Hospital Case Management articles from July 2004

Hospital Case Management archives from July 2004

Clinical practice guidelines improve patient care at Connecticut hospital: five tools guide treatment from admission through discharge.(Danbury (CT) Hospital)(management of hospital administration-patients)
July 1, 2004... Through an integrated five-pronged approach, Danbury (CT) Hospital has been able to improve patient care for patients with any of 13 diagnoses. The Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) include five tools: clinical pathway, standardized...

Hospital CM tackles cost of benefits program: program to cut costs, out-of-network referrals.(Davis Memorial Hospital-health care costs and employee management)(case management)
July 1, 2004... When health care costs for its employees soared by 60% and out-of-network claims increased by 20% in just a few years, Davis Memorial Hospital in Elkins, WV, took action. The 90-bed community hospital called on the expertise of Tod Thorpe,...

New tool adds structure, productivity to meetings: pre-existing tool adapted to strategic goals.(Critical Path Network[TM])(All Saints Healthcare)
July 1, 2004... All Saints Healthcare, a multifacility system in Racine, WI, has adapted a pre-existing template for meeting structure to more closely mesh with its strategic goals, creating a more organized meeting process, while at the same time, reinforcing...

National model begun at regional level: IHI's model improves care of diabetes patients.(Critical Path Network[TM])(Institute for Healthcare Improvement-services)
July 1, 2004... The Breakthrough Series Collaborative model effectively employed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) on a national level has been translated successfully to the regional level in the state of Washington, achieving significant...

Care program incorporates office-based CM approach: initiative expands as physicians learn its purpose.(Discharge Planning Advisor[R]--the update for improving continuity of care)(clinical management)
July 1, 2004... Physicians aligned with Sutter Health in Sacramento, CA, are giving glowing reviews to a care coordination program they once failed to recognize, pleased that it is meeting myriad patients' needs and saving office time in the bargain. What...

Research to separate DP outcome, process goals: PhD candidate fine-tuning new screen.(Discharge Planning Advisor[R]--the update for improving continuity of care)(patient outcomes of hospitalization)
July 1, 2004... After working 15 years as a discharge planner and earning masters' degrees in nursing and clinical research, there's an incongruity that Diane Holland, RN, MS, MBS, who is now pursuing a PhD through the doctoral program at the University of...

CE questions.(continuing education)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... 1. Which of the following is not one of the five tools included in the Clinical Practice Guidelines at Danbury (CT) hospital? A. standardized physician orders B. patient education materials C. JCAHO standards D. critical...

Taking charge when you're not in charge: when you have responsibility without authority.(Guest Column)(case managers)(Column)
July 1, 2004... Case managers often find themselves charged with the responsibility for solving problems without the accompanying authority needed to fix the problem. This can be very frustrating. You can't issue direct orders to solve the problem, so why...

Finding root causes without blame helps eliminate errors: initiative boosts staff support for improvement efforts.
July 1, 2004... Searching for the root causes of adverse patient safety events under its new nonpunitive environment policy" has helped Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, IN, not only eliminate errors but also boost staff morale and engender staff support...