/ en Thu, 01 May 2025 15:05:01 -0500 Fri, 04 Apr 25 15:30:00 -0500 /center/living-learning-network/ahas-quality-exchange Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:30:00 -0500 Performance improvement /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-03-25-top-4-takeaways-new-aha-safety-insights-report <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Top-4-Takeaways-from-New-AHA-Safety-Insights-Report.png" data-entity-uuid="0033e72b-2c55-4754-ac0a-facda1a20ca4" data-entity-type="file" alt="Top 4 Takeaways from New AHA Safety Insights Report. The cover of the AHA "Insights Report: Improvement in the Safety Culture Linked to Better Patient and Staff Outcomes" overlayed on an image of a surgery being performed by four clinicians." width="1200" height="677"><p>Over the past six months, the AHA and its data partners have produced two comprehensive reports that document the progress hospitals and health systems continue to make on key patient safety measures.</p><p>In September 2024, the AHA partnered with Vizient on a <a href="/guidesreports/2024-09-12-new-analysis-shows-hospitals-performance-key-patient-safety-measures-surpassing-pre-pandemic-levels">report</a> showing that numerous outcome measures of health care quality and patient safety 鈥� including decreasing risk of mortality and lower levels of health care-associated infections 鈥� are improving while hospitals care for more patients with significant health needs.</p><p>Meanwhile, the newly released Insights Report, <a href="/guidesreports/2025-03-11-improvement-safety-culture-linked-better-patient-and-staff-outcomes">鈥淚mprovement in Safety Culture Linked to Better Patient and Staff Outcomes,鈥�</a> highlights progress on additional outcome measures of patient safety including some that reflect the ongoing work led by nurses to protect patients.</p><p>The latest report, created in collaboration between the AHA and Press Ganey, shows clear improvement on the experience of both patients and the health care workforce. It also shows improvements in safety culture, a leading indicator of better safety outcomes and better experiences for patients and staff.</p><h2>4 Takeaways from the New Data</h2><h3><span>1</span> <span>|</span> 4 key quality and safety areas are improving.</h3><p>Hospitals are performing at or better than prepandemic levels on multiple quality and safety measures, according to the March report. The findings are based on the Press Ganey National Database Quality Indicators reflecting quality measures reported by more than 25,000 units across 2,430 acute care inpatient hospitals. The data show improvements from their mid-pandemic levels in four key measurement areas:</p><ul><li>Catheter-associated urinary tract infections</li><li>Central line-associated bloodstream infections.</li><li>Patient falls that result in harm.</li><li>The number of patients who develop hospital-acquired pressure injuries such as bedsores.</li></ul><h3><span>2</span> <span>|</span> Patient experience and safety improvements are being noticed.</h3><p>The report鈥檚 data, based on responses from 13 million patients, show steady gains in their experience of care and their perceived safety of care after a drop during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drivers of these improvements include patient perception of good teamwork among staff, attention and responsiveness to patient needs and communication among patients and clinical care team members.</p><h3><span>3</span> <span>|</span> Patients are attuned to team dynamics and interpersonal competencies.</h3><p>One key factor driving improvements in patients鈥� perceptions of care is the teamwork of their caregivers. Across clinical areas 鈥� inpatient and outpatient, surgical and medical, emergency and scheduled 鈥� the single largest driver of a patient鈥檚 likelihood to recommend a hospital, facility or provider is the perception of how well their care team members work together, the report notes. Better teamwork has long been shown to drive better outcomes.</p><p>Similarly, patients who perceive that their care was safe are 2.5 to 3 times more likely to recommend their hospital to others. Their perceptions of safety are based on their own interactions with hospital team members, their observations regarding practices such as handwashing and cleanliness, and how they see team members interacting with one another to deliver care.</p><h3><span>4</span> <span>|</span> Workforce experience and well-being are improving.</h3><p>As the enormous strain of the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, the health care workforce is beginning to rebound as well. Press Ganey data from 1.7 million health care workforce members show a rise in their resiliency and perceived work experiences. A resilient workforce is essential in health care, given the complex and high stakes nature of the work.</p><p>Hospitals that score higher on team member engagement surveys also see higher patient experience scores reported from patients. This correlation is becoming more pronounced every year, with the top-performing quartile of hospitals on staff engagement in 2023 scoring in the 80th percentile on patients鈥� likelihood to recommend.</p><hr><h2>Learn More</h2><p>A key goal of the <a href="/aha-patient-safety-initiative">AHA鈥檚 Patient Safety Initiative</a> is to help hospitals and health systems improve their safety culture. Launched in 2023, the initiative catalyzes hospitals鈥� and health systems鈥� collective expertise and momentum for improvement and focuses on (1) safety culture, (2) identifying and addressing disparities in health care outcomes and (3) the workforce鈥檚 well-being.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 25 Mar 2025 06:15:00 -0500 Performance improvement /2025-01-28-how-unlock-your-health-care-teams-potential <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/How-to-Unlock-Your-Health-Care-Teams-Potential.png" data-entity-uuid="7b29ec6d-0b81-4cd0-b283-f97bc0fc7622" data-entity-type="file" alt="How to Unlock Your Health Care Team鈥檚 Potential. YouTube video screencap of Laura Stone, author, Team Purpose to Performance, from the video What Are the Three Key Questions Your Team Should Ask to Improve Performance and Impact?" width="100%" height="100%"></p><p>The demands on health care leadership teams have never been greater. Addressing these challenges head-on, Laura J. Stone's latest offering in her three-volume series 鈥淎 Pocket Guide to Purpose鈥� provides a road map for driving team performance and efficiency.</p><p>With more than 30 years of experience in learning, testing, research and client engagements, Stone introduces the Team Purpose to Performance鈩� process in Volume 3, a methodology employed by Fortune 500 companies and the 黑料正能量 Association. This pressure-tested approach aims to help teams unlock their potential and drive meaningful change.</p><p>Stone highlights several organizations that have implemented the process with notable results. At CVS, it played a key role in the company's decision to eliminate the sale of tobacco products 鈥� a move that, while financially impactful, aligned with their broader health mission. Global food giant Danone used the approach to streamline its operations and achieve a "Best in Class" Gartner ranking. IBM leveraged it to simplify its outsourcing division's operations, coining the phrase "HR Easy."</p><h2><span>What are the three key questions your team should ask to improve performance and impact?</span></h2><p>In this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD7JBvXBvW0" target="_blank" title="YouTube: What Are the Three Key Questions Your Team Should Ask to Improve Performance and Impact?">video</a>, Stone shares insights into what makes a highly effective team.</p><p></p><p>Health care organizations can apply these same principles to enhance team alignment, improve communication and build a lasting organizational legacy. According to Stone, this process helps teams:</p><ul><li><strong>Define the highest level of work that only the team can do together.</strong></li><li><strong>Clarify the work that leaders should focus on at the highest strategic level possible.</strong></li><li><strong>Encourage all team members to realize their strengths and become more decisive and effective.</strong></li></ul><p>鈥淓fforts and courage are no substitutes for purpose and direction. 鈥楾eam Purpose to Performance鈥� is the ideal guide for what it takes to embed both into your culture,鈥� said Paul Polman, former Unilever CEO.</p><p>Stone鈥檚 <a href="https://laurastone.com/" target="_blank" title="Laura Stone homepage">website</a> provides additional resources for health care leaders.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } Tue, 28 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0600 Performance improvement /education-events/aha-living-learning-network-sepsis-champions-leadership-series-kick <p>Hospital and health system sepsis teams are invited to join the <a href="/center/living-learning-network/sepsis-champions-leadership-series" title="Join the LLN Sepsis Champions Leadership Series">Sepsis Champions Leadership Series</a>, a new collaborative facilitated by the 黑料正能量 Association鈥檚 <a href="/center/living-learning-network" title="AHA Living Learning Network (LLN)">Living Learning Network</a> (LLN) in partnership with the CDC. </p><p>Sepsis continues to be a leading cause of hospital deaths, with over 1.7 million adults hospitalized annually in the U.S. This collaborative offers a unique opportunity to advance your organization鈥檚 goals around sepsis prevention and management by providing access to comprehensive peer-to-peer sharing, best practices, and a network of experts from the field dedicated to enhancing sepsis prevention, detection, and management. </p><p>Join us on <strong>Thursday, January 16, 2025 @ Noon CT</strong> to learn more about this opportunity.</p> Fri, 13 Dec 2024 13:38:15 -0600 Performance improvement /leading-safety-aha-quest-quality-series <p>The <a href="/aha-patient-safety-initiative" title="AHA Patient Safety Initiative (PSI)">AHA Patient Safety Initiative</a> proudly presents Leading for Safety, a <a href="#Q4QVideoSeries" title="Jump to the videos">virtual series</a> hosted by <strong>former Saint Luke's Health System CEO and former AHA Board Chair, Mindy Estes, M.D.</strong> Featuring insights from past AHA Quest for Quality honorees, this series explores how health care leaders can drive safer, higher-quality care by fostering a culture of safety and innovation. Combining the prestigious Quest for Quality Prize with the AHA鈥檚 Patient Safety Initiative, Leading for Safety provides practical strategies for executive leadership in advancing patient safety.</p><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6 col-md-offset-3"><a href="/about/awards/quest-for-quality" title="Link to Quest for Quality page"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Q4Q_nohpoe.jpg" alt="Quest for Quality logo" width="100%" height="100%"></a></div></div> @media (min-width:991px) { .field_reusable_cta{ width: 25%; left: 15px; float:left } .container.edp-container .body { width: 75%; padding-right: 15px; float:left } } @media (min-width:771px) and (max-width:990px){ .field_reusable_cta{ width: 40%; left: 15px; float:left } .container.edp-container .body { width: 60%; padding-right: 15px; float:left } } @media (max-width:770px){ .field_reusable_cta{ width: 100%; margin:auto; font-size:12px; } .field_cta_body{ width:75%; display:block; margin:auto; } .panel.module-typeC{ margin-bottom:0px } .container.edp-container .body { width: 100%; margin-bottom:25px } } Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0500 Performance improvement /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2024-09-17-key-insights-health-cares-top-consulting-needs <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Key-Insights-on-Health-Cares-Top-Consulting-Needs.png" data-entity-uuid="86a03555-3295-4aeb-b190-a6e227df3566" data-entity-type="file" alt="Key Insights on Health Care's Top Consulting Needs. A diverse group of hospital executives meet with a consultant to discuss operational improvements, expanding home health care, and cyber-risk management and cybersecurity." width="100%" height="100%"></p><p>When it comes to improving performance in their most pressing business, clinical and operations areas, health care leaders often turn to management consulting firms for analysis and guidance. A recent <a href="https://www.modernhealthcare.com/finance/management-consulting-firms-survey-takeaways-home-health-value-based-care-mergers" target="_blank" title="Modern Healthcare: Healthcare consultants weigh in on top trends, challenges">Modern Healthcare poll</a> of 31 health care consulting firms identified the most common areas hospitals and health systems are seeking help.</p><h2><span>Here Are Some Other High-Level Findings</span></h2><ul class="red"><li class="red"><h3>Operational improvements remain a top focus.</h3><p>Four out of five responding firms said their hospital and health system clients are seeking help in this area, including:</p><p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Operational-improvements-digital-health-transformation-finances-patient-safety-real-estate.png" data-entity-uuid="951957d7-e9dc-4b10-bfe4-565214c30f7c" data-entity-type="file" alt="68% Digital health transformation. 61% Guidance on improving finances. 42% Patient Safety. 42% Real estate." width="100%" height="100%"></p></li><li class="red"><h3>Expanding home health care gets greater attention.</h3><p>Home health care models enabled by virtual care, digital front door systems and remote patient monitoring are gaining traction, one respondent noted. Another noted that greater focus on home health care delivery will meet the needs of patients and providers who are trying to minimize hospital visits.</p></li><li class="red"><h3>Cyber-risk management, threat detection need improvement.</h3><p>Despite working with clients in this area and improving readiness and resiliency, consultants said there is much to be learned. Despite an increase in breaches, training to reduce provider downtime and improve business continuity planning after an attack often are underestimated or neglected, one consultant said. Securing needed investment and authority for cybersecurity leaders remains a challenge, said another respondent.</p></li></ul><hr><h2><span>Learn More</span></h2><p>For information on how to improve your organization鈥檚 response to cyber threats, attend the AHA Leadership Scan <a href="https://aha-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/1817236608897/WN_6uNdfOWFRuGnd9LM7ATiTw#/registration" target="_blank" title="ZOOM: 09-26-24 Navigating the Health Care Cybersecurity Storm: Strategies for Resilience and Risk Reduction Leadership Scan webinare registration">鈥淣avigating the Health Care Cybersecurity Storm: Strategies for Resilience and Risk Reduction.鈥�</a> The panel discussion, led by John Riggi, the AHA鈥檚 national adviser for cybersecurity and risk, will take place from noon to 1 p.m. CT on Sept. 26.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } ul.red { list-style: none; } ul.red li.red::before { content: "\2022"; color: #9d2235; font-weight: bold; display: inline-block; width: 1em; margin-left: -1em; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.3; } h3 { margin-top: -1.3em; } Tue, 17 Sep 2024 06:00:00 -0500 Performance improvement /member-report-quality-trends-and-aha-patient-safety-initiative <div class="row"><div class="col-md-5"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-03/Quality-as-defined-by-members-700-532.jpg" alt="Quality as Defined by Members Report" width="700" height="532"></div><ul><li>The 黑料正能量 Association (AHA) presents insights from the Quality Collective (QC), a collaborative platform addressing health care quality improvement challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic.</li><li>QC members note a dynamic shift in the definition of quality, with 60% experiencing changes over the past three years.</li><li>Clinical strengths include patient safety, infection prevention and emergency preparedness, while areas for improvement include population health management and health equity.</li><li>QC outlines priorities for the future, emphasizing a commitment to safe, timely, effective, equitable, patient-centered and affordable care.</li><li>Anticipating the increasing role of technology, members foresee the prevalence of artificial intelligence in disinfection practices.</li></ul><p>The AHA introduces the Patient Safety Initiative, building on QC success, to empower hospitals in national health care safety discussions. The initiative aims to enhance engagement, public trust and data accuracy while reducing preventable harms and inequities. AHA, with extensive membership, leads the initiative through research, collaboration and data sharing, reinforcing its commitment and leadership in the health care field.</p><p>The AHA acknowledges hospitals' commitment to providing safe, high-quality care amid the expanded definition of quality post-COVID-19. The QC, launched as a collaborative platform, engaged leaders in quality improvement over three months. Members focused on co-designing strategies to address current needs and shape the future trajectory of quality standards. The report highlights successes, innovative solutions and a redefined culture rooted in quality and performance. The AHA expresses gratitude to participants for their contributions in fostering a just society of healthy communities.</p></div> Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:45:00 -0500 Performance improvement /bhmb-improving-quality-outcomes <h1 class="repository-intro">Maternal Health: Improving Quality Outcomes</h1><p class="repository-intro">Designing care that improves quality and patient safety contributes to improved pregnancy outcomes. These AHA resources highlight success stories of hospitals and health systems that focus on models of care aimed at improving their maternal care quality and outcomes.</p> Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:49:40 -0500 Performance improvement /funded-partnerships Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:00:00 -0500 Performance improvement /news/chairpersons-file/2023-03-27-chair-file-leadership-dialogue-creating-culture-innovation-robert-c-garrett-hackensack <p>On this episode, I talk with Bob Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, based in New Jersey. Bob and I discuss the important role of hospitals and health systems in leading medical research and innovation to transform health care and make patient care better, accessible and more efficient.</p> <p>Hackensack Meridian Health opened its Center for Discovery and Innovation in 2019. Preceding that, the heath system had a 鈥渞obust鈥� research infrastructure and a culture of innovation, Bob explains. 鈥淲e encouraged innovation at the front lines of health care as well as through partnerships with our scientific community and with startup organizations.鈥�</p> <p>Even with the financial pressures facing the health care field, hospitals and health systems can support and sustain research and innovation in ways that aren鈥檛 costly and can provide community benefit right away, Bob observes. 鈥淩esearch can be done in population health and health equity that may not require a big capital commitment but can pay dividends in improving the overall health status of the communities we serve and in reducing some of the disparities we see 鈥� particularly in underserved areas as we look at health outcomes.鈥�</p> <p>I hope you find these conversations interesting and insightful. Look for them once a month as part of the Chair File.</p> <p>Watch the episode below.</p> <p></p> <hr /> <p></p> <div><a href="https://soundcloud.com/advancinghealth" target="_blank" title="Advancing Health">Advancing Health</a> 路 <a href="https://soundcloud.com/advancinghealth/leadership-dialogue-series-creating-a-culture-of-innovation-with-hackensack-meridian-health" target="_blank" title="Leadership Dialogue Series: Creating a Culture of Innovation with Hackensack Meridian Health">Leadership Dialogue Series: Creating a Culture of Innovation with Hackensack Meridian Health</a></div> <p> </p> Mon, 27 Mar 2023 08:53:42 -0500 Performance improvement