Centura Health, Colorado's largest hospital and health care network, has released a new quality and patient safety report on its website that lists local data and a comparative view of all Centura Health facilities, along with national averages, in the same place. The online report is designed to educate consumers on the meaning of various quality scores and complement the government websites - Hospital Compare, Home Health Compare, and Nursing Home Compare - allowing real-time, transparent access to hospital information based on the most recent data available for these measures. CENTURA HEALTH QUALITY AND PATIENT SAFETY REPORT The new reporting initiative is designed to further demonstrate Centura Health's commitment to quality care and patient safety, and its efforts to proactively involve patients in understanding and making decisions about their health care (see also Heart Failure).
Centura Health's goal with publicly disclosing these performance scores is to decrease variation in care, and to build a consistent care model that will improve outcomes.
Currently, Centura Health's overall quality and service care statistics for heart attacks, heart failure, safety, and surgery are better than the national average.
The report shows facility-specific patient/resident satisfaction scores and the facilities' performance on several nationally recognized quality indicators and practices including patient safety measures. Performance is also displayed for the average health care facility in the United States where it is available.
Quality and patient safety is a significant focus of Centura Health's strategic vision for the future of health care.
Quality and patient safety protocols are determined through a very collaborative, system-wide process. Centura Health has organized Clinical Effectiveness Groups that use evidence-based practices and the most recent data to develop processes and policies to provide the best care for patients. All of the Centura Health entities are involved in this process and work side-by-side with sister facilities to improve each other's scores through the sharing of best practices.
While the statistics do not provide a complete representation of the quality of any hospital, patients are encouraged to use the information to start conversations with their physicians, nurses, and caregivers about their care.
Some discrepancies may exist between sources based on the data's monthly updates. In some cases, there might be a 30-day delay or longer on some data. The rate for a measure will not be displayed if a facility has fewer than 20 eligible cases. A total of at least 20 cases are required to calculate a reliable rate.
There are many variables related to a patient's care. Sometimes, despite caregivers' best efforts, the desired outcome is not reached. For home care and nursing data, there are measures where a higher percentage is preferable, while with other measures a lower percentage is more desirable. FACTS AND STATS ON QUALITY PUBLIC REPORTING Hospitals first began publicly reporting quality of care information on heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia on the Hospital Quality Alliance's (HQA) Hospital Compare website in 2004. Since then, the amount of information available to the public has expanded.
Home care agencies and long-term care facilities also publicly report data (through Home Health Compare and Nursing Home Compare).
Statistics and descriptions included in these reports do not begin to represent all there is to know about the quality of any given facility. QUOTES: 'It's a win-win-win for Centura Health to take the next step in committing to 100 percent accountability and transparency with consumers and patients, physicians and our own associates and leadership team,' said Gary Campbell, president and CEO, Centura Health. 'When we share data, it helps our patients and our communities and us, to more fully understand the care we provide, and how we can use the information to improve care. Quality and patient safety are critical aspects of our strategic vision to Strengthen Our Foundation, and improve health care delivery across Colorado.'
'For the first time, we are providing all data - both at the local Centura Health level, and on a national level in one place - in an easy to navigate and clearly accessible format,' said Stephen T. Brown III, chief medical executive, Centura Health. 'The goal is to continue to empower patients and consumers to own their health care and proactively address their health with physicians, nurses and caregivers.'
'In areas where there might be deficits, our facilities benefit from the best practices and evidence-based research that guide the development of the care of our patients,' said Lisa Camplese, vice president of clinical quality and care coordination, Centura Health. 'Certainly, consumers need to realize that these statistics don't begin to represent all there is to know about the quality of any given facility. One of the biggest ways we'll be successful is being transparent about our services.' INTERVIEWS Gary Campbell, president and CEO, Centura Health.
Lisa Camplese, vice president of clinical quality and care coordination, Centura Health.
Stephen T. Brown III, chief medical executive, Centura Health. About Centura Health Centura Health is Colorado's largest hospital and health care network and we are charting the course for the future of health care. Approximately 14,500 of the health care industry's best and brightest, including more than 6,000 physician partners, deliver advanced care to more than half a million people each year, across 13 hospitals, seven senior living communities, medical clinics, affiliated partner hospitals, Flight For Life[R] Colorado, and home care and hospice services. Our strength lies in our ability to offer a team of connected networks and shared resources to deliver accessible, reliable and cost-effective health care across the state. For information on Centura Health or any of the facilities in our network, please visit www.centura.org.
Keywords: Cardiology, Cardiovascular Diseases, Centura Health, Heart Diseases, Heart Failure, Hospital.
This article was prepared by Heart Disease Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2010, Heart Disease Weekly via NewsRx.com.
