Oregon Rural Healthcare Quality Network

OREGON RURAL HEALTHCARE QUALITY NETWORK (ORHQN) CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS INCLUDING FACILITATING PERFORMANCE OF PERIODIC EVALUATION, UTILIZATION REVIEW, QUALITY ASSURANCE, CREDENTIALING, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING OF PHYSICIANS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND OTHER TYPES OF PEER REVIEW, IN SUPPORT OF TAX EXEMPT OR GOVERNMENTAL HOSPITALS IN OREGON WHICH QUALIFY AS A RURAL AND CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS OR A RURAL ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL. CASE (PEER) REVIEW PROGRAM - FACILITATES THE RECIPROCAL REVIEW OF MEDICAL CASES FOR REVIEW BY CLINICAL PEERS. WE CHARGE A NOMINAL FEE FOR DOCUMENT HANDLING THAT GOES TO PAY FOR POSTAGE AND SHIPPING COSTS. THE LABOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ASSIGNMENT OF CASES, COPYING & TRANSFER OF DOCUMENTS (MEDICAL RECORDS), OBTAINING OF REVIEWER CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENTS, AND COLLECTING OF THE CASE FEES HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE OREGON OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH THROUGH FLEX GRANT FUNDS THEY RECEIVE.TEAMSTEPPS TRAINING PROGRAM - WE CONDUCT ANNUAL TRAINING/WORKSHOPS FOR RURAL HOSPITAL IN THE USE OF TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEAMSTEPPS TEAM COMMUNICATION AND PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM CREATED BY THE DOD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY AND THE AHRQ. WE HAVE TAUGHT A MASTER TRAINER WORKSHOP FOR SEVERAL YEARS INCLUDING STAFF FROM 18 OF OUR 25 CAHS.CLINICAL, OPERATIONAL, AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKING PROGRAM (QHI) - WE PURCHASED, ON BEHALF OF OUR NETWORK PARTICIPANTS, THE RIGHTS TO USE A BENCHMARKING PROGRAM OPERATED BY THE KANSAS HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION CALLED QHI (QUALITY HEALTHCARE INDICATORS). THE LICENSING FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM ARE OUR LARGEST SINGLE EXPENSE (OUTSIDE OF CONTRACT MANAGEMENT) AND ARE FUNDED LARGELY FROM FACILITY SHIP GRANT DEDICATIONS TO THE ORHQN. PARTICIPATING FACILITIES COMPLETE AND SUBMIT TO THE OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH (GRANT ADMINISTRATOR) SHIP GRANT APPLICATIONS IN WHICH THEY CAN DEDICATE THEIR GRANT FUNDS TO THE ORHQN. THE MAJORITY OF CAHS SO DEDICATE THEIR FUNDS.PATIENT, STAFF, AND MEDICAL STAFF SATISFACTION SURVEY PROGRAM (SHI - HEALTHCARE SATISFACTION INDEX) - SIMILAR TO QHI, WE NEGOTIATED AND PURCHASED ON BEHALF OF OUR NETWORK PARTICIPANTS THE RIGHTS TO USE THESE WEB BASED SURVEYING AND BENCHMARKING TOOLS FROM BAINBRIDGE & ASSOCIATES. THE LICENSING FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM ARE FUNDED AGAIN THROUGH DEDICATIONS OF SHIP GRANT FUNDS FROM PARTICIPATING FACILITIES.