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Hospital Compare Web Site Adds Mortality Rate Information The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added heart attack and heart failure mortality information last week to its Hospital Compare consumer Web site www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov. The site lists hospitals compared to the national mortality rate as being “No different than the U.S. national rate,” “Better than the U.S. national rate,” or “Worse than the U.S. national rate.” The tool is designed to give consumers better insight into the quality of care provided by hospitals.
These additional quality measures allow consumers to see how an individual hospital compares to the national rate when measuring the outcome of care for heart attack and heart failure patients 30 days after being admitted to a hospital, including the time spent outside of the hospital upon discharge. Of the 4,807 hospitals that submitted data, 38 ranked better than the national rate and 35 ranked worse, with the rest of the hospitals being considered no different than the national rate. In addition to the new mortality rate information, the Hospital Compare Web site includes hospital location information, a hospital quality comparison that evaluates hospitals based on process of care measures and a checklist of important questions to consider before going into a hospital. Members can access OHA’s talking points on the latest addition to CMS’ Hospital Compare Web site. (Rosalie Weakland, rosaliew@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’ Heartbeat A 2007 nominee for the Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award
Maurisa Baker, PT Physical Therapist, School-Based Program and Women’s Health Program Fairfield Medical Center Lancaster
A look inside Maurisa’s nomination –
Maurisa, a
physical therapist, is an outstanding individual and
clinician. Maurisa is energetic, creative, dedicated, and
knowledgeable. She has improved and expanded our pediatric
services at the Logan School, Fairfield County Schools and
Lancaster City School systems, and at our Outpatient Therapy
Clinic. Maurisa has been an integral in our Autism Camp
since its inception five years ago, and became the organizer
and coordinator of the camp three years ago. This camp is
held each summer for two to three weeks, working with
autistic children and their families. Maurisa provides
quality customer service and goes the extra mile for
teachers, parents, students and patients, such as giving her
home phone number to concerned parents to call any day, any
time to ease their worries and concerns.
Hospitals Lead the Way Ohio’s hospitals continue to be recognized with awards and grants for their outstanding leadership and quality of care.
Many Ohio hospitals were recognized by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for using the Get With The Guidelines program to improve their quality of care for heart disease and stroke patients. Visit the American Heart Association Web site for a complete list of hospitals.
MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, received a Starbright and Colgate-Palmolive Fun Center for its pediatrics department based on a national online voting campaign that drew more than 1 million votes. Premier Community Health, Dayton, was chosen as a 2006 Ohio Cancer Model Program by Ohio Partners for Cancer Control for its breast health initiative program.
HealthStream Research presented Robinson Memorial Hospital, Ravenna, with the Excellence Through Insight award for Most Improved Community Perception of Quality. The hospital was also awarded the 2007 Voluntary Hospitals of America (VHA) Leadership Award for Operational Excellence at the VHA Leadership Conference in Denver. The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star for superior energy performance for the third time.
Akron General Medical Center received a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation to provide follow-up treatment for women who were shown to have atypical or positive mammograms and are uninsured. Akron General also benefited from a grant awarded by the Akron Community Foundation to the Healthcare in Progress Initiative, a collaborative effort of Akron General, Summa Health System, Akron Children’s Hospital, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine, Kent State University, The University of Akron and the Akron Public Schools.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)/Premier Inc. quality performance project named Kettering Medical Center (KMC) and KMC-Sycamore as two of the top performers for delivering the highest-quality care in five clinical areas. Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital and Parma Community General Hospital received 2006 Commitment to Quality awards for outstanding performance in patient care. Doctors Hospital West, Columbus, was recognized with the Datascope-AACN Excellence in Collaboration Nurse to Administration Award for its efforts to reduce RN turnover and improve employee job satisfaction. (Mary Sterenberg, marys@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’
Heartbeat
Marilyn Gesing Director, Community Outreach Fairview Hospital Cleveland
A look inside Marilyn’s nomination - A graduate of the 1974 class of the Fairview Hospital School of Nursing, Marilyn has been an integral member of our hospital and community ever since. Marilyn took her bedside nursing skills, leadership skills and knowledge honed as a staff nurse, head nurse, clinical instructor and hospital nursing supervisor to her current role as Director of Community Outreach. During her 33 years, Marilyn has helped develop several major initiatives—such as the Senior Circle, Parish Nurse and Wellness programs—that have a direct impact on the health and well being of tens of thousands of individuals every year. Some of her initiatives have been adopted as a best practice by the Cleveland Clinic, and now provide direct benefits to individuals living throughout Northeast Ohio.
Wednesday,
June 27, 2007 The newly-created House Health Access & Affordability Committee, which is also gathering information from health care stakeholders, has announced its summer travel schedule: July 31, Toledo Aug. 6, Springfield Aug. 7, Zanesville Aug.8, Sharonville OHA will work with hospital government relations officers and others to coordinate hospital testimony for both the House and Senate. (Bridget Gargan, bridgetg@ohanet.org)
Hospitals’
Heartbeat
Deana
Damron-Kehres, RN, MSN, AOCN
A look
inside Deana’s nomination -
U.S. Senate Rejects Employee Free Choice Act After passing the U.S. House of Representatives in March, the Employee Free Choice Act failed to pass in the U.S. Senate this week when it did not receive the necessary 60 votes. OHA had concerns with the bill, which would have eliminated employees’ right to vote in a secret ballot election when union organizers collected cards supporting the union signed by a majority of employees.
Also, the bill would have subjected employers and unions to mandatory arbitration of collective bargaining agreement terms. Finally, the bill would have increased penalties against employers for violations of the National Labor Relations Act. The White House had announced intentions to veto the bill if it passed through Congress. Though this legislation was unsuccessful, a similar bill may be introduced after next year’s presidential election. (Nancy Falk, nancyf@ohanet.org)
Hospital
Hero Lends Helping Hand
Hospitals’
Heartbeat
Patricia Ringholz, LPT Licensed Physical Therapist Fisher-Titus Medical Center Norwalk
A look inside Patricia’s nomination - Patty is a remarkable physical therapist. Her amazing story touches upon many facets of the health care continuum. In one aspect, she reaches out to a diverse caseload and steps outside her role as therapist to advocate for her pediatric patients. In another aspect, she reaches out to fellow oncology patients and assists them with management of their physical, spiritual and emotional needs. In yet another aspect, she draws upon her skill set to support the local football team in directing conditioning and injury management. And in yet another aspect, she supports her family in their adjustment to the harsh realities of having a mother who is a stage 4 cancer patient. Every day Patty lives as the model of the consummate health care professional.
At its June meeting, the OHA Board of Trustees learned that preliminary assessments for the 2007 Hospital Care Assurance Program are tentatively scheduled for mid-July, meaning the first assessments would be due in late August or early September pending final verification of the distribution model.
OHA staff updated the Board on current and upcoming state legislative issues including the state budget, which wrapped up this week in conference committee. In addition to providing hospitals a reimbursement update and expanding Medicaid coverage to children and pregnant women, the budget allocates $50,000 to the Ohio Department of Health to establish a hospital quality data Web site as required by transparency legislation passed in 2006, House Bill 197. Issues on the horizon this fall include nurse staffing, health care reform, universal health care coverage, and prescriptive authority for advanced practice nurses.
Looking at the national front, the Board received an overview of the federal fiscal year 2008 Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule, which would cost Ohio hospitals $117 million in 2008 alone if implemented. OHA staff also highlighted Ohio’s health status and the projected future of Medicare. This year, Medicare trustees projected that the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be exhausted in 12 years, by 2019.
Finally, the Board was updated on OHA’s 2007 community benefit report, planned to be released publicly the week of July 16, and process in the Friends of Ohio Hospitals fundraising campaign, which is one-third of the way to meeting the $147,000 goal. © 2001-2008 OHA. Last updated
January 03, 2008. |
