Better Hand-Washing Through Technology

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/25/better-hand-washing-through-technology

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

25 April 2011

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Washing hands in between contact with patients is one of the most important things a healthcare worker can do to prevent the spread of disease and reduce the rise of superbugs like MRSA. A new technology is increasing rates of hand washing by displaying, via a sensor in an employee's badge, whether the healthcare provider has washed their hands recently.

Caring for mentally ill: 3 counties' success stories

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/caring-for-mentally-ill-3-countiesrsquo-success-stories

Brian M. Rosenthal

The Seattle Times

6 October 2013

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There is a mental-health capacity crisis gripping Washington state. The area’s response approach, crafted over two decades, centers on a set of intensive outpatient and early-intervention programs aimed at preventing hospitalizations.

For V.A. Hospitals (and Patients), a Major Health Victory

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/for-v-a-hospitals-and-patients-a-major-health-victory

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

30 January 2015

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Although patients go to hospitals to receive medical care, many Americans will acquire infections that did not already have them. The United States as a whole has made modest progress at reducing the rates of hospital-acquired infections. Spearheading the efforts, the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers have devised anti-MRSA strategies to keep patients safe.

Lessons From America's Safest Hospitals

http://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-04-2013/safe-health-care.html?intcmp=HPBB1F

Beth Howard

AARP Magazine

1 April 2013

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An estimated 6,000 "never events" — egregious errors like operations on the wrong limb or instruments left inside a surgical wound — occur every month among Medicare patients alone. Hospitals across the country are revamping their care programs to stop preventable injuries and deaths.

Making Medical Donations Work

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/making-medical-donations-work

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

9 August 2011

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Hospitals in the U.S. throw out huge amounts of supplies and equipment, and third-world hospitals need it. Many organizations help bridge the gap to transport supplies, but end up donating unusable equipment - teaching hospitals what to donate as well as knowing where the equipment is going are just some of the ways that efficiency can be improved.

One Hospital Tells Bronx's Sick: You Call Us, We'll Call You

http://www.wnyc.org/story/new-bronx-hospital-model-please-call-us-well-call-you

Amanda Aronczyk

WNYC

3 June 2014

Radio / 5-15 Minutes

Hospitals in New York improve healthcare quality and reduce medical costs by staying in frequent contact with patients requiring frequent or long-term care. Montefiore's Accountable Care Organization pulls in care providers from across the medical and social spectrum to improve patient health while curbing expenses.

In Delivery Rooms, Reducing Births of Convenience

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/in-delivery-rooms-reducing-births-of-convenience

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

7 May 2014

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The rate of Cesarean sections is on the rise in the United States, despite the higher risks of hysterectomy, hemorrhage, and infection, as well as the elevated expense. San Francisco General’s maternity ward, however, stands as an outlier by following evidence-based medicine that suggests decreasing C-sections and has also shifted from a pay-per-service incentive for the doctors to a salary or shift position.

In Detroit Hospital, black babies are latching on

http://womensenews.org/story/health/150417/in-detroit-hospital-black-babies-are-latching

Molly Ginty

Women's eNews

20 April 2015

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Many African American women are reluctant to breastfeed their babies. The Mother Nuture Project at Detroit’s St. John Hospital and Medical Center offers peer counseling to educate women (mostly African American) and encourage breastfeeding. Mother Nurture’s program has helped boost breastfeeding rates from 46 percent to 64 percent.

Reducing Early Elective Deliveries

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/12/reducing-early-elective-deliveries

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

12 March 2014

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Reducing cases of early birth deliveries shouldn’t have been hard — at least, they should have been easier to change than many other harmful practices. But it was - until hospitals started introducing models for change, creating accountability and changing payment systems. This article looks at a range of solutions happening across the country that serve as a model for other healthcare providers.

Inviting Patients To Help Decide Their Own Treatment

http://kaiserhealthnews.org/news/inviting-patients-to-help-decide-their-own-treatment

Anna Gorman

Kaiser Health News

16 March 2015

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The Patient Support Corps at UC San Francisco Medical Center pairs interns with patients to provide support during visits. The program, which now acts as a model for other hospitals, encourages patients to speak up and offers them the information needed to make decisions about their care, rather than having the doctors make the decision for them.