HealthCare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement articles from October 2002

HealthCare Benchmarks and Quality Improvement archives from October 2002

Organizational learning: could it be the key to higher quality and increased revenues? Proponents say shared learning, staff empowerment work wonders.
October 1, 2002... Do you work for a "learning organization"? Given the fact that you're a health care professional, the odds are pretty good that you don't. However, a number of quality experts say that if you did, both you and your organization would be...

Are you ready for EMTALA? Audio conference clarifies final regulations.(Emergency Treatment and Labor Act)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2002... At press time, the final version of the recently proposed changes to the Emergency Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) was expected to become effective soon. Issues in the final regulations could include changes to physician on-call requirements,...

Prisoner HIV program has 85% completion rate: continuum of care maintained for 18 months.
October 1, 2002... An award-winning hospital-based program for prisoners with HIV/AIDS has achieved an incredible 85% completion rate. The program, called Project Bridge, is sponsored by The Miriam Health Care System in Providence, RI, and recently received...

CHA takes three-step journey to improvement: comparative data lay foundation for benchmarking.(Catholic Health Association)
October 1, 2002... (Editor's note: This is the first in a three-part series on the Catholic Health Association's (CHA) performance improvement program, "Living Our Promises, Acting on Faith." This article will deal with the comparative data process, the first...

PDAs help nurses improve care and save time: devices previously used only by physicians.(personal data assistants)
October 1, 2002... A groundbreaking pilot program that equips nurses with personal data assistants (PDAs) has saved nursing staff at Moses Cone Health System in Greensboro, NC, almost two hours a day while helping to identify diabetes patients in greatest need of...

AHRQ: IT/DSS can aid in bioterror response: detection, management, communication enhanced.(information technologies and decision support systems)
October 1, 2002... Having adequate information technologies and decision support systems (IT/DSS) in place can significantly enhance a hospital's ability to respond effectively to a bioterrorism event, according to the Rockdale, MD-based Agency for Healthcare...

Closer link made between nursing shortage, safety: comprehensive study, JCAHO panel say lives may be in danger.
October 1, 2002... Ever since the nursing shortage came to the fore in health care circles, concerns have been raised about its possible impact on patient safety. But even experts have not been able to agree as to whether the evidence of such a linkage was...

Joint Commission issues patient safety goals: goals will show up in surveys.
October 1, 2002... The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, has for the first time issued a set of national patient safety goals, for the year 2003. The goals will be incorporated into JCAHO's survey and...

2003 National patient safety goals and recommendations.
October 1, 2002... Goal 1: Improve the accuracy of patient identification. Recommendations: * Use at least two patient identifiers (not the patient's room number) whenever taking blood samples or administering medications or blood products. * Prior to...