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What's New | April 14, 2010

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Waste Reduction
Reducing waste and improving efficiency in health care delivery can reduce costs and improve health care quality. Inefficient processes waste limited health care resources that could otherwise improve health outcomes. Improvement strategies include implementing evidence-based practices and improving clinical process design and management.

The featured Innovations describe three programs that implemented activities to reduce waste and improve health care delivery processes.

The featured QualityTools provide health care organizations with resources and tools to identify and reduce waste and track associated cost savings. 
Featured Innovations:

•  Concurrent and Retrospective Chart Review, Performance Reporting, and Other Support Significantly Improve Adherence to Core Measures in Four Clinical Areas
with Expert Commentary

•  Separate Emergency Center for Older Patients Leads to High Levels of Patient Satisfaction, Detection of Polypharmacy, Increased Volume of Patients, and Low Rate of Return Visits

•  Streamlined Evaluation, Transfer, and Admission Processes Significantly Reduce Waiting Times for Emergency Department Patients Awaiting Admission to Psychiatric Facility
with Expert Commentary

Featured QualityTools:

• Increasing Efficiency and Enhancing Value in Health Care: Ways to Achieve Savings in Operating Costs per Year
Developed by Institute for Healthcare Improvement

• Quality Improvement Savings Tracker Worksheet
Developed by Institute for Healthcare Improvement; Sigma Aldrich

• Reduce Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Health Care: Fact Sheet
Developed by AARP

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Also in This Issue:
Innovations >

• 24-Hour Mobile Mental Health Crisis Team Reduces Hospitalization for Children with Complex Behavioral and Emotional Needs

• Improvement Projects Led by Unit-Based Teams of Nurse, Physician, and Quality Leaders Reduce Infections, Lower Costs, Improve Patient Satisfaction, and Nurse-Physician Communication

• Program to Promote Adherence to Standards of Professional Conduct Improves Staff Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture and Reduces Disruptive Clinician Behavior

• Standardized Communication Process Guided by Daily Goals Form Improves Nurse–Physician Communication and Increases Nurse and Patient Satisfaction on Surgical Unit

QualityTools >

• Is the Community Oriented Correctional Health Services Program Right for Your Community?
Developed by Community Oriented Correctional Health Services

• My Pill Box
Developed by San Diego Cardiac Center

• Patient Flow Toolbox
Developed by Institute for Healthcare Improvement

• What You Can Do to Avoid Medication Errors
Developed by Institute of Medicine