Study shows racial disparities are significantly correlated to hospital readmissions

A study published in Health Affairs in June 2017 compared racial disparities in 30-day readmissions among traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who underwent one of six major inpatient surgical procedures. The study utilized New York State hospital claims data in 2013.... Read More >>

Crises illuminate gaps in advance care planning

Already late to an evening meeting, I rush through the hospital halls. Up ahead, an older couple ambled. Then, “Do you know how to get to the elevators?” I opted for expediency: “I’m heading that way; I’ll take you.” Relieved, the woman confided that a routine visit discovered a brain tumor. He was having a biopsy in the morning. She insisted he complete an advance directive, but she didn’t know how to begin.... Read More >>

Newport Hospitals & Health Services, Kittitas Valley Healthcare receive WSHA Rural Quality ~ Everyday Extraordinary Award

Newport Hospitals & Health Services and Kittitas Valley Healthcare received the Washington State Hospital Association’s 2017 Rural Quality ~ Everyday Extraordinary Award. Newport Hospitals & Health Services received the award for its success in its “Surgical Site Infection Prevention Project,” and Kittitas Valley Healthcare received the award for its success in its “KVH Sepsis Taskforce.”... Read More >>

Radiation dosage resources available for comparison

WSHA is committed to improving patient safety and reducing harm from all causes. Part of improving patient safety is ensuring that diagnostic imaging exams produce a clinically viable image to guide care without causing harm. The American College of Radiology produces two free sample reports through the Dose Index Registry: one for children and one for adults. These reports have been acknowledged as appropriate for comparison of target dose ranges by exam and age in the absence of established national benchmarks.... Read More >>

Falls and associated injuries: An on-going patient safety issue

Falls and associated injuries remain a serious patient safety problem, with between 700,000 and 1 million people falling in the hospital each year, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Up to 51 percent of falls result in injury or significant trauma, and they are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for adults older than 65. Several evidence-based interventions have been designed to prevent falls and associated injuries, and WSHA has resources that can help.... Read More >>

Taking a stand against violence

This Friday, June 9, we will join the American Hospital Association (AHA) in taking a stand against violence —in all its forms — to make our communities a safer place through the Hospitals Against Violence campaign, #HAVhope.... Read More >>

Penicillin: Patients over-report allergic reactions, proper use reduces antibiotic resistance

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10 percent of U.S. patients report having had allergic reactions to a penicillin-class antibiotic. However, less than 1 percent of the population experience true IgE-mediated reactions, and 80 percent those who do lose their sensitivity after 10 years. The alternatives to penicillins are often broad-spectrum antibiotics, and their use among patients not truly allergic to penicillins is associated with higher health care costs, higher risk of antibiotic resistance and suboptimal antibiotic therapy.... Read More >>

Expanded support for antimicrobial stewardship

Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is important across the healthcare continuum – it’s not just for hospitals anymore! Qualis Health is looking for clinics, emergency departments, urgent care centers and retail clinics who would like to receive free materials, technical assistance, data and support in working on establishing AMS in their settings. The two-year initiative will assist outpatient settings to come into adherence with the CDC’s four elements of AMS in the Outpatient Setting: leadership commitment, implementing one policy or procedure, tracking data, and providing education to providers and patients about AMS.... Read More >>

Patient safety experts coming to you!

Last week, some of WSHA’s patient safety clinical directors had a meeting in Leavenworth with staff from six hospitals in the area. This meeting, and others like it, are being held... Read More >>

Infection reduction work gets HRET and CDC help

Washington State will soon join the Health Research Educational Trust’s (HRET’s) efforts around reducing hospital-acquired infections. The initiative is designed to strengthen infection control programs and practices through robust resources, such as on-demand education, national expert access, coaching and more. Health care has made amazing improvements in reducing infections in hospitals and other care settings, but we’re working to get to ZERO, and infections are relentless enemies.... Read More >>

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