In our second episode of the PILL podcast focused on diabetes prevention and treatment, Trudi speaks with Dr. Tamea Evans, a 2003 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. Dr Evans is an Internal Medicine physician and diabetologist who is passionate about helping patients with long term illness get the tools and knowledge they need in order to get and stay well. Listen as she shares what it means to be "blessed by bad" and how doctors can be rewarded for doing a good job.

This episode includes a focus on diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES), a fundamental but underutilized element of diabetes care. Kentucky has around 95 recognized or accredited DSMES programs and branches serving 88 counties across the Commonwealth. To find locations go to https://prdweb.chfs.ky.gov/KYDiabetesResources/ and search for “Nationally Recognized or Accredited Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Classes”. 

If you need assistance with quality improvement call the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or email us at [email protected]. Check out our website at www.kentuckyrec.com. For specific Quality Payment Program assistance, enroll in our online resource center at www.qppresourcecenter.org. 

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In our new episode of the PILL podcast, Trudi speaks with Dr. James Keck, a Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine board certified physician who cares for patients in the University of Kentucky Family Medicine Clinic. He supervises, trains, and educates medical students and Family and Preventive Medicine Residents at the UK clinic and UK hospital. Recently, Dr. Keck and colleagues implemented several strategies to promote Diabetes Prevention Program referrals from primary care colleagues to the UK Diabetes Prevention Program. He discusses the diagnosis of “prediabetes”, including who should be screened, how it is diagnosed, and next steps to avoid diabetes. 

 The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is a partnership of public and private organizations working to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Partners make it easier for people at risk for type 2 diabetes to participate in evidence-based lifestyle change programs to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. Kentucky has 55 recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program organizations serving 80 counties with in person classes. We also have online or distance learning locations covering all 120 counties. To find out more go to CHFS.KY.gov and search for Diabetes prevention programs.  

 If you need assistance with quality improvement call the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or email us at [email protected]. Check out our website at www.kentuckyrec.com. For specific Quality Payment Program assistance, enroll in our online resource center at www.qppresourcecenter.org.

Royalty Free Music from Bensound 

In this episode of the PILL podcast, Trudi interviews Hank Kerschen, a healthcare executive experienced in multi-specialty group practices and integrated delivery systems. He excels in group development, strategic planning, relationship management, and project management. He discusses the process and benefits of joining an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), and the journey of St. Elizabeth to participate in a value-based care model. He also addresses how to navigate being in both of the healthcare reimbursement worlds of fee-for-service and value-based care at the same time.

If you need assistance with quality improvement call the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or email us at [email protected]. Check out our website at www.kentuckyrec.com. For specific Quality Payment Program assistance, enroll in our online resource center at www.qppresourcecenter.org.

Royalty Free Music from Bensound 

In this episode of the PILL podcast, we interview Dr. Ken Wilson, an Executive Consultant for Norton Healthcare in Louisville, KY.  Dr. Wilson has years of experience leading complex implementation efforts. He provides unique insight from a strategic perspective of change in a large health system within a competitive marketplace.

He is also a leader in the enterprise-wide adoption of the Patient-Centered Medical Home model at Norton Healthcare. He previously served as the System Vice President for Clinical Effectiveness & Quality. During his years in this position, Dr. Wilson had oversight over Norton’s quality program. 

In his spare time, he travels internationally to help improve medical care. He has traveled to Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and other countries. 

If you need assistance with quality improvement call the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or check out our website at www.kentuckyrec.com. For specific Quality Payment Program assistance, check out our online resource center at www.qppresourcecenter.org

Royalty Free Music from Bensound 

Dr. Roberto Cardarelli, Chief of the Division of Population Medicine and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at UK HealthCare is a Quality Improvement Guru. He is an expert in Population Health, which Wikipedia defines as: "the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group. It is an approach to health that aims to improve the health of an entire human population.”

In our interview, he explains why population health management is so important, especially for states like Kentucky, which struggles with poor health outcomes. He takes population health management, a seemingly huge task, and breaks it into small, bite-size pieces: access and analyze your data; start with small tests of change; look at TCM (Transitional Care Management) and CCM (Chronic Care Management) to increase reimbursements; and lastly, be creative.

In this special bonus episode of The PILL Podcast, Trudi Matthews interviews two of Kentucky Regional Extension Center’s subject matter experts, Robin Huffman and Kelly Fountain. These two quality experts break down the major changes to Year 3 in the Quality Payment Program. This overview will help our listeners understand the challenges they face under MACRA in 2019.

In this episode of the PILL podcast, we interview Dr. Chris Yost, Medical Director for Ambulatory Quality at UK HealthCare, Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, and Co-Chair of the UK HealthCare MACRA steering committee. Dr. Yost brings a unique perspective as he leads the initiatives to improve quality and value in a large academic medical center. He not only plays a key role in UK HealthCare’s preparation for value-based payment and quality improvement, but he is also a practicing physician. This makes him better able to handle the key issues of physician buy-in and engagement, which are required for true organizational transformation. He also discusses the journey of leading the charge for Patient-Centered Medical Home recognition and discusses how this designation helps lay a strong foundation for the larger quality improvement infrastructure. If you need assistance with quality improvement call the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or check out our website at www.kentuckyrec.com. For specific Quality Payment Program assistance, check out our online resource center at www.qppresourcecenter.org.

In the first full-length episode of The PILL Podcast, Karen Ditsch, CEO of Juniper Health in Eastern Kentucky, tells you about her own journey in becoming a quality improvement star. Karen talks about how she started with quality improvement and how it ultimately led to better patient care. She discusses the importance of data-driven decision making and how she used her Electronic Health Record to help achieve improved outcomes, offering some important lessons that you can take back to your organization and implement. If you need assistance with quality improvement, call the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or check out our website at www.kentuckyrec.com. For specific Quality Payment Program assistance, check out our online resource center at www.qppresourcecenter.org.

Presented by UK Healthcare, an introduction to the Kentucky Regional Extension Center's discussion of Quality Improvement