Improving Health Outcomes for Children (IHOC): Summary of Pediatric Quality Measures for Children Enrolled in MaineCare FFY 2009 - FFY 2012

his report, authored by USM Muskie School research staff, presents the results of the 16 CHIPRA Core Measures that were collected using MaineCare claims or Vital Statistics data and reported in the State of Maine’s FFY 2012 CHIP Annual Report to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Also included in this report are an additional three measures from the Improving Health Outcomes for Children (IHOC) project’s Master List of Pediatric Measures. In addition to presenting results in graphs and narrative, this report also provides measure definitions and background information about each measure topic. The goal of this document is to present the claims- and vital statistics-based CHIPRA and IHOC measure results in a user-friendly format for IHOC project stakeholders. Measures are grouped by topic. For each topic, a Background section provides a brief description and rationale for collection. (The background discussion for CHIPRA Core Measures is drawn from the Background Report for the Initial, Recommended Core Set of Children’s Healthcare Quality Measures for Voluntary Use by Medicaid and CHIP Programs

Use of the Delphi Method to Enhance Pharmacist Contraceptive Counseling Materials

Background: Many states have pharmacist contraceptive prescribing laws with several others in the process of enacting similar legislation. Little continuity or standardization exists across these programs, including development of counseling materials. Although the risk of unplanned pregnancy is greatest among adolescents and young adults, developed materials are not always sensitive to youth. Objective: To use a modified Delphi method to develop standardized youth-friendly counseling tools that are sensitive to pharmacy workflow during pharmacist contraceptive prescribing. Methods: A multidisciplinary expert panel of women's health pharmacists, community pharmacists, adolescent medicine pediatricians, obstetrician-gynecologists, and public health advocates was assembled and reviewed materials over 3 iterations. Comments were anonymized, summarized, and addressed with each iteration. A graphic designer assisted with visual representation of panel suggestions. Reviewer feedback was qualitatively analyzed for emergent themes. Results: The Delphi method produced 5 main themes of feedback integrated into the final materials including attention to work flow, visual appeal, digestible medical information, universal use of materials, and incorporating new evidence-based best practices. Final materials were scored at a Flesch-Kincaid grade of 5.1 for readability. Conclusions: The use of the Delphi method allowed for the efficient production of materials that are medically accurate, patient-centered, and reflect multiple disciplinary perspectives. Final materials were more robust and sensitive to the unique needs of youth

Adolescents’ Perceptions of Contraception Access through Pharmacies

Adolescent pregnancy is an important public health issue, and pharmacist prescribing has the potential to expand contraceptive access and decrease unintended pregnancy. However, little is known about acceptability and uptake of pharmacist prescribing among adolescents, particularly among youth in socially and politically conservative regions of the country. The study objective was to identify how young women in Indiana perceive pharmacist contraceptive prescribing. Participants were recruited from clinics and completed a simulated pharmacist contraception-prescribing encounter; a demographic and behavioral questionnaire; and an in-depth qualitative interview focused on adolescent perspectives on pharmacist prescribing. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Sixty young women aged 14–21 years (mean age 17.0 ± 1.7 years) completed in-depth interviews. The majority expressed interest in pharmacist contraceptive prescribing (n = 33, 55.9%). Three overarching themes were identified, focusing on accessibility; quality of care; and pharmacist knowledge and youth friendliness. Subthemes highlighted the need for improved confidential access; a desire for additional pharmacist training in contraception; and interactions with a pharmacist that can relate to the young person. Increased awareness of the perceptions of young people can inform state policies and pharmacy protocols. Pharmacists, because of their accessibility, are well poised and equipped to assist in this public health concern

Hallowell: Please Stand Six Feet Apart

Sign text: PLEASE STANDSIX FEET APART SOCIAL DISTANCINGMEANS KEEPING\u3c------\u3e6 FEET APARTFROM OTHERS WHILE WAITING IN LINEhttps://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/signs-of-the-times/1302/thumbnail.jp

Hallowell: Hallowell Cares

Sign text: [Sign 1 - local newspaper headline print-out] Hallowell requiring businessesto enforce mask-wearingguidelines [Sign 2] Don\u27t endangerthe healthof family & friendsby NOT wearing a mask. Stay six feet away from others. you \u3c------ 6 feet ------\u3e them If you\u27 can\u27t, please, please, please,WEAR a mask! These are required by State and City orders, and it\u27salso the right thing to do when others are concerned! FMI: Health OfficerCity of Hallowell207-430-4403 Facebook.com/CityOfHallowellMEHallowell Careswe really do!https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/signs-of-the-times/1301/thumbnail.jp

Hallowell: COVID-19 Site Safety

Sign text: COVID-19 SITE SAFETY Clean your hands oftenWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contactAvoid close contact with people who are sick.Stay home as much as possible.Put six feet of distance between yourself and other people.Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.Stay home if you are ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around othersYou could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under the age of 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected but is not a subsitute for social distancing. Cover coughs and sneezesIf you are in a private setting and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.Through used tissues in the trash.Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not easily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Posters provided to downtown by: Vision Hallowellhttps://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/signs-of-the-times/1300/thumbnail.jp

Bristol: Pemaquid Beach Nature Center

Sign Text: IN THE NATURECENTER: MASKS RECOMENDED [blacked out] REQUIRED [written in] TOUCHING DISPLAYS IS PROHIBITED USE ENTRANCE AND EXIT - ONE WAY FLOWhttps://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/signs-of-the-times/1298/thumbnail.jp

Hallowell: Loyal Biscuit

Sign text: [image of dog wearing mask hanging from one ear] NOPE! [image of dog wearing mask on forehead] NUH-UH! [image of dog wearing mask below nose] NOPE! [image of dog wearing mask properly] YES! COVER YOUR MOUTH, NOSE , & CHIN!https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/signs-of-the-times/1309/thumbnail.jp

Bristol: Pemaquid Beach Mask Policy

Sign text: NO ENTRYFOR THOSEREFUSING TOWEAR A MASKhttps://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/signs-of-the-times/1299/thumbnail.jp