September 2007


For some participants in the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration money is just one piece of the puzzle Illustration by Comstock Complete

CMS quality demo pays dividends for hospitals, but not always financially

Results from the first three years of the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration (HQID) suggest that while bonuses were something to shoot for, they weren't the primary motivators for most participants. Instead, some hospitals viewed their participation as an opportunity to implement a tracking system, identify areas for improvement and see how they stacked up against other hospitals.

Letters

A new idea about handling MRSA, and a comment on the differential diagnosis of infectious cellulitis.

CMS issues final reimbursement rules

CMS recently issued final rules on payment for inpatient hospital services and inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

Doctor, don't be a hero: Getting VAP to zero takes teamwork

Giving up a little of his traditional role in ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention has paid off in a lighter workload and better patient outcomes for one hospitalist at Bloomington Hospital in Bloomington, Ind.

Practicing cost-effective medicine

One clinician's top 10 tips.

Diagnosing adrenal insufficiency

Experts debate glucose control in the ICUTesting, steroid use common questions in the ICU.

Experts debate glucose control in the ICU

Studies have shown that controlling blood glucose closely and carefully improves survival and morbidity among intensive care patients, but the ideal target remains controversial.

In the eye of the storm

Medical residents train amidst Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.

MKSAP primer: Acute complications of diabetes mellitus

The major acute complications of diabetes are the hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic emergencies.

Inpatient glucose control

A 71-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes is hospitalized with new congestive heart failure... and other cases.

Journal watch: Recent studies of note

Recent studies about C. difficile colitis, elderly patients and sleeping pills, and other topics.