Ease the Way - Gebauer Patient Comfort Blog | Healthcare Administration (10)

4 Steps for an Effective Healthcare Quality Assurance Program

By: Jennifer Clark | On: March 8, 2017

From vehicle maintenance to computer programming, quality assurance is an essential part of any service profession. The healthcare industry is no different.

Because low HCAHPS scores and failure to provide meaningful clinical statistics are becoming increasingly tied to lower reimbursement levels, it’s crucial for every healthcare organization to develop a quality assurance process. A strong quality assurance program is the key to meeting patient expectations and initiating changes that improve patient comfort, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction levels.

These four steps will help you develop an effective healthcare quality assurance program.

Why Nurse Leaders Should Join a Hospital Governing Board

By: Bethany Nock | On: March 2, 2017

Nurse leaders historically have been underrepresented on hospital governing boards. Although most boards included at least a few doctors, it was unusual to see a nurse serve. Unfortunately, that meant the very people who had important experience and insights about patient care didn’t have a voice in the way the hospital was run.

Today, as hospital leaders realize the importance of creating a collaborative environment, nurses are gradually being added to hospital boards. Supporting this initiative is The Nurses on Board Coalition (NOBC). Founded in 2014, the NOBC represents two dozen national nursing and other organizations, including the American Nurses Association, American Academy of Nursing and AARP. Its mission is to increase awareness of the unique perspective nurses can offer and ensure at least 10,000 nurses are on corporate and health-related boards as well as panels and commissions by 2020.

Becoming a member of your hospital’s governing board is an excellent way to initiate positive changes that will benefit the entire hospital and improve patient care. Here are three reasons that you should consider joining a governing board.

9 Best Practices for Hospital Fundraising

By: Bethany Nock | On: February 14, 2017

Grants, Medicare payments and private payor reimbursements may be enough to keep a hospital running, but substantial improvements to a hospital require financial assistance from outside donors.

Successfully soliciting contributions can be challenging; taking the wrong approach can have major consequences. However, a healthcare organization's facilities can benefit tremendously from well-executed fundraising programs.

Read on to learn nine of the best practices for hospital fundraising.

Introduction to the FY 2017 Hospital IPPS Final Rule

By: Bethany Nock | On: January 31, 2017

Along with “eat better” and “exercise more,” “learn more about the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule” should definitely be on your list of 2017 resolutions.

Unraveling the complexities of the hospital IPPS final rule will be a hefty undertaking, but if you get started now, you’ll be ahead of the pack.

Here are a few of the key ways the IPPS final rule will affect hospitals.

Hospital Hazards: Top 3 Health Risks for Staff Nurses

By: Bethany Nock | On: January 25, 2017

To be a nurse is to be a selfless caregiver. From the moment a nurse walks into a hospital or clinic, their main priority is protecting the health and safety of their patients.

While ensuring the health and safety of patients is essential, nurses can’t ignore the importance of their own health and safety. Nurses not only experience the challenges of professionals who are on their feet all day (such as muscle strain and fatigue) but they also face a unique set of risks not usually found outside a hospital or clinic.

To reduce health risks, injury and illness, pay attention to these four safety issues that affect staff nurses.