IHA Daily Briefing: October 29

Healing Communities: Pinckneyville Hospital Promotes Optimal Health
With regular bloodwork essential to identifying health issues, Pinckneyville Community Hospital offers discounted lab screenings onsite four times a year as part of its commitment to preventive health and wellness.

The rural hospital makes it easy and affordable for individuals to monitor their overall health through bloodwork that provides critical insights into liver and kidney function, cholesterol levels, average blood sugar, and more. The comprehensive health panel offered includes:

• Complete blood count that evaluates overall health and detects a variety of disorders, including anemia and infection;
• Comprehensive metabolic panel that measures glucose levels, liver and kidney function, and electrolyte and fluid balance;
• Lipid profile that assesses cholesterol levels to help determine heart disease risk;
  Thyroid-stimulating hormone that screens for thyroid disorders, which can affect energy levels, weight and mood;
• HgbA1C that provides an average blood sugar level over the past 2-3 months, aiding in diabetes detection and management;
• Vitamin D level that helps identify deficiencies that can impact bone health, immune function and mood; and
• Prostate test that monitors potential signs of prostate issues in men.

"These low-cost labs are an excellent opportunity for individuals to take charge of their health, detect potential issues early and make informed decisions with their healthcare providers," said hospitals leaders, adding that the screenings "are a great resource for those who may not have regular access to healthcare or simply want to keep a closer eye on their wellness."

IHA's Healing Communities: Hospital Stories webpage features the good work of hospitals across Illinois. Submit your hospital's or health system's story to Valerie Culver, Assistant Vice Presidents, Corporate Communications and Marketing, at [email protected].

IHA's Healing Communities campaign focuses on four pillars representing the positive impact of hospitals and health systems beyond care provided in the hospital setting. The pillars are: driving local economies, addressing community needs, providing accessible care and training future clinicians.

IDPH Offers Cybersecurity Training on Targeted Attacks
Strong cybersecurity begins with knowing how attackers think. AWR 376: Understanding Targeted Cyber Attacks takes a closer look at how these threats evolve-and what steps organizations can take to defend against them.

The course, hosted by the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) Office of Preparedness and Response, in partnership with the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), will take place from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CT on Nov. 19. The training will explore how attackers gather intelligence, infiltrate systems and sustain long-term access. Participants will examine the phases of a targeted attack, including reconnaissance, system intrusion and ongoing threat management, and discuss strategies to reduce vulnerabilities across an organization's digital landscape.

Cybersecurity professionals, emergency responders, risk managers, planners, healthcare and public works representatives, educators, and critical infrastructure leaders are encouraged to attend.

Training will be held in the IDPH training room located at 1 Natural Resources Way in Springfield. Click here to create an account and register. For questions or additional information, please contact Bunmi Adanri at 217-299-3648.

DEADLINE: Medicaid IMPACT Revalidations Due Oct. 31
The Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is currently conducting IMPACT Medicaid provider revalidations. Providers in the October cohort must complete IMPACT revalidations by this Friday, Oct. 31, in order to receive Medicaid reimbursement. IHA urges all providers to check their revalidation cycle due date-including physicians and physician groups affiliated with your hospitals-and to check for any incomplete revalidations. HFS has provided IHA with step-by-step instructions to check the status and due date of servicing providers that you can access here. The IMPACT Provider Revalidation website includes step-by-step instructions, a frequently asked questions document and a townhall webinar recording.