Voting for U.S. News Best Hospital
Voting is now open for the 2023-2024 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals list. You can help bring attention to Advocate Health Care hospitals and the excellent care you and your teams provide every day by voting in the annual physician survey. This survey counts for about 15% of a hospital’s overall score.
Who Can Vote
- Board-certified physicians in one of the 15 adult specialties ranked by U.S. News & World Report and who are registered as Doximity
- If you are not currently a Doximity user, you can register at any time to vote during the voting period. Please be sure to register with or update your profile with your @aah.org email address.
- You can participate in the survey as long as you register on Doximity prior to the end of the voting period. This is a change from previous years to make it easier for you to participate.
How to Vote
- You must be registered on Doximity.com to participate in the annual online survey.
- You may receive an email about the annual survey from U.S. News, or you can simply login to Doximity.com with your username and password during the voting period to participate.
The survey asks physicians to name up to 5 hospitals that provide the best care in your respective specialty. However, you only need to vote for one hospital to have your ballot count. Please consider Advocate Health Care hospitals in your selection. Thank you for helping us tell our story of the safe, high quality care and service at our hospitals.
2023 APP Board Retreat – Key Takeaways
2022 Performance Year in Review:
- Quality: Significant improvements in the Population Health Index (PHI) were seen throughout the year in 2022 resulting in better care for APP patients and improved incentive performance. These are the measures that matter most in our value-based contracts. Most importantly, this impacts the lives of our patients and their families, allowing us to provide optimal care to manage their chronic conditions, provide early detection and more.
- Appropriate Documentation and Reevaluation: Improvements were seen on wellness visit rates (increasing from 38% in 2020 to 63% in 2022) and appropriately documenting and reevaluating chronic conditions (increasing from 62% in 2020 to 74% in 2022). However, opportunities still exist for completing wellness visits to meet goal.
- Utilization: Significant opportunity exists to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and reduce skilled nursing facility (SNF) admissions and length of stay to national standards.
- Capitation contract performance has previously produced an approximate $35M surplus every year; however, the last two years we have been performing at a loss of approximately $5M constituting a negative $40M impact.
2022 Wins:
- $79.6M in taxpayer savings through the Medicare Shared Savings Program in 2021 were achieved across the Illinois and Wisconsin markets, putting us among the top three highest performing integrated health systems in the country.
- Twenty-three primary care physicians (PCPs) went live on Epic Connect in 2022, Epic physicians performed higher than non-Epic physicians and the implementation team continually enhanced the program based on feedback; implementation of six waves of 134 primary care practices are scheduled for 2023 and 2024 with spots filling quickly.
- Ten aligned practices and the medical group are participating in ACO REACH in 2023 with several wrap around services enabled to serve these patients with many social drivers impacting their health.
2022 Year End Clinical Integration:
- The 2022 single incentive fund was $102.2M compared to $92.6M in 2021.
- Since 2020, the PCP Clinical Integration (CI) measures were significantly reduced to focus on those that our meaningful to our patients and tied to incentive dollars in our contracts. Having less measures does mean each measure counts more heavily on a clinician’s total score.
Performance Culture Status:
- Many actions to drive a performance culture were implemented in 2022 and the Board conducted a self-evaluation based on those actions.
- Steps to continued evolution and key takeaways were defined to transform our CIN culture to one of performance.
Supporting Your Practice – January 26, 2023
Clinical Integration updates: View the latest program update, including 2022 appeals open to submit via ECL Feb. 6-24.
Patient outreach: We are conducting patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Read more.
Complete course for IDDSI: All physicians are recommended to complete the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) course by Feb. 16 to ensure preparedness with new guidelines for patients with dysphagia. Watch the course and prepare for these practice changes today.
Medication Management Update: We continue to look at ways to reduce variation to improve outcomes and the value of care we deliver. As previously announced, a review was conducted across the organization in Illinois and Wisconsin to identify opportunities to decrease utilization of high-cost medications, when clinically appropriate, and use less costly options that support the same patient outcomes. Effective Jan. 1, four medications are impacted.
- Liposomal bupivacaine (Exparel®)
- Indomethacin suppositories
- onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®)
- Sugammadex (Bridion®)
Tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld): No Longer Authorized for Use in the U.S.
- Evusheld was previously authorized under emergency use authorization (EUA) for pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID in patients with moderate to severe immune compromise or those who cannot receive COVID vaccines due to contraindications (including pediatrics individuals 12 years of age and older weighing at least 40kg).
- The U.S. FDA announced on Jan. 26, Evusheld is not currently authorized for use in the U.S. This is because Evusheld is no longer expected to be active against circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2.
- Accordingly, and effective immediately, ordering of Evusheld for all Advocate sites is paused. Please read this SBAR for more information.
COVID vaccine update: Select Advocate Health Care sites that have been offering the Moderna COVID vaccine to patients 18 and older will now start administering to ages 12 and older.
New Best Possible Medication History user guide documents: The Best Possible Medication History user guides and Reconcile Outside Information user guide has been revamped for hospital-based, pharmacy, ambulatory care and continuing health. A new recommended education module is available in Workday titled Best Possible Medication History (BPMH) Using Reconcile Outside Information (ROI). View SBAR.
Advancing Research:
- Researchers study potential first treatment to slow aortic stenosis
- Clinical trial tests drug for chronic inflammatory esophagus disorder
- Investigators directly compare two FDA-approved pulmonary embolism treatments
Supporting Your Practice – October 13, 2022
Ebola Virus Alert
While there are no suspected, probable or confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases reported in the United States at this time, physicians and APCs should be alert for and evaluate any patients suspected of having EVD, particularly among people who have recently traveled to affected areas in Uganda.
- Physicians and APCs who evaluate patients with clinical symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal symptoms, and unexplained bleeding should suspect possible VHF or EVD on the differential diagnosis and clinicians should be prompted to immediately take a travel history.
- Physicians and APCs should be alert for and evaluate any patients suspected of having Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) or EVD, particularly among people who have recently traveled to affected areas in Uganda, and place in a private room while performing clinical evaluation.
- If performing an aerosol generating procedure, conduct in an Airborne Infection Isolation Room (AIIR) when feasible.
- Testing for diseases in returning travelers which may present similarly to EVD, such as malaria, should be considered, but clinical consultation should be pursued if there is still a high index of suspicion for EVD.
Alleviating Hypertension in Our Communities
Learn the ways to help your patients prevent or control their hypertension through Epic, NowPow, home blood pressure cuffs, nursing visits and more.
- If your practice has Epic or Epic Connect:
- Partner with your patients to use Epic’s MyChart Vital tracker to receive their home blood pressure readings between visits. View instruction sheet (Ordering Patient Entered Flowsheets pg. 7).
- Utilize the SDOH screening assessment in Epic and locate the integrated community resources link in the patient’s chart to make referrals. View SDOH tip sheet.
- If your practice does not have Epic:
- Utilize NowPow to offer social service resources to patient’s in need of additional resources outside of your care. View website.
- Raise up blood pressure cuffs for uncontrolled hypertensive patients
- These are available for purchase at most pharmacies (including Advocate Aurora retail pharmacies) or online for about $30-40
- Most Medicare Advantage plans will provide a free blood pressure cuff when you provide the patient with a prescription for one to take to their local pharmacy
- Encourage patients to use self-check blood pressure machines at pharmacies and retail pharmacy clinics like Walgreens, CVS and Walmart
- Schedule your patient for a nursing visit at your clinic to assist with monitoring blood pressure between primary care visits. Also, consider setting up standing orders for nurse visits in between primary care office visits for uncontrolled hypertensive patients, as appropriate.
Protecting patient privacy
Protecting our patient’s information is critical in keeping their trust in all situations, including reproductive care. We should always be diligent about following HIPAA privacy rules and be familiar with specific regulations relating to reproductive health care information disclosures. Reminders when responding to requests:
- Verify the identity of the person requesting information – and their authority to receive the information.
- Be cautious regarding law enforcement requests for a patient’s reproductive information. While you may want to help, you should engage your Site Privacy Officer or contact Compliance before agreeing to disclose the information.
Supporting Your Practice – August 11, 2022
Patient Outreach
We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Please inform your office staff they may receive calls from patients asking to schedule an appointment for any of the following services. This is a great opportunity to reassure your patients of safety measures in place and to not delay important health services and screenings to keep them safe and healthy.
Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder – ages 18 and above due for Medicare Wellness Visit.
- IL Plans: Aetna MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO AAH, Devoted HMO, Health Spring HMO, Health Spring PPO, Humana MA Gold, Humana MA PPO, PFFS, MSSP, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, UHC MA IPPO, Wellcare
- WI Plans: Humana HMO, PPO, PFFS, MSSP Enhanced, Quartz MA, WI UHC MA HMO, WI UHC MA PPO, WI UHC MA IPPO
- Click here for additional information about the Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
Mail and Email – Upcoming outreach your patients may receive.
- Cervical Cancer Screening Mailing
- Prediabetes Mailing
- IL Plans: AAH Team Member Plans, Aetna MA, BCBS PPO, Blue Advantage, Blue MA, Blue MA AAH, Blue Precision, BlueCare Direct, Cigna, Devoted MA, HealthSpring MA, HMO IL, Humana Gold, Humana MA PPO FFS, Meridian Medicaid, MSSP, UHC MA, UHC Commercial, WellCare
- WI Plans: AAH Team Member Plans, WCIC, EPHC, Humana MA, MSSP, Quartz MA, UHC MA
- Mail – IL and WI
- Childhood Immunization and Wellness Reminder
- Key message: Importance of annual wellness visit and vaccinations
- IL Plans: AAH Team Member Plans, HMOI, Blue Advantage, BCBS PPO, Blue Precision, UHC Commercial
- WI Plans: AAH Team Member Plans, EPHC, WCIC, UHC Commercial
- Mail – IL and WI
- Adolescent Immunization and Wellness Reminder
- Medication Adherence 2
- Expanded mailing to members with a prescription for the medication who are due (or overdue) for a refill. (Cholesterol/Statins, Diabetes Medications, Hypertension)
- IL MA Plans: Cigna, Devoted, Humana, UHC, Wellcare
- WI MA Plans: Anthem, Humana, UHC, EPHC (Commercial)
- Mail IL and WI
- Medicine List insert
Supporting Your Practice – July 28, 2022
Patient Outreach
We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Please inform your office staff they may receive calls from patients asking to schedule an appointment for any of the following services. This is a great opportunity to reassure your patients of safety measures in place and to not delay important health services and screenings to keep them safe and healthy.
Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder – ages 18 and above due for Medicare Wellness Visit.
- IL Plans: Aetna MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO AAH, Devoted HMO, Health Spring HMO, Health Spring PPO, Humana MA Gold, Humana MA PPO, PFFS, MSSP, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, UHC MA IPPO, Wellcare
- WI Plans: Humana HMO, PPO, PFFS, MSSP Enhanced, Quartz MA, WI UHC MA HMO, WI UHC MA PPO, WI UHC MA IPPO
- Click here for additional information about the Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
Mail and Email – Upcoming outreach your patients may receive
- Breast Cancer Screening
- IL Plans: AAH Team Member Plans, Aetna MA, BCBS PPO, Blue Advantage, Blue MA, Blue MA AAH, Blue Precision, BlueCare Direct, Cigna PPO, Devoted MA, HealthSpringMA, HMO IL, Humana Gold, Humana MA PPO FFS, Meridian Medicaid, MSSP, UHC MA, UHC Commercial, WellCare
- WI Plans: AAH Team Member Plans, WCIC, EPHC, Humana MA, MSSP, Quartz MA, UHC MA
- Mail –IL and WI
- Email – IL and WI
Supporting Your Practice – June 23, 2022
Patient Outreach
We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Please inform your office staff they may receive calls from patients asking to schedule an appointment for any of the following services. This is a great opportunity to reassure your patients of safety measures in place and to not delay important health services and screenings to keep them safe and healthy.
Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder – ages 18 and above due for Medicare Wellness Visit.
- IL Plans: Aetna MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO AAH, Devoted HMO, Health Spring HMO, Health Spring PPO, Humana MA Gold, Humana MA PPO, PFFS, MSSP, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, UHC MA IPPO, Wellcare
- Click here for additional information about the Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
Mail and Email
- Mental Health Awareness Mailing
- REVISED: Outreach to IL Team Members providing education and resources on mental health wellness. Includes messaging on Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and sharepoint Well-being site.
- Click here to view the mailer.
- Dealing with Stress Mailing
- Outreach mailer with education and resources for lowering stress. This mailer targets members with a chronic illness (Diabetes, Asthma, COPD, CAD and Hypertension).
- IL Commercial Plans: BCBSIL commercial HMOI and Blue Advantage, Blue Precision HMO, Blue Care Direct (BCD), Cigna Commercial ACO
- Click here to view the mailer – IL
- Medication Adherence Mailing – Medicare Advantage Outreach
- In partnership with the Population Health Pharmacy Team, Health Outreach will be mailing letters to members after they have had their first fill of a medication for diabetes and/or hypertension in the calendar year.
- Click the following for samples of the letters and medicine list insert:
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Diabetes and Hypertension
- Medicine List insert – for all mailings
- IL: Humana MA, Cigna MA
Supporting Your Practice – June 9, 2022
Patient Outreach
We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Please inform your office staff they may receive calls from patients asking to schedule an appointment for any of the following services. This is a great opportunity to reassure your patients of safety measures in place and to not delay important health services and screenings to keep them safe and healthy.
Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder – ages 18 and above due for Medicare Wellness Visit.
- IL Plans: Aetna MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO AAH, Devoted HMO, Health Spring HMO, Health Spring PPO, Humana MA Gold, Humana MA PPO, PFFS, MSSP, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, UHC MA IPPO, Wellcare
- Click here for additional information about the Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
Mail and Email
- Colorectal Cancer Screening Reminder – 45 to 75 years of age
- IL Plans: AAH Team Member Plans, Aetna MA, BCBS PPO, Blue Advantage, Blue MA, Blue MA AAH, Blue Precision, BlueCare Direct, Devoted MA, HealthSpring MA, HealthSpring MA HMO FFS, HealthSpring MA PPO FFS, HMO IL, Humana Gold, Humana MA PPO FFS, MSSP, UHC MA HMO FFS, UHC MA IPPO, UHC MA PPO, UHC Nexus Comm Gated and Open Access, UHC PPO, WellCare
- Email –IL
- Mail – IL
- Mental Health Awareness Mailing
- Outreach to IL Team Members providing education and resources on mental health wellness. Includes messaging on Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Click here to view the mailer.
Supporting Your Practice – May 26, 2022
Patient Outreach
We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Please inform your office staff they may receive calls from patients asking to schedule an appointment for any of the following services. This is a great opportunity to reassure your patients of safety measures in place and to not delay important health services and screenings to keep them safe and healthy.
Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder – ages 18 and above due for Medicare Wellness Visit.
- IL Plans: Aetna MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO AAH, Devoted HMO, Health Spring HMO, Health Spring PPO, Humana MA Gold, Humana MA PPO, PFFS, MSSP, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, UHC MA IPPO, Wellcare
- Click here for additional information about the Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
Supporting Your Practice – May 12, 2022
Patient Outreach
We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Please inform your office staff they may receive calls from patients asking to schedule an appointment for any of the following services. This is a great opportunity to reassure your patients of safety measures in place and to not delay important health services and screenings to keep them safe and healthy.
Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder
- Medicare Wellness Visit Reminder – ages 18 and above due for Medicare Wellness Visit.
- IL Plans: Aetna MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO, BCBSIL MA HMO AAH, Devoted HMO, Health Spring HMO, Health Spring PPO, Humana MA Gold, Humana MA PPO, PFFS, MSSP, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, UHC MA IPPO, Wellcare
- Click here for additional information about the Cipher Health Phone and Text Messaging Outreach.
Supporting Your Practice – April 28, 2022
Patient Outreach
We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Please inform your office staff they may receive calls from patients asking to schedule an appointment for any of the following services. This is a great opportunity to reassure your patients of safety measures in place and to not delay important health services and screenings to keep them safe and healthy.
Email Outreach
- Medicare Wellness Visit Email – Scheduled 4/28/22
- Email outreach to members due for a Medicare Wellness Visit. The message encourages members to make an appointment for a Medicare Wellness Visit.
- Plans: BCBS MA HMO, BCBS MA HMO AAH, Devoted, HealthSpring HMO, HealthSpring PPO, Humana MA Gold PHO, Humana MA PPO, MSSP, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, UHC MA iPPO, Other AMG MA: Aetna, HealthSpring, Humana MA, WellCare
- Click here to view the email message for IL.
Mail Outreach – Upcoming mailings your patients may receive.
- Cervical Cancer Screening Reminder
- A targeted mailer for female members 21 – 29 years of age due for pap testing and for female members 30 – 64 years of age due for pap/HPV testing.
- Click here to view a sample of the mailer for 21 – 29 years of age.
- Click here to view a sample of the mailer for 30 – 64 years of age.
- Plans: AAH Team Member Plans, BCBS PPO, Blue Advantage, Blue Precision, BlueCare Direct, HMO IL, UHC HMO, UHC PPO
- Diabetes Care Reminder
- Click here to view a sample of the mailer
- Plans: AAH Team member plans, BCBS Commercial HMO I, Blue Advantage, Blue Precision, BlueCare Direct, BCBS IL Commercial PPO, BCBS MA HMO, BCBS MA HMO AAH, Cigna Commercial ACO, Devoted, HealthSpring HMO, HealthSpring PPO, Humana MA Gold PHO, Humana MA PPO, Meridian Medicaid, MSSP, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, UHC MA iPPO, UHC Commercial ACO, Other AMG MA: Aetna, HealthSpring, Humana MA, WellCare
Supporting Your Practice – April 14, 2022
Patient Outreach
We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Please inform your office staff they may receive calls from patients asking to schedule an appointment for any of the following services. This is a great opportunity to reassure your patients of safety measures in place and to not delay important health services and screenings to keep them safe and healthy.
Phone Outreach (calls continuing in 2022)
- Annual Wellness Visit
- IL Plans include: Blue MA, Blue MA AAH, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, Humana Gold, Humana MA PPO, MSSP, Aetna MA, HealthSpring, Wellcare
- Well Child Visit Reminder
- IL (BlueCare Direct)
- Click here for additional information and FAQs about our phone outreach
Supporting Your Practice – March 10, 2022
Patient Outreach
We are conducting the following patient outreach on your behalf to support quality outcomes and close quality care gaps. Please inform your office staff they may receive calls from patients asking to schedule an appointment for any of the following services. This is a great opportunity to reassure your patients of safety measures in place and to not delay important health services and screenings to keep them safe and healthy.
Emmi Phone Outreach (calls continuing in 2022)
- Annual Wellness Visit
- IL Plans include: Blue MA, Blue MA AAH, UHC MA HMO, UHC MA PPO, Humana Gold, Humana MA PPO, MSSP, Aetna MA, HealthSpring, Wellcare
- Well Child Visit Reminder
- IL (BlueCare Direct)
- Click here for additional information and FAQs about our phone outreach
Mail Outreach
- Cervical Cancer Screening Mailing