News and Announcements

December 17, 2020

AHS Podcast Episode 17 – Benefits and Challenges of Using Telemedicine for Behavioral Health Services

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there has been a 2600% increase in use of telemedicine, resulting in 34.5 million visits. According to a technical brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, there is sufficient evidence to support the effectiveness of telehealth for specific uses with some types of patients, including psychotherapy and other […]

December 14, 2020

2020 Year-End Video

We know 2020 has been a challenging year, and there’s still a lot of work ahead. But 2020 has also shown us that when we work together, we can make health care better! Take a look at our year-end recap video and some of the ways we can collaborate to improve care.

December 7, 2020

Leadership Lesson: Finding Grace & Peace in Troubled Times, Taking Care of Yourself & Caring for Others

This month’s leadership lesson is from JoVonn Givens, MPH, Task Order Director at Alliant Quality, the quality improvement group of Alliant Health Solutions, the QIN-QIO for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Tennessee. I’ve been thinking a lot about my friends and colleagues working tirelessly during this pandemic to safely care for residents […]

December 3, 2020

AHS Podcast Episode 16 – Benefits of Home Dialysis Treatment

The End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network 8 in Mississippi has over 13% of patients on a home dialysis plan, which is above the national average. Due to their high home dialysis rates locally and nationally, their home dialysis nurses participated in a webinar to educate other facilities about strategies for increasing home dialysis and […]

November 19, 2020

AHS Podcast Episode 15 – How Peer Consultants Make Healthcare Better

Alliant Health Solution’s peer consultants utilize their expertise to improve patient outcomes, foster continuous improvement in health care and creating a culture of accountability and excellence. Our peer reviewers conduct review activities which uphold national standards of care and help us protect patient safety while improving the quality of health care.   As invaluable collaborators […]

November 5, 2020

AHS Podcast Episode 14 – Provider Benefits of Encouraging Annual Wellness Visits

Despite their value, Medicare annual wellness visits are healthcare services that are underused.  A Medicare annual wellness visit can provide an important opportunity to assess a range of factors, including functional status, health risks, cognitive function and health indicators such as blood pressure. The visit can also be a good time to coordinate care and increase […]

November 2, 2020

Leadership Lesson: The “Art” of Intentional and Purposeful Meetings by Carolyn Kazdan, MHSA, NHA

COVID-19 has resulted in any number of additional meetings to what can already be meeting packed days; emergency preparedness meetings, pandemic response meetings, virtual meetings to stay connected to staff working remotely. Now more than ever, leaders are faced with significant operational challenges to address and reduced resources and time for collaborative work. Author Priya […]

November 2, 2020

FBI, DHS, HHS Warn of Imminent, Credible Ransomware Threat Against U.S. Hospitals

On Monday, Oct. 26, KrebsOnSecurity began following up on a tip from a reliable source that an aggressive Russian cybercriminal gang known for deploying ransomware was preparing to disrupt information technology systems at hundreds of hospitals, clinics and medical care facilities across the United States. Today, officials from the FBI and the U.S. Department of […]

October 22, 2020

AHS Podcast Episode 13 – How Alliant is Supporting Nursing Homes During the COVID Pandemic

COVID-19 has impacted thousands of nursing homes throughout the United States. The impact has led health experts and the federal government to call on increased data reporting from nursing homes and long-term care facilities. From the appropriate use of PPE to hand hygiene procedures, Alliant has been providing long-term care facilities additional guidance from the […]