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CARDIAC CARE Links to agencies and organizations associated with heart related topics which may be helpful resources. @Cardiology - As the Internet continues to grow, finding valuable medical information becomes progressively more difficult. In an attempt to simplify this task, we have created multiple search engines for the many different medical subspecialties. The resources indexed in each search engine are valuable for both health professionals as well as patients. About.com - Web based information on Heart Disease/Cardiology American Heart Association - A national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The "Publications & Resources" page contains links to other heart related websites. American Stroke Association - The ASA offers a wide array of programs, products and services, from patient education materials to scientific statements. Here are just a few of our current activities. HeartInfo.org - An independent, educational Web site that provides consumers with instructional information and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Backed by an internationally renowned panel of cardiologists, Heartinfo is dedicated to empowering and encouraging consumers and health care professionals in their effort to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Hypertension Education Foundation - The HEF's mission is to improve health and possibly save lives by generating and distributing information about hypertension and by promoting research and teaching in the field of hypertension. Mayo Clinic - The Mayo Clinic's Heart and Blood Vessels Center MedifocusHealth - Includes comprehensive, trustworthy information for over 50 diseases and conditions with topics added each week. The information is compiled by a staff of expert researchers and is reviewed by a member of our Medical Advisory Board. The Guides are updated quarterly to ensure that visitors receive the latest available information about each condition. Each Guidebook is divided into sections called The Intelligent Patient, Guide to the Medical Literature, Directory of Centers of Clinical Research, Tips on Finding and Choosing a Doctor, and Directory of Organizations and Resources Medline Plus Health Information - Various topics on Heart and Circulation National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - The Institute plans, conducts, fosters, and supports an integrated and coordinated program of basic research, clinical investigations and trials, observational studies, and demonstration and education projects. Research is related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The NHLBI plans and directs research in development and evaluation of interventions and devices related to prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients suffering from such diseases and disorders. It also supports research on clinical use of blood and all aspects of the management of blood resources. Research is conducted in the Institute's own laboratories and by scientific institutions and individuals supported by research grants and contracts. HMO Links to associations, state and national agencies and departments which may be helpful resources regarding insurance plans. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - An arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (AHRQ). Develops practical, science-based information for medical practitioners, consumers, and other health care purchasers. Bureau of Insurance, Virginia State Corporation Commission - Licenses all health insurance companies, HMOs, and health services plans. The Consumer Services Section, Life and Health Division, assists Virginia consumers in resolving disputes with insurance companies, HMOs, health services plans, and the agents who may sell such insurance programs in Virginia. The bureau will also provide addresses and telephone numbers of insurance companies that are licensed to sell insurance in Virginia. National Association of Health Underwriters - A trade association of agents, brokers, and consultants of insurance. National Committee on Quality Assurance - Since 1991, the NCQA has evaluated more than half of the nation's managed care programs in terms of patient records, complaints, equipment, and personnel. NCQA may grant accreditation for three years, for one year, or provisionally, or may deny accreditation. NCQA uses HEDIS, to measure plan quality. Social Security Administration - Provides regional offices across Virginia. You may receive answers needed by phone or locate office nearest you. Virginia Association of Health Plans - Publishes an annual directory which includes profiles of Virginia managed care organizations. Virginia Department of Health/Office of Licensure and Certification - Charged with regulating the quality of health care services provided by managed care health insurance plans in Virginia. Consumers with concerns about access to care and the health services delivered by managed care insurance plans can address their concerns with the Center. In July 2000, managed care health insurance plans will be required to maintain a Certificate of Quality Assurance issued by the Department of Health. Virginia Medicaid/DMAS - Administers Medicaid program for Virginia. LONG-TERM CARE All links found in VHI's "Long-Term Care: A Consumer's Guide" as well as other links associated with long-term care which may be helpful resources. Administration on Aging - The AOA provides information designed for Older Americans and their families as well as those concerned about providing the opportunities and services to enrich the lives of older persons and support their independence. Aging Parents and Elder Care - Advice, comprehensive checklists, and links to key resources ... designed to make it easier for caregivers to quickly find the information they need ... and avoid missing things that are important in the care for their loved one. Alzheimer's Association - The Alzheimer’s Association has a national network of chapters that provide a wealth of programs and services to persons with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and caregivers, and health care professionals. American Association for Retired Persons - AARP is the nation's leading organization for people age 50 and older. It serves their needs and interests through information and education, advocacy, and community services which are provided by a network of local chapters and experienced volunteers throughout the country. The organization also offers members a wide range of special benefits and services, including Modern Maturity magazine and the monthly Bulletin. American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging - The AAHSA represents nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing high-quality health care, housing and services to the nation's elderly. American Hospital Association - AHA's vision is of a society of healthy communities where all individuals reach their highest potential for health. Association of American Medical Colleges - The AAMC is a nonprofit association founded in 1876 to work for reform in medical education. Originally representing only medical schools, the Association now comprises the 125 accredited U.S. medical schools, the 16 accredited Canadian medical schools, 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, 90 academic and professional societies representing nearly 100,000 faculty members, and the nation's medical students and residents. Blevins Medical - specializes in assisting people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Versatran Patient Lift is a valuable tool for taking someone out of bed without having to manually lift them. Healthcare professionals or caregivers are able to use this lift easily. Our lift provides safety for the caregiver and patient alike. Care.com - Our new Senior Care Directory provides a comprehensive listing of resources by state in seven categories: housing resources, transportation resources, home care, end-of-life care, legal resources, and financial planning and management. Care.com's Senior Directory - Provides a comprehensive listing of resources for housing, transportation, home care, end-of-life care, legal, financial planning and management and health care. You will also be able to access articles that include how-to guides and even a blog on senior care issues. CareGuide - CareGuide is the first care management company to deliver consumer and employee solutions through an advanced Internet platform, complemented by a call center and a network of in-home professionals. As a result, CareGuide empowers families with the resources to assess, plan, manage, and monitor care at every step of the aging process. CareScout - Provides information on needs assessment, CareScount ratings, caretaker tools, and community reviews for nursing homes, assisted living, home health and hospice. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - CMS is the federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). CMS provides health insurance for over 74 million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP. The majority of these individuals receive their benefits through the fee-for-service delivery system, however, an increasing number are choosing managed care plans. Commonwealth of Virginia State Corporation Commission - The SCC acts as one of Virginia's primary regulatory agencies, with oversight of varied business and economic interests throughout the Commonwealth. Department of Veterans Affairs - The VA Web site is a worldwide resource that provides information on VA programs, veterans benefits, VA facilities worldwide, and VA medical automation software. Homes and Communities - A department within the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations - JCAHO evaluates and accredits nearly 20,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, JCAHO is the nation’s predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Long Term Care Quote - LTCQ, headquartered in Phoenix, AZ, is the leading nationwide (50 states) consumer buying service for long-term care insurance. LTCQ is an independent and objective provider of consumer education and information pertaining to long-term care insurance, including providing free policy and company comparison quotes on the top-ranked insurance companies providing long-term care insurance. LTCQ functions on a direct-basis with consumers – over the phone, mail, and Internet. Medicare Nursing Home Compare - The primary purpose of this tool is to provide detailed information about the performance of every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home in the country. Important Information on Nursing Home Compare and other resources, including the Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home, and Nursing Home Checklist are also available to help you with your nursing home choice. MyZiva.net - A free, objective and easy-to-use resource that seniors, caregivers and healthcare professionals use in their search to search for, compare and then evaluate Nursing Home facilities. National Adult Day Services Association - is the leading voice of the rapidly growing adult day services (ADS) industry and the national focal point for ADS providers. Our members include adult day center providers, state associations of providers, corporations, educators, students, retired workers and others interested in working to build better lives for adults in adult day programs every day. We are positively impacting the lives of participants, families, communities and our nation. National Association of Insurance Commissioners - The NAIC is the organization of insurance regulators from the 50 states, DC, and the four US terrritories, which provides a forum for the development of uniform policy when uniformity is appropriate. National Family Caregivers Association - NFCA is a grass roots organization created to educate, support, empower and speak up for the millions of Americans who care for chronically ill, aged or disabled loved ones. National Indian Council on Aging - Since it was formed by a group of tribal chairmen in 1976, NICOA has served as the nation’s foremost non-profit advocate for the nation’s (est.) 200,000 American Indian and Alaska Native elders. NICOA strives to better the lives of the nation's indigenous seniors through advocacy, employment training, dissemination of information, and data support. National Institute on Aging - The NIA, one of the 25 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. National Senior Citizens Law Center - The NSCLC advocates nationwide to promote the independence and well-being of low-income elderly individuals, as well as persons with disabilities, with particular emphasis on women and racial and ethnic minorities. Senior Connections, the Capital Area Agency on Aging - Dedicated to helping seniors maintain their quality of life and independence as they age, established in 1973, we are governed by a Board of Directors and operate as a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Our goal is to serve as a single resource in the community for seniors and caregivers who need assistance in planning for and making decisions later in life. Senior Connections has qualified staff and volunteers who live and work in our service areas and who are knowledgeable about issues that affect seniors. We serve all seniors and place special emphasis on helping the frail and disadvantaged elderly who may be socially isolated and physically or economically at risk. SeniorHousingNet - Search Senior Housing Net's comprehensive guide to retirement communities, assisted living residences, Alzheimer's facilities, and nursing homes nationwide. SeniorNavigator.com - SeniorNavigator.com is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping seniors and caregivers. Our SeniorNavigator Centers are ready to assist you in becoming a SeniorNavigator and to help people without Internet access find the information they need. seniorresource.com - Senior Resouce provides an encyclopedia of housing choices for seniors. This site generates 90,000 hits per month and includes other valuable information. Social Security Administration - SSA oversees Medicare, supplemental security income as well as benefits for the disabled. Virgina Association of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging - VANHA is a statewide organization of not-for-profit retirement housing facilities, adult care residences, nursing homes, and continuing care retirement communities. Facilities are sponsored by a variety of religious, fraternal, public and private organizations dedicated to providing quality care and services to the elderly. Virginia Adult Day Services Association - An organization promoting and supporting adult day services as a viable community based option for long-term care in Virginia. Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging - V4A is a private, nonprofit 501(c)3 association of Virginia's twenty-five Area Agencies on Aging, covering the entire state of Virginia, each serving a designated planning service area. V4A advocates for the needs and concerns of older Virginians, serves as a liaison between national and state organizations, and provides opportunities for the development of creative ideas, resources and discussion of potential solutions to problems faced by older Virginians. Additionally, V4A utilizes federal, state, local and private resources to operate the statewide programs of the Virginia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (serving older Virginians receiving long-term care in nursing homes, assisted living facilities or community based services), Senior Medicare Patrol (combating Medicare and Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse), and Virginia Non-emergency Transportation Ombudsman Program through the Area Agencies on Aging network Virginia Association of Health Plans - The VAHP site is designed to be a resource on managed care in Virginia for our members, consumers, health plan purchasers, legislators and members of the press. Virginia Department for the Visually Handicapped - The Department for the Visually Handicapped provides a variety of services to Virginians with visual disabilities of all ages in their efforts to maximize their independence. Services are available to infants, children, working aged adults as well as to individuals in their retirement years with serious visual impairments. Virginia Department of Health - VDH's mission is to achieve and maintain optimum personal and community health by emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention, and environmental protection. Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services - DMAS provides a system of high-quality comprehensive health services to members of Virginia’s low-income population as part of a safety net provided by the taxpayers to qualifying individuals in need and their families. DMAS encourages beneficiaries to take personal responsibility for improving their health outcomes so they can achieve greater self-sufficiency and also strives to ensure that program integrity is maintained in the array of preventive, acute and long-term care services it provides, and that fraud, waste and abuse are detected and eliminated to the maximum extent possible. Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services - Virginia Department of Social Services - VDSS's mission is to promote self-reliance, prevention, and protection by serving as a catalyst for healthy families and communities. Virginia Health Care Association - VHCA's mission is to promote the delivery of quality extended health care services through leadership, information, education, collective action and collaborative efforts with other providers and citizen groups so that quality health care services along a continuum of care are available to all citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Virginia Health Quality Center - The VHQC is about improving the quality of health care. We review, assess and improve quality in cooperation with a variety of stakeholders, including government agencies and private enterprises. By collaborating with consumers, providers and purchasers for the common goal of improving the quality of health care delivered, we are able to help bring about healthier communities. Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association - The VHHA's mission is to help its members as they strive to improve the health status of communities they serve by offering comprehensive, accessible, quality, cost-effective health services. We seek to provide leadership, representation and advocacy and services in the common best interest of our members and the communities they serve. Virginia Housing Development Authority - VHDA's mission is to help our fellow Virginians obtain safe, sound and decent housing otherwise unaffordable to them. Virginia Office of Licensure and Certification - Regulatory oversight of four medical care service providers by conducting routine onsite investigations and enforcing state licensure regulations; Receiving and investigating consumer complaints regarding the quality of care services provided by hospitals, nursing facilities, home care providers and hospice organizations and managed care health insurance plans (MCHIPS); Inspecting health care facilities, programs and services for compliance with federal regulations, i.e., Medicare, Medicaid, and Clinical Laboratory Improvement programs; Promoting quality of care standards governing Managed Care Health Insurance Plan (MCHIP) providers and Private Review Agencies (PRAs); Determining and certifying the public need for new construction and renovations to, and new health care services provided in, acute and long term care medical care facilities; Providing educational opportunities for the provider community; Developing and promulgating twenty-one sets of regulations and coordinating the Center’s legislative activities; Responding to Freedom of Information Requests (FOIA) for information contained in the Center’s public record files MISC Miscellaneous Click! - Designer of VHI's website. EPICS Version 5.2 Download - For compliance with the Virginia Regulations for completing the Annual Historical Filing for healthcare providers in Virginia. This is an update of the previous versions of EPICS and will delete all previous versions on the drive. Hospice of Central Virginia - Provides information about hospice care to patients, family and friends as well as physicians and medical professionals Lifeclinic Diabetes Channel - A comprehensive resource of diabetes information, news, and interactive tools. Users can chart and monitor their blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, weight, and pulse rate over time. In addition, users can upload their weight and blood pressure measurement taken from over 10,000 Health Station kiosks around the US. Medifocus Health - Includes comprehensive, trustworthy information for over 50 diseases and conditions with topics added each week. The information is compiled by a staff of expert researchers and is reviewed by a member of our Medical Advisory Board. The Guides are updated quarterly to ensure that visitors receive the latest available information about each condition. Each Guidebook is divided into sections called The Intelligent Patient, Guide to the Medical Literature, Directory of Centers of Clinical Research, Tips on Finding and Choosing a Doctor, and Directory of Organizations and Resources NATIONAL AND OTHER STATE ORGANIZATIONS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality - 20 Tips to help Consumers Prevent Medical Errors. Government agencies, purchasers of health care, and providers are working together to make the US healthcare system safer for patients and the public. This fact sheet tells you what you can do. Consumer Health Ratings.com - Provides the most comprehensive listing of organizations that rate or report performance on specific hospitals, health plans, physicians, nursing homes, home health agencies and other health care providers in the United States. The ratings information is free. This site helps you research how often hospitals provide recommended care for pneumonia and heart cases and follow guidelines to prevent surgical infections; find the health plans or medical groups that are more successful in treating diabetic patients, have better mental health follow-up or are rated high in member satisfaction; check your physician’s credentials such as licensure and board certification; discover which providers have significantly better mortality or complication rates on a wide range of illnesses and much more. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) - The official federal Medicare website with useful information for people with Medicare and anyone involved in helping them with their health care decisions. The site provides customized comparative information about Medicare+Choice plans, nursing homes, supplemental insurance policies for people with Medicare, local events where Medicare is the topic and resources for additional information. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) - A Federal-State-industry partnership to build a standardized, multi-State health data system. HCUP is maintained by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ, formerly the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research). AHRQ has taken the lead in developing HCUP databases, Web-based products, and software tools and making them available for restricted access public release. HCUP comprises a family of administrative longitudinal databases—including State-specific hospital-discharge databases and a national sample of discharges from community hospitals—and powerful, user-friendly software that can be used with both HCUP data and with other administrative databases. Beginning with 1998 data, Virginia Health Information is an HCUP Partner. Massachusetts Health Data Consortium, Inc. - a nonprofit, private 501(c)(3) corporation, established in 1978 for the purpose of developing, collecting, analyzing and disseminating health care information to improve the health and healthcare of the region. National Association of Health Data Organizations - a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to strengthening the nation's health information system. NAHDO serves as a broker of expertise for the development and enhancement of statewide and national health information systems. NAHDO brings together a network of state, federal, and private sector technical and policy leaders and consultants to expand health systems development and shape responsible health information policies. National Partnership for Women & Families - The National Partnership for Women and Families, formerly the Women's Legal Defense Fund, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes fairness in the workplace, quality health care, and policies that help women and men meet the dual demands of work and family. Utah Department of Health, Office of Health Care Statistics - The mission of the Utah Health Data Committee is to support health improvement initiatives through the collection, analysis, and public release of health care information. STAKEHOLDERS The following organizations are named in VHI's Bylaws to nominate Board Members and play very active and supportive roles in VHI's projects and accomplishments. Anthem - an Indiana-domiciled publicly traded company that, through its subsidiary companies, provides health care benefits to more than 10.5 million people. Anthem is the fifth largest publicly traded health benefits company in the United States and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Joint Commission on Health Care - a legislative commission dedicated to ensuring that the greatest possible number of Virginians receives quality, cost-effective health care services. Medical Society of Virginia - provides administrative, membership and legislative services to its physician members and produces a monthly publication. The MSV sponsors and accredits continuing medical education for physicians and serves as the liaison between local, national and specialty medical organizations. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce - the largest, most influential general business organization, representing all business sectors in every region of the Commonwealth, including small business enterprises and Fortune 500 companies. Membership also includes local chambers of commerce and statewide business and trade associations. Virginia Association of Health Plans - Virginia Association of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging - Virginia Department of Health - Virginia Health Care Association - Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association - VIRGINIA BUSINESSES Virginia Business Magazine - Corporate Health Care site contains directories of health care services sold to the corporate market, including wellness, workers compensation, workplace safety, and drug and alcohol testing programs. Virginians Improving Patient Care and Safety - (VIPC&S) supports systematic efforts to continuously improve quality of care and patient safety through collaborative efforts among consumers and other purchasers, providers, health plans, regulators, accrediting bodies, and others; the dissemination and implementation of best practices; and education and training guided by appropriate data collection and analysis. |
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