Benchmark Blog

The Benchmark blog features breaking news and insight from Audrie Bretl Roelf, Senior Editor of The Joint Commission Benchmark and also provides readers with a free, online forum to share opinions and comments on areas of performance measurement and improvement.  Check back frequently for updates and additional information you won’t find in the newsletter.

A Voice from the Field

• 3/11/2010
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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I try as much as I can in Benchmark to include columns from those in The Joint Commission who know the real scoop on performance measurement and improvement. In the May/June issue, I will include a column from Jerod M. Loeb, Ph.D., executive vice president, Division of Quality Measurement and Research. It’s called “Performance Measurement: The Good, Bad, and The Ugly,” so you know he’s g... more >>

Professional Interpreters Increase Patient Satisfaction

• 3/6/2010
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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Mathematica Policy Researchers asked the question, “Does using professionally trained interpreters in the emergency department (ED) increase patient satisfaction?” Up until now, research on this topic has been sparse, so Mathematica conducted its own study using random assignment to compare the reported satisfaction of patients and providers during 424 ED visits, roughly half of which included... more >>

Does Pay For Performance Impact Low Performing Physicians?

• 2/25/2010
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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Most of us have heard of pay-for-performance (P4P) programs and are familiar with their impact on high-performing physicians – they are obviously recognized for their hard work. But do these programs help motivate low-performing physicians? The short answer is yes. A number of studies have come out recently stating that P4P works to boost low-performing physicians and turn their performance ar... more >>

Tell Us Your Success Stories

• 2/18/2010
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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In each issue of The Joint Commission Benchmark, I try to highlight organizations that have success stories in the areas of performance improvement and measurement. Have you had success with The Joint Commission’s S3 system? Have you made improvements in your organization because of a measurement you used? Is there anything you’re doing in your organization that you think can be replicated in ... more >>

What Does Health Care Reform Mean for You?

• 2/11/2010
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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I read an interesting article on the Quality Digest Web site titled “What Will Health Care Reform Mean for the Health Care Quality Professional?” The article was structured in a question–and-answer format, with the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Maulik Joshi, M.D., president of AHA’s Health Research & Educational Trust and Nancy Foster, AHA’s vice president of quality and patient sa... more >>

Preventing Deaths During and After Pregnancy

• 2/4/2010
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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A new Sentinel Event Alert from The Joint Commission reminds us that women and infants dying during childbirth is still a significant patient safety issue that deserves our attention.The Alert comes as federal and state governments are increasing efforts to identify causes and prevent maternal deaths. The current statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Preve... more >>

Take Two Aspirin and Go Away

• 1/21/2010
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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In 2007,  I edited a book for Joint Commission Resources titled, Defusing Disruptive Behavior: A Workbook for Leaders. The book focused on physicians behaving badly and treating those around them poorly. Some interesting studies were cited regarding how physicians behaved and how that might affect patient care. A new study along those lines done by researchers at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University... more >>

Welcome to the Future

• 1/5/2010
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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Welcome to 2010. Another year brings a new set of challenges and adventures. And with those challenges comes electronic health record (EHR) reform. It reminds me of playing hide-and-seek as a child, ready or not, here they come. And some organizations report they aren’t yet ready. A small survey of 58 various-sized hospitals conducted by Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Falls Church, VA... more >>

Data Mining or Snooping for Cash?

• 12/21/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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I read an interesting article in the LA Times this week. In this blog, I’ve spoken about Web sites and companies using data to plot flu outbreaks and epidemics, using data to plot health care trends, and so on. However, this story in the Times brings about some interesting legal (and maybe even ethical) dilemmas. Pharmaceutical companies are now using prescription data to find out wh... more >>

Electronic Health Records: What’s Your Opinion?

• 12/4/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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I’m beginning research on a book set to publish in mid-2010 on electronic health records (or EHRs). I’m learning all kinds of interesting information about their impact on performance improvement, patient safety, and so on. Having EHRs sounds like a fantastic idea, and I happen to have a physician who is part of a health care system that uses them (which makes being a patient there quite easy)... more >>

Don't Forget Employee Morale

• 11/20/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 5343 Views
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My husband is a video game fanatic. The other day, the sequel to his favorite video game was released, and the game store opened at midnight in order to give customers a chance to pick up their copies. It was something interesting to see. The store opened and while the employees might not have been excited to be working at midnight, the company made it worth their while. The store had a ... more >>

The State of Health Care Quality

• 11/13/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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The State of Health Care Quality 2009, an annual report provided by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, finds that the quality of U.S. health care was nearly stagnant in 2008. This was seen as a slow down after a decade of improvements. The down turning trend was seen in care provided both to people with private insurance coverage as well as with Medicare and Medicaid. The repo... more >>

Measuring Performance: Count the Ways

• 11/5/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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We all know performance measurement is a must. The challenge is finding new and inventive ways to collect data. I recently was solicited for two surveys: one was a regular paper survey mailed to me from a hospital regarding my recent stay and the other was a telephone survey regarding an appliance I had delivered to my home. I participated in the hospital survey because I understand their need... more >>

The Importance of High-Quality Care

• 10/29/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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You might have noticed my hiatus from this blog for a few weeks. I wish I could say I was on a European vacation but the truth is, I broke one ankle and sprained the other with a “graceful” fall in my garage. This landed me in the surgical suite of a local hospital. The care at this hospital could not have been better. The nurses were extremely attentive and there was no waiting for days to ha... more >>

AHRQ Researches E-Prescribing Practices

• 10/14/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) plans to collect information from physicians and pharmacies that electronically transmit prescriptions in the hope of identifying what helps and what hinders the adoption of e-prescribing. AHRQ will interview physicians, medical directors, information technology administrators, pharmacists, and others at 110 organizations over two years... more >>

Yep, There’s an App for That

• 9/22/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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I guess you can file this under measurement (or just plain cool). There’s a new application for the ever-popular iPhone that will tell you exactly where there is a disease outbreak near you, according to an article on Wired’s Web site. To read the full article, click here.Outbreaks Near Me is an application for the iPhone based on the free HealthMap epidemiological Web service, which allow... more >>

Go Ahead, Convenient Care is Nothing to Fear

• 9/10/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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I’ve never actually been to a retail medical clinic but I’ve driven past many. They are becoming quite common these days. The clinics are becoming popular due to their prices and convenience and can provide care comparable to that offered in physicians' offices, urgent care centers, or emergency departments, according to two studies in the September issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.However... more >>

NQF Endorses Measures to Improve Medication Safety and Quality

• 9/3/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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To improve the quality and safety of medication use in the United States, the National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsed 18 measures for managing over-the-counter and prescription medications. The 18 measures assess prescribing and use of appropriate medications and medication adherence, reconciliation, and monitoring.  The measures are among the first to be endorsed for medication management and h... more >>

Smoke-Free Hospital Campuses: What’s the Performance Improvement Link?

• 8/27/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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“The Adoption of Smoke-Free Hospital Campuses in the United States,” a new study by The Joint Commission, projects that the majority of U.S. hospitals will have smoke-free campuses by the end of 2009. By February 2008, more than 45% of U.S. hospitals had adopted a smoke-free campus policy and an additional 15% of hospitals reported actively pursuing the adoption of  smoke-free campus policies.... more >>

How Do You Choose A Health Care Provider?

• 8/21/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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I read an interesting column the other day called “You Can Lead Patients to Quality Data, But Will They Use It” discussing how, despite the wealth of data out there regarding physicians, hospitals, and other health care organizations, most people still rely on referrals from family, friends, or physicians when choosing a new provider. I admit I’m sometimes guilty of this myself. Obviously, those o... more >>

New Report Gives Examples of Pathways for Translating Results into Action

• 8/12/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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Findings from well-conducted health research may help policymakers improve health care delivery, control costs, and enhance quality of care. However, few studies examine how this occurs and the processes involved. A recently released report from Mathematica Policy Research in Washington, D.C., presents seven case studies illustrating examples of various ways research findings have been moved to po... more >>

A Penny for Your Thoughts

• 8/6/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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Here in the publishing world, I’m beginning to plan Benchmark’s issues for 2010 (I know, it seems far away for most of you but for me it’s just around the corner). While I plan what you’ll read in the coming year, I’d like to have your input. What have we done a good job of reporting? What would you like to see more of? Let me know what’s on your mind. All suggestions and comments are welc... more >>

States Still Inconsistent with Health Care Quality

• 7/28/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) annual release of state-by-state quality data continues to give mixed reviews for the quality of care that states provide. AHRQ's 2008 State Snapshots show that no state does well or poorly on all quality measures. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also releasing state-by-state reports on the health care status quo. Th... more >>

NQF Endorses New Practices for Labs

• 7/16/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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To improve the safety of laboratory medicine, the National Quality Forum (NQF) has endorsed six preferred practices for measuring and reporting patient safety and communication in laboratory medicine. The practices focus specifically on improving quality within pre- and posttesting services and address the following:•    Laboratory leadership•    Patient specimen identification•    Sample acceptab... more >>

Electronic Medical Records and Your Organization

• 7/9/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 11439 Views
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Under President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,  federal stimulus funds won’t become available for Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) until 2011, and specific guidelines for determining what constitutes a “qualified” system are as yet undertermined. What is your organization doing to adopt EMRs? Is there anyone out working completely from EMRs? What are some things you see critica... more >>

Come On Now, Get Those Flu Vaccinations

• 7/2/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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When I worked for a health care organization in a former life, all employees had to be vaccinated for the flu. No questions asked. I didn’t like it, but that was the policy. Apparently, that isn’t the case everywhere.Last week, The Joint Commission released “Providing a Safer Environment for Health Care Personnel and Patients through Influenza Vaccination:  Strategies from Research and Practice,” ... more >>

White Paper Seeks Change in Behavioral Health Care

• 6/24/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 12242 Views
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  I just read a white paper called Consumer-Driven Outcomes Management: A New Paradigm for Quality and Efficiency Improvement in Behavioral health released by Danya International, Inc. in Silver Spring, Maryland. The paper said nothing but positive things about consumer outcomes management for behavioral health care.  Among the statistics that stood out was that total program costs were red... more >>

ORYX: Animal or Performance Measurement Initiative?

• 6/19/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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Most of you are familiar with The Joint Commission’s ORYX® initiative. The ORYX initiative integrates outcomes and other performance measurement data into the accreditation process. ORYX measurement requirements are intended to support Joint Commission-accredited organizations in their quality improvement efforts. As part of The Joint Commission’s accreditation process, Joint Commission surveyors ... more >>

Measuring Racial and Ethnic Disparities: How Could this Data Be Used to Improve Care?

• 6/15/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 12865 Views
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At what price do we collect data? And for what benefit?That’s what I wondered after seeing “Measuring Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care: Efforts to Improve Data Collection,” a new policy brief from Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. The brief examines recent federal and state activities aimed at strengthening the collection of health-related data on race, ethnicity, and primary language.... more >>

The Future is (Almost) Here

• 5/28/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 13534 Views
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Mayo Clinic has unveiled an interesting new online tool called The Mayo Clinic Health Manager for health care consumers to store their personal medical record information free of charge. Based on Microsoft's HealthVault system, the service lets anyone--not just Mayo patients--store medical histories, test results, immunization records, appointment records, data from heart rate monitors and oth... more >>

Quality Recommendations Sent to Congress

• 5/14/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 14356 Views
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Stand for Quality, a coalition of more than 165 organizations from across the health care spectrum, recently announced a framework to improve the quality and affordability of health care for all patients through a public-private partnership described in six key recommendations. These recommendations were a nudge to Congress as part of President Obama’s health care reform.The six recommendations ar... more >>

What Happens to the Keywords You Just Typed in That Search Engine?

• 4/30/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 15018 Views
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When is the last time you used an online search engine to research a topic? Maybe your child had a rash and you searched for an idea of what could be causing it. Maybe you wanted to know what the weather is like in Kentucky. Have you ever searched for health information online? As Benchmark readers interested in all things data related, did you ever wonder what could be done with all that sear... more >>

New Quality Indicators and You

• 4/14/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) conducted a “dry run” of reporting data for nine of the most recent Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Patient Safety Indicators and Inpatient Quality Indicators (read more here, including the full list of the indicators)The goal of the exercise was to familiarize hospitals with the AHRQ measures and their organi... more >>

So, What About Hospitalists?

• 4/2/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
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I’ve been working on a project with the Society of Hospital Medicine, so hospitalists have been on my mind quite a bit lately. As you probably know, physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who focus primarily on hospital medicine are called hospitalists. The term "hospitalist" was coined by Robert Wachter, M.D., in 1996. (He also has a great blog on all things medicine). Hosp... more >>

Improving the Quality of Your Care

• 3/17/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 17206 Views
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While reading ABCNews.com the other day I came across an article titled, “Five Ways to Get Your Doctor to Listen to You.” This caught my attention because I just finished editing a book for Joint Commission Resources called Putting the CARE in Health Care. I also recently visited my family physician and (with the topic fresh in my brain) noticed what a great job he did of listening to my concerns ... more >>

It's award time again

• 3/11/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 17517 Views
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The Joint Commission recently issued a request for nominations for the 2009 Eisenberg Awards. Here’s your chance to get your organization recognized for its quality and patient safety efforts. The John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Awards were established in 2002 by the National Quality Forum (NQF) and The Joint Commission in memory of John M. Eisenberg, M.D. Eisenberg was the former dir... more >>

Another Year, Another Resource

• 3/5/2009
• Author: Audrie Bretl Roelf
• 17874 Views
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Greetings! I’m Audrie Bretl, senior editor of The Joint Commission Benchmark. I’ve been waiting for a way to reach out to Benchmark’s readers and this New Year has given me an opportunity — this new blog. I’m hoping this will be the perfect way for you and me to get to know each other and share ideas regarding performance measurement and improvement. I also hope you’ll let me know ... more >>

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