VUMC Group Partners With State of Tennessee to Tackle Antibiotic Overuse
A partnership between Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Tennessee State Department of Health has helped some VHAN practices improve antibiotic stewardship efforts.
A partnership between Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Tennessee State Department of Health has helped some VHAN practices improve antibiotic stewardship efforts.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) was awarded $1 million in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to expand the research done through the Outpatient Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship. The project will take place at several VHAN member clinics, including VUMC-affiliated outpatient pediatric primary care clinics and Heritage Medical Clinic sites.
Health care organizations store a huge amount of sensitive patient data, which has become a goldmine for cybercriminals holding health systems ransom with threats to use that data for identity theft, fraud and other malicious activities.
As VHAN’s executive director and chief medical officer, I want to extend a sincere thank you for your unwavering dedication to ensure patients receive high-quality, personalized care. As I reflect on our most recent performance year’s successes, I am reminded that our network’s collective strength and commitment enables better health outcomes.
In 2023, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing received a $3 million Health Resources and Services Administration grant to create a certification and training program for CHWs in Tennessee. The initiative, formed in partnership with the Tennessee Community Health Worker Association and Rural Health Association of Tennessee, is called the Community Health Worker Training Program of Tennessee (CHWTPT). Read the full article to learn more about how you can participate.
In October 2022 the FDA announced a potential shortage of ADHD medications in the United States. The impact continues to be felt a year later, with many alternative stimulants also experiencing intermittent shortages or limited availability. The VHAN Pharmacy Team put together helpful strategies you can incorporate to navigate the stimulant shortage successfully.
For the past seven years, VHAN’s Beverly Puckett has served as a connection between the network and pediatric practice members who have contracted lives enrolled with VHAN. Learn more about her work as a Principal Clinical Quality Transformation Advisor.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) waived or modified health regulations to better equip hospitals, primary care clinics and other care settings to help prevent and treat cases of COVID-19. Many of these waivers were tied to the Public Health Emergency (PHE), which is set to expire on May 11, 2023.
On April 12, VHAN held a Town Hall to discuss the implications of unwinding from the PHE, as well as ways you can adjust to these changes and sustain quality patient care with minimal interruptions. Read the full article for key takeaways and additional resources that can help you with the PHE expiration.
Signed into law in August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes provisions to lower health care and medication costs over the next several years. This article outlines a few key implications of which providers should be aware.