Smart Talk: PA hospitals look to improve quality of care

 

What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, June 15, 2015:

Some four years later, a line from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or Obamacare is largely forgotten by the public: “[Medicare] Payments to hospitals with high rates of preventable hospital acquired infections will be reduced.”

Hospitals certainly haven’t forgotten about that sentence in the ACA.  They have a financial motivation not to.

Earlier this month, the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania released a report on preventable harm, which includes infections, and readmissions.

The HAP report indicated that all-cause harm was reduced by 37% and all-cause readmissions were down 26% within the past three years at member hospitals.

HAP also said that during that time frame, hospitals have changed the health-care experience by involving entire hospital teams into a patient-centric culture.

Meanwhile, another report out last week identified 50 hospitals across the country, including seven in Pennsylvania, that were charging patients at a rate that was ten times the actual cost of treatment.

HAP President and CEO Andy Carter appears on Monday’s Smart Talk to discuss these and other hospital-related issues.

Also, drivers on The Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Susquehanna River between Columbia and Wrightsville experienced what appeared to be a blizzard this weekend.

This “blizzard” actually was thousands of mayflies that were flying around the lights on the bridge. Joining us on Smart Talk will be Penn State York faculty member, Thomas Smith.