March 26, 2024

Q&A: MHA’s Vice President of Health Equity reports progress on the state’s equity-focused Medicaid waiver

As Vice President of Health Equity, Isabelle Lopes, M.S.W., M.P.H., helps Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association members meet the goals of the state’s newest Medicaid waiver. She talks with Patient Safety Beat about how having better demographic data — an early goal of the waiver — and forging partnerships with other providers and community-based organizations will help create an equitable health care system that supports patients and the workforce.

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Virtual forum for Massachusetts PFACs set for May 30

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Members of Patient and Family Advisory Councils throughout Massachusetts are invited to attend a virtual forum hosted by the Betsy Lehman Center on May 30, 2024. Centered on creating connections to strengthen the impact of PFACs, the program will offer presentations and discussion about leadership engagement and bringing diversity to PFAC membership. The forum will be the first of many opportunities offered by the Center for PFAC members across the state to connect, discuss challenges and share new ideas.

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PPE videos available in eight languages to improve infection control in home care settings

Videos that show home care workers how to correctly don and doff personal protective equipment are now available on the Betsy Lehman Center website in eight languages: Cantonese (Simplified and Traditional), English, Haitian Creole, Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional), Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Because most materials on the use of PPE are intended for hospital-based clinicians and staff, the videos fill an important gap in training resources that can be used to meet the unique needs of the home care workforce. The Center initially produced the videos in 2020 in English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and Spanish. In partnership with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, the videos are now also available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian and Vietnamese, to meet the needs of a diverse workforce.

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Patient Safety Beat is published by the Betsy Lehman Center, a Massachusetts state agency that supports providers, patients and policymakers working together to advance the safety and quality of health care.

BetsyLehmanCenterMA.gov