Surgery is front and center in new Medicare value-based purchasing
This year, the quality movement takes a big step with the start of Medicare’s value-based purchasing (VBP) program. Beginning October 1, 2012, part of your hospital’s Medicare payments will be based on your hospital’s performance on a set of quality measures, usually referred to as the core measures and HCAHPS…
Data for benchmarking your OR's performance
Hospitals are facing stiff economic winds. They are challenged by shrinking reimbursement from Medicare and Medicare, even as more patients will be covered by these publicly funded programs. Perioperative managers and directors are under pressure to make the most of their department’s resources. You’re being asked to measure every aspect…
Looking to front-line clinicians, staff for lasting improvements
A patient with a multidrug-resistant infection is coming to your OR. That patient will travel from her room—one of the most contaminated areas of the hospital—to surgery, which is perhaps the cleanest. How can her caregivers avoid cross-contamination that could transmit the infection to others? At 219-bed St Patrick Hospital…
Managing urgent cases with accountability
A4-level classification system with built-in accountability measures is used for managing urgent and emergent cases at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Michigan, a 390-bed referral center with 14 ORs. The policy was developed by a steering committee of surgeons, anesthesiologists, OR management, and the administration working with a consultant.…
For urgent and emergent cases, which one goes to the OR first?
When several patients needing urgent or emergent surgery arrive at a hospital simultaneously, who decides which case goes to the OR first? For true emergencies, the decision is generally straightforward, with the patient rushed into the first available room. But in many other situations, the decision is not as clear:…
90-day guarantee: Warranties as a tool for improved patient outcomes
Everything from washers to cars comes with a warranty, so why not health care? Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania, introduced health care warranties with an innovative program called ProvenCare. Under the 90-day warranty, one cost covers the surgery and 90 days of follow-up treatment. Geisinger absorbs any additional costs…
Automation ends preop paper chase
Preparing patients for the day of surgery can mean chasing faxes and other documents that are easily misplaced. Missing information can lead to surgical delays and cancellations, not to mention frustrated physicians and staff. If ever a process was ripe for automation, this is it. With the government's funding for…
A report card on OR information systems
The report card for OR information systems is out. Users gave their systems scores that were a little higher in 2007 than in 2005. Leading the pack was USA, with Meditech in second place and McKesson Horizon in third. The average overall score was 77.4 out of 100. Perioperative system…
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