Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003

February 1, 2003

• ‘Storytelling’ by staff, patients brings issues to life, aids change

  Its as old as humankind itself, yet when recast through modern technology, storytelling is becoming one of the newest and most effective techniques for engendering cultural change and facilitating performance improvement in health care.

  Read more about ‘Storytelling’ by staff, patients brings issues to life, aids change - Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003

• Risk management: An important partnership

  At first glance, a partnership between staff developing an innovative technique such as storytelling and a department like risk management might seem a bit odd, but it really isnt off the beaten path, says James A. Espinosa, MD, FACEP, FAAFP, medical director of the Overlook Hospital emergency department in Summit, NJ, and quality advisor and fellow with the Atlantic Quality Institute, for Florham Park, NJ-based Atlantic Health System (AHS), of which Overlook is one of several facilities.

  Read more about Risk management: An important partnership - Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003

• Ventilator education program reduces VAP

  A multimodal education program to teach nursing and respiratory therapy staffs about improved techniques has led to a significant reduction in the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

  Read more about Ventilator education program reduces VAP - Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003

• QIOs go beyond typical quality initiative

  The national network of Medicare quality improvement organizations (QIOs) has done more than merely support a new initiative by several national organizations to improve critical care; it is in the process of going beyond the basic scope outlined in the initiative.

  Read more about QIOs go beyond typical quality initiative - Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003

• Hospital receives achievement award

  Award recognition programs are another strategy being used locally to spur quality improvement among health care facilities that contract with Medicare.

  Read more about Hospital receives achievement award - Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003

• Benchmarking could save hospitals billions

  If overall performance in all acute-care U.S. hospitals were the same as the nations top hospitals, close to 57,000 more patients could survive each year and nearly $9.5 billion in annual expenses could be saved, according to a study by Evanston, IL-based Solucient.

  Read more about Benchmarking could save hospitals billions - Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003

• Are patients’ DNR orders overinterpreted?

  A new study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medi-cine in Baltimore indicates that some physicians may be overinterpreting the do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders that some patients opt for near the end of their lives.

  Read more about Are patients’ DNR orders overinterpreted? - Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003

• VAP Fact Sheets

  A series of fact sheets distributed and posted prominently reinforced staff awareness of proper procedures for minimizing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

  Read more about VAP Fact Sheets - Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003

• News Briefs

  Cardiologist care critical; Is simple approach better for heart rhythm problems?

  Read more about News Briefs - Healthcare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement Archives – February 1, 2003