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Quality and Safety

By Betsy Caron | 04:16 pm | November 23, 2011
It’s no wonder why subscribers of Wolters Kluwer Health’s UpToDate have described the system as “the best medical tool ever.” New research conducted at Harvard University has found that hospitals using UpToDate, an evidence-based, physician-authored clinical knowledge system, have shorter lengths of stay, better quality and, for some conditions, a lower mortality rate.
By Chris Anderson | 12:41 pm | November 23, 2011
As workers continue to pick up more of the costs associated with employer-sponsored health plans, they want more help from their employers to manage their health and get the most out of their health plans, according to a new survey from Aon Hewitt.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 11:26 am | November 23, 2011
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) has discontinued its one-year and six-month terms. All accreditations will be for three-year terms announced the organization on Tuesday.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 05:51 pm | November 22, 2011
One of the country's largest drugmakers, Merck, will pay nearly $1 billion to settle criminal and civil charges related to its marketing of the painkiller Vioxx the Justice Department announced Tuesday.
By Bernie Monegain | 11:25 am | November 22, 2011
Harvard Medical School's Center for Biomedical Informatics and healthcare benefits giant Aetna are forming a research collaborative to improve the quality and cost of healthcare.
By Stephanie Bouchard | 12:51 pm | November 21, 2011
In an effort to provide some sense of certainty about an ACO's ability to reach the so-called triple aim of reducing cost, improving quality and enhancing patient experience, the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) released on Monday its standards and guidelines which are the basis of its ACO accreditation program.
By Mary Mosquera | 11:02 am | November 21, 2011
Small business owners can find and compare health insurance plan choices with a new tool provided by the Health and Human Services Department.
By James Ellis and Aaron Razavi | 09:11 am | November 21, 2011
Why is a major health insurer conversing with hospital systems in Pennsylvania to discuss performance on quality measures?
By Stephanie Bouchard | 11:38 am | November 18, 2011
If healthcare organizations are going to achieve reductions in medical errors, hospital-acquired infections and hospital readmissions, folks are going to have to work together and senior leadership at those organizations must engage patients and their families in the effort.
By Rene Letourneau | 03:27 pm | November 17, 2011
A collaborative effort among 53 Ohio hospitals resulted in a 48 percent reduction in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in intensive care units over a 22-month period, saving lives and $4.6 million in healthcare costs.