The Maine Hospital Association recently announced a voluntary statewide initiative aimed at preventing patients and insurance companies from getting billed for the expense of medical errors that lead to longer hospital stays. But a state lawmaker says the voluntary policy doesn't go far enough and is pushing for an enforceable law that would make it illegal to charge patients or other payers for medical missteps that should never have happened in the first place.
A technician mistakes an "A" for an "O" in a drug name. A doctor misplaces a decimal point in a prescription order. A nurse reaches for a vial in a cabinet as she's done hundreds of times before, only this time the light is dim and she fails to notice that the powder-blue label is more of a sky blue. The slip-ups are often simple, and always human, and all have happened in U.S. hospitals. Each simple mistake is supposed to be countered by a recommended backup, a second or third set of eyes--in other words, guidelines to reduce human error. A lot has to be overlooked in the cascade of errors that result in serious patient harm.
Premier Healthcare, an alliance of non-profit hospitals and purchasing network, announced that Pay for Performance initiatives are not only improving quality at hospitals, but also driving costs and mortality rates down. The report says that 70,000 lives could be saved nationwide if all hospitals were to achieve the three-year cost and quality improvements found at the 250 hospitals that participated in the analysis.
As part of a new national program, Medicare has named five hospitals in South Florida as targets for quality improvement. The hospitals are being measured for surgical care improvements. Four of the hospitals were targets for improvement for only one measure: Not doing enough to end the use of preventative antibiotics within 24 hours after surgery.
For those afflicted with dementia, whether through Alzheimer's disease or other underlying cause, the presence of a "best friend" can make a huge difference in continued quality of life. Avamere Health Services in Oregon has adopted the 'Best Friends' program to encourage Avamere staff members to be patient advocates and caregivers. Staff receive six hours training based upon the methodology of Alzheimer's care developed in the 1990s by David Troxel and Virginia Bell. Caregivers learn to familiarize themselves with the life stories of these patient-partners, to respect and indulge their preferences and encourage remaining capabilities, no matter how limited. The approach leads to fewer conflicts, and residents, in turn, feel safe and valued.
The Lindner Center of HOPE will open in August 2008 funded by a $39 million gift from the Lindner family, which will help complete the new building in Mason. That up-front money also will help recruit doctors and research staff. The center is being designed from scratch, giving organizers plenty of latitude to create what they hope will be a national model for mental healthcare.