What is the result of best practice standards?
Spending many months identifying and implementing optimal clinical standards allows organizations to achieve outcomes that can surpass national and regional benchmarks for most diseases. It can result in extraordinary quality, proven treatments and comprehensive care that continually raise medical standards. An empowered and powerful network of clinicians and support staff work in the best interest of every patient. With bold goals and shared purpose, every health care team member is devoted to aligning safety and quality aims, offering support and continually learning from one another. Quality, safe health care and a passion for excellence remain MemorialCare Health System’s top priorities, keeping us clearly focused during challenging times.
How do electronic medical records fit into the quality mix?
Electronic medical records (EMRs) are critical to patient quality and safety. In earlier columns, we discussed how EMRs place a patient’s full medical history onto computers and information systems, which allows clinicians to better coordinate care through immediate access to secure patient data. This facilitates clinical workflows and handoffs. It also maximizes clinical quality through real-time decision support at points of decision-making and eliminates most paper used in patient documentation and education, since paper slows care and creates environments ripe for error. Efficient care delivery prevents unnecessary orders and diagnostic tests, reduces medical errors and improves patient quality, safety and health. MemorialCare is among the first to implement a fully integrated medical record linking inpatient, outpatient and emergency patient records.
What can employers do to ensure their work force receives highest quality care?
Query physicians and hospitals about their quality initiatives. Do they have best practice teams that collaborate to design and implement best practice tools, offer education and monitor outcomes and opportunities for further improvement? Are clinical outcomes documented and, if so, easily accessible? Have they implemented, or will they be implementing, electronic medical records in inpatient and ambulatory settings that interface with affiliated physicians? How intensive is their focus on supporting a strong culture of patient safety and vigilance? What procedures have they implemented to reduce hospital acquired infections and risk of complications? And what awards and recognition have they received for quality and safety performance?
BARRY ARBUCKLE, Ph.D., is president and CEO of MemorialCare Medical Centers (www.memorialcare.org) and past chair of the California Hospital Association. Reach him at [email protected] or (562) 933-9708. MemorialCare Medical Centers include Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in San Clemente. To help patients make decisions about personal health and treatment choices, MemorialCare provides detailed information on quality and safety at www.memorialcare.org.