This frequently updated news digest on the subject of Quality/Equality highlights key articles from major news publications and blogs. The digest is a free service of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All rights reserved. Sign up to receive the digest free via email.
News
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Health Games
Spotlight On:
AF4Q Games to Generate Data Challenge Announces Finalists
A competition among technology innovators is exploring how gaming can generate useful data on health care quality. Five teams with concepts ranging from a health care fantasy league to a self-help tool for people with anxiety and depression have been chosen as finalists in the Aligning Forces for Quality $200,000 Games to Generate Data Challenge. The finalists will now turn their concepts into working game applications, while competing for the grand prize. The games will allow players to collaborate or compete to improve their personal health while bettering the health of their community.
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Patient Engagement
Spotlight On:
Encouraging Patient Engagement
New patient engagement principles have been developed by a committee of nurse leaders and patient advocates to offer guidance to the nursing community and other health care providers. The principles are intended to help those on the front lines of patient care develop models for patient engagement, as well as quality and safety interventions that support and encourage patients and families to become partners in their care.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-supported Nursing Alliance for Quality Care (NAQC) released the nine principles to support nurses and other health care providers in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. NAQC leaders believe the principles can spark discussion among practicing nurses, nurse educators, students, and other providers, leading to policy initiatives that better integrate patients and families in all care decisions.
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Hospital Quality Improvement
Spotlight On:
Hospitals Collaborate to Improve Care
Ninety percent of hospitals participating in a national Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) program to improve the quality and safety of patient care in America's hospitals achieved measurable improvement in patient care, according to information released today.
In total, 150 hospitals participated in an 18-month virtual collaborative through which they developed and shared quality improvement strategies. Their work focused specifically on reducing avoidable readmissions, improving the quality of language services for patients who speak little or no English, or improving the efficiency of the emergency department. Participating sites also standardized the collection of data on patients' race, ethnicity, and language preference—a critical part of tracking and meeting diverse patient needs to ensure equity of care.
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Measuring Disparities & Cultural Competency
Spotlight On:
Language Services Measures Developed by RWJF Programs Receive NQF Endorsement
Two measures to assess the effectiveness of language services in hospitals have been endorsed by the National Quality Forum (NQF). The measures were developed and field tested through Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness of care for people of diverse races and ethnicities.
The two measures—providing language services from a qualified medical interpreter, and screening for each patient’s preferred spoken language—were included in a list of 12 measures that represent the first time NQF has endorsed measures specifically addressing health care disparities and cultural competency.
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Consumer Reports Partnership
Spotlight On:
Consumer Reports Turns to Health Care in Minnesota
In partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Aligning Forces for Quality effort, Consumer Reports magazine released ratings on the quality of care delivered by primary care doctors throughout Minnesota. The October issue of the magazine features a special insert with ratings on how well more than 500 medical practices in Minnesota treat patients with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Ratings are based on the percentage of patients who achieve all of the targets for the best management of each of the two conditions. That means controlling both blood pressure and cholesterol levels and, in the case of diabetes, blood sugar levels, too. The ratings were published on the heels of Consumer Reports' recent ratings of doctors in Massachusetts released in May.
Latest Quality/Equality News Releases
Care Managers for Perinatal Depression
May 2, 2013Lancaster General Health added depression care managers to the team of perinatal providers in order to ensure attention is paid to this disorder.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Reconvenes Commission to Build a Healthier America
RWJF is reconvening the Commission to Build a Healthier America to provide new guidance in two key areas: early childhood and healthy communities.
Tactics for Engaging Employers in Community Alliances
May 1, 2013This brief offers promising tactics for community alliances to attract and retain employers as partners, both as purchasers and as channels for communicating with employees and their families.
Video Updates from Quality/Equality
Video updates from Quality/Equality programs and initiatives.