Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1293502
32 QUALITY IMPROVEMENT & MEASUREMENT Healthgrades recognizes 162 hospitals for maternal care By Mackenzie Bean H ealthgrades identified 162 hospitals as the recipients of its 2020 Women's Care Awards, the organization said Aug. 11 To select the winners, Healthgrades analyzed patient outcomes data from all payer types available in 16 states between 2016 and 2018. Healthgrades recognized 68 hospitals with its Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award out of a pool of 667 eligible hospitals. The analysis found patients treated in the winning hospitals had, on average, a 34 percent lower risk of complications during childbirth or other gynecologic surgeries and procedures between 2016 and 2018. The ratings organization awarded 114 hospitals (or the top 10 percent) with its Labor and Delivery Excellence Award. Patients treated at these hospitals had a 40 percent lower chance of having a complication during labor and delivery between 2016 and 2018. In total, 1,127 hospitals were evaluated for this award. Healthgrades also recognized 74 hospitals out of a possible 727 with its Gyneco- logic Surgery Excellence Award. The winning hospitals again represent the top 10 percent of facilities evaluated. Patients at these hospitals had a 46.7 percent lower risk of complication during gynecologic surgery from 2016-18. n Joint Commission's approval period cut short by CMS over survey concerns By Mackenzie Bean C MS approved The Joint Commission's hospital accreditation program for a shorter period due to concerns with the organization's survey processes, the agency said in a July 17 notice. CMS approved The Joint Commission for another two years through July 15, 2022. The approval recognizes The Joint Commission as a national accredit- ing organization for hospitals participating in Medicare or Medicaid. CMS can approve healthcare accrediting organizations for up to six years. The agency said The Joint Commission's shorter approval period is due to concerns over surveyors' performance, the thoroughness of their review and how survey processes align with CMS. The Joint Commission addressed all issues about the comparability of its re- spective processes with CMS during the application process to regain approval, according to Mark Chassin, MD, president and CEO of The Joint Commission. "The Joint Commission appreciates that CMS began an initiative last year to increase its oversight of all hospital accrediting organizations," Dr. Chassin said in a statement to Becker's. "We will continue to demonstrate that Joint Commission accreditation provides the nation's most state-of-the art and effective evaluation of hospitals. We look forward to our ongoing work with CMS to improve patient safety and quality of care." CMS said it will continue to review The Joint Commission's survey processes across all approved accrediting programs to ensure all recommended chang- es have been implemented. n 5 ways hospitals can boost clinician engagement in quality improvement By Gabrielle Masson D edicated time, mentorship and par- ticipation in a professional quality improvement network are the most significant factors to nurture clinicians' self-efficacy and effectiveness in QI, according to a study published in Interna- tional Journal for Quality in Health Care. Researchers at Sacramento, Calif.-based UC Davis Health analyzed survey respons- es from 212 clinicians who are members and fellows of the International Society for Quality in Healthcare. They measured self-efficacy and effectiveness of clinicians in conducting and leading QI activities. Five main factors that increased clinicians' effectiveness in QI: 1. Dedicated time for quality improvement. 2. Working within multidisciplinary improvement teams. 3. Professional development in QI, in- cluding formal training inside and outside the organization and QI organizational memberships. 4. Ability to select areas for improve- ment that the clinician views as high priority or that interest them. 5. Organizational values and culture that supports QI. The study also found that some of the most successful clinical QI initiatives fo- cused on improving patient safety and re- duction in medical errors, reducing waits and delays in care, reducing overuse of unnecessary services, improving patient- and family-centered care, and/or reducing health disparities. n