HealthLeaders Media QualityLeaders - July 24, 2008 | Piloting the Basics View as a Webpage | Subscribe for Free
Piloting the Basics
Maureen Larkin, Senior Editor-Quality
As medicine gets more complex, the potential for errors increases dramatically, says E. Patchen "Patch" Dellinger, vice-chair of surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center. But by using the World Health Organization's surgical checklist, Dellinger found that his medical center was able to cut patient safety errors in half. [Read More]
     
 
July 24, 2008
 
     
 
Editor's Picks
Cancer survival depends on where you live
A British study has concluded that the effectiveness of cancer treatment in the United States is dependent not only on where a patient receives treatment, but also on his or her race. In the United States, the lowest survival rates are in New York City. The highest are in Hawaii. [Read More]
Should surgeons get bonuses for doing their job?
The Imperial College Healthcare Trust in London has proposed giving surgeons a financial bonus every time a patient survives a surgery or leaves the hospital without picking up an infection. But isn't that already part of their job? Isn't that why surgeons are paid top dollar? Patient groups in Great Britain are already speaking out against the proposal, saying it will deter doctors from carrying out complex operations or taking on high-risk patients such as the elderly. [Read More]
Tough times prompt patients to skip care
As patients are faced with the rising costs of gas and food, many are choosing to skip annual physicals and exams, says Benjamin Brewer, MD, in his Wall Street Journal blog. This means that patients will be coming to doctors sicker and in need of more advanced care. [Read More]
This Week's Headlines
Texas hospitals support medical error billing policy
Texas Hospital Association - July 24, 2008
Kansas Blue Cross won't reimburse for preventable errors
Kansas City Business Journal - July 24, 2008
 
Webcasts
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  From HealthLeaders Magazine  
The Hospital of the Future
Sure, your organization offers sophisticated, compassionate care. But the patients of tomorrow will want much more than that. [Read More]  
 
 
  Leaders Forum
Express care improves patient flow in the ED
Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital in Sun City West, AZ, was in trouble. From 2002 to 2007, the ED had seen an 87% growth in volume. Patient satisfaction was low, employee turnover was high, and most patients waited eight hours to be seen.
"Our patients hated us. They told us loud and clear on Press Ganey," says Noreen Vanca, RN, BSN, MS, administrative director of emergency services at Sun Health.
Like many other ED managers, Vanca knew something had to be done. In 2006, she began implementing the concept of fast-tracking patients with minor and nonacute injuries. [Read More]
  
 
 
   
Audio Feature
A study by Northwestern University doctors shows that more than three-quarters of emergency room patients leave the hospital without completely understanding their discharge instructions. Kirsten Engel, MD, talks about why this misunderstanding occurs and what clinicians can do to make sure that patients take proper care of themselves after their hospital stay. [Listen Now]