North Carolina Alliance for Healthy Communities, NCAHC

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Wellness Promotion, Disease Awareness & Guidelines • Consumer
• Provider

NCAHC North Carolina Alliance For Health Communities

What is the Provider: Wellness Promotion, Disease Awareness & Guidelines Resource Center?

It is difficult and challenging for today's healthcare provider to keep abreast of the variety of quality initiatives, associations, disease state activities, insurers recommendations, wellness and preventive health services as well as disease focused national guidelines. This site is designed for the NC healthcare provider. In it you will find local and national organizations' resources focused on improving healthcare quality, reducing medical errors or facilitating the practice of national or evidence based treatment guidelines. Tips for creating an effective dialogue with patients can also be found specified by the "Ask Me Three" approach. Helpful national preventive and/or immunization guidelines along with coverage options for patients by NC insurers are highlighted. Resources to assist a patient in a smoking cessation program can also be found. Specifically designed for patients, a variety of on line healthcare risk assessment surveys are included to help promote disease awareness and/or severity focused on preventive health, a general HRA, alcohol use, BMI, asthma, CV disease, stroke, diabetes, 12 types of cancer, osteoporosis, dementia and depression.

Finally, a comprehensive list of key national practice guidelines focused on the following subjects is reviewed: allergies, alcoholism, rheumatoid and osteo arthritis, asthma, bi-polar, cancer (breast, cervical, colon, lung, ovarian, prostate, skin and uterine,) COPD, CKD, dementia/alzheimers, depression, diabetes (Type 1, Type 2,), heart disease (CAD, heart failure, stroke,) hepatitis C, migraines, obesity, osteoporosis and sinusitis.

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Links for NC Physician Associations & Resources

NC Medical Society
Key NC Specialty Associations (NCMS)
Links provided to the NC Dermatology Association, the Carolina Chapter of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist, NC Eye Physician and Surgeons, NC Neurological Society, NC Obstetricians and Gynecologists, NC Society for Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Society of Pathologist, NC Society of Addictive Medicine, NC Orthopedic Association, NC Chapter of American College of Physicians, NC Psych Association, NC Family Physicians, NC Pediatrics Society and NC Society of Anesthesiologist
CME Resource Directory (NCMS)
Helpful tips on tracking and maintaining your CME certification

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Helpful Resources for Talking to Patients

NC Good Health Directory (NCPP)
A comprehensive referral directory for NC highlighting services, vendors or resources that support physical activity, eating healthy and quitting tobacco. Sorted by county, city and zip code.
Ask Me Three
Tips to Promoting Clear Communication w/Patient and Providers Patient Tips
Provider Tips

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Improving Healthcare Quality and Reducing Medical Errors: LOCAL

NC Medical Society
Physician links to reputable peer reviewed EBM national/regional guidelines, quality of care and patient safety links, patient health records and finding a physician
The Quality Council of North Carolina
Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence
A not for profit dedicated to providing leadership, education and services to promote quality improvement and cost effective healthcare in NC
NC Center for Hospital Quality and Patient Safety

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Improving Healthcare Quality and Reducing Medical Errors: NATIONAL

National Quality Forum
Works to develop appropriate standards of healthcare measurement and public reporting
National Surgery Quality Improvement Program
Improving Performance in Practice (IPIP)
American College of Medical Quality
Dedicated to improving healthcare quality, this organization provides resources and education for providers, payors, purchasers or legislators.
Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (USDHSS)
National Coordinating Council for Medical Error Reporting and Prevention
Joint Commission International Center for Patient Safety
100k Lives Campaign (IHI)
From the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, outlines a program focusing on reducing medical errors in the hospital environment

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On Line Patient Health Risk Assessment Tools

On Line General Health Risk Assessment Calculation Tool
10 minute on line survey that will outline important risks, provide some recommended actions steps for reducing risks and provide educational links to support materials. Focus on stroke, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and depression.
AHRQ's USPSTF (Preventative Services Task Force) Interactive Preventive Tool
User inputs age, sex and pregnancy status and recommendations for screenings, counseling, preventative medications will be provided. Recommendations are graded as A strongly recommended, B recommended, D not recommended, C some benefits or I insufficient evidence.
On Line Alcohol Questionnaire and Assessment of Problem Drinking
On Line BMI Tool with Tips to Assess, Limit and Control Your Weight
On Line Take the Asthma Control Test
On Line Cardiovascular Disease 10 Year Risk Assessment Calculation Tool
On Line Heart Disease Risk Assessment Survey Calculation Tool from Harvard Public Health
On Line Diabetes Risk Assessment Survey Calculation Tool
On Line Diabetes Risk Assessment Survey Calculation Tool from Harvard Public Health
On Line Stroke Risk Assessment Calculation Tool from Harvard Public Health
On Line Cancer Risk Assessment Calculation Tool from Harvard School of Public Health
This tool calculates cancer disease risk for ovarian, bladder, breast, cervical, colon, kidney, lung, melanoma, pancreatic, prostate, stomach and uterine cancer
On Line Risk Osteoporosis Assessment Tool
On Line Risk Tool For Dementia with a Memory Quiz
Score Your Risk for Depression

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Links to National Treatment Guidelines

National Quality Forum
Works to develop appropriate standards of healthcare measurement and public reporting
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
A-Z disease guide, health information on heart/vascular,lung, blood, sleep and other diseases, health assessment tools and other helpful information
Clearing House for National Guidelines
Get With The Guidelines (GWTG)
The premier hospital-based quality improvement program from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. It empowers healthcare provider teams to consistently treat heart and stroke patients according to the most up-to-date guidelines.

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Patient Wellness Guidelines: PREVENTIVE HEALTH

General Guidelines
AHRQ's USPSTF (Preventative Services Task Force)
Interactive Preventive Tool User inputs age, sex and pregnancy status and recommendations for screenings, counseling, preventative medications will be provided. Recommendations are graded as A strongly recommended, B recommended, D not recommended, C some benefits or I insufficient evidence.
CDC's 2006 Guidelines for Adults
CDC's 2006 Guidelines for Children and Adolescents
USPTF Behavioral Counseling in Primary Care to Promote a Healthy Diet
USHHS Dietary Guidelines for Americans
USPTF Behavioral Counseling in Primary Care to Promote Exercise
NC Prevention Partners Preventative Health Resources

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Patient Wellness Guidelines: NC INSURER'S PREVENTATIVE HEALTH & COVERAGE GUIDELINES

NC Preventive Benefits Watch (NCPP)
Includes all the preventive benefits offered by Aetna, First Carolina Care, NC State Health plan, BCBSNC, NC Medicaid, UHC, Cigna, Medicare and Coventry Wellpath
BCBS of NC- Adult and Pediatric Preventive Health Guidelines
Cigna- Adult and Pediatric Preventive Health Guidelines
Coventry Wellpath
(9) Downloadable PDF documents organized by various age groups including birth to 10, 11-24, 25-64 and 65+. In addition, there are preventive services and health maintenance guidelines for pregnant women, children, adults as well as tips for both men and women to stay healthy at any age.