ABQAURP News
July/August 2014
Quality Conundrums
Patient Privacy versus Patient Branding – A Quality Conundrum?
Is patient privacy a thing of the past? Even in a world of HIPAA compliance, there remains ample opportunity for patients to be, or feel, violated. Have branding and marketing plans become the newest opportunity for patient exploitation and embarrassment?
A woman receives an invitation to a cancer survivor event; although the postcard did not specifically identify the person to whom it was addressed as a patient, it was clear that only breast cancer survivors, accompanied by a significant other, were invited to the event. This patient had been meticulous about refusing consent to share her information with anyone not directly involved with her care. She feared that her history, if known, could adversely impact her career, a position that her physician was aware of and empathized with. While there were no known adverse consequences from the postcard, she felt that she had been violated. She was very angry with her physician for letting this happen. It is unclear if there were any systems in place to allow patients to opt out of these invitations as a result of a privacy concern.
Another woman, now 12 years after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, received a letter telling her that survivors, especially if overweight, might have recurrences or other late complications and invited her to participate in a clinical study at a local university. The letter referenced a number to call if the patient had questions so she did – the number belonged to the state cancer registry. The patient had never been told that her personal information and diagnosis was given to the state and that there was no way for her to control how that information was used. The cancer registrar saw no privacy issues. The patient felt manipulated by the implication that she should immediately sign up for the trial (or either she or others would suffer) and angry that she was now a ‘survivor’ instead of a healthy person with privacy rights.
Were these incidents privacy violations? Were the patients involved branded and forced to be cancer patients instead of people? Is this OK? Not with me!
Please send inquiries and comments to rwillog@abqaurp.org, please include
Quality Column in the subject line.
We look forward to your participation in this column.
IS YOUR MEDICAL EDUCATION ACCREDITED?
ABQAURP welcomes applications for joint sponsorship of educational activities for continuing education credit. ABQAURP accredits a variety of activities, including:
Live Activity
Enduring Material
Journal-based CME
Internet Activity Live
Internet Activity Enduring Material
Performance Improvement
ABQAURP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians and is accredited by the Florida Board of Nursing to sponsor nursing contact hours. As an accredited provider, ABQAURP is here to work with each joint sponsor organization to ensure the accreditation process runs as smoothly as possible. Benefits of working with ABQAURP include: one-on-one assistance, on-site assistance, contact for speakers and commercial supporters, evaluation compilation, one-time mailing list to drive attendance, website placement, and advertising in Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare magazine.
For more information, please call Deborah Naser at
(800) 998-6030, ext. 118.
Did you miss our recent conference?
New Multimedia Online Courses are Available Now!
How are you preparing for the changes in health care coming later this year and in 2015? We are proud to introduce two new multimedia online courses that explore ways to make your approach to this changing environment easier and better!
These courses are recorded from our Annual Health Care Quality & Patient Safety Conference and provide up-to-date content about today’s health care challenges.
Getting Paid for Innovation and High Value Outcomes
The Affordable Care Act is a reality. Accountable Care Organizations are up and running. It has become clear that despite ongoing legal challenges, change is going forward, perhaps at a rate faster than envisioned. Providers need the tools to succeed and prosper in this new environment.
Survive and Thrive in the Changing Health Care Environment
As we transition from volume-based to value-based care, health care providers and other stakeholders are struggling to identify key drivers to address the challenges around the redesign of health care delivery and payment reforms. What will be the role of integrated care management, ACOs, and transitions of care models? How can we efficiently integrate all transactions of care across the care continuum? Discover what the practitioner needs to not only survive, but to thrive in the evolution of health care.
Find out more on our online course catalog: http://www.abqaurp.org/course.asp.
Continuing Education Requirements Changing in Florida
A new license renewal process will verify a practitioner’s continuing education record in the electronic tracking system at the time of license renewal. The program is part of the Florida Division of Medical Quality Assurance’s commitment to expeditiously license health care professionals who meet statutorily mandated standards of competency. The Department encourages licensees to login to the tracking system before applying for renewal to ensure their information is complete and accurate. Verifying compliance before renewal is key to a seamless renewal experience. To learn more about CE/CME@Renewal, please visit www.FLHealthSource.com.
ABQAURP automatically reports credits earned.
Please provide your current Florida License number
to ABQAURP to ensure proper reporting
to CE Broker when completing a course.
Core Body of Knowledge Online Course –
20 CME/CE Hours!
The journey towards certification begins here. ABQAURP’s HCQM Certification covers an immense scope of content and topics. To aid you in preparation for this exam, we have developed a Core Body of Knowledge course designed to focus on key concepts and elements of HCQM. By utilizing this tool, you will build upon your existing skills and knowledge and possibly discover new content that will enhance your experience in quality health care.
Please call Barbara Morris at (800) 998-6030, extension 116, or visit our website (www.abqaurp.org) for more information on Certification and preparation.
Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) Certification
Best of luck to our 2014 HCQM Exam Candidates
as they prepare to sit for this year’s exam!
When deciding on a credential, you want the best, most comprehensive certification that covers the entire health care quality continuum. Choose the provider with the experience that has come to define the field of Health Care Quality and Management.
ABQAURP is pleased to collaborate with the National Board of Medical Examiners® (NBME®) in the administration of the HCQM certification exam. ABQAURP is dedicated to assuring a high quality certification process with definable standards; the NBME involvement reinforces that dedication. Together, we consult on the planning, development, analysis, and scoring of the certification exam, bringing examinees an exam experience based on a vast array of knowledge and expertise.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2015 HCQM exam window
Application Deadline: June 30, 2015
Exam Window: August 15 – October 15, 2015
Don’t delay, seating is limited!
Prepare Now! CORE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE ONLINE COURSE
20 CME/CE Hours!
The journey towards certification begins here. ABQAURP’s HCQM Certification covers an immense scope of content and topics. To aid you in preparation for this exam, we have developed a Core Body of Knowledge course designed to focus on key concepts and elements of HCQM. By utilizing this tool, you will build upon your existing skills and knowledge and possibly discover new content that will enhance your experience in quality health care. Completing this course now will meet the educational requirements for the 2015 exam cycle.
Please call Barbara Morris at: (800) 998-6030, extension 116, or visit our website (www.abqaurp.org) for more information on Certification and preparation.
“National Board of Medical Examiners®” and “NBME®” are registered trademarks
of the National Board of Medical Examiners.
ABQAURP EVENT – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
ABQAURP’s 38th Annual HCQ & PS Conference
High Quality and Affordable Care through Accountability
April 17, 2015
Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston
Houston, TX
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ABQAURP wants to recognize members for their achievements in advancing the field of health care quality management and patient safety. Please send your news to ABQAURP by email to feature@abqaurp.org for consideration. |
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“National Board of Medical Examiners®” and “NBME®” are registered trademarks of the National Board of Medical Examiners.