In today’s healthcare environment, ensuring patient safety is more than just a priority — it’s a fundamental component of quality care. Establishing a strong patient safety culture within hospitals and health organizations can dramatically reduce errors, increase patient satisfaction and improve overall healthcare outcomes. But what exactly is a patient safety culture, and how can institutions cultivate it effectively?  This blog post explores the five key components that make up a robust patient safety culture, along with insights from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and The Joint Commission.  What is patient safety culture?  AHRQ defines patient safety culture as how an organization's culture supports and promotes patient safety. This can extend to multiple levels, from individual units to departments to system levels. The AHRQ patient safety culture survey encompasses the shared values, beliefs and norms of healthcare practitioners and staff that...

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, quality assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) are crucial. These practices are essential for healthcare organizations that aim to enhance patient care while meeting regulatory and payer expectations.   That’s why we sat down with Mandi Diamond, senior practice transformation advisor at DataGen, to discuss the nuances. Read on for essential information on QAPI and how to measure your quality data.  What is quality assessment and performance improvement?  Defining quality assessment  The National Institutes of Health (NIH)  defines quality assessment (QA) as "the measurement of the technical and interpersonal aspects of health care and the outcomes of that care."   Diamond expands upon that definition, describing QA as the systematic evaluation of outcomes within an organization to measure the success of essential workflows.  Both definitions touch on the use of repeatable and systematic...

Is your hospital one of the 741 acute care hospitals mandated?  On Sept. 5, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) took another significant step in transforming healthcare delivery by releasing the list of mandatory participants for the Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) .   If you’re a part of the 741 acute care hospitals selected for mandatory TEAM participation, here’s what you need to pay close attention to, as it marks a pivotal shift in how care is managed and Medicare costs are reconciled across the United States.  Two highlights from the CMS announcement  Mandatory participants announced  CMS’ list of acute care hospitals selected for mandatory participation in the TEAM model includes hospitals located within Core-based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) chosen by CMS. If your hospital is among those listed, it's imperative to understand the implications and prepare for upcoming changes.  Call to action for participating hospital...