By Anne Llewellyn, RN.C, BHSA, CCM, CRRN, Editor in Chief

Question of the Week:

Has your Organization Joined the Campaign?

Institute for Healthcare Improvement has joined hands with other leading American healthcare organizations in launching an unprecedented 100,000 Lives Campaign, which will disseminate powerful improvement tools, with supporting expertise, throughout the American healthcare system. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is a not-for-profit organization leading the improvement of healthcare throughout the world. IHI was founded in 1991 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The campaign has enlisted thousands of hospitals across the country in a commitment to implement changes in care that have been proven to prevent avoidable deaths. The first six changes include:

1. Deploy Rapid Response Team at the first sign of patient decline.
2. Deliver Reliable, Evidence-Based Care for Acute Myocardial Infarction to prevent deaths from heart attack.
3. Prevent Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) by implementing medication reconciliation.
4. Prevent Central Line Infections by implementing a series of interdependent, scientifically grounded steps called the “Central Line Bundle.”
5. Prevent Surgical Site Infections by reliably delivering the correct perioperative care.
6. Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia by implementing a series of interdependent, scientifically grounded steps called the “Ventilator Bundle.”

Detailed information on each of these six changes is available in the “Materials” section and will be augmented over the course of the campaign. In addition to these six changes, IHI will continuously seek and add others that have been shown to save lives. Whether a hospital chooses to apply all or some of the recommended interventions, their results will be routinely tracked and measured and will serve as a regular barometer for the campaign’s progress.Catch the spirit on June 12-14, 2006 in Atlanta, GA. The IHI will host a conference to showcase the results. To learn more about the conference, the campaign and explore the IHI website, go to http://www.ihi.org/ihi.

Can you Imagine . . . Office of the National Nurse?

The Office of the National Nurse would be an office in which the purpose would be to deliver a message of healthcare promotion and disease prevention to every American. The office would compliment the Surgeon’s General’s and the Health and Human Service secretary’s efforts in prevention. A National Nurse Corp would be formed to teach practical applications for healthy living directly to people in their communities. This is not a myth, but a goal that Teri Mills, RN, MS, ANP designed to bring attention to nurses during National Nurses Week. This idea has grabbed the attention of U.S. Representative Lois Capps, RN, PHN (D-CA) who on March 13, 2006 proposed H.R. 4903, “The National Nurse Act” as an amendment to the Public Health Service Act to ultimately improve the nation’s health by promoting preventive care, increasing public awareness of healthcare care issues and encouraging individuals to enter and remain in nursing. Co-sponsors of the bill include Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Peter Fazio (D-OR) and Dale Kildee (D-Mich).

Click here to view the bill (H.R. 4903).

If you want to support the bill, write to your Congressman. Click here for a sample letter.

News from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS)

CMS recently announced the release of an electronic version of “Your Medicare Rights and Protections” that clearly outlines the key safeguards governing the original Medicare plan, Medicare Health plans and the Medicare Drug plans. This booklet has information that beneficiaries and advocates need to know in order to file a complaint, appeal or identify where to go to get help with questions. This easy to understand publication outlines the basic Medicare rights, including to:

1. Be treated with dignity and respect at all times.
2. Be protected from discrimination.
3. Get information about Medicare that you can understand to help you make health care decisions.
4. Have your answers about the Medicare Program answered.
5. Get culturally competent services.
6. Get emergency care when and where you need it.
7. Learn about all of your treatment choices in clear language that you can understand.
8. Ability to file a complaint.
9. Ability to appeal a decision relating to your claims for benefits.
10. Have your health information that Medicare collects about you kept private.
11. Know your health information privacy rights.

People can get access to answers to their questions 24/7 at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or TTY1-877-486-2048. Click here to get an electronic copy of the publication (PDF format).