Happy Holidays from OHA!

Mercy Health suggests taking proactive steps to protect yourself and your families from the flu this holiday season. In a recent Mahoning Matters article, the health system recommended annual flu vaccinations for individuals over six months old, along with good hygiene practices like frequent handwashing and avoiding face contact. Staying home when sick, resting, staying hydrated and using over-the-counter medications are effective ways to manage symptoms and prevent spreading the flu. Mercy Health also highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, exercise and sleep to strengthen immunity. Early diagnosis and treatment remain critical to minimizing the flu’s impact…

OHA's Institute of Health Innovations, or IHI, has cemented its Board of Directors for the new year, with appointments effective Jan. 1, 2025. The Board is responsible for the IHI's activities in advancing safety and quality excellence and enhancing community health. Heidi Gartland, chief government and community relations officer at University Hospitals, will serve as Board chair, while Robert Montagnese, president and CEO of Licking Memorial Hospital, will assume the role of chair-elect. Michael Canady, MD, retired CEO of Holzer Health System and recipient of OHA's 2024 Donald R. Newkirk Health Care Leadership Award, will take on the position of secretary/treasurer.…

The National Action Alliance for Patient and Workforce Safety has introduced a public-facing dashboard aggregating federal safety data, including CMS safety measures and AHRQ patient safety indicators. Initially focused on acute care hospitals, the dashboard will later expand to include settings like ambulatory care and nursing homes. This tool supports the alliance's goal of reducing patient and workforce harm by 50% by 2026 by tracking trends and identifying improvement areas. Learn more and access the dashboard.

Ohio’s prescription drug monitoring program now notifies health care providers when a patient has experienced a non-fatal overdose. The alerts, part of a state strategy to reduce overdose deaths and combat opioid addiction, aim to improve care and prevent future overdoses. Alerts are sent through the Ohio Automated RX Reporting System and flag prescribers and pharmacists for patients discharged after a non-fatal overdose. Learn more here.