Ohio hospital quality collaborative touts patient care improvement

The formation of the Central Ohio Hospital Quality Collaborative has resulted in substantial improvement in quality of care and patient safety, according to the group's first public report (Source: “Hospitals improve their care together,” Columbus Dispatch, Oct. 26, 2008).

Since its inception in early 2006, the 14-member collaborative has set a goal of improving treatment of pneumonia, heart failure and heart attack patients.

The percentage of patients receiving appropriate care in all three areas has shown steady improvement, according to the collaborative. From first quarter 2006 to final quarter 2007 (the end period for the new report), hospitals went from meeting all seven goals for pneumonia care 63 percent of the time to 87 percent of the time. Likewise, ideal care for heart failures patients increased from 84 percent to 92 percent and care for heart attack patients increased from 91 percent to 96 percent.

The full report, “All the Care, All the Time,” is available on the Central Ohio Hospital Council’s Web site.