Minnesota and Massachusetts Host Listening Posts
| AMDA Extends Thanks |
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Thanks to the Minnesota and Massachusetts state
chapters for hosting AMDA's Listening Post. The Listening Posts was
successful in letting national communicate with state chapters, and
chapter members with each other.
Also, thanks to the Maryland and Pennsylvania state chapters for hosting F-Tag 501 and MMA educational training.
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Based on many discussions with State Chapter Presidents, AMDA
realized the need for "live" dialogue and communication beyond the
Annual Symposium activities. We contacted all the chapters about the
opportunity to host a listening post in conjunction with their state
chapter meeting. The Minnesota and Massachusetts chapters were eager to
provide the site for our first two listening posts. We had a great
turnout at both meetings--18 on-site participants in Minnesota and 21
on-site participants in Massachusetts. We also provided a web
conferencing option for those who were not able to attend in
person--there were 8 online participants with both meetings.
Our first listening post took place with the MNMDA in Bloomington,
MN on October 27th. For over three hours we shared ideas and concerns.
AMDA staff came away with an extensive list of questions that emerged
during our dialogue. Topics included MMA Prescription Drug Benefit;
F-Tag 501 Medical Director; Professional Liability; State Chapter
Communications; Industry Relations; and CPT Codes/Payment.
The second AMDA Listening Post hosted an increased number of
participants in every venue--21 attendees face-to-face at the meeting
included 3 state presidents (Frederick Rowland, Connecticut; Susan
Levy, Maryland; and Robert Schreiber, Massachusetts) and two AMDA Board
of Directors members, Charles (Chuck) Crecelius, and Jeff Burl; 6
callers and 5 online "call-ins." The result was a fast-paced two-hour
discussion with lots of ideas from participants.
With the official start date for the revised F-Tag 501 one day after
the Listening Post on November 18, there was a lot of discussion about
the tag. Like many states and national, participants saw the revision
as an opportunity for medical directors to show their value. Many
shared ideas about medical director's reports to the nursing facility
administration and all stressed the importance of submitting such a
report. Ideas from the group will be taken to staff for development of
a model. Other ideas that will be discussed with staff or at the
December Board of Directors meeting:
- an additional educational offering for experienced medical directors with a clinical emphasis
- state and national partnership on the Primer
- periodic mailings to survey agencies about CPGs and other AMDA resources
- tying P4P to CPGs and
- encouraging national to get involved in STAR project with CMS and JCAHO's 100,000 Lives.
Additional suggestions focused on the state chapters and included an
orientation for new state chapters at the Annual Symposium to help
identify local network and to share lessons learned.
Like other state chapters the Massachusetts chapter has not had much
luck working with the survey agency; the members see the F-Tag 501, the
materials and message from AMDA as an opportunity to open a dialogue
and begin developing a working relationship.
Special thanks Teresa McCarthy (current MMDA president) and Robyn
Lampright (Executive Director of MMDA) in Minnesota and the dynamic duo
of Robert Schreiber (current MAMDA president) and Mark Levy (incoming
president). They all have done a terrific job with their chapters, and
creating a productive dialogue with national.
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