Editor's Note This survey study of US adults found that many were averse to their information being used on digital platforms to mitigate COVID-19 transmission. Of 6,284 adults surveyed, 3,547 responded, for a completion rate of 56%. Approval was generally low (28% to 43%) for use of consumer digital data…

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Editor's Note Despite high rates of patients discharged with cardioprotective medications, the long-term burden of postoperative myocardial infarction (MI) after major vascular surgery is substantial, with a high mortality rate in the following year, this study finds. Of 26,231 vascular surgery patients analyzed, factors linked to an increased risk of postoperative…

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The Leapfrog Group’s spring 2019 Hospital Safety Grade Report shows some progress in patient safety: an estimated 160,000 avoidable deaths nationwide, down from 205,000 in 2016. But 160,000 is a large number. “There’s still a lot of needless death and harm in American hospitals,” says Leah Binder, Leapfrog’s president and…

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Editor's Note Hospitals that perform better on measures to prevent postoperative complications also have better performance on measures of profitability, this study finds. Improved patient safety performance was associated with higher net patient revenue for five of seven Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) measures, including starting and stopping preventive antibiotics…

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This year, the quality movement takes a big step with the start of Medicare’s value-based purchasing (VBP) program. Beginning October 1, 2012, part of your hospital’s Medicare payments will be based on your hospital’s performance on a set of quality measures, usually referred to as the core measures and HCAHPS…

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Indwelling urinary catheters are routinely inserted in surgical patients to reduce postoperative bladder dysfunction that can result from anesthesia, analgesia, and immobility. But the benefits are offset by the risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI) if the catheters are left in place for too long. Do you know how…

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Tight glucose control for critically ill patients gained credence several years ago after a landmark study showed tight control for ICU patients reduced the incidence of infections and mortality. Now the pendulum is swinging back, as newer reports show managing blood glucose levels too tightly places patients at risk for…

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ORs are ramping up efforts to keep surgical patients warm. Medicare has adopted an expanded measure on perioperative temperature management as part of the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP). The new measure, SCIP Infection 10, calls for active warming or nor-mothermia for all surgical patients under general or neuraxial anesthesia…

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OR Manager asked Dale Bratzler, DO, MPH, who coordinates the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) to respond to readers'questions about the project and getting all practitioners on board Q Who develops the SCIP measures? Are practicing physicians involved? Dr Bratzler: SCIP performance measures are developed by Technical Expert Panels, which…

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One more SCIP measure is added for reporting for fiscal year 2010. Two more are proposed for fiscal 2011 as part of the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP). Beginning Oct 1, 2009, the start of FY 2010, one more measure will affect hospitals' Medicare payment update: Surgical patients on a…

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