2-Credit Hour CEU, “The Cost of Dementia”
Woodstock, January 7
Please join Miles Hurley, JD, CELA, for a 2-credit hour CEU and complimentary brunch as he discusses “The Cost of Dementia: Implications of a Diagnosis.”
In 2017, at least one in three seniors will die with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Healthcare professionals are often best positioned to assist patients and their families to begin the conversation about a dementia diagnosis. While it’s tempting to put off talking about the disease’s financial and social impact, not talking will result in even higher costs. These costs are not purely financial, they also diminish the quality of life of the individual with dementia, strain caregiver and family relationships, and stunt success on a societal level. The good news is, the earlier healthcare professionals learn what the options are, the more information they can make available to their patients and families. In this presentation, Attorney Hurley will give a thorough review of the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease as well as the trajectory of the disease and the importance of a proper diagnosis. He will explain what legal documents should be in place and discuss whether a person with a dementia diagnosis may still sign legal documents. Mr. Hurley will review what Medicare will pay for and if Medicaid may provide a solution. In addition, a brief overview of the VA Aid and Attendance benefit will also be given. It’s incredibly hard to think about the future when dementia is part of the present, but you just can’t afford not to talk about it; let information be your power.
The presentation, free and open to the public, will take place at The Benton House Woodstock, 3385 Trickum Road, Woodstock, GA 30188 on Saturday, January 7, 2017. Registration and brunch: 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.; 2-hour CEU: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CEUs available: 2 core hours for social workers; 1 contact hour for case managers; 2 contact hours for RNs (TNA). Please RSVP to: bhwoodstockceu.eventbrite.com
Complimentary CEU on Healthcare Laws
January 19, Acworth
Hurley will also offer a complimentary CEU on “Healthcare Laws Every Provider Should Know: 2017 Update” at Georgia Funeral Care and Cremation Services in Acworth.
The laws and regulations impacting healthcare providers and consumers are constantly changing, both at the federal level and within the state of Georgia. This timely update will feature information on the new federal regulations impacting the care and safety of long-term care facility residents, the additional scrutiny on hospice providers, as well as positive changes to rules governing the guardianship and conservatorship process. Attorney Hurley will update the changes in healthcare policy during the state of Georgia 2016 legislative session as well as examine several legislative missed opportunities. In closing, he will examine Medicaid’s “look back” period and its impact on Medicaid qualification. The CEU will take place on Thursday, January 19, 2017 at Georgia Funeral Care & Cremation Services, 4671 South Main Street, Ste. 110, Acworth, GA 30101. Registration, appetizers and wine: 5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.; CEU presentation: 5:45 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. CEUs available: 1 core hour for social workers; 1 contact hour for certified case managers; 1 contact hour for RNs. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP at: gafuneralceu.eventbrite.com.
WellStar Cancer Network receives national distinction
WellStar Health System’s Cancer Network has again been recognized for delivering world-class healthcare to its patients. Five WellStar hospitals have been granted a three-year accreditation with the Gold Commendation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This is the highest honor awarded to a cancer program. WellStar Health System has achieved this honor twice, starting in 2013. Only 50 health systems in the United States have received this distinction.
To earn CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet or exceed the CoC’s quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process and show excellence in the delivery of patient-centered care. Three-year accreditation with Commendation is only awarded to a facility that exceeds the standard requirements at the time of its survey.
“This accreditation and Outstanding Achievement Award could not have been made possible without our gifted and passionate team,” said Michael Andrews, M.D., WellStar Chief Cancer Officer. “The Commission on Cancer and the American College of Surgeons are both well respected and distinguished institutions. This distinction is an indication of the quality of care we deliver to our patients every day.”
The hospitals accredited by the CoC are WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone, Paulding and Windy Hill hospitals. WellStar Health System takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultations among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership between physicians and care teams can make an impact on the patient’s experience
Like all CoC-accredited facilities, WellStar’s accredited facilities maintain a cancer registry and contribute data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society. This nationwide oncology outcomes database is the largest clinical disease registry in the world. Data of all types of cancer are tracked and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer centers, in turn, have access to information derived from this type of data analysis, which is used to create national, regional, and state benchmark reports. These reports help CoC facilities with their quality improvement efforts.
