July 14, 2010
Don Berwick to Lead CMS; Maureen Bisognano Leads IHI
- Don’t Miss Safe Table with Timothy Dellit, M.D. and Patch Dellenger, M.D.
- Surgical Site Infection Data to Go Public
- Best Hands On Care 2010
- Hospital Compare Data Preview Period Begins
- Ensuring Full Payment from CMS
- National Patient Safety Goals Revised
- Upcoming Events
Don Berwick to Lead CMS; Maureen Bisognano Leads IHI
Dr. Donald Berwick was officially sworn in on Monday afternoon as the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) with the formal event today in Washington DC. Dr. Berwick’s nomination was supported by the Washington State Hospital Association as a great opportunity to advance health care.
With great enthusiasm, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Board of Directors named Maureen Bisognano, IHI’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, to succeed Don as President and CEO of IHI. Maureen has been Don’s chief partner in IHI’s management and vision since she joined IHI in 1995. She is a prominent authority on improving health care systems and is well known and widely respected throughout the global health care improvement community. She is also a supporter of the work we have done together in Washington.
Best wishes and congratulations to both of them! Thank you for all you have done for Washington. (Carol Wagner, carolw@wsha.org, (206) 577-1831)
Don’t Miss Safe Table with Timothy Dellit, M.D. and Patch Dellenger, M.D.
Don’t miss this special opportunity to attend the upcoming Safe Table on Eliminating Hospital Acquired Infections on July 21st!
National experts Dr. Timothy Dellit from Harborview Medical Center and Dr. E. Patchen Dellinger from University of Washington Medical Center will share the latest medical evidence and discuss strategies to reduce infections.
Participants will:
1. Discuss cultural interventions to sustain use of the bundles to eliminate hospital acquired infections such as central line associated bloodstream infections.
2. Hear about new emerging bacteria Acinetabacter baumannii and discus other organisms that may be of concern.
3. Discuss the latest research on chlorohexidine as a bundle strategy.
4. Learn strategies from the latest research effective in reducing surgical site infection (SSI).
5. Discuss innovative strategies for improving hand hygiene compliance and effectiveness to prevent infections.
6. Learn the criteria for ensuring an adequate infection risk assessment is completed by your hospital each year.
Safe Tables are open only to WSHA member hospitals. For registration information, contact Cat Ernevad at cate@wsha.org or (206) 577-1820.
Surgical Site Infection Data to Go Public
Patients will have new insight into hospital infection rates this fall, when data is publicly posted on cardiac surgeries, hip and knee replacements, and hysterectomies. Hospitals are currently reporting to either NHSN or WSHA’s Quality Benchmarking System, and the data is being readied for display on WSHA’s website. There will be a preview period in which password-protected data is available for comment for hospitals to review.
Please continue to submit your data and ensure that WSHA has access so that you can preview your data prior to publication on the website later this summer. Specific dates for the preview period will be released shortly. For questions about surgical site infection data submission and reporting, contact Ken Rudberg at kenr@wsha.org or (206) 577-1851.
Best Hands On Care 2010
The Best Hands on Care Award is underway for 2010. Each year, the bar has been raised, and every year, more hospitals are recognized for exemplary hand hygiene than the previous year!
In order to win this year’s Best Hands on Care award, hospitals need to average 100% or better during the months of June, July, and August. Winners will be named at WSHA’s Annual Meeting in September. The measurement strategy is based on the research from University of Pennsylvania. Hospitals in contention for winning will receive “secret shopper” visit(s) from WSHA staff to validate results.
We realize some hospitals and specialty care areas have developed different measurement strategies and internal goals for hand hygiene compliance and we are not discouraging those local efforts. The real goal is, after all, to reduce the risk of harm to patients.
If you have questions, please contact Cat Ernevad at cate@wsha.org or (206) 577-1820.
Hospital Compare Data Preview Period Begins
Hospitals participating in Medicare's inpatient and outpatient quality reporting programs can preview their latest quality data through Aug. 10 at MyQualityNet. The data will be added to the Hospital Compare website in September. (Carol Wagner, carolw@wsha.org, (206) 577-1831)
Ensuring Full Payment from CMS
By August 15th, Prospective Payment System (PPS) hospitals are required to submit on MyQualityNet information on attesting to validity and structural measure. This is required for hospitals wishing to be eligible for full payment for Reporting Hospital Quality Payment Data for Annual Payment Update (RHQDAPU). The following must be completed:
1. Attest to the validity and completeness of your data (new requirement for FY2011 Annual Payment Update)
2. Report participation for the structural measures (cardiac surgery, stroke care, nursing sensitive care registry participate for January 1- June 30, 2010)
We have heard from hospitals that it is easy to miss the attestation on the MyQualityNet website. (Carol Wagner, carolw@wsha.org, (206) 577-1831)
National Patient Safety Goals Revised
The Joint Commission is revising four elements of performance under the National Patient Safety Goals to reflect current best practices. As the revisions do not involve new requirements, the changes go into effect immediately. The revised guidelines are:
EP 6: A written policy addresses baseline and ongoing laboratory tests that are required for anticoagulants.
EP 11: Use an antiseptic for skin preparation during central venous catheter insertion that is cited in scientific literature or endorsed by professional organizations.
EP 7: Administer antimicrobial agents for prophylaxis for a particular procedure or disease according to methods cited in scientific literature or endorsed by professional organizations.
EP 8: When hair removal is necessary, use a method that is cited in scientific literature or endorsed by professional organizations.
More information is available through the Joint Commission website. (Carol Wagner, carolw@wsha.org, (206) 577-1831)
Upcoming Events
ICU Safe Care Content Calls
Content calls are held on the second Tuesday of every month at 11:00 A.M. PT for one hour. The monthly, optional calls are opportunities for hospital teams to learn more about topics on which some teams have requested additional information. Contact Cat Ernevad (cate@wsha.org) for the dial-in number.
Safe Table – Eliminating Infections (In Person Meeting)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Safe Table – Patient Safety Practices (Web Conference)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Safe Tables are available exclusively to WSHA member hospitals. A full list of 2010 Safe Table events is posted on the WSHA website. For more information or to register for Safe Table events, please contact Janet Van Dyke at janetv@wsha.org or (206) 577-1839.