According to a report released by the National Quality Forum (NQF) Rural Health Committee, “Participation in CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) quality measurement and quality improvement programs is mandatory for all rural providers.”
Read MoreProject H.O.P.E. offers paid summer internships for high school students interested in exploring a variety of careers in the health care field. The internships are up to six weeks in length for 20 hours per week.
Read MoreIn health care, high-value care means receiving high-quality care at the right price that leads to the best possible health outcome and reflects your values and needs. We put a lot of work into finding value when it comes to other major purchases. We should all be savvy shoppers when it comes to our health, too. You have the right to demand high-value care at every step.
Read MoreSpokane Housing Authority (SHA) will accept online pre-applications for The 2016 Open Waiting List of the Housing Choice Voucher Program from 12 a.m. on January 19 to 3 p.m. on January 21.
The pre-application can be found at www.spokanehousing.org.
Only one pre-application per household will be accepted. Applications must be at least 18 years old. Pre-applications will be placed on the waiting list by time and date of receipt of the pre-application and preference. Applicants without a preference will be placed at the bottom of the waiting list according the date of receipt of the application.
Preferences are:
For assistance applying online, visit:
Note: After placement on the 2016 waiting list, applicants must notify Spokane Housing Authority of any mailing address changes in writing otherwise you may be removed from the waiting list.
This January, Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS) is offering a free six-week workshop for individuals who want to take control of their diabetes. Family members and caregivers are also welcome.
Read MoreOne of the discussions in our region is about how rural areas score in quality? Well, according to Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Chartbook on Rural Health, not too good.
Read MoreThe price of health care in Washington state is all over the map. In fact, some health care providers charge as much as twice (or more) than what other providers charge for the same procedure, such as joint replacement or the birth of a child, even though the patients they see aren’t any sicker.
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When you enter a doctor’s office, what kind of experience do you have? Does the staff treat you with respect? Does your doctor listen to you and seem to know your medical history? Are you able to get a timely appointment when you need it?
Read MoreIf your clients, friends, family need health insurance coverage in 2016 coverage, you must enroll by December 23 at www.wahealthplanfinder.org.
We know this is a busy time of year, but you won’t want to miss this deadline. Our BHT Navigator Team stands ready to help, call us at (509) 321 7500.
What you need to know:
Every year around this time, I take a few moments to think about what has transpired over the past twelve months.
Read MoreOver the past few weeks, we have seen increased conversation around the proposed Medicaid Waiver. Many of us realize the waiver is a game-changer for our communities.
As you know, the Health Care Authority has released an “all call” for potential Medicaid Transformation Projects. This is a great opportunity to ensure the good work happening in our region can be scaled across the full region as well as the state.
On Thursday, the BHT Board (serving as the governing body for our region’s ACH), approved ACH Medicaid Waiver Transformation Project endorsement criteria. We believe it’s critical to put forward a set of projects that aligns with our Regional Health Priorities so that we can dramatically improve the health of our region. The BHT ACH will submit an endorsed list of projects (our version of a “Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval”) on January 15.
Directions to seek a BHT ACH endorsement
If you are interested, please submit your completed HCA Project Template to alison@betterhealthtogether.org by 3pm on January 12. A review committee consisting of Tom Martin, Lincoln Public Hospital District; Dr Joel McCoullough, Spokane Regional Health District; Pam Tietz, Spokane Housing Authority; Kristen West Fisher, Empire Health Foundation; and Dean Larsen, Spokane Medical Society, will review applications for alignment with our criteria and will consider endorsement on behalf of the BHT ACH.
What does a BHT ACH endorsement mean?
BHT is undertaking this process to demonstrate to the Health Care Authority the power and alignment of our region. The Board would like to endorse the most promising, most aligned projects. This will demonstrate how well our region is cooperating in the development of our ACH as well as ensure we have a set of projects that are aligned with our Regional Priorities.
Does that mean I cannot submit my own projects?
Of course not. We encourage everyone to think about how the waiver could have a transformative effect on our region.
Questions?
Let Alison know at alison@betterhealthtogether.org or 509.499.0482
From Washington Health Alliance | November 23, 2015
Quality varies widely from one provider’s office to another and even from one doctor’s patient to another. Not all care is equally good. Learn what you can do to find a provider that will help you stay healthy and care for you when you need it.
Good health care is the right care, at the right time, for the right reason. The quality of health care varies, but trustworthy, public information can help you decide what test or treatment is best for you and if the care meets accepted standards.
Doctors committed to quality will not only welcome your involvement but also encourage it. While your doctor should be able to direct you to reliable information on a health topic that affects you and talk to you about your options, you have a major role to play when it comes to your health and well-being.
Compare care. Finding a good primary care team is the first step in getting high-quality care. Go to the Community Checkup website where you can “shop” for a clinic in your health plan’s network to see how well they rate on quality measures that matter to you. The quality measures that were chosen for this website serve as a proxy for the overall quality of the care delivered by that clinic. For example, even if you don’t have diabetes, seeing how well a clinic is following recommended care guidelines for that disease can signal to you how well they treat any chronic disease.
Make an informed choice. After you’ve looked at options on the website, contact the clinic and ask questions to see if they would be a good fit. Do they offer hours that are convenient to you? Do they accept your insurance? Do the providers have knowledge or specialized expertise in the health areas that matter to you or your family?
Be an active member of your health care team. Do your homework. Go online or use the library to learn more about your condition and treatment options before your doctor’s appointment. Talk to your doctor about what you’ve learned. After your visit, take an active role in your health and health care so you can stay as healthy as you can. Your primary care doctor may tell you to exercise more or eat better, but it’s up to you to follow through on this advice.
Get the right amount of care. Unnecessary care costs money and can be harmful. Patients with chronic conditions do not always get the recommended care. Many people don’t get regular screenings, which can detect disease earlier. Certain drugs, treatments and tests are sometimes offered for common health complaints even though they aren’t really effective. Learn more about the value and effectiveness of specific tests and procedures at Choosing Wisely® patient resources.
Work with your doctor to make decisions about your care. This is sometimes known as “shared decision-making.” It’s important to ask questions, such as:
While health care consumers have a big role to play in ensuring they get the right care, you are not alone. Providers are the ones ultimately responsible for making sure they are delivering the right care at the right time.
Know you have options. If your expectations aren’t being met, talk to your doctor about your concerns. And if necessary, look for a new doctor.
Quality should be part of the equation for good, high-value health care, as much as patient experience and cost.
Download the infographic about how to find high-quality care and be a savvy health care shopper.
Infographic: Washington Health Alliance.
This post is second of a series called The Savvy Health Care Shopper. The Washington Health Alliance is partnering with the Washington State Health Care Authority’s Healthier Washington initiative to educate consumers on finding value in health care.
When we think about health improvement and transformation across Washington State we know that it’s going to take all of us working together in new and different ways.
Read MoreIt is our intent at Better Health Together to submit a set of prioritized projects for consideration to HCA’s Medicaid Waiver team that aligns with our set of Regional Health Priorities as well as our set of values for improving health in our region.
Read MoreAs individual consumers, every time we make a purchase we must weigh cost and quality to determine value.
Read MoreA 42-year-old Marshallese gentleman was referred from the ER. He was suffering from a very painful tooth on his lower jaw. He and his family recently moved to Spokane to include children, ages 18, 17, 11 and 9. The entire family is Apple Health eligible and this man needed emergent dental care for himself and to establish his children and wife with a local dental provider.
Read MoreThe initial visit to the ER doesn’t always mean the dental patient will accept the resources offered the first time. In the case of a 31-year-old woman with right and left lower teeth pain who was referred from the ER to the DENT Program, she received antibiotics and her abscess appeared to have cleared. However, pain and abscesses almost always return with a vengeance.
Unfortunately, the woman did not return DENT calls with offers of dental appointments the next day. DENT staff continued to call and text and even mailed a letter, reminding her that she was Apple Health eligible and that the insurance would pay for her dental care. Still no response.
A little over a month later, she called in pain with a very swollen face. She was newly pregnant and very ill and needed emergency dental care. She was very concerned about the pain and swelling but even more worried about the possible effect on her unborn child. In crisis, she became motivated to call. Luckily, she kept the DENT phone number.
Both the Unify and CHAS Clinics (FQHCs) offer immediate dental appointments to pregnant women because they are committed to assisting in any way to ensure healthy births. DENT staff was able to schedule the woman the following day with the Unify Clinic for emergency dental care.
The woman stated, “I am so thankful you did not give up on me after not calling back last month. I was in a bad situation and just couldn’t think about my teeth. I started to feel better and I thought the tooth problem was over. I was so wrong.”
The Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County recently announced that it has awarded a total of nearly $235,000 in one-year grants to increase access to health care for certain populations in Spokane County.
Read MoreI remember it like it was yesterday: that voice coming from the other side of the room saying, “I really don’t feel well and may need help.”
Read MoreTonight, Pastor Stephen Johnson and the volunteers from United Methodist Church, on 3rd and Howard, will transport folks to the warming center located at the Salvation Army from 7:15-8:15 pm.
They will return to the warming center at 6:45-7:45 am to transport folks back to the United Methodist Church.
If you know someone who needs a warm place to go tonight, please direct them to the United Methodist Church on 3rd and Howard.
