Are you in a hospital leadership position? Whether you are in the C-Suite or managing 24/7 care on a clinical unit you understand the challenge in maintaining focus and finding balance in today’s chaotic environment. It’s Like a Mountain Hike If you have ever hiked in the Rockies you know that a trail map and good compass are very helpful. In fact, they are essential if you plan to return home someday. Forests are amazing, rejuvenating and inspirational because there is so much variety in the nature around you. It is easy to become absorbed in your immediate surrounding but what happens … [Read more...]
HCAHPS… Not Like Amazon!
You understand the limitations of the HCAHPS survey if you work in a hospital today. Whether a busy clinician or clinical leader, you will appreciate having access to a new study about the limitation of quantitative measures alone in analysis of patients’ experience with their hospital care. Two take-a-ways from this study Patient comments enhanced the numerical results of the survey Patients who provided negative comments gave significantly lower numerical scores The Journal of Healthcare Management recent article gives credibility to the importance of qualitative feedback from … [Read more...]
Patient Engagement and Patient Safety: Are They Just Words?
The words, “patient engagement” and “patient safety” seem like common sense in healthcare. However, if you are a professional caring for patients today you can certainly identify with Eliza Doolittle’s lament in My Fair Lady. “Words, words, words! I’m so sick of words I get words all day through First from him, now from you Is that all you blighters can do?” Patients and families are equally peppered with these terms on information sheets, brochures, videos and media reports. The latter are often headlines that depict a collapse in patient safety where someone suffers or dies as … [Read more...]
Are we ready for 21st Century Patients?
We talk about “patient engagement” and shared decision-making but patients tell us we are not walking the talk. Their feedback in the HCAHPS survey paints a picture of opportunity to improve. Our culture of hospital care is changing but it is still far from goal of “patient centered”. Take a look at the recent study by James, in the Journal of Patient Safety, our stats for patient harm are not improving. In fact this report shows 2.5 time higher incidents of harm from the IOM report in 2000. Patient centered care is Safe Care. Clinicians go to work with the intent of providing the best … [Read more...]
Are You Ready for Consumer Driven Healthcare?
In the last post I wrote about the survey tool, Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Provider and Systems, (HCAHPS) as the consumer voice on their hospital care. This information is intended to help organizations improve the way care is provided to the patient as well as a public reference for consumers. We are a consumer driven society. We shop and we have expectations for our shopping experience. When we decide to buy a car, shop for clothes or plan for the kids braces expectations drive our decision. How much can we spend? Where can I get the best quality at the best price? We … [Read more...]
Is It a Cereal: HCAPS?
Do you remember the “snap, crackle and pop” ads when you were a kid? If you just poured the milk on the cereal and put your ear close to the bowl you could hear the “snap, crackle and pop” described by little jumping elves. So you poured your milk and you LISTENED. HCAPS are intended to be about listening. HCAPS has an impressive full name; Hospital Consumers Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, it is a survey designed by government agencies to seek feedback from patients about the care they receive in the hospital. The survey is voluntary and asks 27 questions ranging from … [Read more...]
Patients Have a Voice: Did You Notice on October 1st?
If you listened to the Monday morning news with your coffee, the “dry” story about Medicare’s new payment structure to hospitals may have slipped by you, especially if are not “in the industry” or do not have Medicare insurance. But this is a significant story, particularly when we consider the importance of taking an active role in understanding our healthcare. Effective October 1st hospitals will be rewarded in dollars… or NOT… according to the outcome measures for 12 specific patient problems such as heart attacks, pneumonia and the use of antibiotics. The measures are designed to see … [Read more...]