Consorta members can get food service software
Hospitals belonging to Consorta Inc., a Schaumburg, Ill.-based group purchasing organization, will receive discounted pricing on software from Ithaca, N.Y.-based CBORD Group Inc., which offers applications designed to improve the efficiency of foodservice operations. The multi-year sole source agreement makes the software available to Consorta members, which include 530 acute-care hospitals, 250 extended-care facilities and 2,500 other care sites in the United States.
Study finds savings from ED’s use of EHRs
When electronic health records are made available to emergency department physicians, hospitals can generate significant economic savings, according to the results of a study sponsored by MEDecision, Inc. of Wayne, Pa. and the Christiana Care Health System. An economic benefit study by HealthCore Inc., an independent outcomes research firm, concluded that each transmitted patient clinical summary generated an average total savings of $545 on emergency department visit costs and first day hospitalization expenses for the subset of patients who were subsequently admitted. In addition, the study finds that using the Patient Clinical Summary resulted in significant savings on laboratory testing, cardiac catheterization and medical and surgical supplies.
Hospitals asked to share challenges with Congress
Hospitals have until March 14 to respond to a survey being conducted by the American Hospital Association to share concerns about financial and other pressures they face on an ongoing basis. The AHA annually surveys facilities on problematic areas such as workforce shortages, capacity constraints, quality and safety priorities and their strategies for serving an aging and changing demographic patient population.
URAC seeks comments on accreditation changes
URAC has set a March 19 deadline for hospitals’ comments on minor revisions to its accreditation standards for clinical and health information technology programs. The proposed revisions affect aspects of Core Accreditation and many of its specific accreditation programs. URAC, an independent not-for-profit organization, reviews standards annually and is scheduled to review standards for major revisions in 2008. The standards are available for review at URAC’s Web site.