Monday, July 19, 2010
Used properly, public data can improve hospital safety
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recently released the newest data on the Hospital Compare website. The site allows you to compare hospitals, view charts and graphs, get directions and follow a number of links to information about Medicare.
As you review the data you may realize that it is at least six months old. So, how does a bunch of numbers help keep you safe if you find yourself in a hospital in the near future? What if the hospital the ambulance takes you to doesn’t score as high as the one 10 miles away? Does this information help you receive safer care?
Like any information, the power comes in how it is used and your understanding of what it means.
Hospital Compare uses a few different types of data. One type is “Process of Care Measures.” These are the things that evidence has shown increase the chance that a patient will have good results.
Say you are going to have elective surgery on your knee. Research has shown that patients who get the right type of antibiotics within an hour prior to surgery have less chance of developing a surgical site infection. So, as you work with your doctor and hospital one question you might ask is “what medication will I receive prior to surgery?”
You also might notice that some hospitals do better at preventing blood clots than others. This is another conversation that you might want to consider having with your surgeon. “What is my risk of developing a blood clot as a result of this type of surgery? What can we do to lessen that risk?”
Using the “Process of Care Measures” discussed on the website can provide you with a list of items to discuss with your provider prior to or at the time of your hospitalization. This will help assure that you are receiving the best evidence-based care appropriate to your individual situation.
But remember, not all of these measures are appropriate for all patients, so talk with your healthcare provider about how to optimize your care.
No matter what hospital you end up in, you want to make sure you are one of the people counted as having received the best possible care appropriate for your situation.
Using the information on the Hospital Compare site is a wonderful starting place for ongoing conversations with your healthcare provider.
Receiving safe, effective healthcare requires continuous teamwork. You as a patient or family member are an integral part of that team.
Bonnie Thompson, an advanced practice nurse, is Administrative Director of Organizational Excellence at The William W. Backus Hospital. The information in this column should not replace the advice of your personal physician. To communicate with Ms. Thompson or any of the Healthy Living columnists, email healthyliving@wwbh.org
As you review the data you may realize that it is at least six months old. So, how does a bunch of numbers help keep you safe if you find yourself in a hospital in the near future? What if the hospital the ambulance takes you to doesn’t score as high as the one 10 miles away? Does this information help you receive safer care?
Like any information, the power comes in how it is used and your understanding of what it means.
Hospital Compare uses a few different types of data. One type is “Process of Care Measures.” These are the things that evidence has shown increase the chance that a patient will have good results.
Say you are going to have elective surgery on your knee. Research has shown that patients who get the right type of antibiotics within an hour prior to surgery have less chance of developing a surgical site infection. So, as you work with your doctor and hospital one question you might ask is “what medication will I receive prior to surgery?”
You also might notice that some hospitals do better at preventing blood clots than others. This is another conversation that you might want to consider having with your surgeon. “What is my risk of developing a blood clot as a result of this type of surgery? What can we do to lessen that risk?”
Using the “Process of Care Measures” discussed on the website can provide you with a list of items to discuss with your provider prior to or at the time of your hospitalization. This will help assure that you are receiving the best evidence-based care appropriate to your individual situation.
But remember, not all of these measures are appropriate for all patients, so talk with your healthcare provider about how to optimize your care.
No matter what hospital you end up in, you want to make sure you are one of the people counted as having received the best possible care appropriate for your situation.
Using the information on the Hospital Compare site is a wonderful starting place for ongoing conversations with your healthcare provider.
Receiving safe, effective healthcare requires continuous teamwork. You as a patient or family member are an integral part of that team.
Bonnie Thompson, an advanced practice nurse, is Administrative Director of Organizational Excellence at The William W. Backus Hospital. The information in this column should not replace the advice of your personal physician. To communicate with Ms. Thompson or any of the Healthy Living columnists, email healthyliving@wwbh.org
# posted by ----------------- @ 11:03 AM 
