HealthLeaders Media Quality Weekly - January 24, 2008 | They Want the Power


They Want the Power Maureen Larkin, Senior Editor-Quality Last week Alegent Health hosted a forum for hospital leaders called "Power to the Patient." At the event, Alegent CEO Wayne Sensor spoke about the storm clouds on the healthcare horizon, encouraging leaders to embrace the one bright spot that can change the course of the industry: consumer empowerment. [Read More]
		January 24, 2008

Editor's Picks

A basic hospital to-do list saves lives
Remember the "checklist" study that I talked about in last week's edition? Well, it's still a heavily debated topic in healthcare. This week, The New York Times says that hospitals nationwide are talking about starting their own checklists, and Spain is looking to make it a national requirement. [Read More]

Study supports periodic recertification for doctors
Should doctors have to "renew" their certifications every few years? A study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women's and Massachusetts General hospitals assessed physician responses to high blood pressure diagnoses and determined that the quality of care provided was higher among doctors who most recently received their education. [Read More]

Minnesota hospitals doing less harm
Reported medical errors dropped more than 20 percent in the last year at Minnesota hospitals, showing that the state's efforts to increase patient safety are starting to pay off. The state health commissioner says the annual reporting of data has encouraged hospitals to take a closer look at what could be done better at their facilities. [Read More]

Joint Commission seeks input on proposed safety goals
The Joint Commission has announced proposed 2009 National Patient Safety Goals requirements and implementation expectations for field review. These proposed NPSGs affect hospitals and critical access hospitals, ambulatory care and office-based surgery, behavioral healthcare, disease-specific care, home care, laboratories, and long term care. The Joint Commission will be accepting feedback via an online survey through February 27. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

Pennsylvania: No Medicaid pay for hospital errors
AP/Yahoo News - January 23, 2008

Boston hospital aims to eliminate mistakes
The Boston Globe - January 17, 2008

Infections after breast surgery found to be costly
Reuters/Yahoo News - January 22, 2008

Canada-U.S. hospital survey shows quality similar
Business First of Buffalo - January 18, 2008

Massachusetts hospitals post bed sore data online
The Boston Globe - January 22, 2008

Colorado waiting on hospital data
The Denver Post - January 16, 2008

Blue Cross helps members see cost of healthcare
Raleigh News & Observer - January 17, 2008

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From HealthLeaders Magazine

Why Is The ED Such A Pain?

The emergency department has a culture all its own with a unique set of challenges to match. It's also your hospital's window to the community. So you'd better make it work. [Read More]

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	Leaders Forum Beyond the Financial Rewards of Pay-for-Performance Pay-for-performance is a fundamental change in payment methodology that could transform how healthcare is delivered more than the current prospective payment system and managed care plans. Pay-for-performance programs, which are designed to align healthcare payments with clinical best practices and quality thresholds, are becoming commonplace across the country. Levels of adoption suggest that pay-for-performance is likely to stay and may eventually be rolled out across most payers. [Read More]



	Audio Feature Wayne Sensor, CEO at Alegent Health in Omaha, NE, told attendees of the Top Leadership Teams in Healthcare Conference at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, how Accelerated Decision Making has helped his system achieve its quality goals.


	Sponsor QualityLeaders Contact Lisa Brown, Director of Integrated Sales, at lbrown@healthleadersmedia.com or call 781.639.1872.

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