Successful expansion of Medicare's pay-for-performance demonstration from large multi-specialty groups to solo and small group practices will require more explicit financial incentives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. It also will take a concerted effort by physician groups to implement workflow changes that enable closer monitoring of patients with chronic conditions and facilitate early interventions before medical crises arise. Read more »
Ten large physician groups are participating in a three-year demonstration to assess whether the opportunity to share in financial savings generated by quality improvements will improve care and outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries (as described in the Issue of the Month). The early experience of one participant, the Marshfield Clinic of Wisconsin, suggests that information systems, care management, process redesign, and physician involvement are important to improving the quality and efficiency of care in response to pay-for-performance incentives. Read more »
Selected stories on patient safety, health care quality, and information technology. Read more »
Selected articles on quality improvement from a number of journals, including the American Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, BMJ, Health Affairs, Health Services Research, International Journal for Quality in Health Care, Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety, Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of General Internal Medicine, Journal of Patient Safety, Journal of Safety and Quality in Health Care, Medical Care, The Milbank Quarterly, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Pediatrics. The articles are nominated by Editorial Advisory Board members from a preselected list. Read more »
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