Patients who monitor their blood pressure at home typically take a more active role in managing their hypertension and improving their cardiovascular health. But what about patients who need help with the practical details around self-monitoring? Providers can help patients manage their hypertension and obtain appropriate monitoring devices. To help our members and other providers, VHAN has gathered the several strategies and resources to aid in patient education related to hypertension.

VHAN is evolving the network’s clinical services and patient engagement strategies to better meet patients where they are. These services include new diagnosis support programs such as Deviceless Remote Patient Monitoring powered by CareSignal, a company owned by Lightbeam Health Solutions.  

When a teenage boy was suspended from school for creating a drawing with dark subject matter, Timothy Eidson, MD, a pediatric primary care provider at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, considered sending him to the emergency department (ED). The boy had also disclosed depression and passive suicidal ideation during the exam, and Dr. Eidson wanted to connect him to help as quickly as possible. Hoping to find an alternative to the ED, he reached out to the VHAN Pediatric Behavioral Consult Line for an urgent consultation.

It was the right decision. Read the full article to see how the consult line, which offers real-time phone consultations by a licensed clinical social worker to help manage patients’ mental health needs, helped get the teen into a partial hospitalization program that brought much-needed relief.

The Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network (VHAN) looked back on its past and ahead to its future in a recent member webinar. “Transforming Health Care Together: VHAN’s 2024 Impact & Future Vision,” featured Cindy Powell, MD, VHAN Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer, along with other VHAN leadership.

Antibiotic stewardship is a key strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a phenomenon that occurs when bacteria and viruses change over time and no longer respond to medicines like antibiotics. To help VHAN practices educate patients about antibiotics and assist with appropriate prescribing, VHAN offers several member tools that you can find on the VHAN Hub Resource Library. Read the full article for more information.

Between the increase in mental health diagnoses and a shortage of mental health specialists nationwide, primary care providers have taken on increased involvement in treatment mental health concerns. To help our members and patients navigate these issues, VHAN offers helping tools and resources.

Following her gastric bypass procedure at another area hospital, a Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) employee immediately began to experience serious complications. In addition to the physical challenges, she became depressed, even feeling a sense of embarrassment and shame over having chosen to undergo the procedure. Read the full story to learn how VHAN RN Care Navigator Katie Crider connected with her to provide essential support.

On a recent episode of the miniVHAN podcast, host Mallory Yoder discussed best practices in risk-adjustment coding with Victor Legner, MD, a geriatrician with expertise in clinical documentation and coding integrity. In the following Q&A, Dr. Legner offers further insights on coding for depression, diabetes, obesity, heart failure as well as guidelines for better patient communication.

VHAN’s Adult Behavioral Health Consult Line offers primary care providers a real-time phone consultation by a licensed clinical social worker to help manage patients’ mental health needs. Shannon Brown, LCSW, answers some FAQs. to help members better understand this service.