Quality Update Newsletter - Stratis Health

Stratis Health publishes the Quality Update Newsletter twice a year. This electronic publication provides an update on health care quality topics and issues for Minnesota’s health care leaders and aims to provide Minnesota thought leaders with news, issues, and perspectives on health care quality and patient safety.

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Current issue

Fall 2024 (9-page PDF)

Inspiring Action Through Success Stories. Jennifer Lundblad, Stratis Health president and CEO, shares how the organization moves beyond imagining better health and care to driving actionable change and innovation.
Healthy Disruption Empowers the Disability Community. Stratis Health Board member Jesse Bethke Gomez leads creative and inspiring efforts to overcome barriers and advance independent living.
Maturity Matrix: Insights into Strengths and Gaps. Staff experts Erin Foss and Lindsay Roberts are at the forefront of using the Maturity Matrix to determine where health care communities and professionals are on the road to providing optimal care.
Optimizing Implementation Science. How this recent enhancement is putting Stratis Health on the leading edge of health improvement
Stratis Health News. Transitions, successes, in the news.

Past issues

Spring 2024 (9-page PDF)

New Strategies Give Momentum to Stratis Health’s Work. Jennifer Lundblad, Stratis Health president and CEO, sets forth a refreshed strategic direction to keep up with the speed of change.
A Passion for Geriatric Care as an Expression of Health Equity. Stratis Health Board member Ruby Schoen reflects on continuously evolving priorities in geriatric care and her new role as Stratis Health’s Board chair.
Health Equity: Naming It Leads to Meaningful Conversations and Positive Change. Staff experts Sarah Brinkman, Marleny Garber, and De’Nika Pollard share how Stratis Health exemplifies and lives its commitment to health equity by prioritizing it in all programs.
A New Era for Health Equity. Stratis Health Board members reflect on lessons learned and look ahead.
Stratis Health News. Meet the 2023-2024 Building Healthier Communities awardees, welcome new Board and staff members.

Fall 2023 (9-page PDF)

Reenergizing Patient Safety. Jennifer Lundblad, Stratis Health president and CEO, discusses how promising signals point to a revitalized commitment to patient safety nationwide.
The Power of Communication: Improving Patient Education, Engagement, and Health. Stratis Health Board member, Abigail Greenheck, shares how meaningful communication can help avert patient and health care system breakdowns.
Creating Communities and Systems to Support the Diverse Needs of Older Adults. Staff expert Jane Pederson offers insights into opportunities and infrastructure within communities that must be present and welcoming to older adults.
Advances in Policy and Social Change for Older Adults. Our nation is deeply immersed in the opportunities, challenges, realities, and necessities of a society with an expanding aging population. Learn how Minnesota has become a bellwether state for thinking globally and acting locally to improve the lives of older adults.
Stratis Health News: Special tribute to long-time Stratis Health ally John Selstad.

Spring 2023 (7-page PDF)

The Power of Community Collaboration. Jennifer Lundblad, Stratis Health president and CEO, showcases the Stratis Health Building Healthier Communities annual small grant awards program and the importance of community partnerships.
Hue-MAN Partnership: Shifting the Community Narrative from Deficits to Whole-Person Health. Stratis Health Board member Karen Monsen reflects on how thoughtfully Hue-MAN Partnership used Building Healthier Communities funds to close gaps between the Latino and health care communities.
Protecting and Preserving the Health and Well-being of Individuals, Families, and Communities. Staff expert Kim McCoy connects the dots between how community outreach initiatives that intersect with Stratis Health’s work are strengthened through mutually beneficial support.
Building Healthier Communities: Celebrating Health Equity Achievements. Meet the 2022-2023 Building Healthier Communities awardees and learn how they used the program funding to advance key projects.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2022 (10-page PDF)

Rural Health in America: Optimizing its Assets. Jennifer Lundblad, Stratis Health president and CEO, takes a hopeful look at the plentiful and unique assets being leveraged to improve health in rural communities.
Strengthening Inter-governmental Tribal-State Relationships Enables All to Thrive. Stratis Health Board member Patina Park shares how Minnesota is taking steps to strengthen the tribal-state government-to-government relationship that shows great promise for improving the health and well-being of native people.
Showcasing Rural Health Care Equity and Quality Assets. Staff experts focus on health equity at the heart of Stratis Health’s rural-focused quality work.
Reframing Rural Health: Community Vitality and Resilience. Highly regarded national rural health leaders Brock Slabach and Peggy Wheeler reject the deficit-oriented view often applied to rural health, focusing instead on the resilience, passion, and flexibility of committed community members and health care professionals.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2022 (9-page PDF)

The “Next Normal:” Emerging Issues and Mega Lessons from the Pandemic. “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” This article from Jennifer Lundblad, Stratis Health president and CEO, examines how we can be smarter and better as we create our “next normal.”
Lessons from the Pandemic: What we’ve Learned, What’s Changed, and What Still Needs to Change. Dr. David Satin, University of Minnesota, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and Stratis Health Board member, shares his thoughts on how the convergence of the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd exposed health disparities, creating a remarkable teachable moment.
Exploring the Relationship Between Staff Capacity and Quality in Rural Health Care. Meeting evolving patient care needs amid rapidly growing staff shortages while remaining committed to quality measurement, reporting, and improvement requires innovation and resilience.
Solving Health Care and Health Equity Challenges Together Across the Full Continuum of Care. With Minnesota a leader in quality, innovation, and collaboration, we challenged our colleagues from across the health care continuum to share responses to pressing questions about pandemic lessons learned and hopes for the future.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2021 (9-page PDF)

Closing Health Equity Gaps. As we mark Stratis Health’s 50th anniversary this year, we discuss our re-commitment to improving care and health and reducing disparities for those who are members of the most under-resourced groups.
Gaining Trust, Improving Care where People Live, Learn, Work, and Play. Reuben Moore, president and executive officer of Minnesota Community Care and Stratis Health Board member, shares his conversation with Jennifer Lundblad, Stratis Health president and CEO, about how gaining trust contributes to improving care across and within communities.
Keeping Rural Health Improvement Initiatives on Track During the Pandemic. Honing our listening and flexibility skills as we support front-line clinical and non-clinical health care workers has been essential during COVID-19 challenges.
Creating an Anti-ageist Health Care System. Intergenerational learning and living opportunities will help build bridges between health care and communities to more holistically meet patient needs and achieve better health.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2021 (8-page PDF)

Remaining True to our Mission for 50 Years. We are celebrating Stratis Health’s 50th anniversary this year, a golden (!) opportunity to reflect on the past and set our sights on the future as an organization leading collaboration and innovation to improve health.
Reflections on the Past and Future of Stratis Health. Present and past Board members reflect on their commitment to Stratis Health’s evolution.
Celebrating the Power of Teamwork. Staff members with the longest and shortest tenure share what makes Stratis Health a great place to work.
Social Determinants of Health Reset: Agile Responsiveness to Changing Needs. Listening and responding to the needs of the people we serve leads to concrete strategies for strengthening community partnerships and improving resource accessibility. Feature article.
Stratis Health News

Winter 2020 (8-page PDF)

Community Solutions More Important Than Ever During COVID-19. We are over 10 months into a pandemic, layered with a racial justice crisis. As a result, our health care and support are coming from our geographic, cultural, and faith communities. Perspective from Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Strategic Partnerships: A Mainstay for Advancing Health and Health Care. Multi-party partnerships are increasingly the norm for advancing health outcomes. Organizations come together to seek solutions that can’t be developed from a singular vantage point. Feature article.
Informal Caregivers Need Community-based Long-term Services and Supports. Community-based long-term services and supports (LTSS) are needed to bolster and sustain informal caregivers of individuals with multiple chronic conditions. Perspective from John Selstad, Stratis Health Board of Directors; former director of systems development and integration for the Aging and Adult Services Division and Minnesota Board on Aging within the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Gauges Cultural & Spiritual Wellness. A recent community health assessment lends understanding to the current health status, needs, and resources of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe community. Perspective from Marilyn Reierson, Senior Program Manager, Stratis Health, and Carrie Howard, Program Manager, Stratis Health.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2019 (8-page PDF)

Converging on Improved Care for People with Serious Illness. The Stratis Health team is cheering the convergence of interest and activity in improving care for those with serious illness. Perspective from Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
The Genevive Family Conference: Supporting Patients with Serious Illnesses. The family conference is an important part of this geriatric medical practice and care management organization’s philosophy. This engagement has been shown to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life. Perspective from Ruby Schoen, Stratis Health board member, and Medical Director and Geriatric Long-term Care Nurse Practitioner at Genevive.
How National Leaders Are Approaching Chronic Conditions. Leaders across the country are working on approaches to address the growing issue of chronic conditions, including diagnosing obesity, developing cultures focused on person-centered care, and using patient data—such as preferences and social factors—to develop care plans and interventions.
Multiple Chronic Conditions Require Us to Restructure Health Care Delivery. Caring for individuals with multiple chronic conditions will require fundamental changes to our health care system. Perspective from Jane Pederson, Chief Medical Quality Officer, Stratis Health.
New Serious Illness Coalition Launching in Minnesota. The Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care and Stratis Health announced a joint commitment to launch a new Minnesota serious illness coalition.
Looking at the Numbers: Medicare Beneficiaries with Multiple Chronic Conditions. A 2017 snapshot of Medicare FFS data for multiple chronic conditions shows that Minnesota beneficiaries have lower rates of multiple chronic conditions than the national average, while carrying a significant disease burden.
Latest News on the Medicare Quality Program. Stratis Health will be reaching out to health care organizations and other stakeholders to participate in and support quality improvement initiatives through the five-year Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization program kicked off in November. A clinician quality improvement initiative is planned for 2020.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2019 (8-page PDF)

Driving Toward the Future with New Partnerships and Alliances Strategic alliances and partnerships are shaping health care like never before. We introduce Superior Health Quality Alliance—a new partnership to drive achievement of Medicare quality goals in the region. Perspective from Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Partnerships: The Foundation for Healthy, Equitable Communities Many people are interested in discovering answers together to the problems we encounter in the community. Within partnerships, these individuals bring the energy, the vision and the purpose that create change. Perspective from Renee Frauendienst, Stratis Health board member and director of public health for Stearns County, Minnesota.
Strategic Partnerships Are Needed to Improve Health Outcomes The future of health and health care will rely more and more on strategic and creative partnerships.
Evolution of Medicare Quality The Medicare Quality Improvement Program has evolved at a pace that has both brought along and challenged the health care community. Perspective from Mary Lou Haider, Vice President, Contract Management and Internal Quality, Stratis Health
New QIN-QIO Program Focus CMS outlines five aims for its QIN-QIO Program from 2019 to 2023.
Looking at the Numbers: Minnesota’s State of Health Care Quality In terms of quality of life, the state frequently shines among the top three best-performing states. All Minnesotans do not experience this same quality.
Building Healthier Communities Awards Five new grants through our community benefit program promote a culture of health through health equity or patient and family activation. Past projects make lives better through Cycling Without Age and Community Advance Care Planning.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2018 (8-page PDF)

Addressing Health Equity Requires the Tools of Quality Improvement We need persistence, innovation, and collaboration to make progress in reducing disparities and improving health equity in Minnesota. We also need actionable tools. Perspective from Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President, and CEO.
Health is Not an Equal Opportunity The barriers to equal opportunity for optimal health are structural. Perspective from Jan Malcolm, Stratis Health board member and Commissioner of Health for the State of Minnesota.
Technology in Support of Equity Technology can be an incredible aid for health care organizations in advancing equitable care if implemented properly. Perspective from Susan Severson, Vice President, Health Information Technology, Stratis Health.
Minnesota Health Systems Making Health Equity Actionable Health systems are taking action and reshaping organizational culture in Minnesota’s move to address disparities.
Looking at the Numbers: Disparities in Minnesota Hospital Readmission Rates Minnesota’s readmissions data stratified by race and ethnicity shows uneven quality performance, in both state and national data.
Accelerating Health Care Affordability Event Cross-Sector Leaders Collaborating to Drive Progress, Thurs, Nov. 29, 2018.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2018 (8-page PDF)

Signals from Medicare Three important signals related to quality are coming from CMS. Perspective from Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Engaging Physicians in Quality Improvement Views on today’s rapidly changing payment and value-based care environment. Perspective from Craig Svendsen, MD, Stratis Health board member and retired chief medical quality officer and physician lead for HealthEast Care System’s Quality Institute and Quality Program.
Open Your Clinical Notes It’s time to empower patients with their complete health story. Perspective from Susan Severson, Vice President, Health Information Technology, Stratis Health.
Measuring Quality for Medicare Consumers One year into the Merit-based Incentive Payment System.
MIPS Estimator Drives Clinician Success in the QPP The tool provides a straightforward means to help clinicians meet the complex requirements of MIPS. Stratis Health 2018 MIPS Estimator
Looking at the Numbers: Better Care for Medicare Consumers The collaborative work of health care providers in the region is showing strong results across key national initiatives, under the leadership of Lake Superior Quality Innovation Network.
Building Healthier Communities Awards Three new grants through our community benefit program promote a culture of health.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2017 (8-page PDF)

Moving Health Upstream: A Focus on Wellness Multiple drivers are influencing our way to wellness. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Wellbeing of the Health Care Workforce Health care provider stress and burnout has reached a level of urgency. Perspective from Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, Stratis Health board member and founder and director of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing.
Reframing Health in the Context of Wellness With the recognition that we need to address the connections between the whole person and physical health, the health care system is increasingly looking at wellness as a frame for health. And, wellness strategies are taking many forms.
Medicare Quality Improvement Advances Wellness CMS has fostered an emphasis on wellness through the work of its Quality Improvement Organization Program. Perspective from Kim McCoy, MPH, Minnesota State QIN-QIO Program Director, Stratis Health.
Looking at the Numbers: Medicare Annual Wellness Visits Claims data shows that the Annual Wellness Visit is an under-used benefit, while health care organization data indicates a link between the visits and increased preventive care.
Merit-based Incentive Payment System Countdown The MIPS data submission deadline is March 31, 2018. Clinicians and organizations find success using the Stratis Health MIPS Estimator to assess their best approach to data and reporting methods.
White Earth Nation Coordinates Community Services and Supports The White Earth Coordination, Assessment, Resources, and Education (WE CARE) model enhances client use of facility and community based programs with the goal of improving overall health and wellbeing.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2017 (8-page PDF)

Collaboration and Innovation in a Changing Landscape Innovative collaborative efforts should set the course for health care quality in uncertain times. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Incenting Health Care Transformation Views on today’s rapidly changing payment and value-based care environment. Perspective from Beth Monsrud, CPA, Stratis Health board member and senior vice president and chief financial officer of UCare Minnesota.
2017 Begins Medicare’s Revised Approach to Quality The Quality Payment Program (QPP) will move forward. Are you ready for the options? Perspective from Lisa Gall, DNP, Clinical Program Manager, Stratis Health.
Framing Value in Cancer Care Leveraging QPP to achieve Minnesota’s cancer plan goals.
Looking at the Numbers: Minnesota Hospice Goal Aims to Increase Quality of Care for Cancer Patients Achieving some QPP hospice measures, but Minnesota’s cancer plan sets a higher bar.
Medicare QIN-QIO Program Early Impact Data show that the QIO Program is making a difference and care is improving for Medicare beneficiaries.
Building Healthier Communities Awards 10 years of promoting a culture of health care quality and patient safety in Minnesota.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2016 (8-page PDF)

Diagnostic Error in Medicine: Opportunity to Improve Value-Based Care Minnesota health care leaders take action on IOM call for urgent change to address misdiagnosis in medicine. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Preparing Medical Students for Value-Based Care Tomorrow’s physicians start their medical training within the context of value-based care. Perspective from Kathleen Brooks, MD, Stratis Health board member and Associate Professor, University of Minnesota, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.
IMPACT Act: Aligning Measures Across Post-Acute Care The IMPACT Act recognizes the critical role PAC providers play in the quality of life for Medicare consumers. Perspective from Jane Pederson, MD, MS, Chief Medical Quality Officer, Stratis Health
Transforming to Achieve Patient-centered Outcomes: Solutions Focused Across the Care Continuum Value-based payment models are pushing organizations toward the disruptive innovation of patient-centered care across the continuum. Featuring HealthEast and Lakewood Health System.
Minnesota Hospital Executives Share Strategies for Success in VBP Interviews with 30 participants reveal 12 strategies to enable clinical and financial success in implementing the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program.
Looking at the Numbers: Measuring Skilled Nursing Facilities on Quality and Value Data from Nursing Home Compare offers a proxy to show how Minnesota skilled nursing facilities will measure up in the new Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP).
Building Plans to Act on Alzheimer’s: Minnesota Can Do Better with Care Delivery and Supports More than 135 Minnesota health care leaders came together to explore creative solutions for improving dementia detection and care, and influencing the national discussion around this disease. Includes Alzheimer’s provider practice tools.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2016 (8-page PDF)

Leveraging e-Health to Achieve Healthy Communities We have made great progress in e-health in Minnesota and are celebrating many successes…yet we have far to go in many areas. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
EHRs Needed to Support the Tremendous Change in Health Care Reflections on the vast changes tied to electronic health records (EHRs). Perspective from Stephen Kolar, MD, Stratis Health board member and retired Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, HealthEast Care System.
Value-based Care Requires Integration Across the Community What’s needed to integrate long-term and support service (LTSS) organizations with medical care providers?
Minnesota e-Health Roadmap for Behavioral Health, Local Public Health, Long-Term, and Post-Acute Care, and Social Services Available late summer, the roadmap will provide recommendations and actions to support and accelerate the adoption and use of e-health.
Looking at the Numbers: Regional Extension Center Clients Achieve EHR Meaningful Use Nearly 5,100 clinicians at 662 clinic locations, and 121 critical access and rural hospitals in Minnesota and North Dakota, advanced their use of EHRs. REACH offered recommendations in eight key areas as next steps to support using e-health to transform care.
Risk in Health Care is Good Taking risk in health care is vital because it’s inherent in innovating new ideas and approaches. Perspective from Greg Linden, Vice President, Information Services/Chief Information Officer, Stratis Health.
Building Healthier Communities Awards Stratis Health provided grant support for five projects through its Building Healthier Communities award. Awards went to ACT on Alzheimer’s, Face-to-Face Adolescent Health Clinic, Minnesota Rural Health Association, Paramedic Foundation, and Senior Community Services.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2015 (8-page PDF)

Emerging Health Professionals: Today’s Opportunity Community health workers and community paramedics are playing key roles in improving health and health care across settings of care. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Silos to Circles: Valuing the Whole Continuum An unusually broad group of organizations from across the whole spectrum of health care and social services is attempting to bring our very separate “silos” together. Perspective from Jan Malcolm, Stratis Health board member and is president, Courage Kenny Foundation and vice president, public affairs for Allina Health.
Medicare Focuses on Mental Health The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a new two-part initiative through its Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program to improve mental health care for Medicare beneficiaries.
Innovating Care Delivery Across Minnesota: Experiments in Care Coordination Communities across Minnesota are exploring innovative strategies to enhance care coordination. Organizations across the care continuum are taking action to build relationships, improve population health, and add value—all key actions to succeed in transforming care and succeed under new payment models. Many of these efforts are being spurred with state and federal support. Here are a few exciting efforts currently underway in Minnesota.
The Role of Community-based Organizations in Population Health CBOs/HCBSs need to be able to position their services as tools that advance the health care delivery goals. A Stratis Health survey provides insights on their needs for participating within the framework of value-driven health care.
Challenge to Rural Communities: Find Your Role in Delivery System Reform For continued viability in a delivery system reformed world, rural health care leaders need to be thinking broadly about health and health care in their communities. Perspective from Karla Weng, Stratis Health rural health specialist.
Looking at the Numbers: Critical Access Hospitals Report Medicare Quality Data Rates of CAH reporting varies significantly by state. Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP) provides an opportunity for hospitals to look at their outcomes data and participate in quality improvement initiatives.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2015 (8-page PDF)

Accelerating Action in Minnesota The State Innovation Model (SIM) program builds upon the public and private sector innovation already underway in both care delivery and payment redesign. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Communication Is at the Heart of Health Insights on effective communication and coming together for impact. Perspective from Donna Anderson, Stratis Health board member and retired director of the Dakota County Public Health Department.
E-Health Roadmaps: Connecting Care Providers Across the Continuum for Better Health Minnesota stakeholders are building a framework for how e-health can support behavioral health, local public health, long-term and post-acute care, and social services settings to more effectively deliver high-quality, coordinated care, and build healthier communities.
Minnesota Nursing Homes Decrease Use of Antipsychotics Minnesota decreased rates of long-stay nursing home residents who are receiving an antipsychotic medication 23.1 percent.
Looking at the numbers: Medicare Hospital Value-Based Purchasing in Minnesota The latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) value-based purchasing (VBP) payment results show Minnesota hospitals improved in total performance scores.
Building Healthier Communities Awards Stratis Health provided grant support for four projects through its Building Healthier Communities award. Awards went to CaringBridge, NAMI, Native American Community Clinic Behavioral Health Integration Initiative, and YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities.
Top e-Health Topics: HIMSS and the Minnesota e-Health Summit Top topics from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2015 annual conference and Minnesota e-Health Summit.
Top 10 Medicare Issues in 2015 Medicare Report listed the top 10 Medicare issues for this year.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2014(8-page PDF)

Our Emerging Understanding of Population Health From a quality and value perspective, population health means recognizing the comprehensive care of individuals. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Where Does Health Happen? In Healthy Communities Insights on taking a lesson from community health centers to address root causes for health. Perspective from Stella Whitney-West, Stratis Health board member and CEO of NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center.
Emergency Department Transfer Communication in Critical Access Hospitals Nearly 100 critical access hospitals across eight states improved on their transfer communication measures through a special innovation project. Results indicate an opportunity for improved transition communication from EDs to long term care facilities.
Health IT an Essential Component for Success in Health Reform Minnesota is taking cues from ACO successes about how to derive value and is investing in data analytics, infrastructure, and health IT.
Medication Reconciliation in Care Transitions Between Hospitals and Nursing Homes A new white paper highlights the waste and risk in care transitions between hospitals and nursing homes, and recommends three actions for improving medication management as a solution.
Increasing Hospice Use Three Minnesota communities increased hospice admissions by 8.7% and increased length of stay in hospice for patients, after participating in a special innovation project.
Looking at the numbers: Hospital Service Areas in Minnesota Understand the hospital service areas (HSAs) serving Minnesota Medicare consumers to plan partnerships to impact the health of individuals and populations.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2014 (8-page PDF)

2014: A Year of Significant Change in Health Care Health care needs to find how to design care delivery to improve population health and experience of care while making care affordable. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Health Care Delivery Is Ever-Changing – With More Changes to Come Insights on changes in health care and quality improvement: past, present and future. Perspective from William Jacott, MD, Stratis Health board member.
Medicare Redesigns and Expands Quality Improvement Program The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has laid out the new direction for the nation’s largest health care quality improvement program, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) program.
Looking at the Numbers: Improving Quality of Care for Medicare Beneficiaries Stratis Health is making lives better as the Quality Improvement Organization for Minnesota, along with with providers and partners across the state. See impacts for Medicare beneficiaries, communities, clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes.
Progress in Cross-Setting Health Information Exchange in Minnesota An 18-month Medicare special innovation project advances HIE for post-acute care and identifies issues, including improving finding for medication management.
Top 10 Medicare Issues in 2014 Medicare Report listed the top 10 Medicare issues for this year.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2013 (8-page PDF)

Act Big, While Focusing Locally Stratis Health has started to describe how health care will need to recreate itself, building around a new dichotomy: the power of acting big and being connected while simultaneously focusing on local communities and individuals. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Changing Role of Health Care Consumers—the Perspective of Two Medicare Consumers – Two Medicare consumers share their thoughts on patient satisfaction and the challenges facing health care consumers. Perspective from Dee Kemnitz and Ruth Stryker-Gordon Stratis Health Board members, serving as Medicare consumer representatives
Center for Community Health Aims to Amplify Impact Health plans, hospitals, and local public health agencies are coming together through the Center for Community Health, a voluntary collaboration to improve health in the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area. It aims to align the community health assessment process and action plans across the sectors.
An Actionable Model for Health Reform Stratis Health has developed a model to assist organizations with their visioning and planning for health reform. The model gives health care and community organizations an image of how to respond to the changing marketplace and incentives, and successfully transform care delivery.
QAPI—an Approach Supporting Nursing Home Success in Health Reform Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) is a proactive, data-driven, systems-based approach that prepares nursing homes well to provide care with better outcomes—improved quality of life, care, and services. A national pilot identified the greatest opportunities with QAPI.
EHR is an Essential Tool in Patient-Centered Medical Home Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are participating in patient-centered medical home (PCMH) demonstrations. REACH is working with FQHCs in North Dakota to use health IT to support this care transformation. National Committee for Quality Assurance standards for PCMH recognition were mapped to health IT functions.
Looking at the numbers: Low Hospice Use for Medicare Consumers in Minnesota Medicare is supporting efforts to increase appropriate use of the hospice benefit, with the aim of improving experience of care at end of life and potentially improving affordability of care by decreasing often unwanted intensive interventions. Data shows Minnesota ranks below average in Medicare consumer use of hospice.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2013 (8-page PDF)

Innovating the Future of Health Care We are in the midst of a big national push for innovation in health care, led by the CMS Innovation Center, which was established by the Affordable Care Act in 2010. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Biomedical and Health Informatics Needed to Support the Triple Aim Our communities are birthing strategies to achieve the Triple Aim, which requires health care leaders to foster learning health systems and extensively use biomedical and health informatics. Perspective from Connie Delaney Stratis Health Board member and dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, where she also is director of Biomedical Health Informatics.
Minnesota’s State Innovation Model Minnesota is one of six states selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center to receive funding to act a laboratory of innovation to support comprehensive approaches to transform the state’s health system through new payment and service delivery models.
Reducing Readmissions for Minnesota – campaign participants exceeding the goal of 4,000 readmissions Congratulations to the 83 hospitals participating in the RARE Campaign (Reducing Avoidable Readmissions Effectively) for exceeding the goal of reducing 4,000 avoidable hospital readmissions. Hospitals and their community partners have successfully helped patients in Minnesota spend 18,280 nights of sleep in their own beds and saved an estimated $45 million in inpatient health care expenditures.
Progress Toward EHR Meaningful Use – nearly 4,900 clinicians served Minnesota and North Dakota providers are directly benefitting from REACH services, including 4,882 clinicians and 115 critical access and rural hospitals. Meaningful use attainment for Minnesota and North Dakota REACH clients is 14 percent higher than for regional extension center participants nationally.
Looking at the numbers: Medicare Hospital Value-Based Purchasing in Minnesota Hospitals are feeling the first financial impacts of the new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program. Collectively, Minnesota hospitals lost $1,394,175 (-0.01%) when diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment adjustments began with October 1, 2012, discharges.
Building Healthier Communities Awards Stratis Health provided grant support for four projects through its Building Healthier Communities award, announced in March in conjunction with National Patient Safety Week.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2012 (8-page PDF)

Health Policy Affects Lives The importance of good policymaking, based on research, data, and real-life experiences. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Geriatricians and the Care of Our Aging Population Many in the health care profession are concerned about how we will provide quality care to the 72 million Baby Boomers aging into the senior population over the next 20 years. Perspective from practicing geriatricians, Michael Spilane, Stratis Health Board member, and Jane Pederson, Stratis Health medical affairs director.
Health IT’s Role in a Changing Reimbursement Landscape Health information technology (HIT) has become an essential tool in the new care reimbursement models which reward value over volume. Value-Based Purchasing, Total Cost of Care, Health Care Homes, and Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) all require new uses of data for health care organizations to succeed in the value-driven world.
Large Scale Impact to Prepare for the Coming Alzheimer’s Epidemic People are joining forces through the state-wide collaboration ACT on Alzheimer’s, formerly Prepare Minnesota for Alzheimer’s, to prepare Minnesota for the budgetary, social, and personal impacts of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Diabetes: Creating a Common Agenda for Collective Impact Numerous key health care and community leaders, including leadership from Stratis Health, Mayo Clinic, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), came together to learn about the collective impact process. Collective impact emphasizes a rigorous, disciplined, and multi-organizational/multi-sector effort to tackle social and health care problems in concert.
Looking at the numbers: Progress Over the Last Decade in Minnesota Nursing Home Quality Measures Over the past 10 years, Minnesota nursing homes have made significant progress in reducing the use of physical restraints and reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2012 (8-page PDF)

Making National Priorities Local Understanding how important local implementation of national health care quality priorities is to achieve sustainable improvement. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Community Paramedics: Here, There (and soon) Everywhere Community paramedicine supports the use of existing health care providers under their existing scope of practice to use their skill set in nontraditional roles. Perspective from Stratis Health Board of Directors member Gary Wingrove, represents Gold Cross/Mayo Clinic Transport out of Rochester, Minnesota.
Medication Therapy Management Efforts are increasing nationally to provide medication therapy management (MTM) in caring for high-risk, high-cost, complex patients. And, pharmacists play a growing role in quality care.
Improving Care Transitions – 1,915 readmissions avoided The 80 Minnesota hospitals participating in the RARE Campaign have shown a reduction of 1,915 readmissions—representing patients sleeping 7,660 more nights in their own beds.
Progress Toward EHR Meaningful Use – nearly 4,750 clinicians served Minnesota and North Dakota providers are directly benefitting from REACH services, including 4,749 clinicians and 104 critical access and rural hospitals. REACH is looking ahead to Stage 2 meaningful use while addressing providers current challenges.
Report Summarizes Medicare Data for Minnesota The Stratis Health Profile of Medicare in Minnesota gathers in one place information and resources about the Medicare program in the state
Looking at the numbers: Race and Age of Minnesota Medicare Beneficiaries The number of beneficiaries representing racial and ethnic minorities in Minnesota is small, it is increasing, although the majority of Medicare beneficiaries in Minnesota are White.
Building Healthier Communities Awards Stratis Health provided grant support for four projects through its Building Healthier Communities award, announced in March in conjunction with National Patient Safety Week.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2011 (8-page PDF)

The Effect of Health Reform Stratis Health answers the question: “How has health reform affected your organization?” From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Implementing Health Care Reform in Minnesota – the Time is Now The Affordable Care Act presents Minnesota with a unique opportunity to build upon our own state reforms of 2008, to reward quality over quantity, reduce costs, and improve coverage for everyone. Perspective from Stratis Health Board of Directors member Michele Kimball, state director for AARP in Minnesota.
Stratis Health Leads National Demonstration Project to Improve Care in Nursing Homes The University of Minnesota and Stratis Health are leading 17 nursing homes in California, Florida, Massachusetts, and Minnesota in a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) demonstration project to develop and test prototypes of a national Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) program for nursing homes.
Opportunities Aimed at Improving Quality and Value Abound Minnesota health care organizations share how they sort through the numerous quality and value campaigns and initiatives, while state and national organizations try to unify their calls for quality.
PDSA – ASAP Health reform needs to be a disruptive change, altering how we look at quality.
Hospitals and Providers in Minnesota Starting to Receive HIT Incentive Payments The hard work of implementing an electronic health record (EHR) system is starting to pay off, literally, for critical access hospitals and providers in Minnesota.
Looking at the numbers: Key Program Components in Palliative Care Several key processes or systems are needed to support palliative care. Ten communities were in various stages of implementing them at the conclusion of the Minnesota Rural Palliative Care Initiative.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2011 (8-page PDF)

40 Years of Quality Improvement Stratis Health began a year-long celebration of our 40th anniversary as a leader in health care quality improvement and patient safety. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Fostering Connection— Sustaining Quality in Rural Primary Care Minnesota fosters connection as a means to proactively address future primary care workforce needs. Perspective from Stratis Health Board of Directors member Kathleen Brooks, director of the Rural Physician Associate Program at the Medical School and assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, at the University of Minnesota.
Rural Palliative Care Evidence is mounting for this community-based approach. Stratis Health is developing models for palliative care in rural communities, leveraging community capacity development.
Making Significant Improvements through Minnesota’s Medicare QIO Projects By participating in Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) projects over the past three years, health care providers and organizations in Minnesota made significant improvements in health care processes and patient care, as assessed by more than 40 measures.
New Direction for Medicare QIO Work Stratis Health will implement the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new direction for its national health care quality improvement program. Our work as Minnesota’s Medicare QIO will be based on the three broad aims of the National Quality Strategy.
National Themes, Issues and Aims Understanding national priorities and issues related to quality and safety can help health care organizations when it comes to defining their own strategic goals.
Stratis Health Helps Minnesota Achieve 100% of Hospitals Reporting By the state’s reporting deadline in late 2010, all of Minnesota’s 79 CAHs and 53 prospective payment system (PPS) hospitals were submitting data.
Progress Toward EHR Meaningful Use The Regional Extension Assistance Center for HIT is now serving over 1,000 providers with meaningful use of their electronic health records (EHR) and earning incentive payments.
Looking at the numbers: Preventive Screenings in Minnesota Clinics Ten Minnesota clinics increased their EHR-reported rates and achieved the two-year target goals set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) within the first year of the project.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2010 (8-page PDF)

Quality Remains at the Core of Health Care During Uncertain Times The changes in health care in recent years—including transparency and public reporting, pay for performance and value-based purchasing, health system redesign, and health information technology—can be both exciting and confusing. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
The Role of Public Health in Maintaining a Strong Health System Public health is an integral part of the operation of a comprehensive health care system. Perspective from Stratis Health Board of Directors member Huda Farah, a researcher in public health, educator, cultural competence trainer, mentor, coach, and a leader in public health and early childhood education.
Quality Improvement in Public Health Public health agencies in Minnesota are embracing quality improvement to prepare for national accreditation.
Balancing Clinical Care, Cost, and Patient Centeredness Hospital outpatient observation reflects the challenges of health reform.
Building Healthier Communities Stratis Health awarded its Building Healthier Communities award to two new recipients.
Status of Meaningful Use REACH staff Paul Kleeberg, MD, clinical director, and Sue Severson, program director, discussed the status of meaningful use.
Looking at the Numbers: Hospitals Work to Improve Patient Safety Stratis Health has been working with nine Minnesota hospitals to improve surgical care by reducing surgical complications.
Stratis Health News

Spring 2010 (8-page PDF)

Quality and Value in Health Reform A few provisions related to quality and value made their way into the final health reform legislation. From Jennifer P. Lundblad, Stratis Health President and CEO.
Health Care Reform Brings Enhanced Opportunity for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Recently passed legislation has a great deal of language that will enable new forms of service delivery and greater collaboration and integration of services across the entire health care continuum. Perspective from Stratis Health Board of Director’s chair Dale Thompson, president, and CEO of Benedictine Health System.
Bringing Health Care Consumers Into Their Own Care Implementing shared decision making in Minnesota.
Kanabec Hospital Prepares for Meaningful Use Recognized as the first critical access hospital in nation to reach HIMSS Stage 6 designation.
Leveraging REACH Services to Achieve Meaningful Use REACH is the latest resource available to providers working to achieve meaningful use of their electronic health records (EHR) and earn incentive payments.
Rural Palliative Care Emerging as a Health Care Priority Palliative care, named among the top six priorities for the American health care system, is taking root in rural Minnesota.
Looking at the numbers: health care homes readiness in Minnesota This report looks at how ready Minnesota clinics are to become health care homes, assessing if they have the criteria under the five state standards in place.
Stratis Health News

Fall 2009 (8-page PDF)

Building a Reformed Health System that Emphasizes Quality, Why Culture Matters for a Healthier Minnesota: Making better connections with multicultural health plan members and patients. Perspective from Stratis Health Board of Directors member Nancy J. Feldman. president and CEO of UCare.
Advance Care Planning: Getting patients ready to have “The Talk” about end-of-life choices, as advance care planning moves forward in Minnesota.
Quality Care for Changing Communities: Health care organizations are heading in different directions with cultural competence depending on their strengths and assets. Several health care leaders share their efforts.
Culture Care Connection: New online learning and resource center to help Minnesota health care providers offer culturally and linguistically appropriate care.
Expanding Rural Palliative Care Nationally: Stratis Health provided technical assistance to three rural communities, during a six-month pilot project funded by the National Rural Health Association.
HIT regional extension center: Regional centers are being developed through stimulus dollars. Key Health Alliance—a partnership of Stratis Health, the Rural Health Resource Center, and The College of St. Scholastica—has submitted a proposal to serve as the regional center in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Looking at the numbers: providers assess themselves against CLAS standards: Project results for clinics meeting or exceeding the 14 national Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards.
Stratis Health News

Contact Stratis Health for assistance with your quality improvement and patient safety needs.

Jennifer P. Lundblad, PhD, MBA, President and CEO

952-853-8523