HIIN Updates 
The MHA HIIN team is transitioning into the second part of the HIIN option year, which will last through March 2020. During these next several months, the HIIN team will work with hospitals who have had opportunities identified. Intense, time-limited and comprehensive projects will be offered to these hospitals with the goal of improving and sustaining outcomes. Reports are being reviewed in the hope of offering additional transparency and comparative pieces. In a few weeks, updated commitment letters will be sent to MHA HIIN hospitals to be signed and returned by the end of September.

2019 MHA Quality and Safety Convening  
The 2019 MHA Quality and Safety Convening, taking place Thursday, July 25 in Columbia, Mo., is for anyone committed to and passionate about improving health care quality and safety for patients, families and those who work in a health care setting. Attendees will have the opportunity to further explore and discuss the critical issues that contribute to the overall health care experience by all stakeholders and advance toward achieving the quadruple aim.

**This conference is complimentary through government contract funding. Travel reimbursements for HIIN and Flex, as well as continuing education credits, are available. See the event registration page for more information. Register online.

PFAC Releases Part Two in Vlog Series 
The MHA Patient Family Advisory Council released the second in its five-part vlog series, Patient Family Engagement: Telling Our Stories. Tina Jones, MHA, CPXP, director of quality, risk and patient experience at Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare, discusses what patients really want from their caregivers – to feel seen for the unique individual they are. Simply being present, kind and open to listening can have a positive impact on patients.

The vlog series will continue to highlight the importance of patient and family engagement through shared learning, promotion of best practices, and sharing patient experience and family engagement stories while supporting a culture of patient-centered care.

Workplace Violence Update 
Since 2017, at the direction of our board of trustees and the S.A.F.E.R. Initiative task force, MHA has focused on the areas of advocacy, partnerships and evidence-based practice to help member hospitals mitigate the prevalence of violence in health care settings. With expressed permission, MHA adopted the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems’ workplace violence toolkit as our framework to guide improvement efforts.

In June, three workplace violence prevention workshops were held around the state to assist participating hospitals with developing and evaluating programs to create safe care environments. In addition to these workshops, MHA continues to host a workplace safety policy repository to validate existing approaches and recognize best practices.

MHA continues to collect statewide workplace violence data to identify themes and provide benchmarks to members. Using the Hospital Industry Data Institute’s quality portal, hospitals have the opportunity to submit first and second quarter 2019 data through July. A memo to security directors and selected chief operating officers further outlines the initiative. If additional staff beyond current quality portal users is necessary to submit the data, MHA staff will provide training and enable access to HIDI’s quality portal. Questions may be directed to Jackie Gatz, Vice President of Safety and Preparedness, at jgatz@mhanet.com.

HPP Update 
July 1 marked the beginning of federal funding for the 2019 Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Hospital Preparedness Program. Earlier this year, MHA staff prepared and submitted an application to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Program priorities for this grant cycle include sustaining and refining existing systems of interoperable communication, continuity of operations and medical surge, all of which is coordinated through regional health care coalitions. Preparedness funding will support programming for workplace safety and health care system recovery following catastrophic incidents.

A renewed programmatic focus on acute inpatient care and a requirement by new ASPR guidance has prompted the addition of dedicated clinical expertise to MHA’s preparedness section. This staff will lead FFY 2019 planning on pediatric surge management, align emerging infectious disease response planning with daily hospital infection prevention efforts and provide technical assistance to member hospitals, as requested.

• Aug. 1: Diet and Nutrition
• Aug. 15: Medication Management
• Sept. 5: Cardiovascular Risk in CKD/CKD Risk in Cardiovascular Disease