Funding that will directly benefit Washington State was awarded to Kitsap Mental Health Services ($1.8 million) for a project entitled “Race to health: coordination, integration, and innovations in care.” The project will work to provide integrated behavioral health care management and preventive care to severely mentally ill or emotionally disturbed adults and children. One expected outcome is a reduction in hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

The second project awarded funding ($8.5 million) is a multi-state project called “Leverage innovative care delivery and coordination model: Project ECHO.” The program is based on eight years of success in New Mexico and two years in Washington State. The intervention will identify 5,000 high cost, high-utilization, high-severity patients to be managed by primary care intensivists specifically trained in care for complex patients with multiple chronic diseases.

Additional awards from CMMI are expected to be announced in June. More information is available on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation website. (Bonnie Burlingham, bonnieb@wsha.org)

Member News & Awards

Seattle Children’s Stronger Video Goes Viral

A video featuring patients and staff on the hematology/oncology floor of Seattle Children’s Hospital singing Kelly Clarkson’s hit song Stronger is making the rounds on social networks. The singer herself even posted a tweet on her twitter account about the video. So far it has been viewed more than 900,000 times since it was posted earlier this week. The idea for the video came from 22-year-old Chris Rumble, who found out he had leukemia last month. The video features patients lip-syncing, while others break out dance moves or hold up hand-written signs with the words “stronger” and “hope.” Rumble said in a news report that he wanted to create the video as a message to his friends and hockey teammates. Check out the video. (Beth Zborowski, bethz@wsha.org)

Recently Named Interim CEOs

There are quite a number of interim CEOs serving hospitals across Washington State. Below is a summary of some of the most recently named interim leaders:

• Auburn Regional Medical Center in Auburn - Robert Dickens
• Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee - John Hamilton
• Dayton General Hospital in Dayton - Jon Smiley
• East Adams Rural Hospital in Ritzville - Gary Peck
• Ocean Beach Hospital in Ilwaco - Terry Finklein
• Valley General Hospital in Monroe - Michael Fraser

(Danielle Kean, daniellek@wsha.org)

Evergreen Healthcare Introduces Refreshed Brand as EvergreenHealth

This week Evergreen Healthcare in Kirkland officially launched a refreshed brand as EvergreenHealth. The new EvergreenHealth brand reflects a new visual identity, including a refreshed logo and name, which communicates the breadth of clinical care services the organization provides to residents on the eastside of Lake Washington. The organization is celebrating 40 years of service to the community this year.

“While the changes to the name and logo are more subtle than dramatic, the refreshed brand expresses the dedication and distinguished care EvergreenHealth brings to its patients and the community,” said Bob Malte, EvergreenHealth CEO. “And while our look has evolved, our mission to provide safe, compassionate and cost-effective healthcare remains unchanged.” Read more. (Beth Zborowski, bethz@wsha.org)