Patient Safety
While New Jersey has made great strides in increasing patient safety with reductions in pressure ulcer development and use of physical restraints, there are still opportunities for improvement. Healthcare Quality Strategies, Inc., (HQSI) is partnering with select nursing homes meeting CMS eligibility criteria to work in the following areas to improve patient safety.
Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcer prevention and treatment is a shared responsibility across healthcare settings. This project is designed to bring together hospitals and nursing homes in the same communities to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. HQSI is promoting collaboration and assisting in assessing current processes, identifying opportunities for improvement, implementing and evaluating interventions, facilitating knowledge transfer and sharing of best practices, and providing other technical and educational assistance to the participating hospitals and nursing homes during the project.
Physical Restraints
This project is designed to reduce the use of inappropriate physical restraints while ensuring a safe environment for residents and staff. HQSI is evaluating current polices and practices, identifying opportunities for improvement, supporting the use of appropriate restraint alternatives, conducting regular on-site visits, and providing other technical and educational assistance.
Care Transitions
HQSI is also working across multiple provider settings, including nursing homes, in a southwestern New Jersey community to improve patient transitions between care settings and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations. HQSI is focusing on improving coordination of care and communication between nursing homes and other providers. HQSI is working with nursing homes and other provider settings to identify specific areas that drive preventable re-hospitalization. HQSI is assisting in the selection and implementation of interventions that fit the capabilities and needs of the nursing homes and result in system-wide changes.
