Feb 13, 2024
Kentucky’s Stroke Care Journey: Insights from Coverdell
Get ready for an engaging discussion that unveils the transformative impact of the Coverdell Grant on the future of stroke care in the Bluegrass State!
Kentucky REC advisor Lacy Shumway provides a comprehensive overview of the 3-year Coverdell Grant, focusing on its mission to enhance stroke care in collaboration with the CDC. She shares details behind the numbers in Kentucky’s application for the grant: addressing high stroke mortality rates and risk factors.
Explore the seven strategies implemented by the Coverdell Grant, formally known as the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program, including: HTN control; quality improvement; education; and EMS collaboration. Lacy discusses data collection challenges and the critical role of ZIP CODES in the Social Deprivation Index (SDI). Uncover the system-wide impact of the grant, addressing challenges and bridging geographical gaps in stroke care across Kentucky.
Lacy Shumway is the Program Manager for the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program at the Kentucky Regional Extension Center, University of Kentucky. With 13 years in healthcare, Lacy’s expertise includes 7 years as Coordinator for Stroke Program Outreach at Norton Healthcare. She successfully marketed the stroke program and developed a pre-hospital stroke education training offered across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Lacy serves as Vice-Chair of the Cardiac and Stroke Subcommittee at the Kentucky Board of EMS, and is the Chair of the EMS and Education Committee with the Stroke Encounter Quality Improvement Program (SEQIP). A graduate of Indiana University, Lacy brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussion. Tune in for an informative exploration of stroke care advancements in Kentucky!
Listen to our podcast on Buzzsprout, or Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All previous episodes are available.
If you need assistance with healthcare quality improvement, contact the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or by email.
Dec 20, 2023
Mobilizing Clinical Images with KHIE: A Look into the KHIE Image Exchange
Andrew Bledsoe is back with another exciting episode! Join cohosts Brent McKune and Stephen Williams as they sit down with KY State HIT Director and KHIE Deputy Executive Director, Andrew Bledsoe. Gain a comprehensive overview of KHIE’s role in facilitating health data exchange, with a special focus on the Image Exchange component. If you’re a healthcare organization looking to connect, find out how KHIE can assist you on this journey. Tune in for valuable insights into enhancing healthcare interoperability and ensuring seamless data exchange.
Learn more about KHIE at their website, KHIE.ky.gov
Andrew Bledsoe is currently KY State HIT Director and KHIE Deputy Executive Director
The intersection of health information technology with quality care delivery has provided Andrew with a unique perspective over his nearly 20 years in healthcare. Starting his career in a regional hospital, he quickly learned the challenges in healthcare, especially rural medicine, and began investing in the concept of leveraging health information technology to improve outcomes for patients. His current appointment within the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services primarily focuses on implementing the KHIE Strategic and Operational Plan, promoting the statewide exchange of patient health information, spearheading a number of new services designed to improve care coordination, and offer new avenues to reduce reporting burdens and foster inter-agency collaboration.
Listen to our podcast on Buzzsprout, or Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All previous episodes are available.
If you need assistance with health information technology, contact the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or by email.
Nov 22, 2023
KHIE: Connecting Kentuckians to Community Resources
Cohosts Brent McKune and Stephen Williams of the Kentucky REC introduce Episode 11 of Kentucky REC’s PILL Podcast. In this episode, they sit down with KY State HIT Director and KHIE Deputy Executive Director, Andrew Bledsoe, to delve into the significance of Social Drivers of Health (SDoH) and the state of Kentucky’s efforts to address them.
Learn more about KHIE at their website, KHIE.ky.gov
Episode Highlights:
- Unpacking the vital concept of SDoH and its pivotal role in healthcare
- Gaining insights into Kentucky’s unique SDoH challenges and the proactive measures taken to tackle them
- Exploring the integration of kynect resources with KHIE and its advantages for healthcare organizations
- Understanding the challenges that KHIE faces and its vision for the future
Andrew Bledsoe is currently KY State HIT Director and KHIE Deputy Executive Director
The intersection of health information technology with quality care delivery has provided Andrew with a unique perspective over his nearly 20 years in healthcare. Starting his career in a regional hospital, he quickly learned the challenges in healthcare, especially rural medicine, and began investing in the concept of leveraging health information technology to improve outcomes for patients. His current appointment within the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services primarily focuses on implementing the KHIE Strategic and Operational Plan, promoting the statewide exchange of patient health information, spearheading a number of new services designed to improve care coordination, and offer new avenues to reduce reporting burdens and foster inter-agency collaboration.
Listen to our podcast on Buzzsprout, or Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All previous episodes are available.
If you need assistance with health information technology, contact the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or by email.
Jul 26, 2023
Cohosts Brent McKune and Stephen Williams of Kentucky REC introduce Episode 10 of Kentucky REC’s PILL Podcast. This episode, with KY State HIT Director and KHIE Deputy Executive Director Andrew Bledsoe, explores how the Kentucky Health Information Exchange is leading the HIE marketplace with innovative services, as well as advancing interoperability in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Learn more about KHIE at their website, KHIE.ky.gov
Andrew Bledsoe is currently KY State HIT Director and KHIE Deputy Executive Director.
The intersection of health information technology with quality care delivery has provided Andrew with a unique perspective over his nearly 20 years in healthcare. Starting his career in a regional hospital, he quickly learned the challenges in healthcare, especially rural medicine, and began investing in the concept of leveraging health information technology to improve outcomes for patients. His current appointment within the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services primarily focuses on implementing the KHIE Strategic and Operational Plan, promoting the statewide exchange of patient health information, spearheading a number of new services designed to improve care coordination, and offer new avenues to reduce reporting burdens and foster inter-agency collaboration.
Listen to our podcast on Buzzsprout, or Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All previous episodes are available.
If you need assistance with health information technology, contact the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or by email.
Aug 24, 2022
Cohosts Brent McKune and Stephen Williams of Kentucky REC introduce Episode 9 of Kentucky REC’s PILL Podcast. This episode explores the success of Diabetes Self Management and Education Support, also known as DSMES. This episode includes an interview between registered dietician Lynnett Renner and patient Samuel Stidham. Dr. Kristen Stakelin of UK HealthCare shares insights on making DSMES a success with your patients.
Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) can help you learn to manage your diabetes as part of your daily life. DSMES is proven to:
• Improve blood sugar control leading to decreased risk for diabetes complications
• Increase self-confidence about taking care of your diabetes
• Increase healthy eating and physical activity
• Improve quality of life
Dr. Kristen Stakelin is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Director at the University of Kentucky Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center.
She attended the University of Louisville, School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of Kentucky. After residency she was in private practice with an Internal Medicine group in Georgetown, KY. There she also served as medical director of a diabetes education center. She returned to the University of Kentucky Internal Medicine Group in 2007, and then joined the division of Endocrinology in 2010. She completed the University of KY Healthcare Executive Leadership and Management Program in 2018. Dr. Stakelin is certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine, a longstanding member of the ADA, and is a Master’s Licensed Diabetes Educator and a certified diabetes care and education specialist. Her areas of interest include diabetes education, and diabetes technology as well as ambulatory operations and quality improvement.
Lynnett Renner is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Diabetes Educator with over 30 years of experience.
She works with the Laurel County Health Department to implement the Healthy Living With Diabetes Program (HLWD). HLWD is a nationally accredited program that is administered by the Kentucky Diabetes Prevention and Control Program and is recognized by the American Diabetes Association and Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists.
Samuel Stidham
Samuel was referred to HLWD by his primary care health provider from a Grace Health clinic located in Manchester, KY. Samuel was originally referred to the Kentucky River Health Department District HLWD Program. He was the connected to the Laurel County Health Department for HLWD that was offered by telehealth in the evening hours to better fit his schedule. Samuel shared that he had been struggling with his diabetes diagnosis for 10 years, and decided that he wanted to receive more diabetes education. His goal was to not only improve his health and feel better, but also to ensure that he could prevent complications often associated with diabetes.
Listen to our podcast on Buzzsprout, or Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All previous episodes are available.
If you need assistance with chronic disease quality improvement, contact the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or by email.
Oct 17, 2021
In the return of the PILL Podcast, Brent McKune, the new Managing Director of the Kentucky REC and PILL Podcast co-host, talks with Cassy Hobbs and Kristin Munro-Leighton about Team-Based Care in the management of blood pressure and reducing hypertension.
This conversation will be of great interest to primary care organization and FQHC representatives in Kentucky who are interested in best practices for improving blood pressure quality indicators for patients – including using CARE Collaborative, self-monitoring of blood pressure, and team-based care.
Cassy Hobbs is an Associate Professor at the Sullivan University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
She has been with Sullivan for 9 years since receiving her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky. Cassy is a board-certified ambulatory care pharmacist and licensed diabetes educator. She is responsible for classroom teaching, as well as training pharmacy students during experiential rotations at Family Health Centers, a large federally qualified health center system in Louisville, KY. Cassy and her students work with patients who have chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, to achieve better control through appropriate medication use, lifestyle modifications and implementation of preventative strategies.
Kristin Munro-Leighton is the Director of Health Education at Family Health Centers.
She received her Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Kristin has been with Family Health Centers for 15 years. She and her team design and implement programs focused on healthy eating, physical activity, smoking cessation, management of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, and child safety.
Listen to our podcast on Buzzsprout, or Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All previous episodes are available.
If you need assistance with quality improvement and/or the QPP, contact the Kentucky REC at 859-323-3090 or by email.
