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Public reporting on hospital process improvements is linked to better patient outcomes.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20606180     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publicly reports so-called process performance at all U.S. hospitals, such as whether certain recommended treatments are given to specific types of patients. We examined whether hospital performance on key process indicators improved during the three years since this reporting began. We also studied whether or not these changes improved patient outcomes or yielded other quality improvements, such as reduced hospital readmission rates. We found that, from 2004 to 2006, hospital process performance improved and was associated with better patient and quality outcomes. Most notably, for acute myocardial infarction, performance improvements were associated with declines in mortality rates, lengths-of-stay, and readmission rates. Although we cannot conclude that public reporting caused the improvement in processes or outcomes, these results are encouraging, since improving process performance may improve quality more broadly.
Authors:
Rachel M Werner; Eric T Bradlow
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Health affairs (Project Hope)     Volume:  29     ISSN:  1544-5208     ISO Abbreviation:  Health Aff (Millwood)     Publication Date:  2010 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-07-07     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8303128     Medline TA:  Health Aff (Millwood)     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1319-24     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, USA.
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