The incidence of syphilis is growing in California and in the United States (U.S.). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend targeted syphilis screening of all persons at increased risk of infection. Emergency departments (EDs) represent an important setting to test and treat patients who are not seen in outpatient clinical settings. On November 27, 2018 the UC Davis emergency department developed and implemented an ED-based syphilis screening program that employed an electronic health record best practice alert (BPA). Over a period of 11 months post BPA, there was a 135% increase in syphilis diagnosis following BPA implementation. The screening program demonstrated that the use of a targeted BPA-driven screening protocol can increase the number of new syphilis diagnoses, without an increase in inappropriate testing. Furthermore, this screening strategy may also help capture patients in demographic groups who may otherwise not be offered testing in settings where screening is clinician-initiated.
New studies about various aspects of the COVID pandemic are released daily and the sheer volume makes it impossible to keep up. These studies vary in their designs and methodological rigor and therefore in their level of research validity. In this webinar, HQI’s epidemiologist will provide a historical perspective of the COVID epidemic in California and review the findings, point out strengths, and critique the methodologies used in several recent COVID studies based on California data. The following CDC studies are currently potential candidates for review during the webinar, though the actual studies reviewed will differ if particularly interesting ones are published in the interim:
Addressing racial inequity in healthcare requires focused attention and concerted action. A new initiative in Los Angeles County (now in its third year) is doing just that. Cherished Futures for Black Moms and Babies helps participating hospitals evaluate their data, collaborate with community partners, and implement institutional changes to improve care for Black women, birthing people, and families.
How can a health plan incentivize hospitals to develop reliable, sustainable and transparent cultures of safety? Learn about a groundbreaking new partnership of Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), BETA Healthcare Group (BETA) and Hospital Quality Institute (HQI) that rewards hospitals for participating in HQI Cares: Implementing BETA HEART® (HQI Cares), a comprehensive, multi-year program aimed at transforming patient safety and caregiver well-being. HQI Cares is now a part of IEHP’s Hospital Pay for Performance Program providing financial rewards to hospitals that meet quality improvement targets.
In this presentation we will discuss who transgender patients are, and review relevant epidemiologic information about this diverse patient population. We will then discuss the treatments and care plans that many patients undergo in the course of care. This discussion will include a brief overview of surgeries, and what these surgeries require from both patients and the institutions who provide care. We will then reflect on how transcare actually contributes to – and improves, care quality for all (i.e. cis-gender) adult and pediatric patients at an institution. Lastly, we will spend time focusing on how culturally sensitive care is, in fact, a safety issue for trans patients that come to our institutions, and, how not delivering culturally competent care should be a concern for institutions
Medication use is a complicated process that spans many steps and many players. There are several opportunities in which an error may occur. Having knowledge of common causes of medication errors can promote effective safety planning interventions to prevent errors or reduce the likelihood of harm from medication use. Please join us for a session on promoting safe medication use during National Patient Safety Awareness Week.
The Transform Maternity Care program at the Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH) engaged an expert panel of California physicians and midwives to develop resources and discuss strategies to increase hospital-birth center collaboration, and particularly to improve community birth transfers. Join us on May 18th at 11-12 PT, to learn how you can improve the transfer experience for your patients and your providers.