Tag: Kristy Shafer

MHA Monday Report May 18, 2026

Member News, Monday Report

House Passes Multiple Healthcare Bills

The Michigan House passed legislation related to third-party litigation financing, Medicaid prescription requirements and surgical smoke plume evacuation during the week of May 11. Lawmakers also introduced legislation related to behavioral health transportation services and …

State House Minority Leader Addresses Legislative Policy Panel

State House Minority Leader Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) addressed the MHA Legislative Policy Panel May 13 at the MHA Capitol Advocacy Center, providing the panel with a legislative and political update and sharing his commitment to …

2026 Healthcare Leadership Academy Cohort Completes Program

In partnership with Executive Core, the MHA recently celebrated the successful completion of the 2026 Healthcare Leadership Academy, which supports the development of emerging healthcare leaders across Michigan. Through two in-person modules, participants developed skills …

Keystone Quality and Safety Work Highlighted at MICAH QN Meeting

Kristy Shafer, senior manager, MHA Keystone Center, and senior lead quality improvement advisor for Superior Health, presented the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services quality improvement program at the Michigan Critical Access Hospital Quality …

MHA Keystone Center to Present During National Caregiver Webinar

The National Alliance for Caregiving will host the webinar “Practical Methods for Integrating Caregivers into Care Delivery” from 1 to 2 p.m. ET May 27, highlighting how hospitals and health systems are embedding caregivers into care models …

Hospitals Help: Memorial Healthcare Prioritizes Infection Control for Long-Term Care Residents

Michigan hospitals have long prioritized infection control and prevention, investing in resources that strengthen safety and quality measures for their patients and staff. The MHA Keystone Center is committed to supporting these efforts. Healthcare teams …

News to Know

  • The MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council met May 14 to examine patient journey mapping, a method used to document and visualize the patient experience across healthcare touchpoints, from recognizing a health need through treatment and ongoing care.
  • Hospitals paid under the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system must submit a calendar year 2025 occupational mix survey to the Medicare Administrative Contractor by June 30.
  • Applicable laboratories, including hospital outreach laboratories, must report private payer data under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act from Jan. 1 through June 30, 2025, during the reporting window open through July 31, 2026.

MHA in the News

The MHA received coverage in a May 12 Crain’s Detroit Business story examining insurance contract negotiations with hospitals. In the article, MHA CEO Brian Peters emphasized that reimbursement contracts between hospitals and insurance companies often …

Keystone Quality and Safety Work Highlighted at MICAH QN Meeting

Member News, Patient Safety and Quality

Kristy Shafer, senior manager, MHA Keystone Center, and senior lead quality improvement advisor for Superior Health, presented the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quality improvement program at the Michigan Critical Access Hospital Quality Network (MICAH QN) quarterly meeting May 7 in Traverse City.

The MHA Keystone Center is a member of Superior Health, a quality-improvement joint venture that seeks to improve outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries. As one of the Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) for the CMS 13th Scope of Work, Superior Health is recruiting Michigan hospitals, nursing homes and clinics for its no-cost program. Members interested in participating are encouraged to enroll by May 27.

Several presenters also highlighted past MHA Keystone Center initiatives, including its emergency department medication for opioid use disorder (ED MOUD) programming and a Patient Safety Organization (PSO) Safe Table series.

Amy DeKorse presenting during the MICAH QN Meeting.
Amy DeKorse presenting during the MICAH QN Meeting.

Amy DeKorse of Munson Healthcare led a discussion on substance use and behavioral health in patient safety and quality. The discussion highlighted collaborative work between the Michigan Opioid Partnership and the MHA Keystone Center on an ED MOUD initiative to expand access to evidence-based treatment statewide and support transitions to long-term office-based care following discharge. From 2019 to 2023, approximately half of Michigan emergency departments participated in the initiative. ED MOUD learning modules remain available to members at no cost on Key Learnings.

Heather Githu, MAS, BSN, RN, CPPS, regional director of patient safety, University of Michigan Sparrow, is a member of the MHA Keystone Center Adverse Event Review Committee and presented during a three-part PSO Safe Table high-reliability series in 2025 focused on healthcare reliability and patient safety practices. Julia Harbuck-Valley, quality manager, Scheurer Health, also highlighted the MHA Keystone Center and encouraged organizations to participate in its patient safety and quality trainings.

Members with questions may contact Kristy Shafer at the MHA Keystone Center.

MHA Keystone Center Launches Infection Control Quality Improvement Cohort

Member News

The MHA Keystone Center is launching an infection control quality improvement cohort, providing high-touch technical assistance to ten long-term care (LTC) facilities. The Strengthening Long-term Care Infection Prevention and Control Practices to Address Emerging Pathogens project aims to enhance infection prevention strategies, equipping LTC facilities to effectively manage Candida auris (C. auris) and other emerging pathogens.

The MHA Keystone Center will enroll 10 LTC facilities in the cohort and engage with their frontline staff to increase knowledge and understanding of infection prevention and control best practices. Each participating LTC will have an on-site infection control assessment response visit and on-site and remote technical assistance.

Since its first identified case in 2021, C. auris has rapidly spread across Michigan. As of Feb. 3, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has reported 1,390 confirmed cases of C. auris detected across 12 Michigan counties, heavily concentrated in Southeast Michigan.

C. auris is a highly resistant yeast that spreads easily among patients in healthcare facilities and causes infections ranging from superficial skin infections to life-threatening bloodstream infections. Many LTC facilities have expressed concern about caring for residents infected or colonized with C. auris. This project aims to increase facility comfort and confidence in admitting and caring for residents on enhanced barrier precautions, particularly C. auris.

Members interested in enrolling in the cohort or have questions about the program can contact Kristy Shafer at the MHA Keystone Center.