Hospital Peer Review 2006-10-01

Medicare final rule calls for increased reporting of quality data

Quality professionals at many organizations soon will be collecting additional data, as a result of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) final rule on the inpatient prospective payment system.

CMS and Joint Commission measures are aligned

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)'s final rule on the inpatient prospective payment system requires hospitals to report on the full set of 21 Hospital Quality Alliance measures to get full payment updates, effective for discharges on or after October 1, 2006.

Address growing problem with credentialing

With the advent of hospitalists, credentialing and privileging for medical staff members who no longer care for inpatients is a growing challenge for many organizations.

Discharge Planning Advisor: 'Basics' may be pushed aside in rush to trendier remedies

Discharge planning starts at admission. It's one of the most basic tenets of the discipline, notes Jackie Birmingham, RN, MS, CMAC, but one that is increasingly brushed aside as hospitals focus on utilization review (UR) and bed management in an effort to enhance patient throughput.

Discharge Planning Advisor: Maryland facility begins 'discharge by appointment'

This month, St. Joseph's Medical Center in Towson, MD, will begin discharging patients by appointment, in the latest phase of a three-year effort toward capacity maximization, says Jackie Connor, RN, MS, CCS, director of case management.

Discharge Planning Advisor: Katrina survivors suffer limited access to care

Survivors of Hurricane Katrina continued to suffer emotional and mental trauma and limited access to care and medications for months after the storm, largely because of a sharp reduction in charity care and lack of insurance, according to a recent report.

Insurers using publicly reported quality data

A growing number of health insurers is using publicly reported quality data to reward the best-performing hospitals, both publicly and financially.

The Quality - Cost Connection: Don't declare QI victory too soon

Hospitals are making numerous changes in an attempt to improve the quality and safety of patient care services. These interventions could be a new program, practice, or initiatives such as staff training.

Accreditation Field Report: Surveyors like process used to reconcile meds

During a January 2006 survey at Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, MA, Joint Commission surveyors looked closely at patient safety, medication reconciliation, fall prevention, handoff communication, and changes made as a result of performance improvement activities.

Patient Safety Alert supplement

Hospital Peer Review – October 1, 2006

October 1, 2006