Newsletter
November 2019
Hospitalist Discharge Instructions
Brief video for Hospitalist on how, and when, to select Discharge Planning for an admission and how to add orders for patient follow-up after discharge. CLICK HERE to view this video.
IU Health North Primary Care Conference: Oncology Update for Primary Care Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers
Participants in the sixth Annual IU Health North Suburban Area Fall Primary Care Conference will learn from subject matter experts about navigating the Path of Cancer at the Joe and Shelly Schwartz Center, creating more cures for lung cancer, milestones toward the cure of myeloma, updates in colorectal cancer and HPV, head and neck cancer.
Register and pay online at: https://iu.cloud-cme.com/default.aspx?P=5&EID=47031
HHS Guide for Clinicians on the Appropriate Dosage Reduction or Discontinuation of Long-Term Opioid Analgesics
On October 10, 2019 HHS published a new Guide for Clinicians on the Appropriate Dosage Reduction or Discontinuation of Long-Term Opioid Analgesics. Prescription opioids benefit the patient only when the benefit of using opioids outweighs the risks. But once a patient is on opioids for a prolonged duration, any abrupt change in the patient’s regimen may put the patient at risk of harm and should include a thorough case review and discussion with the patient. HHS does not recommend tapering opioids rapidly or discontinuing suddenly due to the significant risks of opioid withdrawal, unless there is a life-threatening issue confronting the individual patient. The HHS guide provides advice to clinicians who are contemplating or initiating a change in opioid dosage.
See the full text of this excerpted HHS Press Release (issued October 10).
CDC Fight Flu Toolkit
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. Influenza is a serious health threat, especially to vulnerable populations like people 65 and older, who are at high risk for hospitalization and developing serious complications. Vaccinate by the end of October – to help protect your patients, your staff, and yourself.
Medicare Part B covers:
- Influenza virus vaccine once per influenza season
- Additional influenza vaccines if medically necessary
For More Information:
- Medicare Preventive Services Educational Tool
- Influenza Resources for Health Care Professionals MLN Matters Article
- Influenza Vaccine Payment Allowances MLN Matters Article
- CDC Influenza website
- CDC Information for Health Professionals webpage
- CDC Fight Flu Toolkit webpage
- CDC Make a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation webpage
AHA WEBINAR - Building a Hospital-based Human Trafficking Identification and Response Program
WHEN: Tuesday, November 12, 2019 3:00:00 PM EST - 4:00:00 PM EST
The American Hospital Association’s Hospital Against Violence initiative, in collaboration with HEAL Trafficking and Jones Day, hosts this webinar to highlight lessons learned from a urban hospital-based human trafficking response program. Based on five years of hospital-based identification and response to human trafficking, this session will cover important topics for health care administrators to consider when assessing how their institutions can play a greater role with this issue.
Objectives:
- Learn about a hospital-based human trafficking program in Chicago
- Identify essential elements of a hospital-based program
- Describe stages of program development
- Share learnings around staff resilience
CLICK HERE to register
AHA WEBINAR - Combating Healthcare Burnout with a Data-Led Action Framework: Lessons Learned from Minnesota
WHEN:
Monday, December 9, 2019
12:30pm - 02:00pm
DESCRIPTION:
Hear about Minnesota's statewide approach to measuring physician burnout and responding effectively
CLICK HERE to register
CDC Resources for Providers: Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-cigarette Use, or Vaping (EVALI)
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) encourages clinicians to report possible cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) to their local or state health department. CLICK HERE to view the CDC guidelines for clinical evaluation, treatment and follow-up, printable resources to enourage converrsations between patients and providers, and other resources for providers.
As of October 15, 2019 the CDC reports:
- Thirty-four deaths have been confirmed in 24 states with three of those in Indiana
- Median age for survival was 23 years old
- Median age for death was 45 years old
- Approximately 70% of patients are non-Hispanic white, and male
- The median age of patients is 24 years old and ranges from 13 to 75 years old
- 79% of patients are under 35 years old
- 14% are under 18 years old
- 40% are between 18 and 24 years old
- 25% are between 25 and 34 years old
- 21% are 35 years old and older
- Among 867 patients with information on substances used in e-cigaretts, or vaping products in the 3 months prior to symptom onset:
- 86% reported using THC-containing products
- 34% reported exclusive use of THC-containing products
- 64% reported using nicotine containing products
- 11% reported exlucsive use of nicotine-containing products
