Janice Simmons, Senior Editor

One of the steps toward achieving quality care is getting patients more engaged in their health by working with their providers to better understand the treatment they are receiving. Not surprisingly, some patients are far more motivated and engaged—asking questions or searching for more detailed information. Others, not so much. But all patients can—and should—have the ability to be more involved in their care, according to one healthcare expert. [Read More]

March 11, 2010

Editor's Picks

Hospitals Could Save Millions By Eliminating Five Hospital Acquired Conditions
An average 200-bed hospital could save approximately $2 million annually if it eliminates common but high cost hospital acquired conditions among inpatients, according to the Healthcare Management Council, Inc. The conditions include decubitis ulcers, postoperative pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, accidental puncture and laceration, post-operative respiratory, and infections. [Read More]

Report Questions Patient Safety Training, Recommends Improvements
Today's medical students are not learning enough about patient safety, the importance of teamwork and communication, and safety science, according to a new white paper released by the Lucian Leape Institute at the National Patient Safety Foundation. The report details 12 recommendations for reforming the current medical education curricula to incorporate these vital aspects of providing safe patient care. [Read More]

One Year Later: What Have We Learned from H1N1?
It's been nearly a year since H1N1 arrived in the U.S. How has the healthcare system responded and is the nation any more prepared for a larger health crisis? The good news from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is that "there's no evidence that the virus is mutating in such a way to cause a different spectrum of illness, or will cause more severe cases," says the CDC's Dr. Beth Bell, associate director of science for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "And there's no evidence that the virus is resistant to antiviral medications and it's still a good match for the vaccine." But, she says, there's no way to predict what will happen this year. [Read More]

Study Links High Hospital Occupancy to Higher Death Risk
A new study found that patients admitted to full or near full hospitals increased their risk of dying by 5.6%. University of Michigan Health System researchers evaluated four factors that can affect hospital deaths: occupancy, nurse staffing levels, weekend admissions, and seasonal flu. Having more nurses made patients safer, decreasing risk by 6%. But weekend admission raised the risk by 7.5% and admission during seasonal flu had the greatest impact by increasing the risk of death by 11.7%, according to the study. [Read More]

Joint Commission Working on Breast Cancer Care Quality Measures
The Joint Commission's Division of Quality Measurement and Research has been contracted to complete a portion of a project to develop quality measures to assess and improve care for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in an ambulatory setting, according to an announcement from the accrediting organization. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

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More Children Hospitalized With Severe Clostridium Difficile, Says Study
Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media – March 10, 2010

Senate Committee Requests Investigation of Long-Term Care Hospitals
Janice Simmons, for HealthLeaders Media – March 10, 2010

Group appointments give patients better access to physicians
Washington Post – March 9, 2010

Medicare program cites Mass. General for serious problems
Boston Globe – March 8, 2010

Webcasts/Audio Conferences

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Cancer Service Line Success: Better Coordination, Better Outcomes (March 30)

Beyond ROI: Prove the Success of Your Marketing Efforts (March 31)

Physician Compensation Models in a Strained Economy (On Demand)