By Loretta Boniti, News 14
May 1, 2014

http://centralnc.twcnews.com/content/news/707217/new-medicaid-director-ready-for-reform

Leaders at the Department of Health and Human services are looking to do a major overhaul to the state’s medicaid system, and they will now do that with a new leader at the helm.

“Medicaid has not been through any major transformation,” Dr. Robin Cummings, the new NC Medicaid Director. “It has had tweaks here and there. But for the most part, what was put in place has sort of stood the test of time. And that is not what is going to take us into the future.”

Cummings says improvements on budgeting have been made under the current administration, but he wants to see a time when there are no cost overruns in this program.

“And there are other companies that run, work with 14 billion dollar budgets,” says Cummings. “So the capability, the ability to give a dependable, predictable budget is there. It exists in the business world.”

DHHS officials have sent a proposal to the legislative leaders for medicaid changes. It is estimated it could save the state several hundred million dollars, and allow physicians and providers to improve the quality of care.
…

“As one provider said, it really allows healthcare to come down to that doctor and that patient in the exam room,” Cummings. “That the doctor is responsible for that patient’s care and they are looking at that patient in terms of quality of how they are going to provide quality care But also how they are going to keep down the cost of that care.”

Cummings says he will work over the coming months to communicate with lawmakers to get them on board with the proposed medicaid changes.

Older adults have made countless contributions and sacrifices to ensure a better life for future generations. Since 1963, communities across the country have shown their gratitude by celebrating Older Americans Month each May. This celebration recognizes older Americans for their contributions and demonstrates our states commitment to helping them stay healthy and active.

This year’s theme for Older Americans Month is “Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow.” The theme focuses on injury prevention and safety to encourage older adults to protect themselves and remain active and independent for as long as possible.

Older adults are at a much higher risk of unintentional injury and even death than the rest of the population. In fact, in North Carolina 1,689 older adults died because of an injury with unintentional falls being related to 84% of those deaths. With an emphasis on safety during Older Americans Month, we encourage older adults to learn about the variety of ways they can avoid the leading causes of injury, like falls.

While the Division of Aging and Adult Services funds services and supports to older adults year-round, Older Americans Month offers an opportunity for us to provide specialized information and services around the important topic of injury prevention. This information will help older adults take control of their safety and live longer, healthier lives.

Throughout the month, local aging providers across the state will be conducting activities and providing tips on how to avoid the leading causes of injury. To learn more about Older Americans Month and information on injury prevention for older adults go to http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/oamonth/index.htm.

Aerial photo shows elements of the Mobile Disaster Hospital that will deploy to Louisville, MS

Governor Pat McCrory announced that North Carolina’s Mobile Disaster Hospital is being sent to Mississippi to provide medical support to a community whose 41-bed hospital, medical clinics and only nursing home was destroyed by the tornadoes on Monday. The N.C. Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) is today deploying the mobile medical facility to fill a critical need for medical coverage in Louisville, Mississippi.  

The Mobile Disaster Hospital includes a portable surgery unit, emergency department and trauma services, clinical area, lab services and an X-ray unit. With coordination from N.C. Emergency Management (NCEM), the equipment will move today from Mocksville to a staging area while site preparations are completed to accommodate the hospital.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to our neighbors in Mississippi and we hope that this portable medical facility will meet their critical medical needs while recovery efforts continue,” said DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos. “We are anxious to get this equipment in place to help this community begin its recovery.”

Monday’s tornado strike in the community of 19,000 created a critical need for medical coverage. The hospital and nursing home were the community’s primary employers.

Mississippi Emergency Management reached out to N.C. Emergency Management late yesterday requesting medical assistance. Governor McCrory and Secretary Wos quickly approved the medical equipment response.

A team from OEMS and NCEM will oversee the preparations and movement and the N.C. Baptist Men will help set up the hospital. The mobile medical facility is provided by way of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a disaster-relief agreement among all states.

Once set up, the local medical staff would operate the mobile disaster hospital and continue their employment to assist in their local recovery. The mobile hospital is expected to be on loan to Mississippi for about a year while their local hospital is rebuilt.

Click here for a fact sheet on the Mobile Disaster Hospital.
Click here to view additional photos of the Mobile Disaster Hospital.

In April the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services’ WorkSource West center received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The three-year accreditation covers Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation Services, Employee Development Services, and Organizational Employment Services.

CARF is the highest level of accreditation available for an organization of this type and it helps providers improve the quality of their services and meet standards that improve services, encourage feedback and serve the community.

WorkSource West Facility Director Connie Barnette praised facility staff and Morganton DVRS office staff for their efforts that resulted in the recognition. The CARF surveyors evaluating the site commented numerous times on the professionalism and caring attitude of the staff, she said.

Praising the team effort involved, DVRS Western Regional Director Pat Bland noted that CARF made no recommendations for improvement on the program/service side of their review. 

Hydroponic farming is one of the skills available at WorkSource West

WorkSource West accomplished this while responding to the ever-changing needs of its clients, stakeholders, the economic blueprint of the 17 counties it serves, and the state of North Carolina. New curriculums designed to assist people with disabilities to obtain employment in their chosen vocational field include customer service, warehouse assistant, basic auto maintenance, auto detailing and hydroponics. Future additions include a culinary arts program in collaboration with other state agencies.

Located at 200 Enola Road in Morganton, WorkSource West began operations in the 1970s and merged with several other vocational rehabilitation programs in 1982. It started attaining CARF accreditations in 1978, and has maintained the accreditations without break for 36 years. For more information, visit http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dvrs/pwd/wrvrf.htm.

DHHS leaders visited earlier this week with staff and supporters of TROSA (Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers), a two-year residential program in Durham that helps people rebuild their lives and maintain their sobriety.

TROSA is an award-winning, comprehensive program that offers its residents training in business and job skills from moving to lawn care, to furniture, framing and holiday shops that sell Christmas trees, wreaths and garland.

While traveling  April 23 to Iverson J. Riddle Center in Morganton, DHHS Secretary Aldona Wos dropped in at the nearby Burke County Department of Social Services offices to thank staff there for all their hard work over the past several months. In the photo above, left to right, Tracy Kincaid, eligibility program administrator, Secretary Wos and Dorriane Hernandez, Burke DSS director.

By: Richard Craver, Winston-Salem Journal
April 24, 2014

http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/seasonal-flu-death-tally-increases-to/article_c1ea5a76-cbdb-11e3-bc40-0017a43b2370.html

The number of flu-related deaths continues to climb weeks after the official end of the 2013-14 season.

There were three more deaths last week for an overall total of 103, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported today.

The flu season typically runs from Oct. 1 to March 31, although it can vary depending on how virulent the most common strain happens to be.

There was one victim reported in the 25-to-49 age group, one in the 50-to-64 group and one in the 65-and-older group.

The previous high in recent years was 91 in 2009-10, which is the flu season during which the H1N1 strain, or swine flu, was prevalent. When counting H1N1 deaths that occurred in the summer before the 2009-10 flu season began, the death total from April 2009 to May 2010 was 107.

“There is no comparable flu death data available prior to 2009, which is when adult flu deaths became reportable,” DHHS spokesman Kevin Howell said.

As has been the standard practice, DHHS officials did not disclose the counties in which victims lived. However, some county health officials have been informing the public when a flu-related death occurs.

No county health officials from the Triad and Northwest North Carolina reported a victim from last week.

Forsyth has had four victims this season, all between the ages of 46 and 76.

There also have been eight flu-related deaths in Guilford County, five in Randolph County and one each in Alamance, Rockingham and Wilkes counties for a total of at least 20 in the 14-county region.

Altogether, statewide for the current flu season, there have been 29 victims ages 65 or older; 33 who were 50 to 64; 35 victims ages 25 to 49; three ages 5 to 17; and three under age 5.

State health officials say most of the victims have had some kind of health condition that made them more vulnerable to the flu, which is typical in flu-related deaths.

Those conditions can include heart disease, asthma or a respiratory illness, diabetes, immune-system problems, obesity and pregnancy.

Friday, April 25, 2014
Contact: news@dhhs.nc.gov
919-855-4840

Raleigh, N.C. - The North Carolina Division of Public Health has released its annual report describing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in North Carolina hospitals. HAIs are infections that patients get in a healthcare setting while receiving treatment for other conditions. This 2013 annual report shows that progress has been made, but more work is needed to protect patients from these infections.

“North Carolina hospitals have made tremendous efforts to protect their patients, but approximately 1 in 25 hospital patients still contracts a healthcare-associated infection each year,” said Zack Moore, Medical Epidemiologist with DHHS’ Division of Public Health.  “These reports not only provide important information for patients and doctors, they also help raise awareness of these infections and increase the focus on infection control and prevention.”

The 2013 annual report provides updated state-level and hospital-specific information for consumers and healthcare providers about three of the most common healthcare-associated infections: Bloodstream infections associated with central venous catheters; urinary tract infections associated with bladder catheters; and surgical site infections. These infections have been tracked and publicly reported in North Carolina since 2012.

Information on two other important healthcare-associated infections is also included for the first time in this annual report: Bloodstream infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (or “MRSA”) and infections caused by Clostridium difficile (or “C. diff”).

MRSA is a bacterium that is resistant to certain antibiotics.  In the community, MRSA often causes skin infections.  In healthcare facilities, MRSA can cause bloodstream infections and other serious problems. Overall, MRSA causes approximately 11,000 deaths nationally every year. Data in the annual report show that the number of MRSA bloodstream infections in North Carolina hospitals during 2013 was similar to the number predicted based on a national baseline.  
 
C. diff is a bacterium that causes inflammation of the colon, known as colitis. Diarrhea and fever are the most common symptoms. C. diff infections are linked to 14,000 deaths nationally every year. Although most C. diff infections are healthcare-associated, infections have also been reported in people with no recent exposure to healthcare settings, often as a complication from taking antibiotics. Data in the annual report show that the number of C. diff infections in North Carolina hospitals during 2013 was significantly lower than the number predicted based on a national baseline.
 
“The rate of MRSA bloodstream infections in hospitals has been falling over the past decade, while the number of C. diff infections is climbing,” Moore said. “Both are serious threats to patient health and need to be monitored closely by the healthcare community.”
 
The prevention of healthcare-associated infections is a public health priority in North Carolina and is a collaborative effort among the healthcare and public health communities.  The healthcare-associated infection reports are an important product of this collaboration.
 
To learn more about these HAIs and view the annual report, please visit the N.C. HAI Prevention Program website at http://epi.publichealth.nc.gov/cd/diseases/hai.html.

Thursday, April 24, 2014
Contact: news@dhhs.nc.gov
919-855-4840

Raleigh, N.C. - DHHS’ Division of Aging and Adult Services, Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging and, North Carolina Association of Area Agencies on Aging are co-hosting a series of listening sessions being held in conjunction with Older Americans Month. 

These listening sessions will help identify information on the changing needs of North Carolina's older citizens and their caregivers as well as identify ways to further engage and tap the resources of our older population. The information gathered will inform North Carolina’s 2015-2019 Aging Plan.

May 5, 2014
Eastern AHEC
2000 Venture Tower Drive, Suites 200-214
Greenville, NC
10 am -12 pm
 
May 15, 2014
The Folk Art Center
Milepost 382 Blue Ridge Parkway
Asheville, NC
10 am- 12 pm
 
May, 27, 2014
Piedmont Triad Regional Council
1398 Carrollton Crossing Drive
Kernersville, NC 
10 am- 12 pm

Attendees may register to speak upon arrival at the meetings or in advance on-line by completing this Sign-Up Form. Speakers will be limited to three minutes and are encouraged to provide a written copy of their comments. The scheduled meeting locations are accessible to people with disabilities. If you plan to attend and need assistance, please complete the Sign-Up Form.
 
People who are unable to attend one of the meetings may send written comments by May 30, 2014 to Heather Burkhardt, 2101 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2101. Comments may also be e-mailed to agingplan@dhhs.nc.gov or faxed to: Aging Plan at (919)733-0443. If you have questions please call Heather Burkhardt at (919) 855-3436.
 
The current state plan is available at http://www.ncdhhs.gov/aging/plan.htm.

*Check for future menu updates every Monday on tumblr.

**We Accept Debit and Credit cards**

Phone: 919-527-6690
Address: 100 Cafeteria Way, Raleigh NC 27603 (Behind the McBryde Building on the Dix campus in Raleigh)

Hours: Breakfast from 7am-10am.  Lunch from 11am-1:45pm. Close @ 2pm.

• Monday: Spicy Chicken Sandwich Plate, French Fries Or Broccoli Salad, Drink. Price: $5.50
  
  
• Tuesday: Pork Tenderloin over Rice, Cabbage, Sweet peas, Drink. Price:$6.50
  
  
• Wednesday: Spaghetti & Meatballs, Salad & Garlic Bread, Drink. Price:$6.50
  
  
• Thursday: Chicken or Tuna Sandwiches, Fries or Chips Drink. Price: $5.75
  
  
• Friday: 2 Hot Dogs, Fries, Drink. Price: $5.75

At the NC Flex Conference held April 10-11 the Department of Health and Human Services won an award for second highest increased participation in NC Flex benefits. The Department of Public Safety was top finisher.

In the photo above are DHHS health benefits representatives (left to right) DHHS Benefits Manager and Wellness Coordinator Felicia Davis, with Rachel Potts, Kelly Jones, Althea Trantham, Karen Ausley and Brenda Raing.

In addition, Ausley, representing the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, won a cruise to the Caribbean from Pierce Insurance Company.

NC Flex is the program of pre-tax benefits available to state agency, university and select community college employees. Offerings include the health care flexible spending account. To read more information on NC Flex go to: http://www.oshr.nc.gov/Reward/ncflex/index.htm .

Fitness room at Broughton Hospital

Broughton Hospital in Morganton is the first state agency to earn Excellence Recognition from Prevention Partners, the organization’s highest standard for healthy workplaces.

The award signals that Broughton has completed a transformation in workplace health and prevention. The state hospital that serves western North Carolina counties scored straight A’s in each of four modules: nutrition, physical activity, tobacco cessation and an overall culture of wellness. The modules are the core of WorkHealthy America, Prevention Partners’ workplace prevention initiative.

“State agencies have limited funds and face extra challenges when they work to change employee environments, so we congratulate Broughton’s staff for their resourcefulness, dedication, and commitment to creating a healthy work culture for employees,” said Meg Molloy, president & CEO of Prevention Partners. “These efforts will improve the health of employees and their family members, reduce time away from work, and reduce healthcare costs to the taxpayer - much to celebrate!”

Other DHHS facilities participating in the program include J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center, Division of Public Health on Six Forks in Raleigh, O’Berry Neuro Medical Treatment Center, Office of Rural Health and Community Care, Division of Medical Assistance and the Division of Aging and Adult Services.

“Employee wellness is important to Broughton Hospital because we are in the business of health care,” said Sherry Helton, radiology director at Broughton and coordinator of its WorkHealthy initiative. “Wellness is a personal journey, but environment/culture is a big influence on this journey. Broughton Hospital wants to be a supportive environment for each employee’s personal journey into and throughout wellness. WorkHealthy America has given our Employee Wellness committee the tools to evaluate our environment and culture and manageable suggestions to make effective changes.”

The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust funded WorkHealthy America pilot initiatives in the rural North Carolina counties of Burke and Lenoir. “The Trust is committed to supporting healthier workplaces for low- and moderate-income people, and the work at Broughton is showing great results. We look forward to hearing more about Broughton’s healthier workers, as well as those of other employers in the Burke and Lenoir pilot programs,” said Allen Smart, vice president of programs, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.

“This is wonderful news, not only for the staff of Broughton Hospital, but for the people they serve. Healthy employees provide better, more efficient service,” says Katherine Hilliard, Statewide Wellness Coordinator with the NC Office of State Human Resources. “I am thrilled with Broughton Hospital’s success, and I hope to see other state agencies following in their footsteps in the near future.”

For more information see www.forprevention.org.