International journal for quality in health care : journal of the International Society for Quality in Health Care
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Int J Qual Health Care · Oct 2011
Promoting patient-centered care: a qualitative study of facilitators and barriers in healthcare organizations with a reputation for improving the patient experience.
To investigate organizational facilitators and barriers to patient-centered care in US health care institutions renowned for improving the patient care experience. ⋯ Organizations that have succeeded in fostering patient-centered care have gone beyond mainstream frameworks for quality improvement based on clinical measurement and audit and have adopted a strategic organizational approach to patient focus.
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Int J Qual Health Care · Oct 2011
Impact of the ventilator bundle on ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care unit.
The ventilator bundle is being promoted to prevent adverse events in ventilated patients including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We aimed to: (i) examine adoption of the ventilator bundle elements; (ii) determine effectiveness of individual elements and setting characteristics in reducing VAP; (iii) determine effectiveness of two infection-specific elements on reducing VAP; and, (iv) assess crossover effects of complying with VAP elements on central line-associated bloodstream infections. ⋯ The ventilator bundle was frequently present but not well implemented. Individual elements did not appear effective; strict compliance with infection elements was needed. Efforts to prevent VAP may be successful in settings of high levels of compliance with all infection-specific elements and in settings with full-time HEs.
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Int J Qual Health Care · Oct 2011
Nationwide quality improvement of cholecystectomy: results from a national database.
To evaluate whether quality improvements in the performance of cholecystectomy have been achieved in Denmark since 2006, after revision of the Danish National Guidelines for treatment of gallstones. ⋯ The study demonstrates nationwide quality improvements of cholecystectomy in Denmark from 2006 to 2009.