Winners of the 2013 Hospital Website Transparency Awards Program Announced
URAC and The Leapfrog Group have announced the winners of the 2013 Hospital Website Transparency Awards Program. The two organizations have partnered for a second year to identify outstanding hospital websites that promote transparency of safety and quality measures in a manner that is useful and user-friendly for consumers.
VitalHealth Software Launches Patient Engagement Solution in US Market
VitalHealth Software, a leading global provider of web-based solutions for health management established by Mayo Clinic and the Noaber Foundation, has announced the availability of VitalHealth QuestLink, a cloud-based software solution to stimulate patient engagement through the use of online questionnaires.
Clinic Eliminates Waiting Rooms with RTLS Technology
When Providence Health & Services, the largest healthcare provider in Washington state, opened its new clinic in Monroe in October, there was one thing conspicuously missing — the waiting room.
Covidien Launches Vital Sync Virtual Patient Monitoring Platform
Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products and recognized innovator in patient monitoring and respiratory care devices, has launched the Vital Sync™ virtual patient monitoring platform (VPMP).
ECRI Institute Releases New Safety Guidance for Patients and Caregivers Using Home Infusion Technology
Home infusion improves quality of life for individuals requiring extended infusion therapy, but caregivers must take some precautions to minimize risk. To help patients and caregivers improve safety when using medical technology in the home, ECRI Institute and The Healthcare Technology Foundation, have created a free informational video and patient guide entitled “Home Infusion: A Safety Guide for Patients and Caregivers.”
HRET to Develop Toolkit Based on Medical Liability Reform Successes
The Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) of the American Hospital Association (AHA) has been awarded a contract by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to develop a comprehensive patient safety and medical liability communication and resolution resource toolkit. The toolkit will promote communication between patients, doctors and hospitals to improve the quality of care, reduce preventable injuries and ensure timely and appropriate restitution when harm results from care.
ECRI Institute Releases Top 10 Health Technology Hazards Report for 2014
Each year, ECRI Institute, an independent nonprofit that researches the best approaches to improving patient care, offers an invaluable patient safety service to the healthcare community. The just-released 2014 Top 10 Health Technology Hazards list raises awareness of the potential dangers associated with the use of medical devices and helps healthcare providers minimize the risk of technology-related adverse events.
Zebra Technologies, LifeMed ID Announce Alliance to Improve Patient Safety and Drive Hospital Efficiencies
Zebra Technologies Corporation, a recognized global leader in providing products and solutions that extend real-time visibility to improve patient safety and workflow processes, today announced a strategic alliance with LifeMed ID Inc., a premier patient identity solutions company in healthcare. Through this alliance, Zebra card printers are now the exclusive printer component for use with the LifeMed ID healthcare patient identification solution.
Put Your Wi-Fi Network to Work for Safety and Security
Diane Hosson
Healthcare organizations have never had higher security needs. A safe environment is essential to quality patient care, and administrators must consider many different factors, including protection of patients and staff and the security of assets—often across sizeable facilities. Protecting high-risk groups, such as newborn babies and emergency department nurses is particularly critical and challenging for healthcare organizations. And the need for security extends all the way to medical equipment and assets that can be stolen or misplaced, increasing costs and affecting patient care and satisfaction.
Social Technologies: Meeting the Challenges of Population Health
Social technologies offer powerful tools that can be applied in healthcare settings to improve the quality of care and patient safety, especially as the U.S. healthcare delivery system transforms to accommodate changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act and aging baby boomers.