Practice Support Newsletter

October 2024

Measure of the Month: Breast Cancer Screening

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a great time to focus on patient education and awareness. Look at your report for Screening for Breast Cancer and set goals for improvement if needed.

What is the measure?

• Percentage of women 50-74 who have had a screening mammogram in the last 27 months prior to the end of the measurement period.
  • 27 months allows for a 3-month grace period (mammogram October 2022 would count towards numerator)
• Numerator – Women with one or more screening mammograms on or between October 1st two years prior to measurement period and the end of the measurement period.
• Denominator – Women 50–74 who have had a visit by the end of the measurement period.
• Review the full details of the measure here.

 

Steps your practice can take to improve screening rates:

• Kick off with month with patient education and awareness materials
  • Access free Breast Cancer Resources from the CDC
  • Social Media Kit from the CDC
• Implement standing orders for screening mammograms
• Run reports monthly to identify patients who are due for breast cancer screening
  • Implement patient reminder systems – text, email, phone
• Provider reminders
  • Pre-visit planning, huddles, EHR (Electronic Health Record) point of care reminders, etc.
• Identify and help reduce patient barriers
  • Transportation, cost, availability of service, etc.
• Partner with community organizations or businesses to offer mobile mammography
• Work with a South Piedmont AHEC Coach!

Regulatory Reminders: Drawing up vaccine, how much in advance can it be done?    

Is it okay to draw up vaccines at the beginning of the shift? If it isn't, how much in advance can this be done?

Immunize.org shares the answers in this short video.

Coding Corner: Monoclonal Antibody for RSV - Counseling Code Change Alert!

The use of the 99401 counseling code for children aged 0 to 20 months who are eligible to receive Monoclonal Antibody for RSV prevention ended on September 30, 2024. Effective October 1st 2024 the vaccine administration code 96380 should be used for Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) when counseling is provided by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant prior to the administration of the dose. If counseling is not provided by a qualified health care professional prior to the administration of the dose the vaccine administration code 96381 should be used. More information may be found in the NC Medicaid Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Guidelines for 2024-2025. 

7th Annual Statewide Celebration of Rural Nursing Bridging Gaps to Improve Access to Care

NC AHEC is hosting the 7th annual statewide celebration of rural nursing on November 15th via livestream in honor of National Rural Health Day. This year we will address statewide healthcare network resources and pathways to improve access to care for your patients and families 

This conference is designed for all nurses who are serving vulnerable populations in under-resourced and rural areas and those interested in healthcare prevention, primary care, school health and community health for all ages across the continuum of holistic care of integrated behavioral and physical health. To review the agenda and to register, visit Southern Regional AHEC.

Practice Support Learning Opportunity Overview of Nurse Practitioners in North Carolina - Regulations, Scope of Practice, and Common Questions

The role of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in North Carolina is integral to the healthcare system. As advanced practice registered nurses, NPs are trained to provide high-quality care, often serving as primary care providers. This overview will delve into the regulations governing NP practice in North Carolina, addressing common questions regarding their scope of practice, prescriptive authority, collaboration requirements, and documentation. For more information and to register, visit South Piedmont AHEC.

Free COVID-19 Tests

Additional home testing kits are available starting late September 2024. U.S. households will be eligible to order 4 free COVID-19 tests at COVIDTests.gov. The COVID-19 Tests will detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of the year. Click here to access more information and to order.

Become a Member of the South Piedmont AHEC Regional Advisory Committee 

Want to help lead the transformation of healthcare education? Apply today for the Regional Advisory Committee to gather trends related to community and regional needs impacting health education. Application Deadline: November 30th, 2024