News Room Legislative Advocacy

Nationwide Children’s Hospital Applauds House of Representatives for Passing Reauthorization of Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:30:00 -0400

Nationwide Children’s Hospital applauds the House of Representatives for voting in favor of H.R. 1852 which reauthorizes the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) program. The bill, which was introduced in May of this year by Representatives Joe Pitts (R-PA), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), ranking member of the Health Subcommittee, reauthorizes up to $330 million per year during a five year period to support pediatric residency training at 56 freestanding children’s teaching hospitals in communities across the country in order to address the national shortages of pediatricians. Children’s freestanding teaching hospitals train 40 percent of all pediatricians in the country and 43 percent of all pediatric specialists.

“For more than 10 years, the CHGME program has been critical in helping Nationwide Children’s turnout a generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists through innovative programs,” said Steve Allen, MD, chief executive officer of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “The House vote affirms the work that we’ve done and continues an important investment in children’s health care.”

Enacted in 1999 under the Clinton administration with broad bi-partisan support, the CHGME program is intended to provide children’s teaching hospitals with federal support comparable to what other teaching hospitals receive through Medicare. The program helped correct an unintentional inequity in GME financing. Before the enactment of CHGME, the number of residents in children’s hospitals’ residency programs had declined. The enactment of CHGME has enabled children’s hospitals to reverse this trend and to increase their training by 35 percent. This reversal has helped combat pediatric specialist shortages across the country.

Earlier this month the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously voted in support of S. 958, its bill to reauthorize CHGME program. The bill, introduced in May of this year by Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA), moves to a floor vote not yet scheduled.

The National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.) is the public policy affiliate of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions. Representing more than 140 freestanding acute care children’s hospitals, freestanding children’s rehabilitation and specialty hospitals, and children’s hospitals organized within larger medical centers, N.A.C.H. addresses public policy issues affecting children’s hospitals’ missions of service to the children of their communities, including clinical care, education, research and advocacy.

As Budget Battles Are Waged, Central Ohio Family Speaks Out for Preserving Children’s Access to Care

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:00:00 -0400

One Pickerington family is bringing their story of heartache and hope to Washington D.C. this month to help Congress understand the importance of protecting pediatric care in face of growing budget concerns. Brandon Woods, 8, and his family are among those traveling to the nation’s capital to bring attention to potential new barriers to pediatric health care as part of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.) Family Advocacy Day held July 25-26, 2011.

The Woods family learned the value of access to quality pediatric care through firsthand experience when their son, Brandon was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at just 5 months of age. His enlarged heart condition was managed with medication and checkups but at the age of 5, a heart transplant was necessary for Brandon to survive. Thanks to the access to the team of specialists at The Heart Center at Nationwide Children's and Medicaid coverage, which together with private health insurance enabled his family to pay for Brandon’s care, Brandon is enjoying the life of a fun-loving 8-year-old who loves reading, being outdoors and playing with his friends.

“Receiving care from the experts at Nationwide Children's Hospital saved my child’s life,” said Brandon’s mom, LaShawnda Woods. “No one knows when their child might be faced with extraordinary health care needs like Brandon. We are going to Washington D.C. in the hope that sharing our story will help policymakers recognize the need to protect quality health care for all kids. And we want to thank those who have been champions for children’s hospitals.”

Although decades of advocacy have yielded strides that have improved children’s access to coverage, the infrastructure that ensures access to care has sustained serious blows in 2011. The Obama Administration’s fiscal year 2012 budget called on Congress to eliminate funding for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program (CHGME), a federal program that helps children’s hospitals train 40 percent of all pediatricians and 43 percent of pediatric specialists.

In addition, proposals to slash funding for Medicaid, the largest health care program for children in the country, have gained traction. Congress is discussing proposals to cut the program’s funding by up to $1 trillion over the next decade and impose a cap on the amount the federal government can contribute.

“Today half of children cared for at children’s hospitals are insured through Medicaid,” said Steve Allen, MD, CEO of Nationwide Children's. “There are thoughtful ways to balance the budget that are not at the expense of young children whose care is relatively inexpensive and a great investment in controlling future health care costs.”

Survey data show that few people fully understand the extent to which Medicaid is a children’s program. Medicaid is most often associated with nursing home care or care for the disabled. However, data from children’s hospitals show that half of all child patients in children’s hospitals are covered under Medicaid and, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, one in three children overall is covered by Medicaid.

Brandon is joining nearly 30 other children in championing access to pediatric care. The event includes Congressional visits, a tour of Washington D.C. and a celebratory dinner to honor the child patients known as Family Advocacy Day “All Stars.” Brandon meetings include U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, his family’s own representative, Congressman Steve Austria, Congressman Jim Jordan, Congressman Steve Stivers, and Congressman Pat Tiberi.

About the National Association of Children’s Hospitals
The National Association of Children’s Hospitals – N.A.C.H. – is the public policy affiliate of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI). N.A.C.H. is a trade organization of 140 children’s hospitals and supports children’s hospitals in addressing public policy issues that affect their ability to fulfill their missions to serve children and their families. N.A.C.H. fulfills its mission and vision through federal advocacy, collaboration and communication designed to strengthen the ability of children’s hospitals and health systems to influence public policy makers, understand federal and state policy issues, advance access and quality of health care for all children, and sustain financially their missions of clinical care, education, research and advocacy.

For more information about Family Advocacy Day, visit www.childrenshospitals.net or follow us on Facebook (search National Association of Children’s Hospitals) or Twitter, @speaknowforkids, #FAD11.

Media Advisory: The 2010 Candidates’ Forum on Children and Youth Hosted by Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:00:00 -0400

WHAT:

The 2010 Candidates’ Forum on Children and Youth Hosted by Nationwide Children’s Hospital
The only non-partisan, voter education forum dedicated to issues affecting children and youth

WHEN:

Friday, October 8, 2010
8 a.m.

WHERE:

Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Ann Isaly Wolfe Education Center
Stecker Auditorium
575 S. 18th St.
Columbus, OH 43205
*parking available in the visitor’s parking garage located near this entrance on the corner of S. 18th St. and Mooberry Dr.

WHY:

Candidates will share their views on issues affecting children and youth, such as children’s health, education and at-risk youth.

WHO:

More than 30 confirmed candidates attending including Richard Cordray (D) and Mike DeWine (R) for Attorney General; Jon Husted (R) and Maryellen O’Shaughnessy (D) for Secretary of State; Mary Jo Kilroy (D) and Steve Stivers (R) for the 15th Congressional District; and Paula Brooks (D) and Pat Tiberi (R) for the 12th Congressional District just to name a few.

The Forum, a non-partisan education forum, is sponsored by KidsOhio.org, Voices for Ohio’s Children and Nationwide Children’s, and supported by numerous community organizations.

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CONTACT:
Mary Ellen Peacock
Media Relations
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
(614) 355-0495
Cell: (614) 937-7316

Nationwide Children’s Hospital to Host 2010 Franklin County Candidates’ Forum on Children and Youth

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:00:00 -0400

Nationwide Children’s Hospital will host the 2010 Franklin County Candidates’ Forum on Children and Youth 8 - 10 a.m. Friday, October 8, 2010 in the Ann Isaly Wolfe Education Building at Nationwide Children’s, 575 S. 18th St. The public is invited to attend a free networking breakfast that begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by the program at 8:15 a.m.

The public will have the opportunity to hear candidates share their views on issues such as children’s health, education and at-risk youth. Invited candidates include those for Ohio’s Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Auditor and Treasurer. Also invited are candidates running for U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, and local candidates for State Senate, State Representative and Franklin County Commissioner.

The Forum, a non-partisan education forum, is sponsored by KidsOhio.org, Voices for Ohio’s Children and Nationwide Children’s, and supported by numerous community organizations.

For more information or to register for the Forum, visit www.CandidatesForum.info, or contact Matt Peters at Matthew.Peters@NationwideChildrens.org or (614) 355-0705.

A Momentous Day for Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:15:00 -0400

Friday, June 18, 2010 marked a momentous day for Nationwide Children’s Hospital with back-to-back visits by President Barack Obama and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. Both visits highlighted the hospital’s growth and leadership – a testament to its commitment to central Ohio’s children, caring for them not just inside, but beyond its four walls.

The excitement began as Air Force One was spotted over Columbus’ skyline just before noon Friday. President Obama touched down at Columbus International Airport greeted by Gov. Strickland and Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, and escorted by motorcade to the intersection of Livingston and Parsons Avenues. There, with Nationwide Children’s 12-story new main hospital in the background, the President gave his remarks.

He came to Columbus to mark a milestone on the road to recovery: the 10,000th project launched under the Recovery Act.

President Obama described the project, “A lot of people came together to make this day possible – business and government, grassroots organizations, ordinary citizens who are committed to this city’s future. And what you’re starting here is more than just a project to repair a road – it’s a partnership to transform a community.”

The President went on to describe Nationwide Children’s role in that partnership, “The hospital is expanding its operations to take even better care of more people, more children, here in Columbus and throughout Ohio, which means they’re hiring more people. So together (with the city’s Livingston/Parsons roadway project), you’re creating more than 2,300 new jobs and sending a powerful message that this neighborhood will soon be a place where more families can thrive, more businesses can prosper, economic development that’s being sparked today is going to continue into the future.”

He continued, “Because the hospital is now growing, that means they’re putting money back into the neighborhood for housing and other facilities so that the entire community starts rebuilding. Ultimately, that’s the purpose of the Recovery Act.”

After about 15 minutes of comments, the President turned to shake hands with construction workers, government officials and Nationwide Children’s CEO, Steve Allen, MD.

“Thank you for the good work you’re doing … you’ve got one of the best hospitals in the country,” President Obama said to Dr. Allen.

Shortly after the exchange, and with cheers from a nearby crowd, the wheels of Air Force One were up and the President was on his way back to Washington, D.C.

Dr. Allen then accompanied Gov. Strickland walking from the President’s event along Livingston Park to the hospital for the Governor’s bill signing of the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children legislation. Once inside the hospital’s main lobby, they greeted patients and their families, staff and government leaders.

Notable government officials included co-sponsors of the bill, Senator Kevin Coughlin (R-Cuyahoga Falls), Senator Eric H. Kearney (D-Cincinnati), and Representative John Patrick Carney (D-Columbus). Representative Tracy Heard, whose district includes Nationwide Children’s Hospital also attended to show her support along with members of the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Coalition. The Coalition is led by both Dr. Allen and Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove, MD, as co-chairs of the Ohio Business Roundtable Childhood Obesity Task Force.

They came together Friday, June 18 at Nationwide Children’s to witness Gov. Strickland sign into law a bill that will affect all of Ohio’s children.

Recently, First Lady Michelle Obama challenged America to take steps to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Today, Ohio became the first state to respond following this challenge, making it a national leader on one of the most pressing issues facing kids today.

The bill will improve the nutritional value of foods offered during the regular and extended school day and raise the bar for physical education. It also provides for Body Mass Index (BMI) screenings upon school entry and in the 3rd, 5th and 9th grades, and a pilot program for daily physical activity during the school day.

Dr. Allen said, “The solutions of this bill are flexible, allowing schools and municipalities to be as creative as possible in fighting childhood obesity. With initiatives that increase physical activity, improve nutritional value of school lunches, and provide for real Body Mass Index screenings, this new law will give our kids a fighting chance against fat – and help them avoid becoming the first generation of Ohioans to live shorter lives than their parents.

Both of these visits highlighted the impact that Nationwide Children’s Hospital is having on the welfare and optimal health of not only children in central Ohio, but children across the country.

For more information, and to view of video of the day’s events, visit http://www.NationwideChildrens.org.

Family Advocacy Day June 15-16 in Washington, D.C.

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:00:00 -0400

Health care reform has made important progress in ensuring that America’s 70 million children have health care coverage with benefits that meet their unique health care needs. Families of pediatric patients of America’s children’s hospitals understand that access to timely, high quality pediatric care can save lives. That’s why one Delaware, Ohio child and his family are traveling to Washington, D.C. to discuss their personal health care story with lawmakers who are carefully monitoring how health reform implementation rolls out.

Two-year-old Tony Highfield is joining more than 30 other families from across the nation as part of the June 15-16, 2010 National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.) Family Advocacy Day. This two-day event gives the Highfield family an opportunity to meet with members of Congress, including their own Congressman, Pat Tiberi, and Franklin County Congresswoman, Mary Jo Kilroy. They will also participate in a luncheon on Capitol Hill with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a tour of Washington, D.C. and a celebratory dinner to honor the patients known as Family Advocacy Day “All Stars.”

The Highfield family came to recognize the importance of access to high quality pediatric care through their own personal experiences. Tony, a fraternal twin, was born at 24 weeks, weighing a mere 1.25 pounds and fitting in the palm of a hand. His sister, Ella, sadly passed away two days after birth. From day one, Tony fought for both his life and in memory of Ella’s as he faced just a 7 percent chance of survival.

In addition to all the complications that come with being such a tiny, premature baby, Tony’s lungs were working overtime as he battled Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) – a respiratory disease common in premature infants – and needed the assistance of a ventilator to breathe. Tony spent the first 135 days of his life at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a national leader in treating BPD.

Once at home with his Mom and Dad in Delaware, Tony continued to fight. Eventually he only needed to see his doctors at Nationwide Children’s once every 6 months for follow-up exams and developmental assessments. Today, Tony is passing all of his screenings with flying colors and is a typical 21-month-old. He has fun chasing after his dog, Laci, playing with his Elmo toys and all of his neighborhood friends.

Advocates for accessible pediatric care point to key challenges that still exist for children and families seeking care, including:

Low Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric care, which limits the number of Medicaid patients primary care pediatricians can afford to see and the number of physician residents choosing to pursue pediatric specialties;
A national shortage of pediatric specialists;
The threat of additional state-level Medicaid cuts, which can impact all children, regardless of health care insurance status;
Inconsistent quality measures and incentives across states;
Cuts in supplemental funding (disproportionate share hospital or DSH payments) that support care for Medicaid patients in children’s hospitals;
Continued support for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program that enables children’s hospitals to train pediatricians and pediatric specialists.

About the National Association of Children’s Hospitals
The National Association of Children’s Hospitals – N.A.C.H. – is the public policy affiliate of NACHRI. N.A.C.H. is a trade organization of 141 children’s hospitals and supports children’s hospitals in addressing public policy issues that affect their ability to fulfill their missions to serve children and their families. N.A.C.H. fulfills its mission and vision through federal advocacy, collaboration and communication designed to strengthen the ability of children’s hospitals and health systems to influence public policy makers, understand federal and state policy issues, advance access and quality of health care for all children, and sustain financially their missions of clinical care, education, research and advocacy.

For more information on Family Advocacy Day and to follow the event on Twitter (#FAD10), visit http://www.childrenshospitals.net.

Hoffman Family of Lewis Center To Meet with Members of Congress on Health Reform Legislation

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

As Congress decides what provisions will be included in legislation that could impact the health care of all Americans, the Hoffmans, from Lewis Center, Ohio, are traveling to the nation’s capital, June 17-18 along with dozens of other child patients, to meet with lawmakers to ensure health reform legislation works for children too.

The Hoffman family travels to Washington as part of the 2009 National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.) Family Advocacy Day, an effort to ensure national health reform legislation includes affordable health insurance coverage for all children and access to high-quality, specialized care. Nearly nine million children in the U.S. still lack health coverage. And while millions of children are covered by Medicaid, gaps in access to care exist due to low provider reimbursement for services.

Alyson and Andrea Hoffman, 8-year-old identical twins, keep their parents, David and Melissa, busy juggling all of their activities – softball, junior varsity jump rope, bike riding, swimming, reading and singing in their church choir. Somehow, the girls must find at least an hour each day for a treatment machine they call “Tigger” that pounds their chests clear of mucus, taking nebulizer treatments and swallowing 20 some pills each. Alyson and Andrea do these things because they have been living with the genetic disease cystic fibrosis since birth.

From the time of diagnosis, the family has felt a part of the team with the pulmonary unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. What David and Melissa like best about the girls’ care is the emphasis on prevention through nutrition, medication and other cutting-edge therapies. David has become an effective cystic fibrosis advocate and both parents serve on the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Family Advisory Council.

Through the help of Nationwide Children’s proactive care and treatment, coupled with the strength and support of their loving family, Alyson and Andrea are able to live longer, stronger lives.

“The Hoffman’s will be meeting with Congresswoman Kilroy, Congressmen Austria and Tiberi and our Senators to emphasize the importance of including a child-specific benefits package in health care reform,” said Morna Smith, director of federal relations and health policy for Nationwide Children’s. “Their family’s experience demonstrates that an assurance of medically necessary care for children is an essential ingredient if health care reform is to make children better off.”

For more information on Family Advocacy Day and to follow two patient blogs – one written by 15-year-old Melissa Elmer and the other written by 10-year-old Nicklas Nelson – visit www.childrenshospitals.net.

Photos of the families visiting with their members of Congress will be available at http://picasaweb.google.com/nachrinach, 2009 N.A.C.H. Family Advocacy Day.

The National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.) is the public policy affiliate of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions. Representing more than 140 freestanding acute care children’s hospitals, freestanding children’s rehabilitation and specialty hospitals, and children’s hospitals organized within larger medical centers, it addresses public policy issues affecting children’s hospitals’ missions of service to the children of their communities, including clinical care, education, research and advocacy. For more information, please visit www.childrenshospitals.net.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital to Host 2008 Candidates’ Forum on Children and Youth in October

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Nationwide Children’s Hospital will host the 2008 Candidates’ Forum on Children and Youth 8 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Friday, October 17. The event will be held in Stecker Auditorium in the Ann Isaly Wolfe Education Building at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 575 S. 18th St. The public is invited to a free continental breakfast beginning at 7:15 a.m., followed by the Forum at 8 a.m.

The public will have the opportunity to hear candidates share their views on issues such as children’s health, education and at-risk youth. Candidates include those for U.S. House of Representatives, Ohio General Assembly and Franklin County Commissioner whose districts represent part or all of Franklin County. Confirmed candidates include Steve Stivers and Mary Jo Kilroy of the 15th Congressional District as well as David Robinson and Pat Tiberi of the 12th Congressional District race.

The Forum is sponsored by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Directions for Youth and Families, Voices for Ohio’s Children and KidsOhio.org, and is supported by numerous community organizations.

For more information, please contact Matt Peters by email at matthew.peters@nationwidechildrens.org or call (614) 355-0705.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital to Host 2008 Candidates’ Forum on Children and Youth

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Nationwide Children’s Hospital will host the 2008 Candidates’ Forum on Children and Youth 8-10:15 a.m. Friday, October 17 in the Ann Isaly Wolfe Education Building at Nationwide Children’s, 575 S. 18th St. The public is invited to a free continental breakfast beginning at 7:15 a.m., followed by the Forum which begins at 8 a.m.

The public will have the opportunity to hear candidates share their views on issues such as children’s health, education and at-risk youth. Invited candidates include those for U.S. House of Representatives and the Ohio General Assembly whose districts represent all or part of Franklin County, and Franklin County Commissioner. Confirmed candidates to date include Steve Stivers and Mary Jo Kilroy of the 15th Congressional District as well as David Robinson and Congressman Pat Tiberi, opponents in the 12th Congressional District race.

The Forum is sponsored by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Directions for Youth and Families, Voices for Ohio’s Children and KidsOhio.org and is supported by numerous community organizations.

For more information, please contact Matt Peters by email at Matthew.Peters@NationwideChildrens.org or call (614) 355-0705.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital Lauds Senate Action Addressing Pediatric Access

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

With bipartisan leadership, the full Appropriations Committee of the U.S. Senate yesterday passed the FY2009 Labor Health and Human Service (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill containing $310 million in funding for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Education (CHGME) program. With this action, the Senate has rejected the President’s proposed elimination of this program that aims to provide children’s hospitals with support for training the next generation of pediatric physicians and specialists and brings $8.7 million for this purpose to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in the current year.

“Nationwide Children’s Hospital is grateful to Ohio’s Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and George Voinovich for (R-OH) championing children’s hospitals graduate medical education because they believe it is fundamental to everything in our pediatric health care system,” said Steve Allen, MD, chief executive officer of Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “We also thank the leadership of the Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-PA) for their vote of confidence in our nation’s children’s hospitals.”

“The program’s support has been critical to addressing pediatric workforce shortages in areas such as child neurology and assuring access to quality care by training the next generation of physicians for children,” commented Allen. “This program has allowed us to increase our number of pediatric trainees by 70 percent and more than triple our residency and fellowship programs since 2001.”

The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee passed $310 million for CHGME on June 19; however, the vote in the full Appropriations Committee was postponed yesterday. “Ohio Representatives Ralph Regula (R-Canton) and Deborah Pryce (R-Franklin County) have been long time leaders in Congress on behalf of CHGME and the Ohio delegation in Congress has been recognized for its strong support of this program,” said Allen.

The CHGME program is authorized to receive annual funding of $330 million. In the current fiscal year, CHGME will receive $301.7 million.

Sixty children’s teaching hospitals use CHGME funding to train pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists to care for children. Since the program began in 1999, the growth in CHGME hospitals’ training programs has accounted for more than 80 percent of all new pediatric subspecialty training programs and more than 65 percent of all new pediatric subspecialists in training. However, according to a survey by the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, the nation continues to experience serious shortages of pediatric subspecialists in many subspecialties.

Ohio Children's Hospital Association Announces Results of First-Of-Its-Kind Quality Collaboration Aimed at Saving Children's Lives

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association (OCHA) and its six member hospitals – Akron Children’s Hospital; Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Dayton Children’s Medical Center; Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus; Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, Cleveland; and Toledo Children’s Hospital – announced today groundbreaking results of a first-of-its-kind collaboration to improve quality in children’s hospitals.

OCHA and its six member hospitals created the Ohio Children’s Hospital Association’s Quality Improvement Collaborative in 2006 to promote improved quality of care at children’s hospitals. In its first initiative, the Collaborative focused on reducing preventable codes, or cardiac and pulmonary arrests, occurring outside of the neonatal and pediatric Intensive Care Units. As a result of its efforts, the Collaborative identified a medical protocol called a Rapid Response Team that, when implemented, reduced incidences of preventable codes by more than 20 percent.

“To our knowledge, this is the first time in the nation that a statewide network of children’s hospitals has come together to focus on quality improvement to save children’s lives,” said David Kinsaul, President and CEO, Dayton Children’s Medical Center and Chairman of OCHA. “While each of our individual hospitals is a leader in quality innovation, we are truly leading the nation in this type of collective effort – and it is having a dramatic impact improving the lives of children, as evidenced by the results.”

Each participating hospital adapted a “Rapid Response Team” model to fit within its own patient care environment and culture. Bedside caregivers at participating hospitals were empowered to quickly harness the expertise of this multidisciplinary Rapid Response Team when the caregiver determined that immediate intervention was warranted. Further, some hospitals created a process that enabled patient families to call upon the Rapid Response Team when they felt their child was in need of assessment.

In addition to the tangible achievement of preventing life-threatening situations for patients, the Collaborative’s efforts also realized several additional benefits for the children’s hospitals, their clinicians and the patients’ families, including:

-Increased customer satisfaction;
-Improved cooperative efforts, internal communication and accountability among hospital staff;
-Identification of areas to improve the Rapid Response Team model moving forward; and
-A culture change at the institutions that helped empower care givers that are at the bedside treating the patients every day.

“While this particular initiative has made solid, tangible improvements to date – it is only the beginning of an exciting journey,” said Kinsaul. “There is strong, unanimous support for continuing the Collaborative’s efforts – including continuing the Rapid Response Team initiative with the goal of increasing its success and identifying new areas and where we can improve quality.”

Kinsaul said Ohio’s children’s hospitals will continue to work together to improve operating efficiencies and effectiveness to remain outcome-oriented, national leaders delivering high quality pediatric hospital care.

“Ohio children’s hospitals are a source of great pride for our state,” Ohio Senate President Bill Harris (R-Ashland) said. “We are so fortunate that between the work of these six outstanding institutions, a child can get the care they need within a two-hour drive of their homes and can be served by a team of doctors, nurses and administrators who are both leaders in their fields and committed to providing the highest quality of care possible.”

“The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association and member hospitals should be commended for their efforts in leading the way in healthcare quality improvement,” said Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted (R-Kettering). “I look forward to continuing our work together to protect the health and well-being of Ohio’s children.”

The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association contracted with the Ohio Hospital Association and Applied Health Services to coordinate the administrative functions of the study.

The Ohio Children’s Hospital Association is the voice of Ohio’s youngest patients, their families and health care providers. Ohio’s six member hospitals are dedicated to saving, protecting and enhancing children’s lives. They ensure that all three million Ohio children receive the care they need and treat children from all 88 counties in Ohio, regardless of ability to pay.

President’s Budget Proposal Devastates Program that Trains Nationwide Children’s Doctors

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0500

President Bush’s FY2009 budget request eliminates all funding, currently $301 million, for a federal program that trains 4,700 pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists each year at 60 independent children’s teaching hospitals. Nationwide Children’s Hospital stands to lose $8.5 million if Congress accepts the request.

For the past eight years, Nationwide Children’s has received funding through the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) program enabling the institution to train many of the pediatricians and subspecialists needed to care for the children of Ohio. Prior to adoption of the CHGME program, independent children’s hospitals were unintentionally excluded from federal support for physician training. CHGME has turned around the shortages of pediatric subspecialists that the field of pediatrics had seen for years.

"This program has been critical in our ability to train future pediatricians and specialists to meet the growing demand for children’s health care in Central Ohio,” said Steve Allen, MD, CEO of Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Congress made the Children’s Hospitals GME program a priority since its inception eight years ago. It reauthorized the program at $330 million annually in 2006 and received $301 million last year from Congress for FY 2008.

“Ohio’s Congressional delegation has been largely responsible for the success of this vital program, and we will be counting on their leadership to reject this unwise proposal in the President’s budget,” said Allen.

The nation’s 60 independent children’s teaching hospitals comprise less than 1% of all hospitals yet train 35 percent of all pediatricians and half of all pediatric specialists.

CHGME has enabled the children's hospitals:
• to sustain and expand their residency programs, turning around a national decline in pediatric residencies, and
• to sustain and improve services, including services to low-income children in their communities and highly specialized services.

Reynoldsburg Family to Meet Members of Congress and Share Story of Bone Marrow Transplant to Cure Sickle Cell

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The afternoon of June 18, 12-year-old Kimmi Desir of Reynoldsburg begins the field trip of a lifetime. Kimmi, a patient at Columbus Children’s Hospital where she received a bone marrow transplant for sickle cell disease, will participate in the June 19-20 National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.) Family Advocacy Day in Washington, DC. Kimmi, along with other children and families from across the country, will speak with Congressional lawmakers in support of the children’s hospitals that saved/made an impact on their lives.

“I am excited to meet Representatives Tiberi, Pryce and Hobson to tell them how much Columbus Children’s has helped me and my family. I’m able to live a better quality of life and make this trip because of its help. Children’s Hospital and my doctors give me and thousands of other patients like me, hope,” Kimmi said.

On June 15, Kimmi will begin a blog about her adventures before and during her trip to Washington. She will share how her sister, Melissa, volunteered to be Kimmi’s donor for her bone marrow transplant, and the unique role Columbus Children’s Hospital had in providing care to her. Kimmi will also share how she feels about being selected to represent all children who need access to regular doctor visits, specialized and emergency care and what it’s like to meet with federal lawmakers.

Columbus Children’s Hospital serves more than 700,000 patient visits annually. “There’s no better way for the members of Congress with whom Kimmi will meet to understand the value of children’s hospital’s specialized services than to hear from patients themselves,” said Children’s Hospital Director of Federal Government Relations Morna Smith, who will be accompanying the Desir family to Washington. “We’re proud to have Kimmi and her family represent Columbus Children’s in Washington. It is our hope that her story will leave them with a renewed appreciation for children’s hospitals across the country.”

The opportunity to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and advocate the passage of the Children’s Health Quality Act makes this year’s Family Advocacy Day especially important. To continue providing medical services for children in communities nationwide, children’s hospitals and N.A.C.H. advocate maintaining a strong Medicaid safety net for children, the reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, funding for the development of quality measures to improve health care for children—the Children’s Health Care Quality Act, and funding for the federal Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education Program to support the hospitals’ physician training.

“The courage of these children is truly remarkable,” said Lawrence McAndrews, president and CEO of N.A.C.H. “Many of them have special needs and will make a long journey to Washington to deliver their message to Congress that both sick and well children need access to doctors and hospitals that specialize in pediatric care. Congress must do everything in its power to ensure that funding continues to flow to programs that ensure children’s health care coverage and treatment.”

Nationwide, children’s hospitals represent less than 5 percent of all hospitals but they provide nearly 40 percent of all hospital care for all children and most of the hospital care for children with serious medical conditions, train the majority of pediatricians and virtually all pediatric subspecialists and research scientists, and are the safety net for the poorest children in their communities, serving children regardless of family ability to pay.

Visit Kimmi Desir’s blog at http://childrenshospitals.typepad.com/fad2007 from June 15 through 29.

For more information on Family Advocacy Day please visit www.childrenshospitals.net.

Columbus-Area Child Patient to Chronicle Her Visit to Capitol Hill Through Daily Blog
Local Family to Visit Washington to Share Importance of Children’s Hospitals with Congress as Part of N.A.C.H Family Advocacy Day

Who:
Kimmi Desir had lived with sickle cell anemia for the first 11 years of her life. Kimmi will share her personal story of how her sister Melissa volunteered to be Kimmi’s donor in a bone marrow transplant to cure her of sickle cell, and the unique role Columbus Children’s Hospital had in providing care to her.

What:
BLOG LAUNCH
Kimmi is one of more than 30 child patients and their families participating in the National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.) third annual Family Advocacy Day that brings together child patients and Members of Congress. These families will spend two days in Washington, touring the nation’s capital and meeting with Congressional leaders to tell their story and advocate for continued support of the Children’s Hospital system and Medicaid funding.

Kimmi will chronicle her experience on a blog hosted by N.A.C.H. The blog, which can be found at http://childrenshospitals.typepad.com/fad2007, will launch June 15 and will continue until June 29.

When:
June 15, 2007

****Kimmi’s blog can be found at http://childrenshospitals.typepad.com/fad2007

Columbus Children’s Hospital Endorses Senate Bill to Address Need for Quality and Performance Measures for Children’s Health Care

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Columbus Children’s Hospital has endorsed a bill to provide federal authority and $100 million over five years to invest in the development and testing of quality measures for children’s health care. Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), along with Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Ken Salazar (D-CO) introduced the Children’s Health Care Quality Act (S.1226) before the Senate yesterday. The bill is supported by the National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.).

In addition to providing support for private sector’s development of pediatric quality measure development, the bill would make it possible for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to fund demonstrations of evidence-based approaches to improve hospital care for children. The bill also would fund demonstrations of model programs in pediatric health information technology and disease management.

“The federal government is the single largest payer of children’s health care in the country. While the federal government has worked closely with the private sector to develop and implement appropriate quality measures for adult health care, there have been little federal resources or leadership committed to the study and development of such measures in pediatric care, particularly for inpatient care,” said Terry Davis, MD, Columbus Children’s Hospital Interim Medical Director.

“The Children’s Health Care Quality Act is a first step in eliminating the disparity between adults and children when it comes to measuring and reporting on health care quality,” added Davis. “If CMS had the resources to promote the development of pediatric quality measures, consumers, payers and the pediatric community would have a body of nationally consistent, evidence-based measures for hospital care for children.”

The quality of adult health care has benefited from federal leadership and investment in the development and use of measures for adult health care, particularly through Medicare. However, CMS lacks the explicit authority and resources to provide the level of support required for the development of pediatric measures for children in both Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Individual state Medicaid and SCHIP programs also lack the resources and population sufficient to develop their own measures.

Last year, N.A.C.H. commissioned a 50-state survey by Health Management Associates. It found that while states use quality measures for children’s health services, they are almost always measures of primary and preventive care for children enrolled in managed care plans, not inpatient hospital care for children. Only two states indicated use of any pediatric inpatient measures. Because of limited resources, states are looking to the federal government for leadership and measures.

“In the national movement to develop quality measures for health care, we cannot afford to leave children behind,” emphasized Davis.

Together, Medicaid and SCHIP pay for the health care of more than a quarter of all children. The market share of these programs uniquely positions them to provide significant leadership to advance quality measurement for pediatric care — if CMS has the resources and funding to do so. The Children’s Health Care Quality Act would give CMS the ability to foster collaboration among its officials, providers, consumers and leading quality organizations to improve the level of service provided to children throughout the U.S.

In addition to N.A.C.H., the Children’s Health Care Quality Act also has the endorsements of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the March of Dimes, the American Hospital Association and others.

Columbus Children’s Hospital is a healthcare network that provides wellness, preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative care for infants, children, adolescents and selected adult patients. A medical staff of more than 900 and a hospital staff of 5000 provide state-of-the-art pediatric care for more than 700,000 patient visits annually. Children’s houses the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Ohio’s first Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center. Columbus Children's Research Institute is one of the top ten National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More than 75,000 consumers receive health and wellness education each year and affiliation agreements with nearly 100 institutions allow more than 1,700 students and 500 residents to receive training at Children’s. The preferred pediatric provider in Central Ohio since 1892, Columbus Children's Hospital is dedicated exclusively to full-service health care for children - serving every child for every reason. More information is available by calling (614) 722-KIDS (5437).