Safety culture
Many health care providers do not support using text messaging for medical orders, according to a survey released last week by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. The 778 respondents included nurses, pharmacists, prescribers, medication safety officers and others. One-third of respondents…
One of the most important steps you can take to avoid serious, flu-related illnesses is to be vaccinated.Who needs a flu vaccine? Almost everyone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated, particularly people who are at a high…
Looking for more evidence of the stellar work being done in health care across the country? You’ll find it in the latest annual report on health care quality and disparities from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Does your organization have an innovative palliative and end-of-life care program? If so, consider applying for the 2018 Circle of Life Award.Since 1999, the “Circle of Life Award: Celebrating Innovation in End-of-Life Care” has honored shining examples of human compassion – care that helps people…
By Jay Bhatt, D.O., and Katie MockaitisHospitals have made impressive strides in improving care in the inpatient setting and are applying those lessons to outpatient care.
By Jay Bhatt, D.O., and Maureen Swick, R.N.Patient safety experts agree that communication and teamwork skills are essential for providing quality health care. When all clinical and nonclinical staff collaborate effectively, health care teams can improve patient outcomes, prevent medical errors,…
March 12-18 is “Patient Safety Awareness Week,” when the National Patient Safety Foundation encourages hospitals and other health care organizations to host local activities promoting awareness of the need to continually improve patient safety and to involve the public in those improvement efforts.…
The rapid pace of change in health care, from delivery redesign to risk-based payment models to increased data reporting and interoperability, has clinician attention divided among many competing priorities and challenged to meet changing requirements while improving care delivery for a more…
The buzzword these days in quality improvement is “HIIN.” That’s short for Hospital Improvement Innovation Networks, part of the continuation of the Partnership for Patients program. It succeeds the recently concluded Hospital Engagement Networks and will work to reduce overall hospital-acquired…
As the new president and CEO of AHA’s Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET), I am thrilled that HRET has been selected as one of 16 national, regional or state hospital associations, Quality Improvement Organizations and health system organizations to continue efforts in reducing…