Family-Centered ICUs Improve Outcomes
To improve medical outcomes in intensive care units, some hospitals are attempting to make units more accessible for patients’ family and caregivers.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Patient Safety Technology
Although some emerging technology promises a patient safety cure-all, hospitals need to evaluate clinician workflow before implementing new gadgets
Tackling Patients’ Social Problems Can Cut Health Costs
Donning a protective gown, rubber gloves and a face mask, Dayna Gurley looks like she’s heading into surgery. But Gurley is a medical social worker charged with figuring out why her client, a man who uses more health care services than almost anyone else in Houston, has been in three different hospitals in the last month.
Q & A: The Benefits of Patient Engagement
Patient engagement is the missing variable that we haven’t sufficiently studied or acted upon. If you think about how much time we emphasize on chronic disease for example, where it’s responsible for about 40% of the deaths in the U.S. and maybe 70%-80% of the costs.
HHS: $28 Billion Saved Through Patient Safety Efforts
Efforts to improve patient safety are paying off, according to a new Health and Human Services (HHS) department report.
How to Engage With a Population to Break Down Barriers to Health Improvements
Healthcare organizations seek new engagement solutions for populations challenged to make improvements in their care.
CMS Launches New Physician Engagement Initiative
On October 13, CMS announced a push to improve physician engagement and their experience within the Medicare system. To achieve this goal, the agency is trying to reduce the reduce administrative burdens that physicians have to handle with the new Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
Exploring Post-Discharge Spaces Designed to Eliminate Gaps in Care
At the end of a hospital stay, many patients find themselves overwhelmed by their experience as well as the often lengthy care directions they’ve been given. Others might find themselves pushed into another care place, one that may not have the resources or focus to holistically address their problems. Too often patients find themselves released from the hospital, only to wind up back in that hospital bed within the 30-day readmission window—a metric closely watched by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and hospitals everywhere.
‘Customer Ownership’ at the Forefront in Alaska
Healthcare organizations strive to improve the quality of care for patients; however, finding methods to do this without increasing costs can be a challenge. Southcentral Foundation (SCF), a nonprofit healthcare organization in Alaska, has found engaging and partnering with patients on their healthcare journey can lead to better care and outcomes without incurring higher costs and actually decreases overall costs.
How A Robust Never Events Policy Can Alter Your Facility’s Culture
Think fast: Does your hospital have a “never events” policy? Does it include apologizing to the patients that were harmed and waiving their costs? Does it include a risk assessment?
If you answered “no” to any of those questions, you are one of the 20% of hospitals across the country that don’t have an adequate never events policy.