Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Improvement in the Management of Congestive Heart Failure Population

St. John's implemented a web-based business intelligence platform that integrates physician quality and utilization data in a severity adjusted format. This tool was utilized to monitor implementation of an evidence-based pathway for inpatient management of congestive heart failure patients as well as the effects of an outpatient hospital to home clinic that was instituted to address readmissions. Implementation of the evidence-based order set and the development of an outpatient hospital to home clinic resulted in a significant reduction of length of stay, clinic resource utilization and readmission with good quality measure performance.

This case study is part of the Illinois Hospital Association's annual quality awards. Each year, IHA recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Illinois hospitals in continually improving and transforming health care in the state. These hospitals are improving health by striving to achieve the Triple Aim--improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction); improving the health of populations; and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

Award recipients achieve measurable and meaningful progress in providing care that is:

• Safe
• Timely
• Effective
• Efficient
• Equitable
• Patient-centered

(The Institute of Medicine's six aims for improvement.)