Quality

The focus of quality improvement in healthcare is to bolster performance and processes related to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Leaders in this space also ensure the proper selection of imaging exams and procedures, and monitor the safety of services, among other duties. Reimbursement programs such as the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) utilize financial incentives to improve quality. This also includes setting and maintaining care quality initiatives, such as the requirements set by the Joint Commission.

Study: Alzheimer’s patients at higher risk for potentially avoidable hospital stays

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease or some form of related dementia were “significantly more likely” to be hospitalized for avoidable reasons, according to a new study published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

July 29, 2016

HHS report: 29% of rehab hospital patients reported experiencing harm

A new report from HHS’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found 29 percent of Medicare beneficiaries in rehabilitation hospitals reported experiencing some form of harm during their stays.

July 21, 2016

CMS said $42 billion saved through fraud prevention, screening providers

Program integrity efforts within Medicare and Medicaid resulted in about $42 billion in savings in fiscal years 2013 and 2014, according to a new report released by CMS.

July 21, 2016

Refunding patients to improve customer satisfaction

Unhappy customers have ways to show their displeasure, whether it's with a negative online review or the decision to go elsewhere. If customers are really lucky—or persistent—the business may offer a refund for troubles or unsatisfactory service, as an incentive for the customer to try the place again. 

July 18, 2016

Heart disease, cancer remain top causes of death

The final reports on 2014 death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show heart disease and cancer as the top two causes of death for Americans, while life expectancy for white women bucked the long-term trends and declined slightly.

June 30, 2016

Medical examiners, coroners struggling to keep pace with overdose deaths

The rise in the number of deaths due to drug overdose is forcing medical examiners and coroners to delay autopsies and toxicology reports—and most notably, find some creative ways to store bodies when they’ve run out of space.

June 24, 2016

Free meals from drug companies affect physicians’ prescribing habits

Just a single free meal from a pharmaceutical company may sway physicians to prescribe a brand name drug over a generic version, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

June 21, 2016

Medicaid expansion didn’t result in longer wait times in Michigan

Enrolling 600,000 people in an expanded Medicaid program in Michigan resulted in better odds of getting an appointment and didn’t significantly impact wait times, according to a study published in the American Journal of Managed Care.

June 20, 2016

Around the web

Half a year after President Biden officially directed federal agencies in the executive branch’s bailiwick to “seize the promise and manage the risks” of AI, the White House has posted a status report.

U.S. physicians often receive payments from medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. New research in JAMA found a connection between receiving such payments and using specific devices—should the industry be concerned? 

Five of the largest U.S. medical societies focused on cardiovascular health are one step closer to seeing their paradigm-shifting proposal become a reality.

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