Category Archives: Health Care Quality

Effectiveness, Efficiency, Equity, Patient-Centeredness, Safety, Timeliness

MA Public Report on Healthcare-Associated Infections Now Available

At this morning’s Public Health Council meeting, the MA Department of Public Health released its most recent public report on healthcare-associated infections at MA hospitals. You can find the report here. Please note that there are many pages of appendices … Continue reading

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Infection Report Released Tomorrow and Webinar on Better Care and Lower Costs

The Department of Public Health will release its latest public report on healthcare-associated infections at the Public Health Council meeting on Wednesday morning. Under state law, the Department is required to issue reports on infection rates at hospitals across Massachusetts. … Continue reading

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Conversations About End-of-Life Care

Having discussions about care that someone would or would not want in the final stages of his or her life is difficult and emotional for all involved, including the individual, loved ones, health care providers, and others. But it is … Continue reading

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Some More Good Stuff From MMPI

Kate Nordahl and the Mass Medicaid Policy Institute keep churning out more good stuff. Next up are two timely papers: First is a fact sheet (pdf) on the just-concluded extension of our Medicaid waiver, the agreement with the federal government … Continue reading

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Quality and Cost Council Meets Wednesday

The Health Care Quality and Cost Council is meeting January 18, 1-3 pm, at 1 Ashburton Place, 21st floor, Boston. Meetings are open to the public. Agenda (pdf) items include follow-up from last month’s QCC annual meeting, including looking at … Continue reading

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Opening Doctors’ Notes to Patients

Tuesday’s NY Times reported on a research project called Open Notes, spearheaded by providers and researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, which looks at the impact of encouraging patients to view their outpatient medical records (doctors’ notes and all). … Continue reading

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Serious Reportable Events Report On-Line

The MA Department of Public Health has issued its most recent reports on the occurrence of Serious Reportable Events (SREs) in Massachusetts hospitals. Health Care For All and the Consumer Health Quality Council advocated for the law requiring public reports … Continue reading

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Public Hearings on Duals Initiative – First Hearing Friday, in Worcester

We want to remind everyone of the listening sessions on the state’s proposal to provide integrated care for disabled adults who receive both Medicare and Medicaid. The first session is this Friday, Dec. 16, 1 pm at the Worcester Public … Continue reading

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Must Reading: Berwick’s Reply

In a talk at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement annual forum this week, Don Berwick encapsulated his wisdom of how health care change can happen, his rage at the politics and cynicism that accompanied his work at CMS, and his … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Politics, Health Care Quality, Healthcare Cost Control, National Health Reform | 2 Comments

State Releases Draft Duals Proposal

The process for improving care for disabled adults in Massachusetts took a step forward yesterday, as EOHHS and the Office of Medicaid released their proposal to the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Entitled “State Demonstration to Integrate Care … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Quality, MassHealth/Medicaid | 1 Comment