#healthcarequality

As we continue to navigate an ongoing pandemic, COVID-19 and dealing with all of the change associated with the virus has been stressful for many.  Healthcare staff have been traumatized by what they are seeing and experiencing as well as experiencing burnout. Children have had to adjust to a new way to attend school and then manage to remain safe as they returned to school. Families and friends have had to adjust to how they socially interact, travel and attend events.  All of these changes can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in both adults and children. Tune in to this Throwback Thursday episode as Alliant's program manager, Stacy Hull, LPC, MAC, CPCS  shares how COVID-19 has contributed to the increase of people experiencing burnout and trauma and how people can cope and get help. 

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Alliant Health Solutions is a QIN-QIO and Alliant Quality is the quality improvement services group of Alliant Health Solutions (AHS), but what does that mean? 

Tune in as the executive director of Alliant Quality, Linda Kluge, RD, LD, CPHQ, shares what makes Alliant different and how QIN-QIO's are impacting the health industry.

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Alliant Health Solutions has partnered with Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) on a national initiative to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on minorities, people living in rural areas, migrant workers, refugees and immigrants. This collaboration consists of organizations and individuals from all over the country who are working together to provide community-driven responses, recovery, and resiliency strategies for addressing this pandemic.

The goal of the NCRN initiative is to connect individuals, families, community organizations and clinical providers to timely and relevant COVID-19 information and resources. The launch of the NCRN occurs alongside the release of new digital technology accessible through the NCRN website provides location-based recommendations on where community members can get a COVID-19 test, fill prescriptions and get a COVID-19 vaccine.

Join us as Stacy Hull, LPC MAC, CPCS, Alliant’s program manager shares how Alliant’s work is contributing to the mission and the areas of focus in the future.

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When a person is diagnosed with kidney disease, it can be a challenging time. It is normal for them to experience sadness due to the several life-changes they will encounter as kidney patients. A peer mentor empowers fellow patients to move forward with their lives after being diagnosed with end stage renal disease (ESRD).  Peer mentoring provides support and increases the confidence that many new patients need and offers them access to someone who has been through similar experiences while understanding their concerns. Join us as  ESRD Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) members, Ken Spoor and Patience McCowan, share their experiences as both mentors and mentees and how much participating makes a difference in a patients life.

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Transitional Care Units (TCUs) are designed to provide personalized education to patients with kidney failure. Whether those patients are new to dialysis, transitioning between in-center and home dialysis or returning to dialysis after transplantation, there are benefits to both patients and facilities from having a TCU program. The Advancing American Kidney Health organization has an initiative goal of having 80% of newly diagnosed patients with kidney failure receive a transplant or be on home dialysis by 2025. Studies have shown that more than 50% of patients who complete education in a TCU will choose home dialysis as their preferred modality (vs. 15% on average). Tune in as Regina Liddell, a Mississippi-based facility administrator and home program manager, shares the steps and benefits for both patients and facilities in establishing a TCU.

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Physicians are asked to wear many hats in service to their patients—healer, scientist, communicator, advocate, researcher, scholar, problem-solver and more. But especially in times like these, it is important to remember that physicians are also human, and subject to the same intense feelings of fatigue, anxiety, self-doubt and depression that arise in periods of extreme stress. Burnout presented an epic challenge for physicians and the practice of medicine long before COVID-19, but the virus has exacerbated the underlying and systemic problems that contribute most directly to physician burnout.  Tune in to this dynamic episode hosted by Alliant's Chief Medical Officer of Medicaid, Dr. Susana Alfonso as she discusses physician wellness and resilience with fellow Alliant team members and physicians:

• Dr. Joseangel Bedoya, Medical Director - Case Review
• Dr. Dianne Bennett-Johnson,  Medical Director Medical Management Services 
• Dr.  Kimberly Rask - Chief Data Officer

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Artic blasts, flooding and tornados are natural disasters that are all too common nowadays. Preparation and planning for a natural disaster is key, but should be a priority for those with chronic conditions. Tune in as we meet Tiffany, Sam and his wife Lacey who have experienced natural disasters and share how they prepared their supplies, food and considered thoughtful family planning.

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In this week's episode, we are revisiting the very first episode of the Making Health Care Better podcast featuring Dr. Dennis White,  Alliant's President and CEO, who shares how Alliant's patient-centered, clinically led, and data-driven approach has been making an impact in communities for the past 50 years. Tune in as we take a look back at where it all began. 

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According to the Autism Speaks, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a therapy based on the science of learning and behavior. 

The methods of behavior analysis have been used and studied for decades and therapists have used ABA to help children with autism and related developmental disorders since the 1960s.

Tune in as Alliant ASO clinical reviewer Jennifer Parlapiano, LMHC shares how Alliant ASO uses assessments to identify good care, effective treatment planning and collaborative parent training for families of children with autism.

Also, learn tips about what a parent's expectation should be from a provider, what to look for and what questions parents of children with autism should ask to ensure they are identifying the ideal service provider for their child.  

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End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network 8, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization incorporated in Jackson, Mississippi, and providing services on behalf of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to kidney patients and their providers since 1988. The Network merged with the Alliant family of companies in 2012, and maintains a partnership with ESRD Network 14, known as the Alliant Quality Kidney Collaborative, to pursue operational efficiencies and identify and deploy best practices.

Under the guidance of a multidisciplinary medical review board and informed by patient committees, staff members promote patient and family engagement through education and focused, patient-led activities; provide clinical quality improvement assistance; respond to individual patient concerns; conduct emergency response functions in disasters; and support high quality information exchange between providers and CMS.

Tune in as the Network 8 Patient Services Director, Katy Chappelear, LCSW shares more about how Network 8 supports facilities in providing patients with quality care and increasing awareness about end stage renal disease.

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Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there has been a 2600% increase in use of telemedicine, resulting in 34.5 million visits. According to a technical brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, there is sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of telehealth for specific uses with some types of patients, including psychotherapy and other behavioral health specialties. With those types of stats, many providers have had to make adjustments to ensure they are delivering the same standard of care as an office visit.  Tune in as the Director of Program Development-Behavioral Health for Alliant Health Solutions,  Lynn Bradford, Ph.D., shares insight about  the benefits and challenges of using telemedicine specifically for behavioral health services.

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The End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network 8 in Mississippi has over 13% of patients on a home dialysis plan, which is above the national average.

Due to their high home dialysis rates locally and nationally, their home dialysis nurses participated in a webinar to educate other facilities about strategies for increasing home dialysis and share highly effective practices. 

Tune in as Alliant board member and nephrologist Dr. Randle White shares insight about the benefits of a home modality plan that works for both patients and practitioners.

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COVID-19 has impacted thousands of nursing homes throughout the United States. The impact has led health experts and the federal government to call on increased data reporting from nursing homes and long-term care facilities. 

From the appropriate use of PPE to hand hygiene procedures, Alliant has been providing long-term care facilities additional guidance from the Center for Disease Controls' National Healthcare Safety Network to support them during this pandemic. Additionally, Alliant hosts Learning and Action webinars featuring topics related to the current climate.

Tune in as Alliant's AIM Manager of Patient Safety, Melody Brown shares details about how Alliant is supporting nursing homes during the COVID pandemic.

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The emergence of COVID-19 and dealing with all of the change associated with the virus has been stressful for many. Healthcare staff have been traumatized by what they are seeing and experiencing. Children have had to adjust to a new way to attend school. Families and friends have had to adjust to how they socially interact. All of these changes can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in both adults and children.

Tune in as Alliant's behavioral health manager, Stacy Hull shares how COVID-19 has contributed to the increase of people experiencing burnout and trauma and how people can cope and get help. 

www.allianthealth.org

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) selected Alliant Quality through its affiliates to provide quality improvement and interventions for the Medicare ESRD program. The Alliant Quality ESRD Network affiliates include:

• Network 8, Inc. (ESRD Network 8) serving Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee
• End Stage Renal Disease Network of Texas, Inc. (ESRD Network 14) serving Texas

The scope of work encompasses a total of four (4) states collectively serving populations with similar dialysis and transplant patient demographics and provider characteristics.

Tune in as Alliant board member and Nashville-based nephrologist Dr. Ralph Atkinson shares how the ESRD networks are providing care coordination to improve patient outcomes.

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According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI),  43.8 million adults experience mental illness in a given year and one in five adults in America experience a mental illness. As a result of COVID-19, additional behavioral health concerns such as loneliness, depression and anxiety are on the rise.

Tune in as Alliant's behavioral health manager, Stacy Hull shares how COVID-19 is impacting the need for increased behavioral health services, how to recognize if you or a loved one needs help and how Alliant is answering the call.

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Telehealth and telemedicine have emerged as the new way to do healthcare. They are now a must-have for both healthcare professionals and patients during these uncertain times the COVID-19 pandemic has created.

Based on a survey by Sage Growth Partner (SGP) and Black Book Market Research, 59% percent of those surveyed reported they are more likely to use telehealth services now than previously, and 33% would even leave their current physician for a provider who offered telehealth access.

Tune in as Alliant's Chief Medical Officer of Medicaid, Dr. Suzy Alfonso shares how and why technology is now a key strategy in providing solutions to health care challenges in a COVID-19 climate.

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Alliant Health Solutions is anchored in being clinician led, technology driven and customer focused. Tune in as Alliant's Chief Information Officer, John Slaughter shares how and why technology is a key strategy in providing solutions to health care challenges.

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Dialysis is defined as a treatment that takes over kidney functions when those organs stop doing their jobs. Patients need dialysis when they develop kidney failure or end stage renal disease (ESRD). For dialysis patients, kidney failure can be treated by either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Tune in as Texas-based nephrologist and Alliant board member, Dr. Charles Orji explains the differences between the two treatments.

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