{"id":271592,"date":"2021-04-21T13:46:42","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T19:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/?page_id=271592"},"modified":"2021-04-22T09:46:19","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T15:46:19","slug":"newsletter-april-2021","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/newsletters\/newsletter-april-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Right Now in Quality Health | April 2021 &#8211; Issue 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"top\"><\/div>\n<h1><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"#top\">Right Now in Quality Health<\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n<h3><em>April 2021 &#8211; Issue 2<\/em><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Newsletter Content Menu (click to jump to any section)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#message-from-the-ceo-april\">A Message from the CEO<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#we-can-do-this\">We Can Do This<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#vaccination-confidence\">Vaccinate with Confidence<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#healthy-residents\">Don&#8217;t Forget about Seasonal Vaccines<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#affinity-group\">New Affinity Group Focuses on Self-Measured Blood Pressure Programs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#nursing-home-visits\">COVID-19 Vaccines and Visiting Nursing Home Residents: What You Need to Know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#project-firstline\">Project Firstline, a CDC Infection Control Program, Sees Record Webinar Attendance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#new-board-members\">Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Welcomes New Board Members<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#guam-diabetes-coalition\">Guam Diabetes Control Coalition Sponsors American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day Presentation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#southwest-montana-coalition\">Southwest Montana Healthcare Community Coalition Helps Assisted Living Facility Achieve Level One Certification<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#ladawn-whiteside\">Welcome LaDawn Whiteside, AARP Montana Caregiving Consultant<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"message-from-the-ceo\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a id=\"message-from-the-ceo-april\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/a><strong>A Message from the CEO<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Greetings!<\/p>\n<div>At the time the April newsletter was sent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#vaccinations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-link-type=\"web\">COVID-19 data tracker<\/a> states that only <span style=\"color: #000000;\">26.4 <\/span>percent of the United States population is fully vaccinated, and roughly <span style=\"color: #000000;\">40.5<\/span> percent of the population has at least one dose.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>I\u2019m proud to say I am one of those fully vaccinated, and I am a strong proponent of the vaccine. Mountain-Pacific is strongly encouraging all team members to get vaccinated. Please do this for your families, friends, co-workers and community members. We all want to return to &#8220;normal,&#8221; and this is the first step in that direction.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Here is a look at how our region breaks down when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine and the percentage of our population who has received at least one dose:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alaska: 40.2%<\/li>\n<li>Montana: 38.8%<\/li>\n<li>Hawaii: 47.1%<\/li>\n<li>Wyoming: 32.8%<\/li>\n<li>Guam: 43.3%<\/li>\n<li>American Samoa: 36.5%<\/li>\n<li>Northern Mariana Islands: 36.6%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I encourage you to take advantage of the resources shared in this newsletter to increase vaccination confidence and continue striving for high vaccine rates in your community.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"message-from-the-ceo-april\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<p>Stay safe and well,<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Sara Medley<br \/>\nMountain-Pacific Quality Health CEO<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"newsletter\">\n<div id=\"we-can-do-this\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>We Can Do This<\/h2>\n<h3><em>Mountain-Pacific is a partner in the COVID-19 public education campaign from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and you can be a partner too!<\/em><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/WCDT-US-English-Vertical-Primary-RGB-Full-Color_0.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-271602 \" src=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/WCDT-US-English-Vertical-Primary-RGB-Full-Color_0-e1619040266114-300x252.png\" alt=\"We Can Do This\" width=\"239\" height=\"201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/WCDT-US-English-Vertical-Primary-RGB-Full-Color_0-e1619040266114-300x252.png 300w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/WCDT-US-English-Vertical-Primary-RGB-Full-Color_0-e1619040266114-1024x859.png 1024w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/WCDT-US-English-Vertical-Primary-RGB-Full-Color_0-e1619040266114-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/WCDT-US-English-Vertical-Primary-RGB-Full-Color_0-e1619040266114-1536x1288.png 1536w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/WCDT-US-English-Vertical-Primary-RGB-Full-Color_0-e1619040266114.png 1786w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 239px) 100vw, 239px\" \/><\/a>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a COVID-19 public education campaign to increase public confidence and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. The campaign explains how Americans can protect themselves from COVID-19 and provides public education around slowing the spread and how to build vaccine confidence using fact-based, scientific information about vaccine development, safety and effectiveness.<\/p>\n<p>Resources and toolkits from this campaign include podcasts, infographics, social media posts, print ads and more. Resources are available in English and Spanish. <a href=\"https:\/\/wecandothis.hhs.gov\/resources\">View more information.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"newsletter\">\n<div class=\"newsletter\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"newsletter\">\n<div id=\"vaccination-confidence\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>Vaccinate with Confidence<\/h2>\n<h3><em>A vaccine confidence-building strategy from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/em><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-271601\" src=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture1-300x50.jpg\" alt=\"Vaccinate with Confidence\" width=\"372\" height=\"62\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture1-300x50.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture1-768x129.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture1.jpg 877w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px\" \/><\/a>Does your clinic, hospital or nursing home have a strategy in place to build confidence around the COVID-19 vaccines? If not, or if want to improve your strategy, this resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will help you. Building confidence around the COVID-19 vaccine includes educating providers and other health care professionals on how to talk about the vaccine with patients and their families, being comfortable answering questions about side effects and much more.<\/p>\n<p>Visit the CDC website to access a vaccine confidence-building strategy, helpful resources to hand out and quick tips to implement right away. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/covid-19\/vaccinate-with-confidence.html\">View more.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"healthy-residents\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>Don\u2019t Forget about Seasonal Vaccines<\/h2>\n<h3><em>The importance of pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations during a pandemic<\/em><\/h3>\n<p>While a lot of focus and attention are on the COVID-19 vaccine, it is important to remember to provide education around seasonal vaccines, including influenza and pneumococcal.<\/p>\n<p>Looking for resources talking about pneumococcal vaccines? Check out these resources from the CDC:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/pneumococcal\/resources\/materials.html\">Materials about pneumococcal disease<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/pneumococcal\/clinicians\/index.html\">Information about pneumococcal disease for clinicians<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/pneumococcal\/vaccination.html\">Vaccination education for pneumococcal disease<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Looking for influenza vaccine resources? <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/tTIVKiAVzIw\">View this recent episode of <em>Healthy Living for Life<\/em><\/a> to learn from experts about why the influenza vaccine is still important to receive during a pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Join fellow regional community coalition leaders and members during upcoming open office hours to learn more about COVID-19, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. The first session is on April 28, 2021, at 4:00 PM MDT, 2:00 PM AKDT and 12:00 PM HST. <a href=\"https:\/\/mpqhf.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_0gVh0iuuReS7-qgLh0by0A\">View more information, more upcoming dates and register here.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"affinity-group\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>New Affinity Group Focuses on Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP) Programs<\/h2>\n<p>Sign-ups are now available to join a new affinity group focusing on the implementation of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) programs! The goal of the SMBP affinity group is to increase the number of health systems providing SMBP monitoring programs in our region.<\/p>\n<p>As a participant of the SMBP affinity group, you will receive information, resources and access to subject matter experts to step through the implementation of a SMBP program.<\/p>\n<p>The SMBP affinity group will begin mid-May and consist of four one-hour sessions. For more information or to sign-up, contact Kristen Schuster at <a href=\"mailto:kschuster@mpqhf.org\">kschuster@mpqhf.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Regional Chronic Disease Collaborative partners include: Alaska Primary Care Association, Alaska Department of Health, American Heart Association, Hawaii Department of Health, Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, Montana Department of Health, Montana Primary Care Association, Wyoming Department of Health<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"doh-covid19\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<div id=\"nursing-home-visits\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>COVID-19 Vaccines and Visiting Nursing Home Residents: What You Need to Know<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Untitled-design-10.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-271600\" src=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Untitled-design-10-300x300.png\" alt=\"Infection Prevention in Health Care Settings\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Untitled-design-10.png 300w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Untitled-design-10-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>It is so great your mom, dad or other loved ones have received their COVID-19 vaccine. This is an important step towards protecting their health, achieving herd immunity and returning to normal life.<\/p>\n<p>Both the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CDC recognize the importance of visiting your relatives as part of staying healthy. You can now visit your loved ones inside when the COVID-19 positivity rate in your nursing home\u2019s county is less than 10 percent. If the positivity rate in your nursing home\u2019s county is more than 10 percent and less than 70 percent of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated, then only residents who are fully vaccinated should receive visitors. <a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Visiting-Love-Ones-in-a-Nursing-Home-Infographic.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Keep reading about this topic.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Still have questions about infection prevention in health care settings? <a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Infection-Prevention-in-HC-Settings_Vaccination-Considerations_3.11.2021-002.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more in this handout.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"project-firstline\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>Project Firstline, a CDC Infection Control Program, Sees Record Webinar Attendance<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/20_317262A_Capers_DHQP_ProjectFirstline_logo_FINAL_color_co-brand.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-271597\" src=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/20_317262A_Capers_DHQP_ProjectFirstline_logo_FINAL_color_co-brand-300x120.png\" alt=\"Project Firstline logo\" width=\"300\" height=\"120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/20_317262A_Capers_DHQP_ProjectFirstline_logo_FINAL_color_co-brand-300x120.png 300w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/20_317262A_Capers_DHQP_ProjectFirstline_logo_FINAL_color_co-brand.png 618w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>The CDC has rolled out Project Firstline, a comprehensive infection control program designed to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases in U.S. health care settings. Mountain-Pacific Quality Health is excited to announce our partnership with the CDC and the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) as we launch Project Firstline in Wyoming.<\/p>\n<p>Join the network for \u201cYours, Mine, and Ours: COVID-19 and the Changing Culture of Infection Prevention.\u201d Held alternating Thursdays at 12:00 PM MDT via Zoom, March 25 through July 29, 2021. To learn more, email <a href=\"mailto:wycoa@uwyo.edu\">wycoa@uwyo.edu<\/a>. Case consultation, networking and continuing education are available!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"new-board-members\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Welcomes New Board Members<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/benjamin-child-GWe0dlVD9e0-unsplash-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-271595\" src=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/benjamin-child-GWe0dlVD9e0-unsplash-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Board room\" width=\"230\" height=\"153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/benjamin-child-GWe0dlVD9e0-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/benjamin-child-GWe0dlVD9e0-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/benjamin-child-GWe0dlVD9e0-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/benjamin-child-GWe0dlVD9e0-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/benjamin-child-GWe0dlVD9e0-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 230px) 100vw, 230px\" \/><\/a>Join us in welcoming three new board members! Each of our new directors has a strong desire to improve patients\u2019 health care experience and develop solutions to provide better health outcomes for their communities.<\/p>\n<p>The board is composed of directors from Alaska, Hawaii, Montana and Wyoming. Board membership represents academia, business, consumer representatives, health information, law, medicine, payors and rural health. <a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/blog\/mountain-pacific-quality-health-welcomes-new-board-members\/\">Meet our new board members.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"guam-diabetes-coalition\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>Guam Diabetes Control Coalition Sponsors American Diabetes Association (ADA) Diabetes Alert Day Presentation<\/h2>\n<p>The Guam Diabetes Control Coalition sponsored the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Diabetes Alert Day presentation on March 22, 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7Xfz5_c-cCY\">View the recording<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"southwest-montana-coalition\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>Southwest Montana Healthcare Community Coalition Helps Assisted Living Facility Achieve Level One Certification<\/h2>\n<p>The Southwest Montana Healthcare Community Coalition (Bozeman, Montana) is currently working with an assisted living facility (ALF) on their level-one certification to become part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aha.org\/center\/age-friendly-health-systems\">Age-Friendly Health System<\/a> (AFHS), making them the first ALF in the nation to achieve this under the AFHS work.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/div>\n<div id=\"ladawn-whiteside\" class=\"newsletter\">\n<h2>Welcome LaDawn Whiteside, AARP Montana Caregiving Consultant<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LaDawn.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-271594\" src=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LaDawn-300x278.jpg\" alt=\"LaDawn Whiteside\" width=\"226\" height=\"209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LaDawn-300x278.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LaDawn.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/><\/a>Join us in welcoming new powerful partner LaDawn Whiteside, an AARP Montana Caregiving Consultant. Throughout her career, LaDawn has been passionate about seniors. LaDawn\u2019s professional career began as an assistant activity director in a nursing home in 1983. She has worked in health care regulation, the home and community-based waiver program and was an advocate in a domestic violence program called Abuse in Late Life. She is a certified mediator with elder designation, president-elect of the Montana Mediation Association, an Eldercaring coordinator, guardian and now an AARP Montana Caregiving Consultant. LaDawn is the mother of twin daughters and has four grandchildren, all living in Helena. She loves people, crafting and providing service to others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a style=\"color: #000000;\" href=\"#top\">Right Now in Quality Health<\/a><br \/>\nApril 2021 &#8211; Issue 2<br \/>\nNewsletter Content Menu (click to jump to any section)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#message-from-the-ceo-april\">A Message from the CEO<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#we-can-do-this\">We Can Do This<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#vaccination-confidence\">Vaccinate with Confidence<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#healthy-residents\">Don&#8217;t Forget about Seasonal Vaccines<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#affinity-group\">New Affinity Group Focuses on Self-Measured Blood Pressure Programs<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#nursing-home-visits\">COVID-19 Vaccines and Visiting Nursing Home Residents: What You Need to Know<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#project-firstline\">Project Firstline, a CDC Infection Control Program, Sees Record Webinar Attendance<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#new-board-members\">Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Welcomes New Board Members<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#guam-diabetes-coalition\">Guam Diabetes Control Coalition Sponsors American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day Presentation<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#southwest-montana-coalition\">Southwest Montana Healthcare Community Coalition Helps Assisted Living Facility Achieve Level One Certification<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#ladawn-whiteside\">Welcome LaDawn Whiteside, AARP Montana Caregiving Consultant<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"message-from-the-ceo-april\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><\/a>A Message from the CEO<br \/>\nGreetings!<br \/>\nAt the time the April newsletter was sent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) <a href=\"https:\/\/covid.cdc.gov\/covid-data-tracker\/#vaccinations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-link-type=\"web\">COVID-19 data tracker<\/a> states that only 26.4 percent of the United States population is fully vaccinated, and roughly 40.5 percent of the population has at least one dose.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m proud to say I am one of those fully vaccinated, and I am a strong proponent of the vaccine. Mountain-Pacific is strongly encouraging all team members to get vaccinated. Please do this for your families, friends, co-workers and community members. We all want to return to &#8220;normal,&#8221; and this is the first step in that direction.<\/p>\n<p>Here is a look at how our region breaks down when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine and the percentage of our population who has received at least one dose:<\/p>\n<p>Alaska: 40.2%<br \/>\nMontana: 38.8%<br \/>\nHawaii: 47.1%<br \/>\nWyoming: 32.8%<br \/>\nGuam: 43.3%<br \/>\nAmerican Samoa: 36.5%<br \/>\nNorthern Mariana Islands: 36.6%<\/p>\n<p>I encourage you to take advantage of the resources shared in this newsletter to increase vaccination confidence and continue striving for high vaccine rates in your community.<\/p>\n<p>Stay safe and well,<br \/>\nSara Medley<br \/>\nMountain-Pacific Quality Health CEO<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>We Can Do This<br \/>\nMountain-Pacific is a partner in the COVID-19 public education campaign from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and you can be a partner too!<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/WCDT-US-English-Vertical-Primary-RGB-Full-Color_0.png\"><\/a>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a COVID-19 public education campaign to increase public confidence and administration of COVID-19 vaccines. The campaign explains how Americans can protect themselves from COVID-19 and provides public education around slowing the spread and how to build vaccine confidence using fact-based, scientific information about vaccine development, safety and effectiveness.<br \/>\nResources and toolkits from this campaign include podcasts, infographics, social media posts, print ads and more. Resources are available in English and Spanish. <a href=\"https:\/\/wecandothis.hhs.gov\/resources\">View more information.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Vaccinate with Confidence<br \/>\nA vaccine confidence-building strategy from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Capture1.jpg\"><\/a>Does your clinic, hospital or nursing home have a strategy in place to build confidence around the COVID-19 vaccines? If not, or if want to improve your strategy, this resource from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will help you. Building confidence around the COVID-19 vaccine includes educating providers and other health care professionals on how to talk about the vaccine with patients and their families, being comfortable answering questions about side effects and much more.<br \/>\nVisit the CDC website to access a vaccine confidence-building strategy, helpful resources to hand out and quick tips to implement right away. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/vaccines\/covid-19\/vaccinate-with-confidence.html\">View more.<\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t Forget about Seasonal Vaccines<br \/>\nThe importance of pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations during a pandemic<br \/>\nWhile a lot of focus and attention are on the COVID-19 vaccine, it is important to remember to provide education around seasonal vaccines, including influenza and pneumococcal.<br \/>\nLooking for resources talking about pneumococcal vaccines? Check out these resources from the CDC:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/pneumococcal\/resources\/materials.html\">Materials about pneumococcal disease<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/pneumococcal\/clinicians\/index.html\">Information about pneumococcal disease for clinicians<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/pneumococcal\/vaccination.html\">Vaccination education for pneumococcal disease<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Looking for influenza vaccine resources? <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/tTIVKiAVzIw\">View this recent episode of Healthy Living for Life<\/a> to learn from experts about why the influenza vaccine is still important to receive during a pandemic.<br \/>\nJoin fellow regional community coalition leaders and members during upcoming open office hours to learn more about COVID-19, influenza and pneumococcal vaccines. The first session is on April 28, 2021, at 4:00 PM MDT, 2:00 PM AKDT and 12:00 PM HST. <a href=\"https:\/\/mpqhf.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_0gVh0iuuReS7-qgLh0by0A\">View more information, more upcoming dates and register here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>New Affinity Group Focuses on Self-Measured Blood Pressure (SMBP) Programs<br \/>\nSign-ups are now available to join a new affinity group focusing on the implementation of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) programs! The goal of the SMBP affinity group is to increase the number of health systems providing SMBP monitoring programs in our region.<br \/>\nAs a participant of the SMBP affinity group, you will receive information, resources and access to subject matter experts to step through the implementation of a SMBP program.<br \/>\nThe SMBP affinity group will begin mid-May and consist of four one-hour sessions. For more information or to sign-up, contact Kristen Schuster at <a href=\"mailto:kschuster@mpqhf.org\">kschuster@mpqhf.org<\/a>.<br \/>\nRegional Chronic Disease Collaborative partners include: Alaska Primary Care Association, Alaska Department of Health, American Heart Association, Hawaii Department of Health, Mountain-Pacific Quality Health, Montana Department of Health, Montana Primary Care Association, Wyoming Department of Health<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>COVID-19 Vaccines and Visiting Nursing Home Residents: What You Need to Know<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Untitled-design-10.png\"><\/a>It is so great your mom, dad or other loved ones have received their COVID-19 vaccine. This is an important step towards protecting their health, achieving herd immunity and returning to normal life.<br \/>\nBoth the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CDC recognize the importance of visiting your relatives as part of staying healthy. You can now visit your loved ones inside when the COVID-19 positivity rate in your nursing home\u2019s county is less than 10 percent. If the positivity rate in your nursing home\u2019s county is more than 10 percent and less than 70 percent of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated, then only residents who are fully vaccinated should receive visitors. <a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Visiting-Love-Ones-in-a-Nursing-Home-Infographic.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Keep reading about this topic.<\/a><br \/>\nStill have questions about infection prevention in health care settings? <a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Infection-Prevention-in-HC-Settings_Vaccination-Considerations_3.11.2021-002.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more in this handout.<\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Project Firstline, a CDC Infection Control Program, Sees Record Webinar Attendance<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/20_317262A_Capers_DHQP_ProjectFirstline_logo_FINAL_color_co-brand.png\"><\/a>The CDC has rolled out Project Firstline, a comprehensive infection control program designed to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases in U.S. health care settings. Mountain-Pacific Quality Health is excited to announce our partnership with the CDC and the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) as we launch Project Firstline in Wyoming.<br \/>\nJoin the network for \u201cYours, Mine, and Ours: COVID-19 and the Changing Culture of Infection Prevention.\u201d Held alternating Thursdays at 12:00 PM MDT via Zoom, March 25 through July 29, 2021. To learn more, email <a href=\"mailto:wycoa@uwyo.edu\">wycoa@uwyo.edu<\/a>. Case consultation, networking and continuing education are available!<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Welcomes New Board Members<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/benjamin-child-GWe0dlVD9e0-unsplash-scaled.jpg\"><\/a>Join us in welcoming three new board members! Each of our new directors has a strong desire to improve patients\u2019 health care experience and develop solutions to provide better health outcomes for their communities.<br \/>\nThe board is composed of directors from Alaska, Hawaii, Montana and Wyoming. Board membership represents academia, business, consumer representatives, health information, law, medicine, payors and rural health. <a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/blog\/mountain-pacific-quality-health-welcomes-new-board-members\/\">Meet our new board members.<\/a><br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Guam Diabetes Control Coalition Sponsors American Diabetes Association (ADA) Diabetes Alert Day Presentation<br \/>\nThe Guam Diabetes Control Coalition sponsored the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Diabetes Alert Day presentation on March 22, 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=7Xfz5_c-cCY\">View the recording<\/a>.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Southwest Montana Healthcare Community Coalition Helps Assisted Living Facility Achieve Level One Certification<br \/>\nThe Southwest Montana Healthcare Community Coalition (Bozeman, Montana) is currently working with an assisted living facility (ALF) on their level-one certification to become part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aha.org\/center\/age-friendly-health-systems\">Age-Friendly Health System<\/a> (AFHS), making them the first ALF in the nation to achieve this under the AFHS work.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Welcome LaDawn Whiteside, AARP Montana Caregiving Consultant<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/LaDawn.jpg\"><\/a>Join us in welcoming new powerful partner LaDawn Whiteside, an AARP Montana Caregiving Consultant. Throughout her career, LaDawn has been passionate about seniors. LaDawn\u2019s professional career began as an assistant activity director in a nursing home in 1983. She has worked in health care regulation, the home and community-based waiver program and was an advocate in a domestic violence program called Abuse in Late Life. She is a certified mediator with elder designation, president-elect of the Montana Mediation Association, an Eldercaring coordinator, guardian and now an AARP Montana Caregiving Consultant. LaDawn is the mother of twin daughters and has four grandchildren, all living in Helena. She loves people, crafting and providing service to others.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#top\">Back to top<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":271091,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-271592","page","type-page","status-publish","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/271592"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/271592\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/271091"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dsiohn098w.mpqhf.org\/QIO\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}