www.ohiokepro.com
Vol. 3 No. 4
April 2005
A Letter to Editors
Hospital Comparison
Information Aids in
Quality of Care
Information Aids in
Quality of Care
New Medicare Web Resource
Gives Ohio Hospital Patients
Quality Information
Gives Ohio Hospital Patients
Quality Information
By Alice Stollenwerk Petrulis, MD, FACP
Medical Director, Ohio KePRO
Medical Director, Ohio KePRO
Your publication may have missed an
oppor tunity to inform readers about a
new resource, Hospital Compare, which
provides quality of care data on local
and national hospitals.
oppor tunity to inform readers about a
new resource, Hospital Compare, which
provides quality of care data on local
and national hospitals.
Public Repor ting and Quality Improvement
Training Drives Improved Hospital Care
Training Drives Improved Hospital Care
A new consumer Web site unveiled April 1, 2005 by the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Ser vices (CMS) and the Hospital Quality Alliance, a public-private
collaboration, provides instant, objective, easy-to-use and free information about
Medicaid Ser vices (CMS) and the Hospital Quality Alliance, a public-private
collaboration, provides instant, objective, easy-to-use and free information about
On April 1, 2005, the Center s for
Medicare & Medicaid Ser vices, the
agency of the U.S. Depar tment of
Health and Human Ser vices that runs
Medicare, and its par tners in the
Hospital Quality Alliance, a public-
private collaboration, unveiled their
new consumer resource, Hospital
Compare, available by visiting
www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov or
www.medicare.gov and selecting Compare
Hospitals in Your Area. Hospital Compare
offers free, objective quality information
on how hospitals treat adult patients
with cer tain illnesses. The same
information is also available by calling
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Medicare & Medicaid Ser vices, the
agency of the U.S. Depar tment of
Health and Human Ser vices that runs
Medicare, and its par tners in the
Hospital Quality Alliance, a public-
private collaboration, unveiled their
new consumer resource, Hospital
Compare, available by visiting
www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov or
www.medicare.gov and selecting Compare
Hospitals in Your Area. Hospital Compare
offers free, objective quality information
on how hospitals treat adult patients
with cer tain illnesses. The same
information is also available by calling
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
As the Medicare Quality Improvement
Organization (QIO) in Ohio, Ohio KePRO
wants to make sure your readers are
aware of this important tool. The Hospital
Compare quality measures are one way
to see how well a hospital is caring for
its patients in treating specific conditions
like hear t attack, hear t failure, and
pneumonia. Seniors, caregivers, and
healthcare consumers in general should
also consult their healthcare providers,
as well as community resources, such
as senior networks, for more information
when making decisions about hospital
care. The quality measures on Hospital
Compare come from data from each
hospital's patient records.
Organization (QIO) in Ohio, Ohio KePRO
wants to make sure your readers are
aware of this important tool. The Hospital
Compare quality measures are one way
to see how well a hospital is caring for
its patients in treating specific conditions
like hear t attack, hear t failure, and
pneumonia. Seniors, caregivers, and
healthcare consumers in general should
also consult their healthcare providers,
as well as community resources, such
as senior networks, for more information
when making decisions about hospital
care. The quality measures on Hospital
Compare come from data from each
hospital's patient records.
Ohio KePRO works with Ohio's hospitals
to improve their quality of care through
on-site training and other resources. We
to improve their quality of care through
on-site training and other resources. We
the quality of hospital care in Ohio and nationwide.
T
he hospital quality information is now
available by visiting www.hospitalcom-
pare.hhs.gov or www.medicare.gov and
selecting Compare Hospitals in Your Area, or
by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Either way, consumers get the information
they need to help them make more
informed healthcare decisions.
available by visiting www.hospitalcom-
pare.hhs.gov or www.medicare.gov and
selecting Compare Hospitals in Your Area, or
by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Either way, consumers get the information
they need to help them make more
informed healthcare decisions.
"CMS's new Web resource, Hospital
Compare, gives consumers information to
help them make an informed decision
about hospital care," said Gayle Smith, CEO
of Ohio KePRO, Ohio's Medicare Quality
Improvement Organization. "We encourage
consumers to use this tool, talk with their
physicians, and consult other resources for
hospital information."
Compare, gives consumers information to
help them make an informed decision
about hospital care," said Gayle Smith, CEO
of Ohio KePRO, Ohio's Medicare Quality
Improvement Organization. "We encourage
consumers to use this tool, talk with their
physicians, and consult other resources for
hospital information."
Ohio KePRO is working with the Ohio
Hospital Association (OHA), a statewide
Hospital Association (OHA), a statewide
trade association representing Ohio's 170
hospitals and 40 health systems, in suppor t
of this voluntar y quality repor ting tool as a
way to enhance existing hospital quality
initiatives and educate consumers.
hospitals and 40 health systems, in suppor t
of this voluntar y quality repor ting tool as a
way to enhance existing hospital quality
initiatives and educate consumers.
Hospital Compare provides
instant, objective, easy-to-use
and free information about the
quality of hospital care.
instant, objective, easy-to-use
and free information about the
quality of hospital care.
"Ohio's hospitals encourage patients to
take an active role in their healthcare, and
Hospital Compare is one resource to help
patients make vital healthcare decisions,"
said James R. Castle, OHA president and
CEO. "Patients should also talk to friends and
family, consult physicians, nurses and other
healthcare providers, and check insurance
coverage when selecting a hospital."
take an active role in their healthcare, and
Hospital Compare is one resource to help
patients make vital healthcare decisions,"
said James R. Castle, OHA president and
CEO. "Patients should also talk to friends and
family, consult physicians, nurses and other
healthcare providers, and check insurance
coverage when selecting a hospital."
CMS Regional Administrator Jackie Garner
noted that CMS is working closely with
Ohio's healthcare providers and Ohio KePRO
to improve the quality of care available in
hospitals, nursing homes, home health
agencies, and dialysis centers.
noted that CMS is working closely with
Ohio's healthcare providers and Ohio KePRO
to improve the quality of care available in
hospitals, nursing homes, home health
agencies, and dialysis centers.
"That is just one step we are taking to
make sure that Medicare fits beneficiaries'
healthcare needs by modernizing the
program to include a new prescription drug
benefit," said Garner.
make sure that Medicare fits beneficiaries'
healthcare needs by modernizing the
program to include a new prescription drug
benefit," said Garner.
In addition to suppor ting Hospital Compare,
OHA will soon make available an additional
online quality resource a user-friendly
clearinghouse of readily available quality
and pricing information.
OHA will soon make available an additional
online quality resource a user-friendly
clearinghouse of readily available quality
and pricing information.
Continued
Continued
New Medicare Web Resource... (cont.)
"Providing quality care is the number one priority for Ohio's hospi-
tals," Castle said. "The creation of a comprehensive quality
resource on the Web highlights hospitals' dedication to keeping
patients safe and informed."
tals," Castle said. "The creation of a comprehensive quality
resource on the Web highlights hospitals' dedication to keeping
patients safe and informed."
Dr. Petrulis noted that some hospitals may have data on additional
conditions, and in the future, new measures and information on
patients' perceptions of care will be added.
conditions, and in the future, new measures and information on
patients' perceptions of care will be added.
"People should review the data on Hospital Compare and then talk
with their physicians about any concerns and about quality of care,"
Dr. Petrulis continued. "You cannot always predict when you will
need hospital care, but you can be informed."
with their physicians about any concerns and about quality of care,"
Dr. Petrulis continued. "You cannot always predict when you will
need hospital care, but you can be informed."
Hospital Compare reports quality of care information
for all adult patients, regardless of payer, on
heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia.
for all adult patients, regardless of payer, on
heart attack, heart failure, and pneumonia.
"As an organization in Ohio charged with working with hospitals to
improve their quality of care, we have seen firsthand how hospitals
are making changes and improving," said Ohio KePRO Medical
Director Alice Stollenwerk Petrulis, MD, FACP "We commend our .
state's hospitals for making quality a top priority ever y day."
improve their quality of care, we have seen firsthand how hospitals
are making changes and improving," said Ohio KePRO Medical
Director Alice Stollenwerk Petrulis, MD, FACP "We commend our .
state's hospitals for making quality a top priority ever y day."
The new resource was developed by CMS, an agency of the U.S.
Depar tment of Health and Human Ser vices, in par tnership with the
Hospital Quality Alliance, a public-private collaboration, and nearly
ever y acute care hospital in the nation. Hospital Compare repor ts
quality of care information for hospitals about care to all adult
patients, regardless of payer, on three common conditions: hear t
attack, hear t failure, and pneumonia.
Depar tment of Health and Human Ser vices, in par tnership with the
Hospital Quality Alliance, a public-private collaboration, and nearly
ever y acute care hospital in the nation. Hospital Compare repor ts
quality of care information for hospitals about care to all adult
patients, regardless of payer, on three common conditions: hear t
attack, hear t failure, and pneumonia.
CMS's par ticipation in Hospital Compare is par t of its hospital
quality initiative, which in turn is par t of a national Quality Initiative
that also focuses on improving the quality of care in home health
agencies and nursing homes. The national Quality Initiative is an
impor tant step in CMS' comprehensive quality strategy, which
consists of four elements:
quality initiative, which in turn is par t of a national Quality Initiative
that also focuses on improving the quality of care in home health
agencies and nursing homes. The national Quality Initiative is an
impor tant step in CMS' comprehensive quality strategy, which
consists of four elements:
Regulation and enforcement activities conducted by State
Sur vey Agencies and CMS;
Improved information for consumers on quality of care;
Ongoing, community-based quality improvement programs
for providers; and
Collaboration and par tnerships to leverage knowledge
and resources.
Sur vey Agencies and CMS;
Improved information for consumers on quality of care;
Ongoing, community-based quality improvement programs
for providers; and
Collaboration and par tnerships to leverage knowledge
and resources.
Need a Guest For Your
News Program?
News Program?
W
hether your media outlet reaches
Medicare beneficiaries, their families
or their caregivers, healthcare is a dynamic
and relevant issue for listeners and viewers.
We invite you to contact Ohio KePRO's
media specialist at (216) 447-9604 x2219
or via Online Media Inquir y at
http://www.ohiokepro.com/publications/me
diainquiries.asp. to access professionals
who can address the healthcare information
needs of your audience from a qualified
perspective.
Medicare beneficiaries, their families
or their caregivers, healthcare is a dynamic
and relevant issue for listeners and viewers.
We invite you to contact Ohio KePRO's
media specialist at (216) 447-9604 x2219
or via Online Media Inquir y at
http://www.ohiokepro.com/publications/me
diainquiries.asp. to access professionals
who can address the healthcare information
needs of your audience from a qualified
perspective.
Executive Editor : Suzana C. Iveljic, MBA
A Letter to Editors (cont.)
applaud our area hospitals that have
voluntarily repor ted quality data. Their
effor ts to publicly repor t quality data and
improve their quality of care benefit ever yone
who needs, or may someday need, hospital
care.
voluntarily repor ted quality data. Their
effor ts to publicly repor t quality data and
improve their quality of care benefit ever yone
who needs, or may someday need, hospital
care.
Editor : Daniel B. Moss, BSBA
e-mail: dmoss2@ohqio.sdps.org
T H E A P R I L E D I T I O N O F O H I O Ke P RO M O T I O N H A S A R R I V E D !
Your News Source for Health & Rights Information for Ohio's Medicare Beneficiaries
Your News Source for Health & Rights Information for Ohio's Medicare Beneficiaries
Publication No. 4123-OH-009-4/2005. This material was prepared by Ohio KePRO, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Ohio, under contract with the
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Ser vices (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Depar tment of Health and Human Ser vices. The contents presented do not necessarily
reflect CMS policy. For more information, please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or visit the CMS Web site at www.medicare.gov.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Ser vices (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Depar tment of Health and Human Ser vices. The contents presented do not necessarily
reflect CMS policy. For more information, please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or visit the CMS Web site at www.medicare.gov.