September / October 2006
NEWS ITEMS FROM SOURCES WORLDWIDE
Pulse
Illinois Governor Signs Executive Order Creating New Division of Patient Safety
In an effort to reduce the number of medical errors that claim the lives of more than 4,000 Illinoisans and nearly 100,000 Americans each year, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich has proposed sweeping and comprehensive changes to cut down on errors and improve patient safety. Medical errors cost $1.5 billion a year — in Illinois alone — contributing to higher insurance premiums, higher costs for hospital visits and treatments, higher co-pays, higher insurance rates for doctors and higher costs of prescription drugs.
On July 13, 2006, Gov. Blagojevich proposed a comprehensive package of reforms to reduce the number of medical errors and improve patient safety including:
- Proposing that all providers use e-prescribing by 2011 to reduce the risk of medication related errors;
- Creating a new Division of Patient Safety within the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to specifically focus on reducing medical mistakes and improving patient safety;
- Directing the new Division of Patient Safety to develop standardized medication practices to reduce adverse drug effects;
- Directing the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to complete an on-line physician database so patients can learn more about their doctors; and
- Directing IDPH to expand their nursing home database to help seniors and their families learn more about each facility.
The state will work to identify gaps in access to the hardware, software and training needed to computerize prescriptions. The state will also help expand the technology networks that health professionals need to send prescriptions and exchange medical information electronically in a safe way.
Gov. Blagojevich issued an Executive Order to create the Division of Patient Safety within IDPH. This new division will consolidate the state's efforts for dealing with medical errors and will focus specifically on improving patient safety with the goal of reducing errors. To accomplish the goal of e-prescribing by 2011, the new Division of Patient Safety will immediately begin exploring:
- Where the need for technology exists;
- What kind of technology is needed — Internet platform, computers, etc.;
- How much it will cost to provide and maintain that technology;
- What outside funding is available to the state and providers to build this technology; and,
- How to assist providers who may not use computers in their practice.
In addition to implementing e-prescribing, Gov. Blagojevich directed the Division of Patient Safety to work with the IDFPR, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and respective physician organizations, researchers, pharmacists and other health care providers to issue recommended medication practices to all providers.
Source: Office of the Governor of Illinois
BCBS Plans Unveil Blue Health Intelligence
Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) Plans announced today the creation of Blue Health Intelligence (BHI), a unique resource that will help to improve healthcare quality through opportunities to share critical health information initially with employers, and in the future, with consumers and providers. BHI is the premier health intelligence resource in the nation and will strengthen the movement to greater healthcare transparency by ultimately providing unmatched detail about healthcare trends and best practices.
The secure, HIPAA-compliant database is comprised of claims information (with no personal identifiers) from 79 million lives — significantly larger than existing healthcare databases. Twenty BCBS plans currently are participating in BHI (see list at www.BCBSHealthIssues.com). Access to the aggregate data will be available only to the participating plans.
"BHI will play a central role in transforming the present healthcare system into a focused, knowledge-based healthcare system," said BCBSA president and CEO Scott P. Serota. "In the near term, BHI will support the efforts of employers to better manage the healthcare benefits they offer their employees. Eventually, BHI will provide consumers with the information they need to make informed healthcare decisions and will heighten collaboration with providers as they deliver high-quality, evidence-based care to their patients."
The development of BHI over the last several years responds to the demands of employers, consumers, and providers who are calling for credible and actionable data to drive informed, evidence-based decision making. BHI is currently being pilot-tested and will be operational by 2007.
As BHI evolves, the resource will provide a number of benefits to employers, consumers, providers and other stakeholders, such as:
- Sharper insight into healthcare trends and best clinical practices;
- Information about the efficacy of certain treatments and new medical technologies as well as emerging trends in healthcare practice and delivery;
- Benchmarking data to assist in conducting comparative analyses across a number of healthcare components; and
- Opportunities for health services research.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is made up of 38 independent, locally owned and operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for more than 94 million — nearly one-in-three — Americans.
Source: Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Four-Part PBS Series to Air in October
As many as 98,000 Americans die each year in hospitals due to preventable medical errors. One million more are injured. In fact, medical errors kill as many people per year as breast cancer, HIV-AIDS and car accidents. These and other equally startling statistics underscore the chaotic conditions within the American health care system. Remaking American MedicineTM...Health Care for the 21st Century explores the quality crisis and the innovative solutions being undertaken by providers, patients and their families to transform the care provided by the institutions we all depend on. The four one-hour programs are scheduled to air on PBS on October 5, 12, 19 and 26 at 10 p.m. (check local listings).
Each program examines critical health care issues facing Americans today including patient safety, medical and medication errors, hospital-acquired infections, family-centered care and effective management of chronic disease. But rather than assign blame for the failings in health care, Crosskeys Media©, series producers, offers solutions by showcasing the stories of individuals and institutions who are working to ensure better health care for everyone.
The first program, "Silent Killer," sets the stage for the issues that will be explored throughout the series. The program highlights the efforts of Sorrel King, whose 18-month-old daughter died at one of the most respected hospitals in the world, Johns Hopkins. King has gone from grieving victim to engaged activist, partnering with Johns Hopkins to make safety a top priority at the institution. "Silent Killer" will be broadcast Thursday, October 5.
Program Two, "First Do No Harm," takes a critical look at the impact of medical errors and patient safety in two hospitals and follows the efforts of physicians who are challenging their colleagues to live up to their oath to "first do no harm." In Pittsburgh, Penn., chief of medicine Dr. Richard Shannon is confronting an epidemic of hospital-acquired infections that are shattering the lives of their victims. In New Jersey, Hackensack University Medical Center is engaged in an effort to completely transform the way the institution delivers care. "First Do No Harm" will be broadcast on Thursday, October 12.
The series then moves to the challenge of treating chronic diseases that affect nearly 100 million Americans. "The Stealth Epidemic" examines the human and economic costs of effectively managing diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions that consume nearly 70% of all health care resources. "The Stealth Epidemic" will air Thursday, October 19 and examines the groundbreaking efforts in two very different communities — Los Angeles and Whatcom County in the state of Washington — that are fundamentally transforming the physician-patient relationship.
As medicine continues to become more and more technologically sophisticated, and the systems that deliver medical care become increasingly complex, the relationship between providers and patients and their families is more important than ever. The final program, "Hand in Hand" tells the story of patients and families who have formed a unique bond in a teaching hospital in Augusta, Georgia. It will air on Thursday, October 26.
"The media is filled with tragic stories of medical errors and innocent victims who have been killed by the health care system," says co-executive producer Matthew Eisen, who has been working with executive producer Frank Christopher on the series for five years. "What we wanted to do was tell inspiring stories of a wide variety of people — consumers, health care providers, policy-makers, who are transforming systems of care. Our goal is to show what is possible when people confront the problems head-on, and work together to reduce harm and save lives."
Crosskeys Media, producers of Remaking American Medicine... Health Care for the 21st Century, has a long history of creating award-winning theatrical films, television programs, documentaries and non- broadcast videos. Peabody Award and Emmy Award winner John Hockenberry, formerly of NBC and NPR, serves as the series host.
Funding was made available by lead sponsor the Amgen Foundation, with major underwriting from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation®, with additional funding provided by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation. Additional information is available at www.RAMcampaign.org.
Source: Devilliers Communications
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