Wisconsin health system finds savings in health quality project

Aurora Health Care's participation in a federal quality improvement project helped the Milwaukee-based hospital system save $3.5 million in treating certain medical conditions. The Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration program, in which Aurora participated from 2005 through 2007, focused on cases involving pneumonia, heart bypass, heart failure, heart attack, and hip and knee replacements. Evidence-based treatments relating to those conditions were evaluated at each hospital, then officials created a 60-day action plan to improve the quality of care.