Newswire Archives
Preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that 41,600 jobs were added in health care, which includes ambulatory health care services, hospitals, and nursing and residential care facilities, between December 2018 and January 2019.
A Table can be obtained at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t17.htm#ces_table1.f.p.
Sen. Lamar Alexander, Chairman of the HELP Committee, discussed his priorities for higher education legislation. His goal is to report by Spring, so the full Senate can consider it in Summer.
Simplify FAFSA from 108 questions to 15-25 questions and answer 22 questions with one click.
Reduce federal loan payment programs from 9 systems to 2 systems. Both would withhold payments from borrower’s paycheck, like the federal income tax. First system would have monthly payments based on borrower’s income. Second system would be a 10-year monthly payment program.
New accountability system based on whether borrowers are repaying their student loans. This would simplify and expand the gainful employment rule proposed in 2014 by the US DoED. This would measure what programs are worth it for students.
Read more here.
HPAC released their Guidance on Developing Quality Interprofessional Education for the Health Professions to guide institutions on communication and collaboration regarding IPE. HPAC members endorsed the document, which includes consensus on terminology/definitions, a systematic approach for IPE, framework to develop IPE program, and a direction for accreditation boards/commissions to assess IPE standards.
To read the full report, click here.
A new paper from the Bipartisan Policy Institute examines barriers to the integration of clinical health care and mental health services, and identifies policy options for consideration in advancing integration of services.
The paper can be obtained at https://bipartisanpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Integrating-Clinical-and-Mental-Health-Challenges-and-Opportunities.pdf.
The 53rd in a series of publications initiated in 1962 by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the Digest's purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field of education from prekindergarten through graduate school. The Digest contains data on a variety of topics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, along with educational attainment, finances, and federal funds for education, libraries, and international comparisons.
The Digest can be obtained at https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018070.pdf.
Early-bird registration is available for the 2019 Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Faculty Development Institute in Washington, DC. Returning to the popular theme of building a framework for interprofessional education for collaborative practice (IPECP), the conference will be a unique gathering of health professions faculty, collaborative partners, expert presenters and staff facilitators. To view the agenda with confirmed speakers, click here. Held at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Learning Center, the Spring 2019 IPEC Institute takes place May 22-24, 2019. The early bird registration fee is $1,595 for individuals. After March 15, the conference fee will increase by $100.
For more information or to register, visit the Spring 2019 IPEC institute website or contact IPEC Associate Director Shelley McKearney at smckearney@aacnnursing.org.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new app that gives consumers a modernized Medicare experience with direct access on a mobile device to some of the most-used content on Medicare.gov., such as whether Medicare covers a specific medical item or service and how to obtain accurate, consistent Original Medicare coverage information in the doctor’s office, hospital, or anywhere else a mobile device can be used.
The free app is available in Google Play at:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.medicare.coverage, and in the Apple App Store at:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whats-covered/id1444143600?mt=8.
The third U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Award will showcase interprofessional efforts to positively impact community health. The annual USPHS IPEC Award recognizes a team of health-professional school based collaborators working on IPE projects that establish a relationship between interprofessional practice and outcomes (community practice, public health education, and/or research). One overall National Awardee will be selected and receive their award at the Summer 2019 IPEC Council Meeting in Washington, DC. The winning interprofessional team will receive a $2,000 travel stipend and will work with IPEC and USPHS on a webinar or continuing education publication highlighting their work.
The submission deadline is 5:00 p.m. Eastern on Friday, February 1, 2019. All award applicants will receive notification emails by Friday, March 15.
To submit a nomination and to view the application criteria and process, visit the USPHS IPEC Award website.
To improve the experiences of Americans who rely on the health care system the most, the Commonwealth Fund was a partner with the nonprofit Healthwise to identify gaps in care and capture patients' needs in their own voices. “Personas" are developed to depict the experiences, motivations, and goals of high-need patients with similar profiles, as well as the common barriers they face.
The web portal for overviews of each persona and video narratives from real patients and caregivers can be obtained at
Despite efforts to counter a historical legacy of inequitable funding and investments by federal and state governments, resource inequities continue to plague historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), according to findings released by the American Council on Education in an issue brief.
The issue brief can be obtained at https://www.acenet.edu/news-room/Documents/public-and-private-investments-and-divestments-in-hbcus.pdf.
The Distance Learning and Educational Innovation Subcommittee met last week as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s negotiated rulemaking pertaining to Federal Student Aid programs under the Higher Education Act. The Subcommittee discussed state authorization rules for distance education, and is scheduled to meet again on February 12-13 and March 11-12 in the Washington DC area.
A report on the meeting may be accessed here.
Through the Award for Institutional Excellence and Innovation in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Health Care, ASAHP looks to recognize a member institution and/or industry member for outstanding achievement in IPE and IPCP. In addition to the award, several institutions will also be recognized as “Programs of Merit” by ASAHP. Award applications close on May 1, 2019. Applicants will be notified of their status no later than August 1, 2019. All nominations must be electronically submitted to: ipe@asahp.org.
Visit the IP Award Page for more info.
Major health organizations, e.g., American Hospital Association issued a new report on the state of interoperability. While progress has been made in certain aspects, such as allowing patients to download their data, the state of interoperability continues to need improvements.
The report can be obtained at https://fah.org/fah-ee2-uploads/website/documents/report-interoperability-0119.pdf.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued proposed rules for plans sold on the Health Insurance Marketplaces for the 2020 benefit year. Comments are due by February 19, 2019.
The proposed rules can be obtained at https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-00077.pdf. They are scheduled to appear in the Federal Register on January 24, 2019.
Accurately matching patient health records is a barrier to health information exchange and that inaccurately matched records can adversely affect patient safety or privacy. A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) identifies recent or ongoing efforts to improve the data and methods used in patient record matching.
The report can be obtained at https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/696426.pdf.
A new white paper from the American Medical Informatics Association describes possibilities for generating new data to inform evidence-based medicine, thereby enabling learning health systems. Improved public policies could better harmonize data standards allowing organizations to accelerate biomedical discovery, facilitate translation of findings to improve the health of individuals and populations, and share research data sets and findings more easily.
The paper can be obtained at https://www.amia.org/sites/default/files/Reimagining-the-Research-Practice-Relationship-AMIA-Policy-Meeting-Paper-2016_0.pdf.
Politico examines Georgia State University’s use of data analytics to improve student outcomes (link). The leader of Georgia State University’s Student Success program is Vice Provost Dr. Tim Renick, who delivered a well-received presentation at ASAHP’s 2018 annual conference. You can find the slides from his presentation here.
Preceptors in the Nexus is a two-day workshop in Minneapolis intended to inspire and engage teams in developing the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes needed to facilitate interprofessional learning IN practice.
The key philosophy of this fast-paced workshop is to positively impact the culture of practice settings to become more team-based, including engaging patients and their families, by intentionally integrating interprofessional learners into the care process.
Click here for more information and to register.
According to the Hechinger Report, 10 years after seeking to have more Americans complete college or obtain a certificate, the nation is far behind schedule in attaining this goal. Federal and state budget cuts, spiraling tuition, political distraction, and increasing public skepticism about the value of a higher education are implicated in contributing to the lack of desired progress.
The report can be obtained at https://hechingerreport.org/10-years-later-goal-of-getting-more-americans-through-college-is-way-behind-schedule/.
The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) is issuing its final call for applicants to participate in the 2019 IPEC Interprofessional Leadership Development Program (ILDP).
The 2019 IPEC ILDP is a three-day, interactive professional development experience mean to provide deans, senior academic administrators, and academic champions across the health professions with the opportunity for professional enrichment in the area of interprofessional leadership and engagement. This unique program will engage both senior leaders and administrators responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a campus-wide interprofessional education (IPE) program. Facilitated by faculty from the Academy for Advancing Leadership (AAL), the IPEC ILDP will be held February 6-8, 2019 at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Learning Center in Washington, DC.
