Case Studies
SMH was an early participant in the Premier Quest Collaborative designed to improve quality, efficiency, safety and transparency. By benchmarking with organizations whose results were better than theirs, SMH was able to make rapid cycle improvements that resulted in improved outcomes. SMH was able…
Human resources and the nursing leadership team worked together using a PDCA for rapid cycle improvement to decrease turnover of registered nurses by refining the interview process and improving their orientation. This project enhances the patient experience of care by providing continuity of…
Data from the AHRQ Safety Culture Survey indicated the need to improve mechanisms for incident capture, analysis, prioritization and action. Based on Lean/Six Sigma methodology, the defect huddle was designed. It is a weekly 30 minute multidisciplinary team meeting where safety events, including…
A multidisciplinary committee found that despite an overall sepsis mortality rate similar to expected, there was significant variation in the care these patients received. Efforts to reduce mortality focused on sepsis recognition and treatment by using an ED protocol on appropriate fluid and…
St. John's implemented a web-based business intelligence platform that integrates physician quality and utilization data in a severity adjusted format. This tool was utilized to monitor implementation of an evidence-based pathway for inpatient management of congestive heart failure patients as…
The hospital used evidence-based tools and interventions to decrease hospital readmissions by taking advantage of industry experts and utilized external collaboratives such as Preventing Readmissions through Effective Partnerships. The hospital simultaneously participated in Project Better Outcomes…
In January 2011, utilizing the hospital's system-wide electronic medical records, a family medicine physician studied data for the health system's patients between the ages of 18 and 79 to identify those who may be at risk for hypertension. Five algorithms were used to simultaneously query data…
Lake Placid and Tupper Lake, nursing homes that are part of Adirondack Health, Saranac Lake, N.Y., worked with other care facilities to produce the Blue Line Group. This collaboration is currently working on a single electronic health record for each patient. This case study is part of the…
South Nassau Communities Hospital, Oceanside, N.Y., focused on educating patients with chronic condistions to lower health care costs and improve those patients' quality of care. Leaders implemented the Heart Healthy Bundle which promotes self management by standarizing coaching methods and…
United Memorial Medical Center, Batavia, N.Y., focused on patients with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pnuemonia and their health needs in order to reduce frequent hospitalizations and readmissions.