AAHQ 2023 Quarter 2 Newsletter

From the President’s Desk
Submitted by Devin Terry

Hello AAHQ Members,

I hope you are all enjoying the summer months and taking every opportunity to slow down and enjoy those around you. Arkansas has so many great places to visit, and I hope you can at least take a long weekend to plan a ‘staycation.’ While you are slowing down to enjoy the summer, your AAHQ Board members are gearing up to plan the next BIG event, the Fall Membership/Educational Conference!

Our Spring Conference on April 21, “Strategic Pillars in Quality” was a huge success! You guys showed up, and your board could not have been any more pleased with this showing. Your comments were also very supportive and provided excellent feedback that we can utilize to make the Fall Conference even better.

This Conference will be held in October around Healthcare Quality Week. This event will be packed with great learning opportunities, prizes, and opportunities to network and unite while making healthcare in Arkansas safer and more efficient for our neighbors, friends, and families. Another opportunity to gain CPHQ hours will be in September 2023 during the NAHQ NEXT virtual conference. Please pay close attention to the AAHQ social media and email for further national opportunities and announcements.

Trey McCorkindale has agreed to assume the role of financial team lead on the AAHQ board. If you are interested in joining this team and working with Trey, please reach out through the website www.aahq.org or email me at dkterry2@uams.edu or the AAHQ membership services lead, Tim Copeland at copelandtimothyh@uams.edu. We hope you enjoy this newsletter and all the opportunities coming your way. Please do not hesitate to contact me or other board members with ideas, suggestions, or questions.

Until next time, stay safe, and enjoy your summer!

Devin Terry PhDc, RN, ACNS-BC, CPHQ

AAHQ President

From the Past President’s Desk
Submitted by Chelsey Davidson

Where Focus Goes, Energy Flows…

Last week as I was answering emails, I came across an email thread from multiple leaders serving on healthcare quality boards across the country. The focus of this thread was a brainstorming session on increasing engagement among healthcare quality professionals and the ongoing search for ideas on ways to bolster membership in healthcare profession organizations. The pandemic, of course, was cited as the root of the problem and the thread dwindled to several responses that could ultimately be summarized by saying, “We don’t know – we’re still struggling too!”

We’re all singing the same song, and it’s not just healthcare quality leaders! I would be willing to bet that no leader within your healthcare organization has been immune to the stresses that accompany being asked to do more with less resources, dwindling engagement, and the pressure to improve or sustain outcomes for the patients and families we serve. We’ve been in this revolving door of stressors since the start of the pandemic and it’s so easy for us all to keep walking in the same circle without looking for the actual exit.

At the hospital where I work, we hold a safety huddle called Sacred 60 every morning at 0900. Department leaders from throughout the health system rotate through week-long stints where they serve as Administrator on Call or AOC and one of the AOC duties is leading the morning huddle and providing a reflection for our leadership team to start the day. Last week while serving as AOC, our Director of Clinical Applications provided a reflection from Tony Robbins on encouragement that really spoke to me given the current state of healthcare affairs and I wanted to share it with you all.

Where focus goes, energy flows. And where energy flows, whatever you’re focusing on grows. In other words, your life is controlled by what you focus on. That’s why you need to focus on where you want to go, not on what you fear.

Tony Robbins (American author, coach, speaker, and philanthropist)

The reality we’re likely facing is the situation in our hospitals and health systems will never be exactly the same as it was before. Instead of waiting for the state of healthcare to return to what it was before COVID-19, let’s start thinking about what we want it to look like NOW! Let’s focus on the environment we want to create – whether it be adequately staffed units, a more engaged workforce, better outcomes, or even increasing membership in professional organizations – and then work on the roadmap to get there. As always, thank you for all that you do as healthcare quality professionals!

Chelsey Davidson

AAHQ Past President

Professional Development Update
Submitted by Justin Villines

Mark your Calendars!

We are pleased to invite you to our upcoming AAHQ Virtual Quality Conference taking place on October 13th from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. This conference promises to be a must-attend event for healthcare professionals looking to enhance their knowledge. Throughout the day, we will be featuring a variety of informative sessions led by experts in the field. These sessions will cover a range of topics related to quality improvement in healthcare, providing valuable insights and practical strategies that can be implemented in your practice.

Attending this conference will not only enable you to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and advancements in quality improvement, but also provide an opportunity for networking and collaboration with other like-minded professionals.

We look forward to welcoming you to our AAHQ Virtual Quality Conference and sharing a day of learning and growth together so please “Save the Date.” Look for registration details coming soon!

Thank you for your consideration, and we hope to see you there!

Justin Villines, MBA, BSM
2023 Professional Development Team Lead

Membership Services Update
Submitted by Tim Copeland

Please enjoy our membership spotlight below!

Member Spotlight

Trey McCorkindale

AAHQ Finance Action Team Lead

Robert “Trey” McCorkindale is our new Finance Action Team Lead. He is a Data Analyst at UAMS and has been a member of AAHQ for 4 years. Trey’s professional career took a unique pathway into Healthcare Quality. A native Arkansan originally from Harrison, he graduated from Hendrix College in 1993 with a degree in Business and Finance. Recruited out of Hendrix, he began working with Physical Therapy Clinics Company where he was trained on medical billing for PTs and OTs and then transitioning to run the financial side of the business, helping the owners grow the company from 2 clinics to 10 clinics in 5 years. Over the next dozen years, he worked in some similar roles in the medical industry, and a few divergent ones like selling residential heating and air equipment and managing a web design production company. During this period, he was also a volunteer board member of the Arkansas AIDS Foundation and even served as its treasurer and its president for a few two-year terms. He arrived at UAMS in 2010 filling a project manager role in the Dean’s Office of the College of Medicine. This was about the time that the federal Meaningful Use incentives were instituted as a measurement of the utilization of the EHR’s and quality of care provided in physician practices and with that, tracking the eligible providers’ metrics to succeed at MU and submitting the results became his full-time job. Around 2015, a variety of roles focused on quality were consolidated into the Quality Management Department and Trey’s was one of them. In 2019, UAMS began to utilize Power BI as the primary decision support software for reporting quality data. Trey leveraged his experience working with spreadsheets and business financial software to become the department’s “super user” of Power BI. He also assists with the analysis of the US News annual rankings and submits the yearly Promoting Interoperability outcomes for the hospital.

On a personal level, Trey likes living close to UAMS to minimize his commute. He has a daughter that recently graduated from UALR with honors in Theater Arts and Dance and he lives with what he calls “three canine roommates”. He admits to being a “news junkie” owning subscriptions with several of the major services so he can keep up with what’s going on in the world. AAHQ is fortunate to have someone with Trey’s unique background and experience to become our Finance Action Team Leader!

Tim Copeland, MHSA, BS(MT)
2023 Membership Services Team Lead

Communications Update
Submitted by Joel Anderson

Happy Summer! Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather and the many outdoor amenities that Arkansas has to offer, but please don’t forget to apply the sunscreen! The AAHQ Communications Action Team goal is to promote recognition and visibility of the AAHQ organization through our website, newsletter publications, and social media platforms. One way to accomplish this goal is by increasing our followers on social media. If your not following us on Facebook and LinkedIn , I would highly encourage you to do so. Our website is also a great resource for members and includes information on upcoming educational events. Please bookmark the website and visit often!

Joel Anderson, BBA
2023 Communications Team Lead

Protocol Update
Submitted by Erin Bolton

I hope your summer is going well and that you are able to take a little break from work and enjoy some down time!

It is not too late to sign up to be a Quality mentor or to ask for a little help as you navigate the Quality world. If you are interested in being a mentor or would like someone to be a mentor to you, please email me at boltone@jrmc.org and let me know. I am in the process of matching up the mentors/mentees from the survey and would love to add some more names to the mix.

Please don’t forget that the Arkansas AAHQ organization has scholarship funds available for those who are getting their CPHQ for the first time or who are renewing their CPHQ. All you have to do is click this link-Request for Scholarship-CPHQ Initial Certification or Recertification, complete the form, and submit it to me at the email address below. The board will review all applications and make awards based on available funds.

It won’t be long until it’s time for board nominations for the 2024 term. Think about which position you might like to fill and watch your emails and other newsletters for opportunities!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at boltone@jrmc.org and I can get you some additional information. Happy summer!

Erin Bolton, BSN, RN, CPHQ
2023 Protocol Team Lead

Advancements in Healthcare

Transforming Hospitals and Clinics in 2023

Submitted by: Justin Villines, MBA, BSM

In the fast-paced world of healthcare, hospitals and clinics have always been at the forefront of innovation. As we step into the year 2023, these institutions continue to evolve and adapt to meet the ever-changing needs of patients. From cutting-edge technologies to patient-centered care approaches, hospitals and clinics are transforming the way we experience healthcare.

Embracing Telemedicine:

Telemedicine has revolutionized healthcare delivery, allowing patients to receive consultations and treatments remotely. In 2023, hospitals and clinics have fully embraced this technology, making it easier than ever for patients to access medical expertise from the comfort of their own homes. Remote consultations, virtual check-ups, and online prescriptions have become the new norm, saving time and reducing unnecessary hospital visits.

Integrated Health Records:

Gone are the days of paper-based medical records. In 2023, hospitals and clinics have transitioned to fully integrate electronic health records (EHR) systems. This digital transformation allows for seamless communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals, ensuring accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment plans. Patients also benefit from this advancement, as they can access their medical records online, enabling them to actively participate in their own healthcare journey.

Personalized Medicine:

Advancements in genomics and precision medicine have paved the way for personalized approaches to healthcare. In 2023, hospitals and clinics are implementing genetic testing and analysis to tailor treatments to individual patients. Precision medicine ensures that therapies are specific to a patient’s genetic makeup, maximizing effectiveness and minimizing side effects. With personalized medicine, hospitals and clinics are providing truly customized care, leading to better patient outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of healthcare in 2023. AI-powered algorithms analyze vast amounts of patient data, assisting healthcare professionals in making accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions. Hospitals and clinics are also utilizing AI chatbots to enhance patient engagement, providing instant responses to inquiries and guiding patients through their healthcare journey. With AI, hospitals and clinics are able to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and deliver better patient care.

Focus on Mental Health:

Recognizing the importance of mental health, hospitals and clinics have prioritized comprehensive mental health services in 2023. Dedicated mental health units and departments provide specialized care for conditions such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. Integrating mental health professionals into primary care settings ensures a holistic approach to healthcare, addressing both physical and emotional well-being. With increased awareness and support for mental health, hospitals and clinics are breaking down barriers and reducing stigma.

Health Information Exchange

Health Information Exchange is another crucial aspect of improving patient care and outcomes. With the integration of artificial intelligence, hospitals and clinics can securely exchange and access patient health information in real-time. This allows healthcare providers to have a comprehensive view of a patient’s medical history, medications, allergies, and other important health data, leading to more informed decision-making and better coordination of care. By facilitating seamless communication and data sharing among different healthcare organizations, health information exchange plays a vital role in delivering personalized medicine and improving overall patient outcomes.

As we look ahead in 2023 and beyond, hospitals and clinics continue to push the boundaries of healthcare innovation. From embracing telemedicine and integrated health records to personalized medicine and artificial intelligence, these institutions are at the forefront of improving patient care and outcomes. With a focus on mental health and patient-centered approaches, hospitals and clinics are transforming the way we experience healthcare, ensuring a brighter and healthier future for all.

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