HealthLeaders Media Quality Weekly - January 31, 2008 | A Stagnant Seven Years?


A Stagnant Seven Years? Maureen Larkin, Senior Editor-Quality For Americans who listened to President George W. Bush give his final State of the Union speech Monday night, it was the same old story when it comes to healthcare. Our president told us he wants to see more affordable and accessible healthcare, tax breaks for those without health insurance, and an end to junk medical lawsuits. Nothing new there. The president has touted these changes in each of his annual addresses since he first took office in 2001. Hearing the same things year after year, it's easy to believe that the president has achieved little in healthcare during his seven years in office. [Read More]
		January 31, 2008

Editor's Picks

Hospitals finding errors in HCAHPS preview
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced a mathematical error caused the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey scores released earlier this month to be incorrect. CMS says it will recalculate scores and notify hospitals when the correct numbers are available. [Read More]

New medicine for what ails hospitals
Efficiency experts--used for many years in industries outside healthcare--are taking a look at how hospitals work, resulting in cost savings for hospitals and quicker, higher-quality care for patients. At one Boston-area hospital, experts improved wait times in the radiology department and saved the hospital from spending $500,000 for a new X-ray machine. [Read More]

Study says hand gel not enough to curb hospital infections
Sanitizing gel has been found to be just as effective if not more so for killing germs on hands, but a new study in the January issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology says using gel alone isn't enough to reduce the number of infections spread at hospitals. [Read More]

Report: Few complaints against physicians result in discipline
We can talk about engaging consumers until we're blue in the face, but the AP is reporting that just 213 of the 2,400 complaints filed against physicians between 2002 and 2006 have been investigated by the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board. If healthcare isn't taking consumer complaints seriously, then why should consumers bother? [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

Death rates rise at Oregon hospitals
The Oregonian - January 23, 2008

Report criticizes Kaiser for lack of action
Los Angeles Times - January 28, 2008

Patient, protect thyself
Los Angeles Times - January 28, 2008

VA: 19 deaths in Illinois traced to care
AP/The Baltimore Sun - January 29, 2008

Errors take a toll on doctors who make them
Los Angeles Times - January 28, 2008

Headlines Sponsored by AT&T

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Transition to Digital: More and more hospitals are going paperless.

Trend Report--Dialing Long Distance for Healthcare: Telemedicine makes care accessible when and where it's needed.

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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]

Are you a Health Leader?


	Leaders Forum Are your patients bugging out about MRSA? Use the spotlight to your advantage If your facility is like many others, your office has been fielding a lot of MRSA questions lately. With fears heightened and healthcare consumers seeking more information, you're in the tricky position of having to provide it. That means you need to be as well versed in public relations skills as you are in IC measures. From the monthly newsletter Briefings on Infection Control, January 2008, published by HCPro, Inc. the parent company of HealthLeaders Media. Note: Subscription required. [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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