Learn about the components to the CASE approach to HPV vaccine hesitancy at this one hour webinar on Thursday, April 13, 2017. Presented by Robert M. Jacobson, MD, with Mayo Clinic and sponsored by the American Cancer Society and Wisconsin Area Health Education Centers Scenic Rivers AHEC. View the event flyer here and to register click here.
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MN Community Measurement (MNCM) today announced that Julie Sonier has been named President of MNCM. Sonier is only the second person to lead MNCM and will succeed current MNCM President Jim Chase who announced in October 2016 that he would step down in 2017.
“Julie Sonier is very familiar with our work, having served on the Board, and she comes to MN Community Measurement with a wealth of strong relationships and immense respect within the community,” said MNCM Board Chair Tim Hernandez, MD. “Julie will lead MN Community Measurement into its next decade and bring new vitality to our efforts to accelerate the improvement of health at an important time of change in our health care system. We are excited about having Julie join us, and at the same time we will miss Jim.”
Sonier is scheduled to begin May 1. Chase will continue to serve MNCM through April 28.
“I look forward to this opportunity to deliver and demonstrate value to our partners and the community,” said Sonier. “MN Community Measurement is one of the best examples nationally of the power of collaboration among stakeholders from across the health care spectrum to achieve results that none could achieve alone.”
Sonier brings nearly 20 years of experience working to improve health care in Minnesota. She has in-depth knowledge of the health care financing and delivery systems, as well as the state and federal policy landscapes and their associated challenges and opportunities. She has a reputation as a knowledgeable, trustworthy, creative and thoughtful leader in Minnesota’s health policy community.
Prior to MNCM, Sonier served as Director of Minnesota’s State Employee Group Insurance Program, where she worked with labor unions, health plans, other employers, state agencies, state policymakers and others on initiatives to improve health and health care through the design of insurance benefits and value-based health care purchasing. She served as lead staff for Governor Tim Pawlenty’s Health Care Transformation Task Force in 2007-2008 which brought together stakeholders from across the health policy community in Minnesota to develop nation-leading initiatives aimed at improving health care cost, quality and access. She has served as Deputy Director of the State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota and as State Health Economist/Health Economics Program Director for the Minnesota Department of Health. Sonier has a MPA in economics and public policy from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ and a BA in economics from Amherst College in Amherst, MA.
MNCM started as a pilot project in 2003 to share diabetes care outcomes at medical groups across the state. In 2004, MNCM released its first public quality report. The report provided information about care in areas such as asthma, diabetes, breast and cervical cancer and well child visits. In 2006, MNCM became the first in the nation to use electronic medical records to collect health care quality measures from clinics across the state.
“MN Community Measurement is in a strong and respected position because of the leadership of Jim Chase for more than a decade,” said Dr. Hernandez.
During his tenure at MNCM Chase has led numerous initiatives, including development of more than 70 measures used by health plans, medical groups, consumer organizations and policy makers across the state. MNCM collects information on quality and patient experience from more than 1,500 clinics, 500 medical groups and 135 hospitals and reports on health care quality, cost, health equity, and health care disparities through its public reporting website MNHealthScores.org. MNCM has led the country in use of patient reported outcome measures. The National Quality Forum, considered the gold standard for health care measurement in the United States, has endorsed nine MNCM measures for conditions including knee replacement, spine surgery and care for diabetes, depression, asthma and heart and arteries.
“MN Community Measurement has a solid foundation to continue to lead towards better value in health care especially as organizations move towards greater transparency around quality and cost,” said Dr. Hernandez.
About Us: MN Community Measurement is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving health by publicly reporting health care information. A trusted source of health care data and public reporting on quality, cost and patient experience since 2003, MNCM works with medical groups, health plans, employers, consumers and state agencies to spur quality improvement, reduce health care costs and maximize value. Learn more at MNCM.org.
MoreMNCM’s Measurement and Reporting Committee (MARC) has an opening for a new member effective immediately.
A member is being sought for the following positions:
♦ Medical Group – Non-Metro (one opening)
This individual will replace someone who resigned from MARC due to retirement. In addition to filling the criteria noted above, other information that will be considered includes measurement and quality improvement experience, race and ethnic diversity and background in nursing or as another member of the care team.
Learn more about MARC membership and the application and nomination process
The Measurement and Reporting Committee (MARC) is a committee of the MNCM Board of Directors with a broad membership of community stakeholders. The committee’s purpose is to recommend measurement priorities and specifications to the Board, and to recommend guiding principles and/or policies for MNCM’s public reporting of measures. The MARC is supported by measure development work groups established by MNCM staff at the direction of the MARC. Work groups are charged with recommending draft measurement specifications and data collection plans.
MNCM is very interested in recruiting new members, so a variety of community stakeholders are represented and have an opportunity to serve on this important committee.
This committee meets monthly. Members are required to attend and actively participate in at least 75 percent of meetings. In-person attendance is encouraged to facilitate the best group dynamic, and phone conference attendance is available. Each member serves a two-year term, and has a three-term limit. MARC members may also be asked to serve on a Measure Development Work Group.
Please email this application to Anne Snowden; MNCM Director of Performance Measurement, Validation and Reporting, at snowden@mncm.org by the close of business on Friday, April 14, 2017.
After the application nomination period has closed, MNCM staff will convene a committee to review nominations and appoint the new member with a goal to appoint the new member by the end of April, after which all nominees and the person selected as a new member will be notified.
MoreJoin your colleagues in quality measurement, quality improvement, patient care, cost containment and a diverse network of health and community leaders for a day of educational speakers and meaningful discussions at the MN Community Measurement (MNCM) Annual Seminar 2017.
Measuring the Path to Better Outcomes, the MNCM Annual Seminar 2017, will take place on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at the Earle Brown Heritage Conference Center, just north of Minneapolis in Brooklyn Center. Session and featured speaker details coming soon.
Registration
Early registration rate is $275.00 (REGISTER TODAY!)
Standard registration rate increases after July 14, 2017 to $325.00.
We hope to see you September 13!
MoreThe 2017 Health Information Technology (HIT) Ambulatory web survey is closing March 15, 2017. This survey is an annual reporting requirement established in the Minnesota Statewide Quality Reporting and Measurement System by the Minnesota Department of Health. All Minnesota physician clinics must complete the HIT Ambulatory Clinic Survey annually.
Instructions for completing the survey were sent by email on February 15. MNCM has also posted a PDF version of the survey in two locations: under the “Resources” tab in the Data Portal and on the MNCM website at mncm.org/submitting-data/provider-tools/#online-resources (Submitting Data, Provider Tools, then Online Resources). To reduce data entry time, MNCM highly recommends that respondents gather all responses on a paper copy prior to web entry. Please note that due to required survey settings, respondents cannot start a web survey entry and then “resume” at a later date. The survey must be completed in one sitting.
Additionally, here is the link to the web survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HITSurvey2017
To comply with state requirements, please complete the web survey as soon as possible.
Contact MNCM support staff at support@mncm.org or 612-746-4522 with any questions.
MoreMN Community Measurement is pleased to announce Lynn Hassan Jones, MD, as its newest board member. Dr. Hassan Jones is a physician, board certified in diagnostic radiology with musculoskeletal fellowship training, and is Co-Director of MRI at Mankato Clinic in Mankato, Minnesota. Mankato Clinic is a physician-owned multispecialty clinic recently celebrating its 100th year anniversary.
In more than 20 years of medical practice, she has worked in both rural and urban settings in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Dr. Hassan Jones served a three year term on University of Minnesota Medical School Admissions Committee and has served on the University of Minnesota Medical School interview and scholarship committees and on the Health Disparities Committee of the Minnesota Medical Association.
A lifelong resident of Minnesota, Dr. Hassan Jones was born in Minneapolis and graduated from Macalester College in Saint Paul and the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. She is a member of the American College of Radiology, Radiologic Society of North America and Minnesota Radiologic Society.
Outside of her time at Mankato Clinic, Dr. Hassan Jones splits her time between Minnesota and Champaign, Illinois where her husband Robert Jones, PhD, is currently serving as Chancellor of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Together they have five children and three grandchildren.
MoreMN Community Measurement is pleased to announce Melissa Vaughn as its newest board member. Vaughn is Director of Employee Health & Wellness for The Schwan Food Company. Her role includes oversee
ing strategy, design and implementation of the Employee Health & Wellness program for 12,000 employees and their families. The Schwan Food Company has been recognized numerous times for its health and wellness efforts. The company was named as one of the “Healthiest Employers of the Twin Cities Area” by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and ComPsych recognized the company as a Silver Award winner of the 8th Annual Health at Work Awards. The company was also named a finalist in Minnesota Business Magazine’s Leaders in Health Care Awards for Worksite Wellness Programming.
Vaughn also serves on the Wellness & Human Performance Center Advisory Council for Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota.
Vaughn received her master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Northern Colorado.
MoreMN Community Measurement (MNCM) has submitted an application to become a Qualified Clinical Data Registry with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The application is in the initial review status that is standard for this type of application.
Presently, submitting to MNCM has allowed clinicians to attest they are meeting some of their CMS meaningful use requirements. With some modifications to our system, making this transition as a MIPS registry is feasible and a natural next step.
MNCM has several measures that are NQF endorsed and currently used in Federal programs such as the Physician Quality Reporting System. Several MNCM developed measures have a CMS QPP (Quality Payment Program) number and can be used locally and nation-wide. Additionally, data elements from the Diabetes (A1C) and Vascular (Ischemic IVD) measures also have a QPP number. A complete list of MNCM measures with their corresponding QPP numbers can be viewed at this link: mncm.org/mncm-becoming-a-cms-registry-to-assist-in-mips-quality-payment-programs
MNCM is pleased with the progress made so far, and will be providing further detail regarding the registry process and programmatic details. Stay tuned!
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The number of Minnesota teens receiving a mental health screening increased between 2015 and 2016. Likewise, the number of Minnesota adolescents receiving recommended immunizations also increased from the previous year. These findings, and results of more than 30 individual clinical quality measures, are part of a new report published March 2 by MN Community Measurement (MNCM).
The annual MNCM Health Care Quality Report, now in its 13th edition, compares clinic, medical group and hospital performance on clinical measures related to preventive and chronic care, hospital care and health information technology. An objective of the Health Care Quality Report is to provide reliable information to support medical group quality improvement. An equally important objective is greater health care transparency by sharing results with the public at-large.
The report is at www.mncm.org/health-care-quality-report
“This report provides valid and reliable information to help consumers make informed decisions about their health care,” said Jim Chase, MNCM President. “This report also contains actionable, reliable and comparable information for providers to use in their efforts to improve patient care and outcomes.”
Examples of Health Care Quality Report results:
“These results show that when Minnesota providers focus on a particular area, there can be a substantial positive impact,” said Chase.
Additional Health Care Quality Report key results
Two clinical measures showed noticeable improvement in their statewide rates:
Thirteen other clinical measures showed some small improvements in their statewide rates. Measures with increases or noted improvement include Childhood Immunization Status (Combo 3); Chlamydia Screening in Women; Appropriate Testing for Children with Pharyngitis; Appropriate Treatment for Children with Upper Respiratory Infections; Colorectal Cancer Screening; Breast Cancer Screening; Use of Spirometry Testing in the Assessment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; Follow-up Care for Children Prescribed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Medication; Total Knee Replacement pre-op and post-op; Spinal Surgery Discectomy/Laminotomy Functional Status; Spinal Surgery Discectomy/Laminotomy pre-op and post-op; Spinal Surgery Lumbar Fusion pre-op and post-op and Maternity Care: C-Section Rate.
Six medical groups achieved rates that were above average for a cluster of primary care measures. Julie Gerndt, MD, is Chief Medical Officer at Mankato Clinic and was not surprised that Mankato Clinic was among the high performing medical groups across Minnesota.
“We expected to do well based on the commitment we made as an organization several years ago to redesign our care model for better patient outcomes,” said Dr. Gerndt. “That work is paying off.”
Park Nicollet Health, HealthPartners Clinics, Mankato Clinic, Stillwater Medical Group, Fairview Health Services and Allina Health each achieved above-average rates on at least half of the primary care clinical measures.
“These results validate that if you keep working at this over time and make it a priority, you can have an impact,” said Dr. Gerndt.
The Health Care Quality Report is organized for ease of use to both the clinician and the public at-large. The report contains easy to read tables for specific conditions or procedures, grouped by large and moderate improvement, increase or decrease. Trends are noted where a trend exists. More than 300 medical groups and 1,600 clinics are registered to submit data to MNCM. The annual Health Care Quality Report is a compilation of all measures publicly reported by MNCM during the year. Individual medical group results are also available year-round at MNHealthScores.org.
MN Community Measurement is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving health by publicly reporting health care information. A trusted source of health care data and public reporting on quality, cost and patient experience since 2003, MNCM works with medical groups, health plans, employers, consumers and state agencies to spur quality improvement, reduce health care costs and maximize value. Learn more at MNCM.org.
MoreThe 2017 H
ealth Information Technology (HIT) Ambulatory web survey opens February 15, 2017. This survey is an annual reporting requirement established in the Minnesota Statewide Quality Reporting and Measurement System (SQRMS) by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) through Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4654. All Minnesota physician clinics must complete the 2017 HIT Ambulatory Clinic Survey between February 15, 2017 and March 16, 2017.
MNCM will post a PDF version of the survey in two locations: under the “Resources” tab in the Data Portal and on the MNCM website at http://mncm.org/submitting-data/provider-tools/#online-resources (Submitting Data, Provider Tools, then Online Resources). To reduce data entry time, MNCM highly recommends that respondents gather all responses on a paper copy prior to web entry. Please note that due to required survey settings, respondents cannot start a web survey entry and then “resume” at a later date. The survey must be completed in one sitting.
Results from the survey are used by MDH, MN e-Health Initiative, MNCM and others to report the status and use of electronic health records, health information exchange, and other health information technology across Minnesota.
Physician clinics will receive an email communication from MNCM with a link to the web version survey in mid-February. Those with questions can contact Dina Wellbrock of MNCM at mailto:wellbrock@mnc.organd (612) 454-4829.
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