Although there is consensus that the current rate of hospital readmissions needs to be reduced, a lack of consistent terminology, disagreement over the use of financial incentives, and the shortage of all-encompassing solutions hamper the ability of providers and payers to address the problem. Read more »
A quality improvement program implemented at a large nonprofit health system relied on performance reporting, financial incentives, and a nursing intervention to promote evidence-based care for heart failure patients and to lower readmissions among these patients. Specially trained nurses, called "heart failure advocates," were hired to educate patients about their disease, coordinate their care, and follow-up with them after discharge. Read more »
Read more »
Read more »
Selected articles on quality improvement from a number of journals, including the American Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, BMJ, Health Affairs, Health Services Research, International Journal for Quality in Health Care, Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety, Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of General Internal Medicine, Journal of Patient Safety, Journal of Safety and Quality in Health Care, Medical Care, The Milbank Quarterly, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Pediatrics. The articles are nominated by Editorial Advisory Board members from a preselected list. Read more »
Read more »