Maureen Larkin, Senior Editor-Quality

When you saw the tape of the New York City woman dying on the floor of the emergency room this summer, what was your reaction? If you work in healthcare, you probably think that no hospital worker could ever leave a woman lying on the floor writhing in pain. But the sad truth is that many hospitals have employees who would do just that. [Read More]

Sept. 4, 2008

Editor's Picks

Study: We're a long way from consumers using cost, quality data
A study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change last week revealed that health plans are the only major player in the healthcare industry to actively use hospital cost and quality data. The lead author of the study says we are still far away from having broad consumer interest in the information. [Read More]

Report: OR staff lapse led to surgical error
Earlier this year I wrote about the leadership shown by Paul Levy, CEO of Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center after a surgical error occurred at his hospital. Late last week, a Massachusetts state agency found that the error occurred because OR staff failed to take the procedural "time out" before beginning surgery. [Read More]

NQF endorses health information technology standards
To improve quality and efficiency and reduce errors and unnecessary treatments across the healthcare system, the National Quality Forum (NQF) has endorsed nine new national voluntary consensus standards for health information technology (HIT) in the areas of electronic prescribing, electronic health record (EHR) interoperability, care management, quality registries, and the medical home. These HIT structural measures are intended to help providers assess the efficiency and standardization of current HIT systems and identify areas where additional HIT tools can be used. [Read More]

This Week's Headlines

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Feds approve Tampa General Hospital's plan for improvements
St. Petersburg Times - September 4, 2008

Deaths in Sacramento County ERs sparking concern
Sacramento Bee - September 3, 2008

Curbing antibiotic use in war on superbugs
Wall Street Journal (subscription required) - September 3, 2008

Georgia rates poorly in hospital deaths
Atlanta Journal-Constitution - September 3, 2008

PA patient organization to work more closely with hospitals
The Patriot-News - August 29, 2008

Surgeon linked to high number of infections leaving hospital
Fresno Bee - August 28, 2008

C. difficile deaths up by 28% in England and Wales
The Independent - August 28, 2008

Hospital costs appear to be slowing
HealthNewsDigest - August 27, 2008