Integrating Health for Populations and Communities Toolbox

Immunizations

Influenza vaccination can be effective in preventing secondary complications and reducing the risk for influenza-related hospitalization and death among adults 65 years old and older, with or without high-risk medical conditions. Vaccine is also recommended for pneumococcal pneumonia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, every year in the United States, on average:

five percent to 20 percent of the population contracts flu
more than 200,000 individuals are hospitalized from flu complications
at least 36,000 individuals die from flu

The picture is similar for pneumonia. The Centers for Disease Control report the annual incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease as greater than 50 per 100,000 individuals who are aged 65 or older. That is, more than 21,000 individuals contract invasive pneumococcal disease annually.

CFMC is committed to helping to increase the number of patients who are vaccinated for these diseases in Colorado, and have listed the following resources for providers and patients toward that goal.

Immunization Tools and Resources for Healthcare Professionals

CMS Educational Products for healthcare Professionals available for download

This PDF document includes links to influenza-related educational products developed by CMS for provider use and links to other online resources where clinicians may find useful information and tools for the 2010-2011 flu season.

The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) is offering a Flu toolkit to help mobilize and support the immunization of Colorado's healthcare providers and their patients.

APIC's "Protect Your Patients. Protect Yourself." program features a variety of helpful resource materials infection preventionists may use to encourage healthcare institutions to implement or expand their healthcare personnel immunization programs.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) offers an immunization resources page featuring immunization schedules and resources for healthcare professionals.

The Increasing Influenza Immunization Rates: Evidence-Based Best Practices a compilation of intervention recommendations and best practices resulting from an analysis of various evidence-based meta-analysis studies regarding interventions that were noted to be most effective for increasing Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunization Rates.

Cancer Screening Tools

Screening, or testing for cancer can save many lives. The two focus areas of the Prevention project, colorectal and breast cancer represent two of the most common cancer causes in the United States.

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. More than 148,810 cases occurred in 2008 with 49,960 deaths. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. And after lung cancer, it is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.

At the same time, catching cancer early in these two population groups can save lives. For example, among patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 1995 and 2000, the five-year relative survival rate was about 90 percent for those diagnosed with disease that had not spread.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force found fair evidence that mammography screening every 12 to 33 months significantly reduces mortality from breast cancer. Based on this evidence and other research, the Task Force currently recommends screening mammography every one to two years for women aged 40 and older.

CFMC is committed to helping Colorado increase the number of patients who are screened for colorectal and breast cancer in Colorado, and have listed the following resources for providers and patients toward that goal.

PQRS 2012 Resources

CMS has created a number of useful resources for eligible professionals participating in the Physician Quality Reporting System, including:

2012 Physician Quality Reporting System: Registry Reporting Made Simple â€“ This document describes registry-based reporting and outlines steps that eligible professionals or practices should take in selecting a registry to work with for the 2012 program year.
2012 Physician Quality Reporting System: Electronic Health Record (EHR) Reporting Made Simple â€“ This document describes EHR-based reporting and outlines steps that eligible professionals should take in selecting an EHR to work with for the 2012 program year.
2012 Physician Quality Reporting System: Maintenance of Certification Program Incentive Made Simple â€“ This factsheet provides steps for successful participation in the Maintenance of Certification Program Incentive. It also explains the role of the qualified Maintenance of Certification Program Incentive entity.
2012 Physician Quality Reporting System: Claims-Based Coding and Reporting Principles â€“ This document describes claims-based coding and reporting and outlines steps that eligible professionals or practices should take prior to participating in 2012 Physician Quality Reporting.
2012 Physician Quality Reporting System: Made Simple for Reporting the Preventive Care Measures Group via Claims â€“ This factsheet provides guidance on satisfactorily reporting the Preventive Care Measures Group via claims for 2012 Physician Quality Reporting.
Physician Quality Reporting System: Updates for 2012 â€“ This factsheet includes important information about changes to the Physician Quality Reporting System for 2012, as authorized by MIPPA.
2012 Physician Quality Reporting System and Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO): Participation for the Incentive Payment Made Simple â€“ This factsheet provides guidance for group practices wishing to participate in the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System and the 2012 eRx Incentive program as a CMS selected group practice.
2012 Physician Quality Reporting System Medicare EHR Incentive Pilot: Quick Reference Guide â€“ This Quick-Reference Guide provides direction to eligible professionals participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program on reporting and satisfying the CQM requirements through participation in the Physician Quality Reporting System-Medicare EHR Incentive Pilot.
2012 Physician Quality Reporting System: Claims Reporting Made Simple â€“ This document describes claims-based reporting and outlines steps that eligible professionals or practices should take prior to participating. It also provides helpful reporting tips for eligible professionals and their billing staff.

Improving Preventive Cardiac Care

Heart disease is the second and stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in Colorado. Together, they cost Colorado taxpayers more than $128 million each year in Medicaid charges and hundreds of millions more in treatment for high blood pressure and other risk factors. Nationwide, cardiovascular disease cost more than a half trillion dollars in 2010.

Despite rising risk factors, we can continue to make progress in our efforts to reduce cardiovascular disease in Colorado by focusing on education, screening and environmental conditions. According to research, approximately 90 percent of cardiovascular disease risk is lifestyle-related, and thus preventable.

Cardiac Care Tools and Resources

Heart360Â® is a convenient and secure location for you to track and manage your heart health. Record your health data with our online trackers, access additional information and resources on how to be heart healthy, and even share your results with your provider.

CDC Guidelines and Recommendations

Million Heartsâ„¢ is a national initiative that was launched by the Department of Health and Human Services in September 2011 to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over five years.

Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC), the Medicare quality improvement organization for Colorado, prepared this material under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents do not necessarily reflect CMS Policy.