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Paper identifies essential practical components of Michigan Model

For just over a decade, the University of Michigan Health System has been a leader in demonstrating a new way to handle patient safety and malpractice concerns. The approach has simultaneously promoted safer care; helped patients, their families and clinical staff deal with unanticipated outcomes in a non-adversarial way; and saved UMHS money at the same time.

30 Apr 2012

After hours and weekend transplants do not adversely affect patient or graft survival

A new study, funded in part by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), shows that liver transplants performed at night or on weekends do not adversely affect patient or graft survival. Findings available in the May issue of Liver Transplantation, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, demonstrate that safety measures in place are working to protect patients.

27 Apr 2012

Research roundup: Caring for dual eligibles; Antitrust policy and the health law

Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this report notes a systematic difference in life expectancy across region and race. "Within in each sex-race group, there are striking geographical differences in the probability of survival to age 70. ... These differences are larger for males than females within each race and larger for blacks than whites within each sex."

21 Apr 2012

State roundup: Mass. seeks to improve medical malpractice system; Health exchange legislation progresses in Ala.

Seven Massachusetts hospitals plan to offer patients harmed by medical errors a prompt apology and financial settlements before they resort to lawsuits, part of a major new initiative to improve the state's cumbersome medical malpractice system. A coalition of physician, hospital, and patient groups planned to release details Wednesday of the initiative, called "Road Map to Reform,"' which they predict will increase reporting of medical mistakes and cut down on lengthy litigation that drives up health care costs and fuels distrust between caregivers and patients.

19 Apr 2012

Study: 1 in 5 cancer patients may experience ‘breakdowns’ in their care

Cancer care is increasingly complex, and as many as one in five cancer patients may experience "breakdowns" in their care, according to a new study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Such breakdowns include communication problems between patients and their care providers, as well as more traditional medical errors; both types of problems can create significant harms. In the study, communication problems outnumbered problems with medical care.

19 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 18, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about the latest Capitol Hill developments related to the budget.

18 Apr 2012

ACC designates USF Health CAMLS as first Center of Excellence in Education and Training

The American College of Cardiology has designated the USF Health Center of Advanced Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) as its first Center of Excellence in Education and Training.

10 Apr 2012

New AACN program to empower bedside nurses as clinician leaders

A new hospital-based nurse leadership and innovation training program from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) aims to empower bedside nurses as clinician leaders and change agents whose initiatives measurably improve patient outcomes with bottom-line impact to the hospital.

5 Apr 2012

Sleep deprivation does not disturb performance of interventionists during PCI procedures

A single-center study found that percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures performed during the middle of the night do not adversely affect the safety and effectiveness of procedures performed the next day by the same operator.

31 Mar 2012

USF Health opens $38M advanced medical learning and simulation center

Patients around the world will benefit from better training and testing of health professionals as USF Health opens its $38 million Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) in downtown Tampa.

31 Mar 2012

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital receives John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's distinguished record in patient safety and quality received a pivotal boost this month when the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission named the Hospital a winner of their prestigious John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award.

30 Mar 2012

Improved clinical quality leads to decline in quality of patients' experiences

Hospitals that adopt strategies to reduce errors and meet government requirements face an initial tradeoff between improved clinical quality and a decline in the quality of individual patients' experiences, according to new research.

27 Mar 2012

57% of Australians make mistakes with their medicines

New research from NPS has found that 57% of Australians report they have made a mistake with their medicines in the past 12 months.

25 Mar 2012

Video capture and other automated systems cut down medical errors

USC Marshall study finds video capture and other automated systems cut down medical errors and minimize the tendency to operate outside normal procedures.

22 Mar 2012

Longer looks: Last interview with Oregon's assisted-suicide law architect; Med students spurn primary care for hospital jobs

Dr. Peter Goodwin, a family physician and right-to-die activist, took his own life on March 11, 2012, at age 83. He did it legally, with the blessing of his family and doctors, under the Oregon law allowing physician-assisted suicide -; the first such law in the country -; that Goodwin was instrumental in creating. … He did not look like a dying man; he was chirpy and alert ... However, as a result of his fatal disease -; a Parkinsons-like condition called coritcobasal degeneration -; he could not use his right hand or do much reliably with his left.

16 Mar 2012

Capsules: Health IT coordinator: Release of stage 2 guidelines a 'push ahead'

Now on Kaiser Health News' blog, Chrisitian Torres writes about the new "meaningful use" regulation: "It's time to take electronic health records to the next level.

24 Feb 2012

Administration releases new health IT 'meaningful use' rules

Officials with the Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services published the second stage of "meaningful-use" rules for adoption of electronic medical records Thursday, laying out requirements for better digital communication among doctors and expanded patient access to records, in order for doctors and hospitals to get incentive payments.

24 Feb 2012

First Edition: February 23, 2012

Today's headlines include coverage of the health policy flashpoints during last night's GOP presidential primary debate.

23 Feb 2012

Perioperative IT sees significant growth in Anesthesia Information Management Systems

Perioperative IT is seeing significant growth, particularly in Anesthesia Information Management Systems (AIMS) and analytics solutions, according to Atlanta-based Surgical Information Systems ("SIS"). In a recent survey of healthcare decision makers, 84% of those surveyed consider IT solutions as a strategic driver of success in the OR. The survey of 292 healthcare decision makers was sponsored by SIS.

21 Feb 2012

Helen DeVos Children's Hospital wins first annual Leape Ahead Award

The American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) is pleased to announce the selection of Helen DeVos Children's Hospital as the winner of the first annual Leape Ahead Award.

20 Feb 2012