The Official Journal of the
National Association for Healthcare Quality

Guest Editorial: Taming an Intangible-Change
Barbara L. Duffy 

Acknowledgments

Exploring Diabetic Care Deficiencies and Adverse Events in Home Healthcare
Margaret V. McDonald, Lori J. King, Marcia Moodie, Penny H. Feldman

Abstract: Charts of patients who experienced a hyperglycemic or hypoglycemic emergent event were examined in an attempt to learn how home healthcare processes may contribute to an adverse event and to explore other factors that may contribute to a patient's health outcome. Implicit peer review, informed by an explicit review process, determined that 10% of the emergent care events were probably avoidable if home care had been optimal, 56% were potentially avoidable, and 34% were unavoidable. 

Quality Toolbox: Daily Goals Checklist-A Goal-Directed Method to Eliminate Nosocomial Infection in the Intensive Care Unit
Fahim Khorfan

Abstract: The daily goals checklist incorporates several evidence-based quality parameters and is easy to use and cost-effective. Its implementation is likely to greatly improve the quality of care and reduce complications in intensive care units.

Quartile Dashboards: Translating Large Data Sets into Performance Improvement Priorities Diane Storer Brown, Carolyn E. Aydin, Nancy Donaldson

Abstract: This article presents a methodology for translating data from large data sets into dashboards for setting perform-ance improvement priorities in a simple way that takes advantage of tools readily available and easily used by sup-port staff.

Creating a Safety Culture Through the Application of Reliability Science Kerri Fei, Frances R. Vlasses

Abstract: This article discusses the principles of reliability science and the use of these principles in
creating a culture of patient safety. Recommendations are made for nursing involvement in changing health-care organization culture, and implementation steps are presented for nurse managers who are interested in applying the principles of reliability science to create a culture of patient safety on their units.

Improving Prophylactic Perioperative Antibiotic Utilization in a Hospital System David Dull, Sylvia K. Baird, Jennie Dulac, Linda Fox

Abstract: Spectrum Health, a not-for-profit health system in western Michigan, formed an interdisciplinary quality improvement team to meet a goal of 100% adherence to performance measures regarding perioperative antibiotic use to prevent surgical site infections. Eighteen months later, process shifts had been achieved.

Index to Volume 30 (2008)