SCHA Weekly Update, August 29, 2011

In this issue

This issue includes the latest happening from across the state.

First Gold Star Hospital
Innovations at 2011 TAP Conference
SCHA Solutions news
SCHA Blog: "The Help" helps shed light on God-Politics and the Poor
SCORH awarded HHS grant
Education

First Gold Star Hospital award given to Laurens County Health Care System

Laurens County Health Care System is the first South Carolina hospital awarded the Gold Star certificate as a part of the Working Well initiative. The Gold Star recognizes hospitals for the highest standard of excellence for the tobacco cessation programs offered to their employees. Read more.

Last Call: Share Your Innovations at 2011 TAP Conference

Share your hospital's story with a featured storyboard at the 2011 TAP Conference to be held on Sept. 15-17 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa. In the past, South Carolina hospitals have highlighted their quality and patient safety initiatives at TAP. This year we are looking to learn about your innovations in practice that tie in with our SCHA Reengineering efforts. These stories will relate to collaborative team work and/or areas where you have made measurable advancement by improving population health, enhancing the patient experience and/or reducing the cost of care. Learn more about how you can share your story. Download the brochure to get your team registered to attend TAP.

SCHA Solutions news

Would you be interested in knowing how other hospitals have . . .

Increased their total margin up to 231% ?
Increased customer satisfaction up to 209%?
Reduced temporary labor costs up to $5.3 million?
Decreased voluntary turnover between 24.1% and 3.8%?
Increase employee giving up to 187%?

We thought you would. That’s why we’ve recently invited SmartPulse, Inc., a South Carolina- based company, to become one of SCHA Solutions’ preferred partners. SmartPulse has developed a product that has produced this level of results for hospitals in South Carolina and across the country. And as you can imagine, these results have positively impacted not only the client hospitals’ operations but their cultures as well.

To learn more about these results and how SmartPulse has helped hospitals achieve them, visit SmartPulse or contact them at sales@smart-pulse.com. You can schedule a no-obligation demonstration.

SCHA Blog: "The Help" helps shed light on God-Politics and the Poor

Read the latest blog post from Rozalynn Goodwin.

SCORH awarded HHS grant

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced $40 million in grants for efforts to identify and enroll children eligible for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. The South Carolina State Office of Rural Health (SCORH) was awarded $2.3 million. SCORH working with The Benefit Bank of South Carolina (TBB-SC), will connect the existing TBB-SC technology to the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services eligibility determination system. The grantee also will introduce the use of hand-held tablets with camera capability to capture applications and supporting paperwork electronically and then submit applications electronically. Using these tools, the grantee will expand its recruitment strategies to include work with fast food restaurants, faith based sites and schools.

Education

Upcoming SCHA Webinars

Webinars are a great and cost-effective way to provide education to your employees. Your organization pays for one phone line and may have multiple viewers. Below is a list of upcoming webinars and links to registration information that are available through SCHA. You may also access them through the SCHA calendar.

August 30 - SOCIAL MEDIA WEBINAR SERIES: Getting Administration Buy In for Social Media

2012 ICD-9 & the DRG Update

It is that time of year again: summer ends; Labor Day fun; and, ICD-9 and the new MS-DRG training. Our PricewaterhouseCoopers’ experts will once again present the material on Sept. 8 at SCHA. The program is co-sponsored with SCHIMA who will administer the program evaluation and give the professional education credits upon completion. Register now.

Trustee Administrator Physician (TAP) Conference

The TAP Conference is scheduled to be held Sept. 15-17 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa. It is a joint meeting held annually with the SC Medical Association. Highlights include: Pre-game activities such as the Best on Board Essentials & Quality courses and the Senior Medical Leadership Council join session on making CME and physician leadership part of your game strategy; learning the new Triple Aim information; sharing reengineering plays of the week; and much more. Features closing speak David Nash, with the Jefferson School of Population Health, will challenge us to prepare for the next season by building real leadership. Contact Lucy Marcum for more information.