Quality and Safety
by Laura DeStefano | Jan 24, 2013 | Discussion Paper, Perspectives
Introduction In virtually all Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports that have touched on patient safety during the last 15 years, information technology (IT) has played a critical role in the future view of safer patient care. This reflects an emerging view of patient...
by Laura DeStefano | Dec 14, 2012 | Commentary, Perspectives
We have a good concept of the flawed state of health care, the critical need for change, and the future we want. Patient-centered, personalized care, provided by collaborating care teams, is a part of that vision. Many changes will be necessary to achieve that future,...
by Laura DeStefano | Nov 16, 2012 | Commentary, Perspectives
More than a decade ago, the board of directors and executive leaders of Virginia Mason (VM) Health System in Seattle, WA, held a series of meetings to determine the future direction of the organization. It was a new century, we had a new CEO, and the Institute of...
by Laura DeStefano | Nov 2, 2012 | Commentary, Perspectives
The translation of new evidence into reliable practice typically takes years and sometimes decades. For interventions with a strong evidence base for improving outcomes, the absence of a reliable evidence implementation capacity means that the health system regularly...
by Laura DeStefano | Oct 19, 2012 | Commentary, Perspectives
Diabetes mellitus (DM) and associated complications are increasing in the United States, with prevalence up 40 percent from 2002 to 2010. [1] Randomized controlled studies have shown reductions in the increased cardiovascular disease risk associated with diabetes when...
by Laura DeStefano | Oct 2, 2012 | Discussion Paper, Perspectives
Goal This paper is the product of individuals who worked to identify basic principles and expectations for the coordinated contributions of various participants in the care process. It is intended to provide common reference points to guide coordinated...
by Laura DeStefano | Sep 21, 2012 | Commentary, Perspectives
The United States has the most technologically advanced health care system in the world. Although we spend far more on health care than any other country in the world, we perform poorly on many health measures, such as life expectancy and infant mortality, compared...
by Laura DeStefano | Sep 14, 2012 | Discussion Paper, Perspectives
Introduction Electronic health records (EHRs) and other forms of health information technology (IT) hold the promise of transforming the way health care is delivered in the United States, improving quality and safety while lowering costs. But after a decade of...
by Laura DeStefano | Sep 7, 2012 | Commentary, Perspectives
Pursuit of value-based health care is now the aim of health policy in the United States. But caution is needed to avoid affirming Winston Churchill’s perspective that “you can always count on Americans to do the right thing—after they’ve tried everything else.” The...
by Laura DeStefano | Aug 24, 2012 | Commentary, Perspectives
When the family of Michelle Malizzo Ballog found out that their daughter’s 2008 death had been caused by a preventable medical error, one question trumped all others: How could this have happened? To the family’s surprise and relief, officials at the University of...
