Lumetra Healthcare Solutions

March finds Lumetra firing on all cylinders as the organization continues to embrace the opportunities presented post-QIO. We’ve got approximately 15 RFPs for new business in the hopper and have been busy fulfilling contractual obligations to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, TeamSTEPPSä National Implementation, the Department of Managed Health Care, the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch of California’s Department of Public Health, the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi, and others.  A couple of us visited the nation’s capital recently to see current clients and get acquainted with others. It was very gratifying to hear how well considered Lumetra is among government agencies, research institutions, and other organizations active in healthcare quality.

Earlier this month, in our capacity as a Patient Safety Organization, we hosted a free Web conference on TeamSTEPPS training, with an eye toward setting up a year-long collaborative for hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other providers. Nearly 100 attended, among them hospitals, health plans, home care… Read More

The Lumetra Board of Directors met earlier this year and effected some significant changes to its size and make-up. Assuming the position of Chair is Richard W. Chambers, who is the CEO of CalOptima, an integrated health care system that administers health insurance programs for Orange County children, low income families, and persons with disabilities. His term on the Board commenced in 2005.

Other continuing Board members include the following:

• Daniel Gross, RN, BSN, MS, DNSc
  Executive Vice President—Hospital Operations, Sharp HealthCare
  Term began 2007

• Janet E. O’Brien, MDm MSPH, MS
  District Office Medical Consultant; Expert in Informatics
  Term began 2003

• Anthony G. Wagner, BA, MS
  Medicare Beneficiary, Former Health Plan Executive and

Long Term Care Administrator
Term began 2005

A new member of the Board this year is Ravi Nemana, MBA. Mr. Nemana serves as Executive Director, Services: Science, Management & Engineering (SSME) at the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of… Read More

Lumetra is pleased to announce the appointment of Lucinda Chan, PharmD, as a Consulting Pharmacist. Dr. Chan has over 25 years experience in the practice of clinical pharmacy, encompassing home infusion, computer database and software development, hospital, ambulatory care, pharmacy residency teaching, and retail.

“Improving medication safety is essential to reforming America’s healthcare system. Dr. Chan brings a wealth of experience and an exciting vision on how to enhance medication safety and adherence so that consumers have the best possible outcomes,” said Linda Sawyer, PhD, RN, Lumetra’s Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Chan served as Pharmacy Manager/Facility Manager at Walgreen’s Home Care where she developed and helped design the first Northern California Home Care facility for Walgreens Co. Prior to this position she worked as a Clinical Pharmacist at Coram Healthcare, Critical Care Systems, and First DataBank. She has also served as Supervisor of Outpatient Pharmacy at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.  Dr. Chan holds a Doctor of Pharmacy… Read More

The success of quality improvement initiatives depends on the culture of patient safety and team dynamics in your organization. Lumetra is launching a statewide Initiative for Patient Safety in California. Your organization won’t want to miss this valuable opportunity.

Nearly 100 representatives of health plans, hospitals, medical groups, nursing homes, home healthcare agencies and others interested in patient safety called into Lumetra’s Web conference in early March to learn about TeamSTEPPS training. Conducted by TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer, Julia Slininger, RN, BS, CPHQ, the one-hour event reviewed the following:

• The critical importance of effective teamwork in maintaining a safer healthcare environment
• How to access free program materials proven to help improve safety and prevent medical errors
• The consultative and collaborative mechanisms used to learn about effective TeamSTEPPS implementation

At the conclusion of the conference, Ms. Slininger disclosed Lumetra’s intention to conduct a year-long TeamSTEPPS Collaborative, commencing in May 2009: an Initiative for Patient Safety. Participating organizations will accomplish the… Read More

James E. Lett, MD, former Senior Medical Director for Health Process Improvement at Lumetra, is quoted in this article in the January 15, 2009 issue of Managed Healthcare Executive about the paucity of coordination in transitional care for elderly patients.

The first quarter 2009 issue of the CAHQ Journal features an article that discusses the advantages of the patient-centered medical home model to reduce costs and improve patient safety. Entitled “Next Generation Improvement for Healthcare Systems: A Comprehensive Structure-Process-Outcome Patient-Centered Medical Home Model for Redesigning Medical Practices,” it is co-authored by Linda M. Sawyer, PhD, RN, Lumetra’s CEO, together with Joseph E. Scherger, MD, MPH, Medical Director, and Fabio Sabogal, PhD, Sr. Health Services Analyst.