-
THERE ARE BIG BUCKS IN PATIENT FLOW
Looking at your patient flow could potentially save you hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the case of St. Joseph, MO-based Heartland Health, improving the surgery department patient flow garnered them over $300,000 in savings the first year... When analyzing patient flow look at three areas: 1) Queuing theory (the science of waiting) and simulations with operations, experience, and expertise. 2) Scheduled and unscheduled volume and ways to smooth the flow of electives patients through the hospitals. 3) Right-size simulations to ensure you have the right staff at the right time. .. Before you let your patient flow problems fester, step back and analyze the flow—doing so may just be the best patient quality, satisfier and cost cutting effort achieved all year
more »
-
HEALTH COSTS HIGHER WHERE HOSPITAL COMPETITION IS LOWER
Spending by private insurers tends to be higher when the hospital market is less competitive, according to the American Journal of Managed Care.... The study suggests when a small market has one or a few big hospitals, that employers spend more than in large cities with more competition, an issue that does not affect government health programs.
more »
-
FIVE STRATEGIES TO PROVE HEALTHCARE IS A GROWTH INDUSTRY
Political rhetoric about healthcare costs, waste in the system, and how to cut reimbursement has dominated headlines..., ever since healthcare reform became a prime focus.... Regardless of Reform..., reimbursements are going down—or growth may slow.... But smart leaders know the future of healthcare reimbursement isn't a zero-sum game, and a hospital need not resign itself to tepid growth. Adaptable and innovative hospitals will reap rewards.... HealthLeaders reviews opportunities to increase revenue, decrease costs, or enhance services in the areas of leadership, finance, physicians, technology, health plans, quality, and outcomes.
more »
-
JCAHO ISSUES STAFFING EFFECTIVENESS STANDARDS
JCAHO Staffing Effectiveness Standards, requires appropriate nurse staffing that provides... best possible patient outcomes..., is effective July, 2010. Initially, hospitals were required to track two HR and two patient outcome indicators, and determine the variation in performance caused by the number, skill mix, or competency of staff. The new JCAHO requirements are all A- structure or direct impact standards.... Hospitals not complying, are considered to be immediately risking patient safety and if cited for any staffing effectiveness violations, a short-term resolution is given, and the hospital must correct within 45 days. EP 13 requires hospitals to annually report to the Board all system/process failures, the number and type of sentinel events, and this information, including steps to improve patient safety is to be shared with patients. EP 13 ties staffing to outcomes, and puts accountability on the leadership.
more »
-
HOSPITALS AFFECTED BY A NURSING SHORTAGE
According to Reuters... "The nursing shortage is expected to worsen, with 78 million baby boomers hitting retirement age... requiring more care for chronic illnesses… A Vanderbilt University study, showed that... 4 million hospital days could be averted annually by increasing the number of RNs. This represents 700.8 patient days saved per hospital." and according an AMN Healthcare 2010 Survey: a) 8% of RNs retuned to nursing over the last 2 years and 3% for economic reasons, b) 28% agree with the statement, "I will not be working in this job a year from now", c) 46% agree with the statement " I worry this job is affecting my health", d) 44% plan in 1 to 3 years to leave nursing, retire or reduce the volume of clinical work, or switch to part-time or travel nurse status, and e) 33% said the shortage is worse, despite the recession.
more »
-
FOUR WAYS HOSPITALS CAN AVOID READMISSIONS AND PENALTIES
Tucked into the reform bills are provisions that would gives the HHS Secretary the power to identify "excess hospital readmissions"—and then penalize hospitals.... Payments for discharges paid by Medicare could be reduced by 3% or 5%.... For those hospitals where many of those readmissions are "unplanned and potentially the result of missteps in care either during the hospitalization or in the period immediately following the hospitalization," the Commonwealth Fund has put together a guide to help hospitals reduce their occurrence.
more »
-
TOP HOSPITALS IMPROVE FASTER
A HealthGrades Clinical Excellence study showed that the top 5% of hospitals are improving faster than other hospitals...., having a 29% lower risk-adjusted mortality rate, a 9% lower risk-adjusted inhospital complication rate... and if all hospitals performed at this 'Distinguished Level", 150,132 Medicare lives could be saved and 13,104 Medicare inhospital complications could be avoided. The data shows that they are continuing to improve their patient outcomes at a faster rate, reflecting a commitment to quality...." which comes with adequate staffing .
more »
-
THE ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW... HEALTHCARE EXPANDS
The U.S. economy continues to improve... and more companies plan to add jobs, according to NABE. The survey evidences that the U.S. recovery continues. CEOs (61%) said real GDP will expand by 2%+ in 2010, .... Also firms are expecting to add jobs in the next 6 months...".
more »