Innovations

What are innovations?
In this section, the Fund highlights practical tools, case studies, and innovative state strategies that can help you put sound policy into practice.

Dedicated Surgical Care Improvement Team Guides Changes at Reid Hospital and Health Care Services

November 10, 2009 - This case study describes the strategies and factors that appear to contribute to high performance on surgical care improvement measures at Reid Hospital. It is based on information obtained from interviews with key hospital personnel and materials provided by the hospital during the spring of 2009.

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A Guide to Developing State Child Health 'Improvement Partnerships'

February 24, 2009 - A new online guide from the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program provides state leaders in child health with step-by-step instructions to developing sustainable collaborations of public and private partners that are dedicated to improving the quality of children's health care.

Family Council Manual and Toolkit: A Guide for Creating and Sustaining Effective Nursing Home Family Councils

August 28, 2009 - The Family Council Manual and Toolkit: A Guide for Creating and Sustaining Effective Nursing Home Family Councils is a practical handbook for family members interested in setting up a new family council as well as a comprehensive resource for more experienced leaders facing new issues or wanting to reinvigorate an existing council.

Resident-Centered Regulation: Achieving Resident-Centered Nursing Home Care Through the Regulatory Process

August 28, 2009 - With support from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and partial funding from The Commonwealth Fund, the Rhode Island Department of Health conducted a project called the Individualized Care Pilot.

How to Retain Nursing Home Staff and Improve Organizational Performance

August 28, 2009 - Based on the experiences of more than 400 nursing homes, the Staff Stability Toolkit is designed to serve as an evidence-based resource for nursing homes that are working to reduce staff turnover.

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Holland Hospital: Improving Pneumonia Care by Hardwiring Process Enhancements

October 7, 2009 - Holland Hospital has significantly improved its performance on the pneumonia process-of-care, or "core" measures, over the last five years. The core measures, developed by the Hospital Quality Alliance, relate to provision of recommended treatment in four clinical areas: heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care.

St. Charles Hospital: Improving Surgical Care Through Best-Practice Literature and Order Sets

September 22, 2009 - From 2004 to 2008, St. Charles Hospital achieved dramatic improvement on process-of-care measures, particularly on those intended to reduce surgical complications. This case study examines how they achieved these quality improvements.

Mayo Clinic: Multidisciplinary Teamwork, Physician-Led Governance, and Patient-Centered Culture Drive World-Class Health Care

August 13, 2009 - The Mayo Clinic is the world's oldest and largest integrated multispecialty group medical practice, combining clinical practice, education, and research at the regional, national, and international levels for the benefit of individuals with routine as well as complex health care needs.

Henry Ford Health System: A Framework for System Integration, Coordination, Collaboration, and Innovation

August 13, 2009 - Henry Ford Health System is a vertically integrated health care system in southeastern Michigan whose leadership is committed to systemic integration, clinical excellence, and customer value through the core competencies of collaboration, care coordination, and innovation and learning.

View »State Profiles

Idaho's Plans to Improve Access in Troubled Times

April 21, 2009 - Idaho Governor C. L. "Butch" Otter (R) discussed difficult choices during our "troubled times" in his January 12 "State of the State" address. He proposed a 7.5 percent budget cut for the state's Department of Health and Welfare, along with even greater cuts in other state agencies.

Governors Discuss Health Policy in "State of the State" Addresses, With Interactive Summary Table

April 21, 2009 - Since early January, state governors have been discussing health care in their annual "State of the State" addresses, despite not knowing exactly what the federal stimulus package or CHIP reauthorization would look like. Among the 40 speeches made through mid-February, the health policy messages varied in content and tone. The health-related provisions are summarized in an interactive feature.

New York's Plan to Expand Coverage and Combat Obesity

April 21, 2009 - New York Governor David Paterson (D) outlined four key health reform initiatives in his State of the State address on January 7: public coverage expansion, enrollment reforms, private insurance expansion for dependents, and multiple efforts to combat obesity.

Arizona Narrowly Rejects Ban on Coverage Mandates and Choice Restrictions

January 23, 2009 - Arizona voters narrowly rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have banned laws restricting choice of health plans or mandating that people obtain coverage. The amendment would have been at odds with certain elements of President-elect Obama's health care proposal. Of 1.8 million votes, 50.2 percent voted against, and 49.8 percent voted for, the amendment.