| 4 |
 False Alarms in Surgical Quality Control
Marco D. Huesch
Abstract: Streakiness in performance is a well-known phenomenon. The theoretical adverse effect of such runs of outcomes on standard statistical process control tools is widely known resulting in an increased rate of false alarms. This article investigates cardiac surgery outcomes in Florida for more than 200 high-volume surgeons. The results confirm the presence of statistically persuasive streakiness in performance for an unexpectedly high number of surgeons and demonstrate that cumulative sum charts may be more useful than standard Shewhart process control charts in analyzing this type of data.
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| 11 |
Abstract: This study investigated two contributing factors in predicting adverse events in hospital settings, using hierarchical linear modeling to test for multilevel relationships. The resource intensity of the presenting case was related to the severity level of negative incidents in hospital settings in a large metropolitan center, and a more positive culture of patient safety within hospital units was related to lower incident severity.
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| 18 |
The Quest for Upper-Quartile Performance at Banner Health
John A. Hensing
Abstract: Banner Health undertook a 3-year journey from 2004 to 2006 to reach upper-quartile performance in select clinical quality metrics.
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25
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Interview with a Quality Leader: Mark Chassin, New President of the Joint Commission
Linda Harrington, Susan V. White
Abstract: On January 1, 2008, Mark R. Chassin, MD MPP MPH, assumed the presidency of the Joint Commission. He has an extensive background in quality improvement and coauthored the Institute of Medicine's To Err Is Human and Crossing the Quality Chasm. |
31
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Brief Report: Emergency Care Center Turnaround Time-An Improvement Story
Joan Gelrud, Helen Burroughs, Joanne Koterwas
Abstract: Emergency overcrowding is a nationally recognized barrier to patient safety. Other obstacles to efficiency and adequate care in emergency rooms include lengthy patient waits and side-tracked ambulances. This article explores one community hospital's approach to significantly decreasing emergency visit turnaround times while increasing patient satisfaction. |
| 38 |
Quality Toolbox: Improving Clinical Interventions Through Successful Outreach Using Six Sigma Quality Improvement
Gary Beard
Abstract: Using Six Sigma methodology, a project team at a managed behavioral health organization achieved statistically significant improvement in the rate of successful telephonic outreach to its members. |
