Patients who monitor their blood pressure at home typically take a more active role in managing their hypertension and improving their cardiovascular health. But what about patients who need help with the practical details around self-monitoring? Providers can help patients manage their hypertension and obtain appropriate monitoring devices. To help our members and other providers, VHAN has gathered the several strategies and resources to aid in patient education related to hypertension.

VHAN is evolving the network’s clinical services and patient engagement strategies to better meet patients where they are. These services include new diagnosis support programs such as Deviceless Remote Patient Monitoring powered by CareSignal, a company owned by Lightbeam Health Solutions.  

When a teenage boy was suspended from school for creating a drawing with dark subject matter, Timothy Eidson, MD, a pediatric primary care provider at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, considered sending him to the emergency department (ED). The boy had also disclosed depression and passive suicidal ideation during the exam, and Dr. Eidson wanted to connect him to help as quickly as possible. Hoping to find an alternative to the ED, he reached out to the VHAN Pediatric Behavioral Consult Line for an urgent consultation.

It was the right decision. Read the full article to see how the consult line, which offers real-time phone consultations by a licensed clinical social worker to help manage patients’ mental health needs, helped get the teen into a partial hospitalization program that brought much-needed relief.

The Vanderbilt Health Affiliated Network (VHAN) looked back on its past and ahead to its future in a recent member webinar. “Transforming Health Care Together: VHAN’s 2024 Impact & Future Vision,” featured Cindy Powell, MD, VHAN Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer, along with other VHAN leadership.

Stelara biosimilars Yesintek and Steqeyma have been added to the Navitus formulary effective April 1, 2025. Stelara will be removed from the Navitus formulary effective July 1, 2025. Read the full article for more details on how this change could affect you.

The VHAN Pharmacy Team often steps in to help patients fill medication gaps. Learn how a VHAN pharmacy technician helped a young patient with asthma gain access to critical inhaler therapy.

Antibiotic stewardship is a key strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a phenomenon that occurs when bacteria and viruses change over time and no longer respond to medicines like antibiotics. To help VHAN practices educate patients about antibiotics and assist with appropriate prescribing, VHAN offers several member tools that you can find on the VHAN Hub Resource Library. Read the full article for more information.

A partnership between Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Tennessee State Department of Health has helped some VHAN practices improve antibiotic stewardship efforts.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) was awarded $1 million in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to expand the research done through the Outpatient Pediatric Antimicrobial Stewardship. The project will take place at several VHAN member clinics, including VUMC-affiliated outpatient pediatric primary care clinics and Heritage Medical Clinic sites.