In this issue:

How hospitals are preparing for the next big outbreak

A recent article from the Huffington Post explores how U.S. hospitals are preparing themselves for the next big outbreak. In response to the Ebola crisis last summer, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services created a tiered national approach to Ebola care, appointing one hospital per region to specialize in highly infectious pathogens. These hospitals received funding for construction and personal protective equipment as well as training for important but unusual conditions. For those hospitals not involved, the article says they’ve used the Ebola outbreak to better prepare themselves in cases where a patient presents with exotic pathogens, such as asking travel screening questions and learning proper isolation techniques. In the article, Dr. Ken Sands, senior vice president of health care quality and safety at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and past chairman of the American Hospital Association’s Committee on Clinical Leadership, said, „The predominant wisdom is that we should use the Ebola experience not to say, 'Let’s make sure we’re good at Ebola,’ but to make sure we’re good at highly contagious pathogens as a category. The general awareness level has been increased, and the ability to follow those protocols successfully and consistently has probably improved.”

CDC updates Ebola PPE guidance for U.S. health care facilities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued updated guidance regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care personnel caring for suspected and confirmed Ebola patients in U.S. health care facilities. The changes clarify the use of fluid-resistant and impermeable gowns and coveralls, and provide specifications to assist facilities in selecting and ordering the recommended garments. The updates also provide additional explanation related to PPE for confirmed Ebola patients. For more information, see the updated PPE Frequently Asked Questions.

Survey finds more physician compensation being tied to quality metrics

Almost half (45 percent) of responding organizations reported using quality metrics in their physician compensation models, according to the annual Physician Compensation and Productivity Survey from Sullivan, Cotter and Associates, Inc. In a news release, Kim Mobley, Managing Principal at SullivanCotter, said, „As reimbursement changes, organizational goals and priorities continue to shift. More physician pay related to quality metrics is at risk. We’re currently seeing a steady increase in pay-for-performance compensation models as the focus on value-based incentives continues.” The survey also found a movement toward more health system and large medical group employment of physicians. Nearly 75 percent of responding organizations reported increasing their number of employed physicians over the past year while another 68 percent said they plan on increasing their physician employment this year.

Grant aims to train interdisciplinary teams to treat elderly patients

Armed with a $2.5 million grant, Keck Medicine, the University of Southern California’s medical enterprise, is changing the way it trains medical students to treat elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions, according to an article from H&HN Daily. The money will be used to create the USC-Los Angeles County Training a Workforce in Interprofessional Geriatrics program. Over the next three years, the program will focus on training medical students to work in disciplinary teams, develop a routine assessment of elderly patients and build an on-campus clinic for geriatric primary care assessment. In addition, USC will look to team with community partners in order to better serve seniors, the article says.

Survey highlights hospital approaches to population health

Hospitals are working with a wide variety of community partners to promote population health, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Hospital Association’s Health Research & Educational Trust and Association for Community Health Improvement with the Public Health Institute. About nine in 10 hospitals are collaborating with other hospitals and seven in 10 are participating in a regional collaborative, the survey found. Other common partners include public health departments, Chambers of Commerce, health insurance companies and community health centers. For more on the survey results, click here.

Webinar provides an overview of accountable care organizations

The latest webinar from the Center for Healthcare Governance, „An Accountable Care Organization Overview,” is designed to help participants better understand ACO concepts and how Medicare ACOs can be part of an organization’s strategy to move from volume-to-value.

 

In this recorded webinar, Kai Tsai, Executive Vice President of Consulting Services and Strategic Initiatives and Bill Wachs, Managing Director, Consulting Services Division, Valence Health, explore the difference between commercial and Medicare ACOs, where Medicare ACOs fall in the spectrum of value-based care, and what Medicare ACO risk options exist today.

 

To obtain the free webinar recording, click here.

Apply now for the AHA-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize

U.S. hospitals can apply through Oct. 11 for the 2016 AHA-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize ^®. The annual award honors hospitals pursuing excellence through leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety. The 2016 award will:

To nominate an organization or download an application, visit www.aha.org/questforquality.

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