Addressing Survey Fatigue to Improve Patient Safety Culture  Healthcare facilities rely on the Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) to assess their safety climate. However, survey fatigue can hinder participation and impact response rates. To ensure meaningful feedback, healthcare organizations must take strategic steps to encourage engagement while maintaining staff confidence. Watch the third video from our six-part patient safety culture series Access the full video on our YouTube:  3️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: How to Make an Impact 1. Flexible participation: A solution to increase SOPS® response rates  One way to combat survey fatigue is by varying staff participation. Instead of requiring all employees to complete every survey, healthcare facilities can rotate participation. For example, if a unit has eight nurses, four can take one survey while the others complete a different one. This method ensures valuable feedback without overwhelming staff.  Additionall...

Boosting safety and patient outcomes through SOPS® surveys  A strong patient safety culture is the foundation of high-quality healthcare. Healthcare facilities must actively engage their staff in Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) to gain critical insights into safety challenges and opportunities for improvement. High participation rates lead to more reliable data, helping organizations implement meaningful changes that enhance both staff confidence and patient outcomes. Here are four ways to boost safety and patient outcomes. Watch the second video from our six-part patient safety culture series Access the full video on our YouTube:  2️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: Boosting Safety and Patient Outcomes. 1. Confidentiality: A cornerstone of patient safety culture surveys  Ensuring anonymity in SOPS® surveys is essential to fostering open and honest feedback. Employees, from environmental services, e.g. EVS technicians, janitors or housekeeping staff, to senior surge...

Encouraging staff participation in Surveys on Patient Safety Culture (SOPS®)  Fostering a strong patient safety culture is essential for improving patient outcomes and ensuring high-quality care in healthcare facilities. One of the most effective ways to assess and enhance patient safety culture is through Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) , which provide critical insights into staff perceptions of safety in their healthcare facility.  Watch the first video from our six-part patient safety culture series Access the full video on our YouTube:  1️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: Encouraging Participation .  Why staff participation in SOPS® matters  Encouraging staff participation in Surveys on Patient Safety Culture is crucial for multiple reasons. Here, we’ll break down the major points while describing why it’s important to collect patient safety culture survey data .  1. Regulatory compliance  The Joint Commission requires healthcare organizations to a...

What are the financial risks in TEAM?  Hospitals are preparing for the launch of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) in 2026.   To help you understand both the opportunities and financial risks for participants, DataGen put together a comprehensive white paper, CMS Transforming Episodes Accountability Model Financial Risk Guide.   [Access it Now for Key Updates]  Keep reading for highlights of what’s inside.   Exploring the goals and structure of CMS TEAM Model  CMS TEAM Model is designed to enhance care quality and cost-efficiency. It aims to revolutionize how hospitals manage patient care over 30-day episodes for specific surgical procedures by holding them accountable for the quality and cost of care delivered.   As seen on CMS’ Transforming Episode Accountability Model overview webcast , this model not only seeks to improve patient outcomes, but encourages hospit...

For practices recognized under the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, understanding and meeting the NCQA PCMH 2025 annual reporting requirements is critical to sustaining recognition.  NCQA continues to refine its NCQA PCMH standards and guidelines , emphasizing team structure, care continuity and data integrity. Here’s what your practice needs to do to stay compliant and ensure a smooth reporting process. This blog is a continuation of our piece back in July 2024, which listed three updates to NCQA PCMH's 2025 annual reporting requirements . What is NCQA PCMH?  The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a model of care that emphasizes care coordination, patient engagement and continuous quality improvement. The PCMH framework is designed to improve healthcare outcomes by fostering strong patient-provider relationships and enhancing team-based care.  Since its inception, the NCQA PCMH program has evolved to...

Accurate and standardized healthcare data are essential for informed decision-making and compliance. In New York state, the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) plays a critical role in collecting and analyzing patient data. Central to this system is the SPARCS data dictionary, a comprehensive resource that ensures consistency in data reporting across healthcare providers. This blog will explore the SPARCS data dictionary , including:  key components and practical applications;  how it can streamline healthcare operations; and   how understanding it can simplify your submission routines.   We will also cover SPARCS data automation and DataGen’s automated SPARCS data submission tool, UDS (UIS Data System™), and how it can help you achieve 100% accuracy and compliance with minimal effort.  Who should use this SPARCS data dictionary?   Key roles in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)  This SPARCS data dictionary is a valuabl...

The end of the CJR model: A look back at its evolution  In October 2024, the final episodes of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model were initiated, with all episodes ending by Dec. 31, 2024. This was the final performance year of CJR, which spanned eight years overall.   CJR began Apr. 1, 2016. It was CMS’ first mandatory bundled payment model. Hospitals were held financially accountable for lower extremity joint replacement (LEJR) episodes of care and were incentivized to improve care coordination for patients across the continuum.    Key insights from CJR: Successes, adjustments and challenges  CJR had numerous ups and downs over the years, as its scope was adjusted over several administrations through the rule-making process. Here are the five main highlights.  1. CJR’s mandatory participation: A changing landscape  When the CJR model was introduced, participation was mandatory for hospitals in 67 metropolitan statistical a...