Hospital Peer Review – December 1, 2007
December 1, 2007
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You'll need more data, new skills for coming leadership standards
The Joint Commission's new Leadership standards aren't effective until Jan. 1, 2009, but quality professionals will need to start preparing now to address new requirements for conflict management and disruptive behavior, skills required of leaders, communication among leaders, and creation of a culture of safety. -
Take these steps for noncompliant physicians
When it comes to non-compliance by physicians for core measure requirements, quality professionals often feel powerless they have plenty of data but not enough clout. -
Work with physicians on core measures: Here's how
Some aspects of core measure compliance call for a "handshake" between quality professionals and physicians, says Christopher Sharp, MD, clinical assistant professor at Stanford (CA) University Medical Center. Here are the best ways to collaborate: -
Patient Satisfaction Planner: Six Sigma project slashes LOS for SNF discharges
The length of stay for patients being discharged to skilled nursing facilities from St. Joseph's Hospital progressive ventilator care unit dropped by 7.5 days (a 47% reduction) following a Six Sigma pilot project that focused on better ambulation of patients, earlier screening for potential skilled nursing admissions, and timely discharge. -
Patient Satisfaction Planner: Despite longer wait times, satisfaction still improves
In findings that at first glance may seem puzzling, the 2007 ED Pulse Report patient satisfaction survey by Press Ganey Associates indicated that while ED wait times continue to increase, so does patient satisfaction. -
Patient Satisfaction Planner: Keep the patient's 'internal clock' in mind
Once a patient makes the decision to seek emergency care, their "internal clock" starts, asserts Alex Rosenau, DO, FACEP vice chair, department of emergency medicine, at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network, Allentown, PA. -
The Quality - Cost Connection: Reporting organizational performance graphically
To enable senior leaders to gain knowledge about quality and safety performance within the organization the quality department should create a concise, yet complete, measurement report. -
EHRs often not used to their full potential
Electronic health records (EHRs) made little or no difference on 14 of 17 quality measures examined, and quality was worse for one measure, a recent study found.