Hospital Peer Review – December 1, 2006
December 1, 2006
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Study: Public reporting gaining 'long overdue respect' for quality managers
If you were frustrated by a lack of compliance with core measure requirements by medical staff members, would your hospital's CEO get involved? In general, do you feel you are getting more respect from clinical staff? -
Accreditation Field Report: JCAHO 'backup' system goes to top during survey
When Joint Commission surveyors walked into Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, PA, the hospital's "backup" system went into effect. For everyone not present, a backup person went into action who knew where all the relevant documents were. -
Peer review: What you can do to avoid lawsuits
Does your organization's peer review committee have any ulterior motives? Are any of the members in competition with physician colleagues who are being investigated? Or are there financial incentives of some sort that could interfere with the objectivity of the committee? -
Patient Satisfaction Planner: Patients at this hospital have a 'ticket to ride'
A new program at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables, FL, helps move patients seamlessly from one department or unit to another, helping address the challenging issue of handoffs. -
Patient Satisfaction Planner: Facility uses Six Sigma to improve quality
New York-Presbyterian Hospital recently received top honors in two categories at the Global Six Sigma Summit & Industry Awards "Best Achievement of Six Sigma in Healthcare" (sponsored by CIGNA Corporation), and the Platinum Award for "The Most Outstanding Organizational Achievement through Six Sigma." -
Patient Satisfaction Planner: APNs ensure patients move through the continuum
Case management is a collaborative process at Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL, with advanced practice nurses leading a team that includes utilization managers, social workers, and staff nurses. -
Very few hospitals using EHR, says a new study
As of 2005, only between 5% to 10% of hospitals are currently using electronic health records (EHR), according to a new study. The researchers urge greater attention to EHR adoption by safety-net providers and others who care for underserved populations. -
The Quality - Cost Connection: How to evaluate social service contributions
Social work services provide an important link between ambulatory and inpatient providers and health care clients. Social workers assist patients in finding available and appropriate resources, help with financial issues, arrange transportation for patients, and conduct many more enabling tasks. -
Anti-kickback safe harbors could give boost to P4P
Under expanded safe harbors to anti-kickback statutes, physicians are now allowed to accept donations of electronic prescribing software, electronic health records software, and training services from hospitals and health plans, says the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). -
IOM report: Medicare should switch to P4P
A recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report recommends that Medicare gradually replace its current fee-for-service payment system with a new pay-for-performance system for its 42 million beneficiaries.