Editor's Note ECRI Institute on October 30 announced a new white paper--Value Analysis: Addressing Top Challenges by Using the PICOTS Framework--which presents findings from national seminars on the top five challenges value analysis professionals face daily. The challenges are: Antiquated workflow C-suite buy-in Accessibility to data Physician engagement Bandwidth. The…

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Editor's Note Colectomy patients participating in a preoperative prehabilitation program had positive physiologic effects and experienced fewer complications, this study finds. The prehabilitation program−Michigan Surgical and Health Optimization Program (MSHOP)−engages patients in four activities before surgery: Physical activity, pulmonary rehabilitation, nutritional optimization, and stress reduction. For the study, patients were…

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Many healthcare organizations have adopted Lean processes to save money, improve workflow, and reduce waste. But it’s not just process change that drives success. It’s the individuals—especially those on the front lines—who work together to identify problems and solutions. It’s also ongoing efforts to sustain changes once they have been…

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Mandatory implementation of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Survey (OAS CAHPS) originally scheduled for 2018 has been delayed, but that does not mean it should be ignored, say ambulatory surgery center (ASC) leaders. The earliest projected date when the survey could become mandatory…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on October 9 announced that 1,299 healthcare providers are participating in its new Bundled Payments for Care Improvement−Advanced model, which began October 1 and will continue until December 31, 2023. The program includes 32 bundled clinical episodes (29 inpatient, 3…

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Editor's Note Massachusetts voters in November will determine whether mandated nurse-to-patient staffing ratios will go into effect January 1, 2019, the October 3 SFGate reports. Implementing the ratios could cost providers $676 million to $949 million per year, according to an analysis by an independent state agency. A union representing…

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Editor's Note US hospitals added 12,000 jobs in September to a seasonally adjusted 5,202,900, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on October 5. That is up 102,700 more employees than a year ago. Overall, healthcare employment has increased 301,500 in the past year. The overall unemployment rate is 3.7% (down…

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Editor's Note The Women’s Choice Award announced on October 1 the Best Children’s Hospitals for 2019. The select group were chosen from nearly 60 Children’s Hospitals in the nation and represent those that have met the highest standards for childcare. Award winners include: Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Omaha Connecticut…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), on orders from Congress, is easing its annual readmission penalties on hospitals servicing low-income residents, the September 26 Kaiser Health News reports. The penalties are part of the Affordable Care Act’s effort to encourage better care. The sanctions have been…

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Editor's Note Patients who receive care in for-profit hospitals are more likely to be readmitted than patients in nonprofit public hospitals, this study finds. Using data from 14,307 hospital reports from the national Hospital Readmission Reduction Program for six major diseases, including coronary artery bypass grafting and total hip and…

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