Uncategorized – Virginia Center for Health Innovation

Episode 13: The impact of COVID-19 on low and high value care in Virginia

On this episode of Smarter Care Connections, Steve Horan, PhD, CEO of Community Health Solutions and member of the Smarter Care Virginia evaluation team is back to interview John Mafi, MD and Michelle Rockwell, PhD on their research on the impact the COVID 19 pandemic had on both low and high value care.

Episode 12: Getting serious about reducing low-value care: Addressing health system culture and cascades

In this episode, Smarter Care Virginia lead evaluator Dr. John Mafi chats with colleague and fellow low-value care crusader, Dr. Ishani Ganguli on her research around low-value care cascades and reducing low-value care at the health system level. The two discuss the importance of clinician feedback; communication strategies to reduce low-value care; how local health system culture can sink low-value care reduction efforts; and the importance of considering the harmful care cascades that can result from even one low-value health service.

Episode 10: Clinical Leader Profile – Carilion Clinic’s crusade to tackle low-value pre-operative testing

In this episode, Smarter Care Virginia team member Steve Horan, PhD, CEO of Community Health Solutions, chats with Dr. T.A. Lucktong and Jane Colwell at Carilion Clinic about their approach to reducing low-value pre-0perative testing. They share detailed insights into what has and hasn't worked for their team.

Episode 9: Clinical Leader Profile – Ballad Health is off to a strong start with PICC line reductions

In this episode, Smarter Care Virginia team member Steve Horan, PhD, CEO of Community Health Solutions, chats with members of Ballad Health's Smarter Care leadership team about their great success so far in reducing PICC line insertion for late stage CKD patients.

Episode 6: Clinical Leader Profile – Digging into the data with Sentara Quality Care Network

Summary: This is the first episode in a series of profiles featuring our Smarter Care Virginia clinical leaders. In this episode, Smarter Care Virginia team member Steve Horan, PhD, CEO of Community Health Solutions, chats with Dr. Moss Mendelson (Sentara Quality Care Network) and Kyle Russell (Virginia Health Information). Dr. Mendelson and Kyle share how […]

Episode 5: Health plan actions to address low-value care

In this episode VCHI President & CEO, Beth Bortz talks with her fellow National Task Force on Low-Value Care member, Dr. John Keats. Dr. Keats and Beth discuss the role health plans can play in reducing low-value care. Dr. Keats shares how Cigna has led in this work through a number of initiatives, including policy changes around Vitamin D screening.

Episode 4: How the Commonwealth is prioritizing the reduction of low-value care

Summary: In this episode, VCHI’s President & CEO Beth Bortz chats with Secretary Daniel Carey, MD about how the commonwealth is prioritizing the reduction of low-value health services. Secretary Carey is currently a Vice Chair of VCHI’s board and is co-chair of the Smarter Care Virginia Employer Task Force. Our Guest: Secretary Daniel Carey, MD […]

Governor’s Task Force on Primary Care Takes Quick Action to Aid Virginia’s Primary Care Clinicians

One of the first needs the group identified was access to personal protective equipment (PPE) for primary care clinicians. Shortages of PPE, especially N95 masks, have been widely publicized. Unlike hospitals with established supply chains, primary care practices have struggled to identify vetted vendors and meet significant minimum order requirements. Primary care clinicians are the front line – often doing a significant amount of COVID testing - so access to PPE is critical.

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