News, tools and resources from PATH - Get the new health literacy documentation guide and MRSA process tips!

June 2024 | Issue 39

NEW FROM PATH

Health Literacy Documentation Guide | Access guide

Health literacy preferences should be updated in the electronic health record (EHR) at least every year -- but can be updated any time.

This health literacy documentation guide, developed by the Partnership to Advance Tribal Health (PATH) team, provides step-by-step instructions for how to update those preferences in the EHR. The guide also includes screenshots of each step.

TAKE 5 FOR SAFETY

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates MRSA is responsible for more than 70,000 severe infections and 9,000 deaths per year.

In this month's edition of "Take 5 for Safety," get essential practices to promote the prevention of MRSA infections and tips for early recognition and treatment. This article also offers a variety of MRSA resources from the CDC and information on the burden of Staphylococcus aureus among Native American populations and health care communities.

PATH EVENTS

Office Hours: IHS Opioid Surveillance Dashboard

Wednesday, July 17 | Wednesday, August 21

2-3 p.m. EDT | 1-2 p.m. CDT | 12-1 p.m. MDT | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. PDT

The Indian Health Service (IHS) National Committee on Heroin Opioids and Pain Efforts (HOPE Committee) is hosting these open office hours sessions on the use of the IHS Opioid Dashboard. Join us to

Ask questions about the dashboard
Understand dashboard capability
Address real-world scenarios in dashboard use
Teach new techniques
Offer dashboard requests, recommendations or enhancements

This call is open to any area and local IHS staff who use or are interested in learning more about this data tool.

EVENT RECORDING

Pulling Reports: Top Ways to Use National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)

Access recording

Last week, experts from CDC, IHS and PATH came together to discuss the best ways to use National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) reports, dashboard processes and functions. Additional topics include:

Understanding report types
How to run reports
How to perform quality checks on data
Navigating report functions

A recording of this event is now available. We encourage staff who have reporting and quality improvement program responsibility to review this training session. Contact PATH@Comagine.org with any questions.

IN THE KNOW

CMS Maternal Health Webinar Series

CMS has launched a summer webinar series to highlight approaches implemented by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to improve maternal health outcomes. Each webinar begins at 2 p.m. Eastern and lasts one hour. Participants will hear from state agencies, federal partners and subject matter experts about approaches that Medicaid and CHIP have implemented to improve maternal health outcomes.

July 16: Addressing Hypertension Before, During and After Pregnancy

August 6: Overview of Maternal Health Affinity Groups and the Expression-of-Interest Process

August 20: Medicaid and CHIP Program Collaboration with Hospitals on AIM Bundles

The webinar series registration page allows you to choose one or more webinars to attend.

Protecting Communities from Mpox

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a rare but serious disease that is spread through skin-to-skin contact. A safe and effective two-dose vaccine is available to help protect communities from mpox. That is why we encourage you to share a:

Short animated video titled What You Need to Know About Mpox.
Fact sheet explaining who should get the mpox vaccine (PDF, 54 MB).
Brief video message from Indian Health Service about how mpox vaccination helps Native American LGBTQIA2S+ people stay well.

JULY OBSERVANCES: TOOLS AND RESOURCES

World Hepatitis Day (July 28)

American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the U.S. In fact, according the the Office of Minority Health, AIAN people are twice as likely to die from viral hepatitis compared to non-Hispanic white people. HCV is largely asymptomatic, and as many as 40% of Americans may not know they are infected. World Hepatitis Day strives to draw attention to information about viral hepatitis, the burdens people with hepatitis face and how to prevent transmission. You can participate in World Hepatitis Day by sharing information and assessing patients' risk for contracting viral hepatitis:

CDC hepatitis C public resources include fact sheets, posters and more.
World Health Organization resources include fact sheets, guidelines, questions and answers and other tools about types A, B, C, D and E, which all cause liver disease.

Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Month

Indigenous people are people of the land, and many cultures revolve around the elements, including the sun. Many physical, spiritual, mental and social health activities include being outdoors and in the sun. Help patients incorporate sun safety recommendations to protect themselves from cancer risks.

The American Cancer Society's Be Safe in the Sun webpage provides information, tools and quizzes about UV radiation and exposure, protection from skin cancer and skin self-checks. You can also check out and share this Preventing Skin Cancer handout.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association also encourages you to help spread the word with their tools and resources:
What to wear to protect your skin from the sun infographic
How to decode sunscreen labels video and tips

PARTNERSHIP TO ADVANCE TRIBAL HEALTH (PATH) | Visit the PATH website

This material was prepared by Comagine Health for the American Indian Alaska Native Healthcare Quality Initiative under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Views expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official views or policy of CMS or HHS, and any reference to a specific product or entity herein does not constitute endorsement of that product or entity by CMS or HHS. NQIIC-AIHQI-585-06/20/2024