| CEO's Corner |
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CEO of OFMQ
Dale Bratzler, DO, MPH
A variety of studies have demonstrated improvements in quality of health care over the past decade; however, recent reports suggest that the pace of improvement has slowed. For example, the National Committee on Quality Assurance just reported that for the first time in 13 years, the quality of health care provided to patients in commercial and public health plans did not improve. Recognizing the need to improve quality, all of the current bills on health reform Congress is considering include provisions designed to improve the efficiency, quality, and coordination of healthcare services.
While the outcome of the various health reform bills in Congress remains to be determined, many ongoing federal activities are aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services recently issued their "Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections" focused on prevention and elimination of infections such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and Clostridium difficile infections among others. Earlier this year provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided substantial funding to promote adoption of health information technology which has the potential to improve health care quality, prevent medical errors, and increase the efficiency of care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has continued to promote quality improvement activities in support of these federal priorities, in addition to initiatives that include cross setting patient safety efforts such as improving care for patients in nursing homes and hospitals to prevent pressure ulcers, improvements in surgical care, and activities to promote safe prescribing for the elderly.
OFMQ is committed to improving the quality of health care in Oklahoma, and we are excited to be actively participating in many of these priority activities. This issue of Quality Connection highlights some of this important work.
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| Hospital Quality Reporting |
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Click Here to Access Hospital Quality Reporting News |
| Yes to Success! |
Do you have a quality improvement success story? Tell us about it! We may feature your facility in a future issue of Quality Connection. Click here to contact OFMQ. |
| Stay Connected!
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An e-mail listserve is an easy way to exchange information with others about your health care quality improvement
efforts.
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Quality Improvement Expands in Oklahoma |
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| OFMQ is pleased to let readers know we are expanding into new areas to benefit more Oklahoma healthcare providers and citizens, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Click the links below to read more:
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Saving Oklahoma's Skin
Events Teach Pressure Ulcer Prevention |
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Health care workers across Oklahoma are learning best practices for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers, through ongoing educational forums with hands-on learning opportunities and through innovative community-based collaboration. The Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality and the Oklahoma Pressure Ulcer Coalition developed the Saving Oklahoma's Skin (SOS) campaign to raise awareness about the impact of pressure ulcers in Oklahoma and to provide education for prevention and treatment of this painful, even deadly condition. In just eight months, SOS Skin Fairs have reached over 1500 front line health care staff and other caregivers with practical resources for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. "The participants are engaged and take home practical knowledge they can put to use right away," said Debara Yellseagle, OFMQ Patient Safety Manager. One SOS participant reported, "Great information! I'm excited to be a part of this change. There are so many ideas to share to bring pressure ulcers down." For information about hosting a Skin Fair in your facility or community, contact us.
Quality Improvement Specialists John Leon and Tricia Cruzan use tomatoes and tape to show skin fair participants how fragile a patient's skin can be.
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Oklahoma Hospitals Combat Infections
In conjunction with MRSA Awareness Month in October, the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality (OFMQ) has brought Oklahoma hospitals together to collaborate on methods for battling MRSA, the most common deadly infection that can be acquired in health care settings. OFMQ also aims to heighten awareness of how MRSA is transmitted and how people can protect themselves. To read the full story click here. |
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| Increasing Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates |
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New! Interactive, Web-based CRC Toolbox and Guide for Clinicians
The American Cancer Society has developed a new, time-saving, interactive web-based resource, How to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates in Practice: A Primary Care Clinician's Evidence-Based Toolbox and Guide. This resource, as well as the PDF version, is available Here (look to the right of the screen). Created by clinicians for clinicians, this toolbox can help improve colorectal cancer screening in actual practice. It provides state of the science information, advice to help make in-office screening practices more efficient, and tools for use in the practice. Additionally, physicians can receive CMEs for completion of the online quiz. A short registration is required. |
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Please visit us online at
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| This material was prepared by Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Oklahoma, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. OFMQ-936-OK-1009 |
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