Dr. Michels to be Honored
Dale Michels, MD, D-ABFM, F-AAFP, Nebraska Medical Director, has been selected to receive the 2010 Nebraska Medical Association’s Distinguished Service to Medicine Award. This award recognizes his excellent service, both to his patients and to Nebraska’s medical community. Dr. Michels was nominated for the award by the Lancaster County Medical Society, and he will be honored at a luncheon given by the Nebraska Medical Association on October 1.

WIREC Director Testifies Before House Subcommittee at HITECH Act Hearing
Peggy Evans, PhD, CPHIT, Director of the Washington & Idaho Regional Extension Center (WIREC) testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee of Health, on July 27, 2010, in Washington, DC. 
Read the press release, read Dr. Evans' testimony or view video of the proceedings.

HHS Announces Final Rules to Support Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records
On July 13, 2010, US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced final rules for meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). Led by Qualis Health, WIREC is one of 60 Regional Extension Centers around the country designated to support provider efforts to become meaningful users of EHRs. Providers who meet meaningful use objectives can qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments.
Read the press release.

Life Science Discovery Article Published
Qualis Health's Peggy Evans, PhD, CPHIT, Jeff Hummel, MD, MPH, and Helan Lee-Gerrard submitted an article entitled Medication reconciliation in the emergency department: opportunities for workflow redesign to the journal Quality and Safety in Health Care. Written as part of the Life Science Discovery Fund award, the article was accepted in November 2009 and posted to the journal's website in June.
Read the abstract.

Jonathan Sugarman Speaks at National Medicaid Congress
Jonathan Sugarman, MD, MPH, President and CEO of Qualis Health, presented at the fifth annual National Medicaid Congress on June 7, 2010 in Washington, DC.
View Dr. Sugarman's presentation, Community Health Centers: Medical Homes in the Safety Net.

Evan Stults Presents at National Medicare Readmissions Summit
Qualis Health's Executive Director of QSI Communications, Evan Stults, gave a presentation titled, Stepping Stones: Community Engagement to Reduce Unnecessary Rehospitalizations, at the National Medicare Readmissions Summit on June 8, 2010 in Washington, DC. 
Visit the Stepping Stones website.

Qualis Health Receives Two Case In Point Platinum Awards
Qualis Health was named as a Case In Point Platinum Award winner in both the Medicaid Case Management Program and Utilization Management Program categories during a ceremony on April 20, 2010 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
See our feature in the April/May issue of Case In Point.

Qualis Health Honors Idaho Healthcare Providers
Selected from healthcare providers across Idaho, five Award of Excellence in Healthcare Quality recipients were honored during a luncheon ceremony at the annual Idaho Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Conference.
Read the press release.

Michael Garrett Speaks at Wichita Business Coalition on Health Care
Michael B. Garrett, MS, CCM, Vice President of Business Development at Qualis Health presented on best practices in care management to the Wichita Business Coalition on Health Care on Friday, April 16, 2010.
View an executive biography for Michael B. Garrett.

WIREC - The Washington & Idaho Regional Extension Center
Qualis Health has been awarded funding to provide Washington and Idaho healthcare organizations with technical assistance related to the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs).
Visit the WIREC project website.

The Safety Net Medical Home Initiative Is Now on Facebook
Qualis Health's patient-centered medical home project has launched a Facebook page to help participants stay up to date on the latest news, announcements, events, publications and releases from the Initiative.
Become a Facebook Fan.

Qualis Health's Nebraska Medicaid Contract Amended
Qualis Health's contract with Nebraska Medicaid has been amended to include the addition of home health and private duty utilization review services beginning April 1, 2010.
Learn more about our work with Nebraska Medicaid.

Qualis Health Awarded Recovery Act Funds to Assist Healthcare Providers Using Health IT
The center at Qualis Health is among the first to be funded, and it will provide an integrated, comprehensive suite of services to priority providers across Idaho and Washington.
Read the press release. 

Short Films on Successful Care Transitions Released
Qualis Health has produced two short films about facilitating safe transitions of care from hospital to home as part of Stepping Stones - The Care Transitions Project of Whatcom County, WA.
Watch the video.

Medical Director Elected Chair of WA Patient Safety Coalition Steering Committee
Sharon Eloranta, MD, Qualis Health's Medical Director of Quality and Safety Initiatives, was elected Chair of the Washington Patient Safety Coalition's Steering Committee. This position runs for two years and is followed by a two-year term as Emeritus Chair.
View a biography for Sharon Eloranta, MD.