Cooperating for better care.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Tag Archives

Benefits of doctors discussing outcomes with patients

June 22, 2018by Robert Whitcomb in Uncategorized tagged ,

UPMC’s flagship facility, UPMC Presbyterian.

From NEJM Catalyst:

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center orthopedic service line “began routine collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) from all patients seeking orthopedic care in 2017. In a survey of patients who had seen a foot and ankle specialist, greater shares of patients who report that their physician discussed their PROs with them reported top-box scores for physician communication and shared decision-making from the Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG-CAHPS) survey.

“There is a correlation between PROs and patient satisfaction; patients who reported that physicians were discussing their PRO responses during office visits reported significantly better ratings of physician communication and shared decision-making.”

Among the takeaways from the survey, reports NEJM:

  1. “Patient-reported outcomes can be routinely collected and reported in the electronic health record.
  2. “Simply collecting patient-reported outcomes is not sufficient — clinicians must also discuss the responses during visits.
  3. “On average, patients who report that their patient-reported outcome responses were discussed during a visit provide higher ratings for doctor communication and shared decision-making.
  4. “Physicians may need training to discuss patient-reported outcome results with patients.”

To read the NEJM article, please hit this link.

 

‘Smart hospital rooms’: Don’t hold your breath

September 30, 2016by Robert Whitcomb in Uncategorized tagged , ,

hospitalroom

HealthcareDIVE takes a skeptical look at so-called “smart hospital rooms”.

“Imagine a hospital room that can track patient movements, alert nurses that a patient identified as a fall risk has left the bed, and provide clinicians with relevant, real-time patient information such as vital signs, test results and medications that are due.”

IBM and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center pioneered the idea of “smart” patient rooms back in 2005 with the idea that such integrated technology would improve workflow efficiencies, quality of care and patient satisfaction. Since then, Cerner has entered the field, offering a smart room that includes medical device interoperability, room controls and instant access to EHRs., with the idea that such integrated technology would improve workflow efficiencies, quality of care and patient satisfaction.

But today few hospitals have smart rooms, in large part due to a lack of capital or the infrastructure to support this visionary technology.

“’The reality is that advancements toward a patient smart room of the future have to be accomplished very economically,”’ according to an e-book published by Amplion Clinical Communications, which specializes in designing and implementing patient-care communication technology for hospitals. “’You would be hard pressed to find many hospitals throwing a million dollars a bed into smart room initiatives.”’

To read the Healthcare DIVE article, please hit this link.

Hospitals look for new revenue in tech-related enterprises

September 9, 2016by Robert Whitcomb in Uncategorized tagged , , , , , ,

chop

A center of entrepreneurialism.

HealthcareDIVE discusses how  some health systems, faced with falling inpatient populations and  being pushed into value-based reimbursement, seek new ways to grow their revenue by setting  up tech and tech-related enterprises.

“One example is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which two years ago created UPMC Enterprises to develop and commercialize novel technologies.

“As lead investor in a $5 million funding round, the health system is pursuing precision medicine with Pittsburgh-based Cernostics. UPMC’s support … will help bring to market a diagnostic test for people with Barrett’s Esophagus, a serious complication of gastro-esophageal reflux disease that can lead to cancer.”

“Another area that UPMC is focusing on is clinical decision support, making sure that technology that physicians and nurses use at the bedside actually helps, rather than hinder, them make the right decision. The health system has secured a majority interest in New York-based MedCPU and plans to co-develop future products with applications in population health, care management and consumer engagement, in addition to buying and using the company’s existing decision-support technology. ”

“Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is also pushing the business model, looking at everything from devices that go on a child’s pinky to implantables that remain in the body throughout one’s life. Currently, the health system has about 50 projects running concurrently, says Patrick Fitzgerald, vice president for entrepreneurship and innovation at CHOP.”

He said that “CHOP’s focus, with entrepreneurship, is three-pronged: Create a culture that encourages ideas and innovation; make CHOP’s vast repository of knowledge and experience available to other hospitals and customers beyond the health system; and look for internal solutions that can be translated into new service offerings for CHOP patients.”

Hospital C-suites, however, should remember that health systems must carefully study whether they have the technical skills and leadership expertise to successfully pull off a venture.  They must ask themselves if they can build those resources in-house, partner with an organization that already has the expertise or hire a consultant to help set up the initial program.

To read the article, please hit this link.

 

Highmark CEO discusses the great battle of Pittsburgh

December 1, 2015by Robert Whitcomb in Uncategorized tagged , ,

 

bighorn

In this video, David Holmberg, CEO of Pittsburgh-based health insurer and integrated delivery system Highmark Health, discusses its long and fierce battle with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for the region’s healthcare market. Among other things, the says the intense competition has helped build innovation at Highmark.

Contact Info

info@cmg625.com

(617) 230-4965

Wellesley, Mass