Evaluating the Effect of Financial Penalty on Hospital-Acquired Infections.

Purpose: This study explores the effects of CMS reimbursement financial penalties from the Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program (HACRP) on hospital-acquired infections (HAI) in hospitals across the United States.

Methods: Hospital-level data for 2896 hospitals in the United States were evaluated using multiple linear regression models with random effects analysis through a difference-in-differences study design to examine HAIs under the HACRP between hospitals that were financially penalized or not from calendar years 2013 to 2020.

Results: This study showed significant differences from the pre-program Total HAC scores to the most recent reviewed year, validating the efficacy of the HACRP, and showing a reduction of overall HAIs over the years evaluated in the study.

Is the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program Associated with Reduced Hospital Readmissions?

Introduction: Hospital readmissions have been associated with adverse outcomes and elevated financial costs to patients, families, and hospitals across the United States. Historically, nearly 20% of all Medicare discharges had a readmission within 30 days. In an effort to address this issue, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) established the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP) in 2012 to positively influence readmissions associated with acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, pneumonia, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and total hip and/or knee arthroplasty.

Renovating Healthcare Facility Maintenance Planning: A Case Study From Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC).

Purpose: This article documents the development and implementation of a new approach for health facilities construction and maintenance planning, the use of a Facilities and Clinical Coordination (FCC) Council, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC).

Background: WRNMMC is preparing for the largest and most complex renovation project in recent Department of Defense history. There is sparse documentation demonstrating stepwise frameworks for the implementation of effective and efficient health facilities maintenance management tools and techniques.

Does Patient Safety Pay? Evaluating the Association Between Surgical Care Improvement Project Performance and Hospital Profitability.

Financial issues are top concerns for hospital executives. Evolving reimbursement structures focused on value provide an incentive to fully understand how patient safety performance and financial outcomes are connected. To that end, this study examines the relationships between Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) measurements and hospital financial performance.

A reason to renovate: The association between hospital age of plant and value-based purchasing performance.

Background/purpose: Value-based purchasing (VBP) is increasing in influence in the health care industry; however, questions remain regarding the structural factors associated with improved performance. This study evaluates the association between age of hospital infrastructure and VBP outcomes.

Methodology: Data on 1,911 hospitals from three sources (the American Hospital Association Annual Survey Database, the American Hospital Association DataViewer Financial Module, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital VBP Total Performance Scores data set) were evaluated.

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency is Associated with Cardiovascular Disease in U.S. Military Centers.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) protects erythrocytes from oxidative stress and hemolysis; G6PD deficiency is the most prevalent enzymopathy. The United States military routinely performs tests to prevent exposing G6PD-deficient personnel to antimalarial drugs that might cause life-threatening hemolytic reactions. In addition, G6PD is a key determinant of vascular function, and its deficiency can lead to impaired nitric oxide production and greater vascular oxidant stress-precursors to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

Doing well by doing good: Evaluating the influence of patient safety performance on hospital financial outcomes.

Background: As financial pressures on hospitals increase because of changing reimbursement structures and heightened focus on quality and value, the association between patient safety performance and financial outcomes remains unclear.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate if hospitals with higher patient safety performance are associated with higher levels of profitability than those with lower safety performance.

Methodology/approach: Using multinomial logistic regression, we analyzed data from the spring 2014 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score and the 2014 American Hospital Association to determine the association between Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score performance and three dimensions of organizational profitability: operating margin, net patient revenue, and operating income.

Does the Proportion of Same-Day and 24-Hour Appointments Impact Patient Satisfaction?

Background: The relationship between open access and patient satisfaction is mixed. Our study is the first to assess the relationship between open access appointment scheduling and patient satisfaction in the Military Health System (MHS). It is also unique in that we examine both same-day and 24-hour access through a relationship with satisfaction.

Implications of early and guideline adherent physical therapy for low back pain on utilization and costs.

Background: Initial management decisions following a new episode of low back pain (LBP) are thought to have profound implications for health care utilization and costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of early and guideline adherent physical therapy for low back pain on utilization and costs within the Military Health System (MHS).

Methods: Patients presenting to a primary care setting with a new complaint of LBP from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009 were identified from the MHS Management Analysis and Reporting Tool.

Factors associated with adoption of health information technology: a conceptual model based on a systematic review.

Background: The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) allocated $19.2 billion to incentivize adoption of the electronic health record (EHR). Since 2009, Meaningful Use Criteria have dominated information technology (IT) strategy.

Patient-centered medical home implementation effects on emergency room utilization: a case study.

The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) concept has been commended for its potential to increase access to primary care while improving quality and health outcomes. Numerous studies have documented the benefits of the PCMH healthcare delivery modality inclusive of decreased emergency room (ER) visits among PCMH enrollees. Yet a debate wages on whether PCMHs are conceptually sound and clinically effective with few empirical studies dedicated to the study of this relatively new care delivery model (Friedberg et al.

Is the ASVAB ST composite score a reliable predictor of first-attempt graduation for the U.S. Army operating room specialist course?

The U.S. Army Operating Room Specialist (68D) Course provides first class medical technician training to U.