SCAN Health Plan is committed to quality of care and satisfaction of our members and year over year, conduct quality improvement programs to assure that our members receive the best care and services. CMS and State DHCS require all plans to implement quality improvement programs (QIPs) on an annual basis.

Goals for the 2009 QIPs are:

1. Decrease risk of stroke/TIA for those patients identified in the highest risk groups (have diabetes + hypertension + dylipidemia and/or atrial fibrillation).
2. Encourage spirometry testing for a conclusive diagnosis of COPD.
3. For COPD exacerbations, increase the number of patients receiving prescriptions for a short-acting (SA) bronchodilator.
4. Increase patient satisfaction with provider communication

Links to evidence-based guidelines and resources for management of the conditions identified are available to you below. If you would like to obtain hard copies, please contact us. In addition, we have listed several resources on the internet as well as conferences and workshops that provide CME credits relevant to these goals.

Your recommendations and advice are critical to the success of our program(s) and in motivating your patients to participate and help to optimize management of their conditions. We thank you in advance for your time and support of 2009 QIPs and welcome your comments or suggestions. You can contact us at:

SCAN Quality Initiatives
Healthcare Informatics
3800 Kilroy Airport Way, Suite 100
Long Beach, CA 90801-5616
fax 562-308-4354
e-mail qualityinitiatives@scanhealthplan.com

COPD Guidelines

• Use of Medications in stable COPD
• Differential Diagnosis of COPD
• Standard for diagnosing COPD

Stroke Guidelines

• Prevention of Secondary Stroke in Patients With TIA and Ischemic Stroke

Provider Communication Events

• Health Literacy in the Real World: Programs & Solutions That Work (May 6-7, 2010)
  CME, CE and CHES credits (upto 15 contact hours) SCAN providers may use Coupon Code SCAN10 and get $20 off registration fee.
• On-line course: Patient Communication Skills, 2009. University of Michigan.
• Pfizer Clear Health Communication Initiative
• On-line course: Unified Health Communication 101: Addressing Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency
• Health Literacy for Public Health Professionals
• Improving Health Literacy for Older Adults – Expert Panel Report 2009

Patient Education Materials
We also have resources you may want to use with your patients.
COPD
Stroke

Print in your office or direct patients to www.scanhealthplan.com/healthtips