In this issue:

Blue Ribbon Panel Report explores governance of physician organizations

Building on the Center for Healthcare Governance’s earlier study of transformational governance, the Center’s latest Blue Ribbon Panel Report, developed in conjunction with the AHA’s Physician Leadership Forum, shares findings from a study of the governance structure and practices of physician organizations as they relate to clinical integration. It also includes information about other related structures, such as leadership councils and clinical program committees, that play an important role in creating and supporting new models of care delivery. An accompanying AHA Voices piece on the new report can be found by clicking here.

How to improve doctor/patient communication

A recent opinion piece from The New York Times discusses doctor/patient communication and how one  hospital designed a strategy to improve it. The author cites numerous studies showing how poor communication leads to bad outcomes for patients. To understand how bad the situation was at his hospital, the author and his colleagues completed a simple baseline assessment of how they communicate with their patients. The assessment found that most interactions lacked a formal introduction and empathy on the part of the doctor. To improve this, his hospital developed a training program consisting of mock patient interviews and assessments between doctors and actors playing patient roles. A physician coach also sat in on the interviews to observe and provide feedback. Over 250 physicians were trained using this technique. In just two years, patient satisfaction scores for doctors at the hospital increased 40 percentile points.

New antibiotic shows promise in killing bacteria

The discovery of a new antibiotic has scientists and doctors excited about the potential to fight a wider range of drug-resistant bacteria. A study on the new antibiotic was recently published in the journal Nature. Called teixobactin, the antibiotic was able to wipe out infections of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterococcu in studies on mice. It works by inhibiting microbes from creating a cellular wall, where the bacteria would be able to grow and evolve resistance. Researchers studied 10,000 soil bacteria for antibiotics. Twenty-five compounds were discovered with teixobactin showing the most promise. The authors surmise the techniques used to discover this antibiotic may lead to the discovery of more natural compounds to fight bacteria.

Report finds patient-centered medical homes reduce cost, improve utilization

Patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) improve quality and reduce costs, according to a recent report from the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative. The report analyzed the results from 28 peer-reviewed, government and industry reports. Of the seven government reports analyzed, all seven reported reductions in cost while six reported improvements in utilization. Of the seven industry reports, four reported reductions in cost while six reported improvements in utilization. Not all of the 14 peer-reviewed scholarly publications looked at both cost and utilization, but most showed an improvement in each group. The report also includes commentary by several guest experts on the future of the PCMH model.

Case explores end-of-life advance directives

This week’s New England Journal of Medicine includes a case vignette on end-of-life care directives. It presents the case of a 59-year-old woman battling breast cancer. So far, treatments have not beaten the disease or stopped it from spreading. The patient wishes to discuss treatment options to gain more time with her family and loved ones. The article asks which doctor (primary care, oncologist, or palliative care specialist) should have this difficult discussion with her. It lays out three different treatment options for the patient, each one accompanied by a short essay from an expert in the field. The article asks the reader which option they would choose and invites them to leave comments.

Equity of Care: A toolkit for eliminating health care disparities

Equity of Care has released A Toolkit for Eliminating Health Care Disparities. This is a user-friendly „how-to” guide to help accelerate the elimination of health care disparities and ensure hospital leadership reflect the communities they serve. Whether your organization is beginning this journey or is already deeply engrained in this work, the toolkit was created in response to your many requests to gather best practices in one convenient resource.

Physician EHR attestation deadline approaching

Feb. 28 is the last day physicians and other eligible professionals (EP) can attest to meaningful use of electronic health records (EHR) for calendar year 2014 under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. The attestation system is open and includes the 2014 certified EHR technology flexibility rule options. Medicare eligible professionals that did not successfully demonstrate meaningful use in 2014 and do not receive a 2016 hardship exception will have payment adjustments applied beginning Jan. 1, 2016. For more information, see the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ payment adjustment tipsheet. EPs participating in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program should check their state’s attestation deadlines. For more information and resources, visit www.cms.gov.

CDC: Hospitals making progress in effort to eliminate infections

Hospitals reduced central-line associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) and surgical site infections by 46 percent and 19 percent, respectively, between 2008 and 2013, according to the latest annual report on health care-associated infections, recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among other improvements, hospitals reduced C. difficile infections by 10 percent and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infections by 8 percent between 2011 and 2013. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) increased 6 percent between 2009 and 2013, but initial data from 2014 suggest they have started to decrease, the agency said. “Hospitals have made real progress to reduce some types of health care-associated infections – it can be done,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD. “The key is for every hospital to have rigorous infection control programs to protect patients and health care workers, and for health care facilities and others to work together to reduce the many types of infections that haven’t decreased enough.” AHA’s Health Research & Educational Trust affiliate directed a national project to reduce CLABSIs through the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) and is currently administering a CUSP program and fellowship to prevent CAUTIs.

Survey finds job offers abundant for residents

Physicians are receiving an abundance of job offers during their residency, this according to a recent article from HealthLeaders Media. The article looks at a survey of more than 1,200 residents conducted by Merritt Hawkins. More than 60 percent of respondents said they received at least 50 job offers while 46 percent reported receiving more than 100 job offers. Other findings from the survey include:

MGMA 2015 Business of Care Delivery Conference

Is the challenge of providing better care, improving health and reducing costs burning you out? Many practice teams agree, and they’re seeking to build a new kind of health care system focused on integrated clinical and administrative teams working smarter – not harder. The MGMA 2015 Business of Care Delivery Conference features an educational program showcasing innovative approaches to the business of care delivery. From Jeffrey Brenner, MD, and the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers’ „hotspotting” work to the deep-dive case studies on PCHM and Hospital at Home ^® care models, this year’s conference will turn theory into practice. For more information or to register, click here.

AIAMC annual meeting, Mar. 26-28 in New Orleans

The Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers (AIAMC) is holding their annual meeting Mar. 26-28 at the Loews New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, LA. Brian Hodges, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Vice-President Education, University Health Network and Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto will deliver the keynote address. In addition to Dr. Hodges, the meeting will also showcase faculty from the AAMC, ABMS, ACCME, ACGME, AHA, AMA, IHI, and The Joint Commission. The complete conference agenda may be accessed by clicking here. For more information, visit www.aiamc.org.

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