What's New
The high cost of health care in the United States—higher than anywhere else in the world and rising faster than our gross domestic product—is taking its toll on families, employers, and government. In her testimony last week before a U.S. House of Representatives Steering and Policy Committee forum, Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis discussed the likely impact of proposed health reforms and suggests further policy changes for consideration. Read more »
At one time, St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, N.Y., was ranked in the bottom quarter of New York City metro area hospitals. But in 2004, St. Charles began a dramatic turnaround, particularly evident in its improved processes for minimizing surgical complications. This Commonwealth Fund case study, which is also available on WhyNotTheBest.org, examines how the hospital achieved its impressive quality improvements. WhyNotTheBest.org is the Fund's quality improvement resource for health professionals. Read more »
A Commonwealth Fund-supported 10-nation study in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics examines how the provision of developmental services to young children is apportioned among different types of health care providers—pediatricians, general practice physicians, and nurses. In doing so, the researchers shed light on the uniquely broad role that U.S. pediatricians play in delivering child health care. Read more »
Commonwealth Fund–supported articles published in the September issue of Pediatrics examine well-child care visits from two perspectives: pediatric clinicians' and parents'. Both doctors and parents recognize the need for a greater emphasis on developmental and behavioral issues, as well as the challenge of balancing families' individual needs with the need of pediatricians to cover the topics recommended in pediatric guidelines. Read more »
Upcoming Events
Join the Commonwealth Fund webinar "Improving Health Care Quality Through State Partnerships" on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, at 2:00 p.m., E.T., in which representatives from three public–private "improvement partnerships" will describe how their initiatives have improved care at the practice level and influenced state policy. The event is cosponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality.
Panelists Judith Shaw, Ed.D., M.P.H., R.N., executive director of the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program, Mark Weissman, M.D., of the D.C. Partnership to Improve Children's Healthcare Quality, and Nan Streeter, M.S., R.N., deputy director of the Division of Family Health and Preparedness and maternal and child health director for the Utah Department of Health, will discuss developing collaborative state partnerships, working with practices on measurable quality improvement initiatives, and supporting the sustainability of these initiatives though state policy. To register for this free one-hour online meeting, go to: https://commonwealthfundevents.webex.com Read more »
On the Web
Options for financing coverage expansions and delivery system and insurance market reforms were the focus of a recent Alliance for Health Reform/Commonwealth Fund briefing that now can be viewed as a Fund e-forum, featuring synched slides and audio from the event. Panelists at the briefing included: Uwe Reinhardt, health economist at Princeton University; Bill Hoagland, vice president for public policy at CIGNA and former Senate Budget Committee staff director; Mark McClellan, senior fellow and director of the Engelberg Center for Healthcare Reform at the Brookings Institution; and Chris Jennings, president of Jennings Policy Strategies and former senior health policy advisor to President Clinton. Ed Howard of the Alliance for Health Reform and Rachel Nuzum of The Commonwealth Fund moderated. Read more »