Must Read: Innovation to Make Patients Safer
Do we need another wave of innovation to improve patient safety in hospitals?
Every year, approximately 200,000 surgical patients die as a result of complications or other post-operative issues. Our must read story of the week comes from the Harvard Business Review, which investigates ways to improve patient safety in hospitals.
The answer: A third wave of innovation built on personalized care will focus on every patient getting the treatment that is right for them.
“Similar to how improvements in smartphones have shifted from increasing processor speed or screen resolution to focusing on better user experience, innovation in surgery has to shift from the technical or structural aspects to emphasizing how people, processes, and practices come together in the pursuit of patient safety,” Amir A. Ghaferi, Christopher Myers, Kathleen M. Sutcliffe and Peter J. Pronovost write in Harvard Business Review. That’s another way of saying medical providers need to focus on the individual patient.
And the HBS team takes direct aim at standardized systems that try to apply one-size-fits-all to care.
“Indeed, pursuing a perfectly standardized system ignores the fact that each patient is different. High reliability organizing recognizes that over-standardizing can also increase risks,” the researchers write. “Therefore making patients safer involves standardizing when possible, but also embracing variation, instead of simplifying patients into one category, and honing practices for responding to a range of encounters.”
Read the entire piece.
White House 2016: If Trump Loses, ACA Deal?
Congressional Republicans aren’t pinning their hopes to President Donald Trump.
ModernHealthcare.com brings word that congressional Republicans, who are challenging the legality of Affordable Care Act subsidies, are already talking of a “grand bargain” on health care. Under the deal, some states could gain greater flexibility to design market-based approaches in exchange for covering low-income workers in non-Medicaid expansion states.
“While none are ready to sign on yet, congressional Republicans would have to agree to shore up the ACA’s struggling exchange markets by paying insurers for enrolling sicker populations and continuing to help low-income enrollees’ with cost-sharing responsibilities,” reports ModernHealthcare.com’s Harris Meyer. “Even after losing the White House, GOP leaders would have leverage because the exchange markets are experiencing major problems.”
Lacuna Loft: Open Write Night
Break out the pen and paper.
As part of our ongoing effort to spotlight great organizations that are supporting patients, we’re pleased to spread the word about Lacuna Loft’s Open Write Night. On August 16th, the non-profit that provides resources for young adult cancer survivors and caregivers invites you to join a 2-hour online creative writing program.
CEO and Founder Mallory C. Casperson says the event is designed to allow survivors and caregivers to try out our Creative Writing Group before committing to a 10 week session.” More information on the event can be found here.
Even if you can’t make the event, be sure to check out Lacuna Loft’s website to learn about an outstanding online wellness support community that’s helping young adults thrive despite challenging health circumstances.