Knowledge on the Go

Jim Lichauer, Meryl Biksacky, and Conor Hanrahan discuss the strategies Intermountain Healthcare implemented to improve their immune globulin utilization.
 
Guest speaker:Meryl Biksacky, PharmDPharmacist, Drug Information SpecialistDrug Shortage Management CO-LeadIntermountain Healthcare Drug Information Services
 
Conor Hanrahan, PharmD, MS, BCPS, CPHQMedication Policy, Outcomes and Stewardship DirectorSystem PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program DirectorIntermountain Healthcare Pharmacy Services
 
Moderator:Jim Lichauer, PharmD, BCPS, FASHPSr Performance Improvement Program Director, PharmacyVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:50] Intermountain Healthcare is a complex system.
[03:19] Challenges included the size and scale of the organization, drug shortages, as well as technology and data capture issues.
[05:30] The development of IG appropriate use guidelines was intricate and enterprise-wide.
[08:21] A medication use evaluation was conducted.  
[10:08] Evaluation of adherence to weight-based dosing strategies produced shocking results.  
[11:41] Surveying stakeholders revealed a lack of awareness of internal guidelines and standards. 
[12:42] A formal policy to optimize IG weight-based dosing is in the process of being approved.
[13:35] Advice for those planning similar strategies includes system-wide collaboration, establishing and monitoring adherence rates, standardization, and quantification of cost savings.
[15:12] Intermountain Healthcare has exciting developments on the horizon.
 
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In this episode, IU Health Southern Indiana Physician’s Service Line Administrator discuss their experience with the Redesigning Ambulator Care Collaborative. Each participant chose a performance improvement project to address and Elizabeth Thompson shares the rather surprising discovery the team made and the solution that made a difference.
 
Guest speaker:Elizabeth Thompson, BS, MSLService Line AdministratorIU Health Southern Indiana Physicians – Surgical Specialties
 
Moderator:Courtney Furrow-White , RN, MBAPI Program Director, PI CollaborativesVizient
 
Show notes:
[01:17]  IU Health Southern Indiana Physicians choose their improvement project
[02:14]  What prevention was missing—or was it?
[03:01]  What they learned about their data
[03:58]  Solving the code crisis
[05:29]  Pseudo codes
[06:16]  Working with IT
[08:11]  Lessons learned
[09:06]  How the collaborative experience leads to progress
[10:08]  Advice for your journey
 
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Marilyn Sherrill and her guests, Dr. Matthew Lyon and Dr. Max Bursey, take a deep look at Augusta University Medical Center’s successes and challenges regarding Interhospital transfers.      
 
Guest speakers:
Max Bursey, DOAssociate Professor, Service ChiefDepartment of Emergency MedicineMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University
 
Matthew Lyon, MDAssociate Dean, Experiential Learning Director, Center for Ultrasound EducationVice-Chair, Department of Emergency MedicineMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University 
 
Moderator:Marilyn Sherrill, RN, MBAPerformance Improvement Program DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:36] Georgia is unique in that it has a large number of rural hospitals, requiring a large number of interhospital transfers for high acuity cases.
[03:50] Telemedicine and ED-based critical care services have aided rural hospital quality of care and decreased the need for transfers.
[05:48] These two services have evolved from intervention in the ED only to a holistic program of care for patients in rural hospitals.
[07:38] The ED ICU service provides inpatient level care to patients waiting on an ICU bed and “short-stay” ICU patients, and works closely with the telemedicine critical care to prevent and manage transfers.
[09:53] Telemedicine interacts with Emtala in ways that allow rural hospitals to admit and keep a broader selection of patients.
[11:13] Challenges have included the need for training providers on the use of telemedicine, and training and staffing ICU-level nurses in the ED ICU and in rural hospitals.
[13:53] Starting slow and adequately training staff are important best practices.
[16:03] Telemedicine isn’t going anywhere and should be utilized fully, and included in the work of the ED.
 
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As the demand for patient care at home increases, one component driving the move is technology.  In this Knowledge on the Go episode, Dr. Joe Cummings of Vizient and Andrew Rebhan of Sg2 outline what’s connecting clinicians and their patients.  From smartphones to sensors to artificial intelligence, PI Program Director Courtney Furrow-White quizzes our experts on how technology is making a difference in patient care today—and will transform it in the very near future.
 
Guest speaker:Joe Cummings, PhDTechnology Program DirectorVizient
 
Andrew RebhanConsulting DirectorSg2 Intelligence
 
Moderator:Courtney Furrow-WhitePerformance Improvement Program DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:15] There is renewed interest in home care due to affordability and the rise of consumerism.
[02:19] Hospital IT Infrastructure and patient home IT equipment are vital.
[04:02] There is no singular approach when considering patient acuity.
[05:20] Telehealth technology must be customizable and comparable to in-person visits.
[07:29] Digital devices with always-on connectivity provide remote patient monitoring. 
[09:00] Imaging technology can also be achieved in the home. 
[10:25] With home data collection, AI can proceed with the patient. 
[13:09] AI can carry the future of home care into a new world of service.
[18:04] A health system should follow specific strategies to ensure success.
 
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This week on Sg2 Perspectives, Sg2 Principals Heidi Pandya, MSHA, and Jayme Zage, PhD, join us to discuss all things related to health care at home. Heidi and Jayme start with the current landscape and why health care organizations are evaluating care-at-home services, and then cover how organizations can get started with health-care-at-home programs and prioritize their options. (Hint: stand back and take stock of your strategic imperatives first, then prioritize those strategies and see where care at home fits.)
 
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Michelle Lewis and Pat Reagan Webster discuss the challenges and successes of Strong Memorial Hospital’s improvement journey with onset C. difficile infection rates.
 
Guest speaker:Pat Reagan WebsterAssociate Quality OfficerStrong Memorial Hospital
 
Moderator:Michelle LewisSenior Director, ProgramsVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:09] Strong Memorial Hospital had plateaued in its efforts to decrease hospital-onset C. difficile infection rates.
[02:06] Strong’s successful prevention team was diverse and physician-led.
[04:09] Strong’s analysis, using the contextualist model, included brainstorming drivers, blueprinting, and identifying barriers.
[07:06] Interventions were established, monitored, and modified appropriately.
[08:38] COVID continues to cause challenges.  
[09:42] Interventions have proven to be successful, and infection rates have dropped dramatically.
[10:24] Strong made “really significant change in a time when we thought no change was possible.”
 
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Dr. Joe Cummings and Courtney Furrow-White explore fascinating new technologies that are advancing mental health care yet, at the same time, are causing some concerns.
 
Guest speaker:Joe Cummings, PhDTechnology Program DirectorVizient
 
Moderator:Courtney Furrow-WhitePerformance Improvement Program DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:21] Digital technologies include apps, AI, VR, and chatbots.
[02:13] There are an exuberant amount of applications for use.
[04:13] Digital phenotyping applications are still controversial.
[05:37] Digital applications may be the only mental health resource for some.
[07:06] Most of these applications are not subject to FDA regulation.  
[10:09] Data on smartphone applications still in very early stages.  
[13:01] There is risk for possible harm with some of these technologies.
 
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Closing out Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer and Heidi Boehm deep dive into protocols and procedures for dealing with the aftermath of a violent event.
 
Guest speaker:Heidi BoehmBehavioral Health Program ManagerThe University of Kansas Health System
 
Moderator:Lindsay MayerSenior DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[00:38] Survey employees to learn how supported they feel.    
[02:35] Awareness campaigns help reduce workplace violence.   
[05:15] Implement a comprehensive and standardized debriefing process.   
[08:13] Simply checking in with staff, post-event, is a powerful tool.
[09:26] COVID has impacted the launch of a post-event leadership guidebook.    
[10:38] Routine, ongoing data collection is very important.
[12:05] Leaders must be equipped with the necessary tools.
 
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Continuing the discussion for Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer, Rick Litzinger, and Dan Hunnisett explore the importance of building a solid foundation for staff education and training programs around workplace violence.
 
Guest speaker:Rick LitzingerManager, Emergency Preparedness, Safety, SecurityAltru Health System
 
Dan HunnisettSecurity Program Specialist, Security Altru Health System
 
Moderator:Lindsay MayerSenior DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:02] Education is foundational in addressing workplace violence, so it is vital to assess your organization’s training gaps and educational needs.    
[02:36] Strong training programs include several key components.   
[03:30] Altru’s multi-tiered training curriculum.   
[06:45] The challenges and successes of virtual learning, as experienced during the pandemic.
[08:20] Surveys are extremely important in understanding your organization’s culture of safety, as well as education needs and preferences.    
[10:37] Recommended to strengthen your training program: Data collection and cross-discipline strategic partnerships.
 
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In recognition of Workplace Violence Awareness Month, Lindsay Mayer, Mark Reed, and Diana Scott discuss the latest workplace violence statistics and the trends organizations are facing within the industry.
 
Guest speaker:Mark ReedDirector of Support ServicesMLK Community Healthcare
 
Diana ScottAssociate Vice President of Accreditation and Regulatory Advisory ServicesVizient
 
Moderator:Lindsay MayerSenior DirectorVizient
 
Show Notes:
[01:29] Workplace violence has increased continuously throughout 2020 and 2021.
[02:25] The pandemic is a major contributing factor.  
[04:03] The workforce shortage has impacted organizations.  
[05:14] The Joint Commission has released new requirements for 2022.
[08:00] Organizations are implementing unique and innovative strategies.   
[10:30] Leaders can aid in addressing and preventing workplace violence.
 
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