Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety / Joint Commission Resources
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Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf · Feb 2010
ReviewPatient handoffs: standardized and reliable measurement tools remain elusive.
Numerous quality improvement projects on patient handoffs have been conducted, yet standardized, reliable measurement tools remain elusive. ⋯ The diversity of handoff measurement approaches suggests a lack of consensus about the primary purpose of a handoff, as well as about what interventions are most promising for improving handoff processes. Recognizing that there are simultaneously multiple purposes for handoffs is a critical precursor to quality improvement.
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Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf · Nov 2009
ReviewOptimizing the prevention of venous thromboembolism: recent quality initiatives and strategies to drive improvement.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with a substantial health care and economic burden, yet many VTE events are preventable. Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines derailing effective thromboprophylaxis strategies, the underuse and inappropriate prescribing of VTE prophylaxis are common. Current national quality initiatives were reviewed to identify strategies that may help hospitals and health care professionals optimize current VTE prophylaxis practices. ⋯ It remains the responsibility of individual hospitals to identify specific areas in which they can improve their VTE prophylaxis rates to obtain positive results from the reporting initiatives and incentive programs. If performance measures are to be met, all hospital departments will need to implement effective VTE prevention policies, including early risk assessment, appropriate prophylaxis prescribing, monitoring, and follow-up. Multifaceted, integrated initiatives involving risk assessment tools, decision support, electronic alert systems, and hospitalwide education, with a mechanism for audit and feedback, may help ensure that all health care professionals comply with VTE-prevention policies and initiatives.
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Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf · Sep 2007
ReviewDeveloping quality measures for sepsis care in the ICU.
Sepsis is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and costs of care. Although several therapies improve outcomes in patients with sepsis, rigorously developed measures to evaluate quality of sepsis care in the intensive care unit (ICU) are lacking. ⋯ The identification of potential measures of quality of care for patients with sepsis can help caregivers to focus on evidence-based interventions that improve mortality and to evaluate their current performance. Further work is needed to evaluate the feasibility and validity of the measures.
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Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf · Nov 2006
ReviewRedesigning health systems for quality: Lessons from emerging practices.
It has been five years since the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Crossing the Quality Chasm, proposed systemwide changes to transform our health care system. What progress has been made? What lessons have been learned? How should we move forward? ⋯ Successful system redesign requires coordinating and managing a complex set of changes across multiple levels rather than isolated projects.