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A recent report by the Pew Center on the States (www.pewcenteronthestates.org) examines state Medicaid reforms being tested to reduce program spending.
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The staff in the pre-op area see the nurse liaisons interaction with patients and families as having a calming effect on the patient and family members, especially when there are delays, and [post-anesthesia care unit] nurses are relieved that the family is being taken care of so they can concentrate solely on the patients needs, explains Maureen Spangler, RN, CNOR, director of perioperative services at Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, SC.
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Under expanded safe harbors to anti-kickback statutes, physicians are now allowed to accept donations of electronic prescribing software, electronic health records software, and training services from hospitals and health plans, says the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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Social work services provide an important link between ambulatory and inpatient providers and health care clients. Social workers assist patients in finding available and appropriate resources, help with financial issues, arrange transportation for patients, and conduct many more enabling tasks.
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As of 2005, only between 5% to 10% of hospitals are currently using electronic health records (EHR), according to a new study. The researchers urge greater attention to EHR adoption by safety-net providers and others who care for underserved populations.
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Case management is a collaborative process at Edward Hospital in Naperville, IL, with advanced practice nurses leading a team that includes utilization managers, social workers, and staff nurses.
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When Joint Commission surveyors walked into Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, PA, the hospital's "backup" system went into effect. For everyone not present, a backup person went into action who knew where all the relevant documents were.
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A recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report recommends that Medicare gradually replace its current fee-for-service payment system with a new pay-for-performance system for its 42 million beneficiaries.
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New York-Presbyterian Hospital recently received top honors in two categories at the Global Six Sigma Summit & Industry Awards "Best Achievement of Six Sigma in Healthcare" (sponsored by CIGNA Corporation), and the Platinum Award for "The Most Outstanding Organizational Achievement through Six Sigma."
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A new program at Doctors Hospital in Coral Gables, FL, helps move patients seamlessly from one department or unit to another, helping address the challenging issue of handoffs.