News briefs
Hospital stays shorter, says study by CDC
The average length of hospital stays declined over the past decade, according to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The average length of stay for hospital inpatients was five days in 1999, down from 7.3 days in 1980, as measured by the National Hospital Discharge Survey, conducted by CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.
The study attributed the drop to an increase in ambulatory or same-day surgery. Citing heart disease as the No. 1 cause of hospitalization, the study reported that less invasive surgical techniques for heart surgery are a leading factor in decreasing the length of hospital stays. The study also cited new drug therapies, cost-management programs and alternative forms of health care. For more information, go to www.cdc.gov/nchs.
MSP references
Access managers looking for information on changes in the Health Care Financing Administration’s Medicare Secondary Payer rule can check out the Oct. 18, 2000 edition of the Federal Register. More information is available at these Web sites:
• www.hcfa.gov/regs/prdact95.htm —(download "October 18, 2000" — Information collection requirements in HCFA-250-254).
• www.access.gpo.gov — (look for page 62724 in the Federal Register).
JCAHO sets deadline for ORYX data collection
Hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) have until July 1, 2002, to begin collection of data on the first sets of the ORYX core performance measures. JCAHO said the date represents a six-month extension from the originally planned start date and is intended to allow hospitals more time to plan and budget for the collection activities. JCAHO’s ORYX initiative seeks to integrate outcomes and performance measurement data into the collection process. For more information, go to www.jcaho.org/oryx_frm.html.
Living will help is offered to hospitals
Hospitals can get free access to electronically stored advanced directives through a service called the U.S. Living Will Registry. Advance directives, the handling of which most often falls under the purview of access managers, allow people to determine care in the event they become incapacitated by illness, or name someone to make decisions for them.
According to the U.S. Living Will Registry web site (www.uslivingwillregistry.com), 75% of Americans are in favor of advance directives (or living wills) and all 50 states have laws recognizing them, but only 25%-30% of people have actually prepared one. And, 35% of those that have been prepared cannot be tracked down when needed. Hospitals may be saddled with maintaining their own storage system for advanced directives.
Your will, on-line
Through the registry’s web site, people can register their living wills by signing a notarized agreement that allows the registry to fax a copy to a hospital upon request. The organization stores the advance directive as an electronic file, and contacts the registrant annually to keep files updated. Any hospital in the country can access the complete registry through a free automated telephone-computer-facsimile system.
The Living Will Registry says it can maintain privacy and confidentiality because only hospitals have access to the documents. Hospitals can register and access the database at (800) LIV-WILL or through the web site.
Living will education
The registry also offers a free, on-line Living Will Fair program to help hospitals educate the public about advance directives. The fairs are public events where people learn about and prepare advance directives. The fair guide program, which can be downloaded from the web site, offers step-by-step instructions on how to plan, publicize and hold the event. The program addresses such issues as obtaining the support of attorneys and community leaders, press material, manpower requirements, and parking considerations.
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