Today, all eyes are on the quality and safety — or lack thereof — in our healthcare system. Articles are being written and studies are being done which prove that, regardless of setting, problems occur and are occurring on a daily basis. There are many causes for these problems, and smart organizations are doing what they can to improve systems and educate their staff, as well as their consumers, on how to be alert for problems and subsequently offer ways to report problems in a timely manner so that process-improvement plans can be emplaced at the earliest possible juncture.

As healthcare professionals, case managers have a responsibility to be alert to the pitfalls in our systems. In this week’s News You Can Use, the news supplement to Across My Desk, I have included links to a few of the tools and systems that are being developed to help improve transitions of care throughout the healthcare system. As leaders, case managers are in the unique position to work with patients and providers to spot problems before they occur. It is my hope that the reports outlined will motivate you to look at your own practice and the internal operations of your organization to see that everything is being done to make transitions of care safe, successful and cost-effective. In the end, because each of us is a consumer, we too are at risk.

On the other hand, many organizations are making great strides in improving the quality, safety and cost-effectiveness of care. Across the continuum of care, there exist quality improvement projects, system enhancements and a focused attention on this important topic. So let me know what you and your organizations are doing to improve transitions of care. All comments, points of view and input are welcomed. Email me at allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com to let me know about the successes you have made and the systems you have implemented in your mission of ensuring safe transitions of care.

On a final note, in the next week or so you should be receiving the October/November issue of Case in Point. I am excited about this issue because in it we feature the release of the 2007 Salary and Trends Survey, which reflects the work and lifestyle trends of more than 1290 professionals. Once you receive the magazine, take time to peruse the issue and download the additional reports and commentary from www.caseinpointmagazine.com. Once you have digested its contents, send any and all feedback to my email address. I look forward to hearing about what you think about the results, and your input will help us continue to raise the bar and provide the information that will allow you to improve your practice.

Have a great week!

Anne Llewellyn, RN-BC, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor-in-Chief of Across My Desk, Case in Point magazine, and the Case Management Resource Guide
allewellyn@dorlandhealth.com