Do pneumonia readmissions flagged as potentially preventable by the 3M PPR software have more process of care problems?

"Among VA [Veterans Health Administration] pneumonia readmissions, PPR [Potentially Preventable Readmissions] categorisation did not produce the expected quality of care findings. Either PPR–yes cases are not more preventable, or preventability assessment requires other data collection methods to capture poorly documented processes (eg, direct observation)."

Do pneumonia readmissions flagged as potentially preventable by the 3M PPR software have more process of care problems? A cross-sectional observational study
AM Borzecki et al.
BMJ Quality and Safety 2015;24:753-763 doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003911

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What does the future hold for the NHS

"The contributions gathered here address some of the most complex or controversial debates in healthcare – such as decommissioning, integration, engagement, and leadership." 

This collection from Birmingham University's Health Services Management Centre contains the following articles:

• Decommissioning and the leadership challenge in health care
• System leadership in a fragmented system
• Strengthening Communities to Deliver the Better Care Fund
• The role of leadership and collaboration in the development of a social impact measurement system for use in healthcare
• The NHS and Diversity: research on the real lives behind the differences
• Moving upstream: The case for prevention
• Telehealth and the NHS: are we asking the right questions?
• Learning lessons from other countries 
• A Health Workforce that’s fit for the Twenty-First Century
• Keep schtum or whistle: what makes some health and care managers resist corruptions to practices
• Nursing is hard emotional work - why is that ignored?
• Developing a culture of compassionate care: lost in translation
• Evaluating the future of healthcare: where does the truth lie?

What does the future hold for the NHS
Health Services Management Centre
University of Birmingham
June 2014

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NICE infection prevention and control quality standard

"The quality standard for infection prevention and control specifies that services should be commissioned from and coordinated across all relevant agencies. A person-centred, integrated approach that promotes multi-agency working is fundamental to delivering high-quality care and preventing and controlling infection."

Quality standard: infection prevention and control (QS61)
NICE
April 2014

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Hard truths: essential actions

"The focus on measuring safety is welcome, but measures should be developed to assess the future risk of harm, not just the occurrence of past harm."

Hard truths: essential actions
The Health Foundation
December 2013

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Improving outcomes: a strategy for cancer

"The main focus of the Improving outcomes: a strategy for cancer, was around improving cancer survival through earlier diagnosis of cancer and improved access to the best possible treatment."

Improving outcomes: a strategy for cancer - third annual report
Department of Health, Public Health England, NHS England
December 2013

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Cancer across the domains: cancer priorities for the new NHS

"The All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer believes the five thematic Domains within NHS England have an important role to play in improving the experiences and outcomes of cancer patients. This report sets out the priorities the APPGC believes NHS England must focus on to deliver these improvements."

Cancer across the domains: cancer priorities for the new NHS
All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer
November 2013

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Is the quality of care in England getting better?

"The ability of the health system in England to monitor quality is increasing and, partly in response to the Francis Inquiry, there have been large changes in the range of ways that quality is assessed and measured."

Is the quality of care in England getting better? QualityWatch Annual Statement 2013
The Health Foundation, Nuffield Trust
November 2013

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Admissions avoidance and diabetes

"The document emphasises the scale of the clinical and financial problem of diabetes admissions to UK hospitals and commissioners, and describes models shown to reduce variability."

Admissions avoidance and diabetes: guidance for clinical commissioning groups and clinical teams
Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care
December 2013

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Commissioning for prevention

"As part of the Call to Action, NHS England will be publishing a series of thought pieces aimed at stimulating debate with Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and their local partners, and to help them think about changes that could be made to significantly improve the value of healthcare provision in England - that is, to improve outcomes at the same or lower net expenditure. This is the first in that series."

A call to action: commissioning for prevention
Public Health England, NHS England
November 2013

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State of the nation report on dementia care and support in England

"This report sets out what is known about dementia care, support and research. It highlights where improvements are being made and where progress can be seen – it also shows where improvements are needed, including where better data is necessary."

Dementia: A state of the nation report on dementia care and support in England
Department of Health
November 2013

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The state of health care and adult social care in England 2012/13

"In around 90% of cases, people were treated with dignity and respect and were receiving care, treatment and support that met their needs and was safe. But, despite improvements in each type of care setting, we are disappointed that in around 10% of cases people received poor quality care."

The state of health care and adult social care in England 2012/13
Care Quality Commission
November 2013

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You can see a pictorial version of the report here.

Commissioning cardiac rehabilitation services

"Clinical Commissioning Groups should work closely with strategic clinical networks for cardiovascular disease, who together with NHS England area teams are responsible for commissioning cardiovascular surgery."

Commissioning cardiac rehabilitation services
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
November 2013

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Money well spent?

"This briefing for councillors and officers explains the importance of assessing value for money in helping local authorities fulfil their public health responsibilities."

Money well spent? Assessing the cost effectiveness and return on investment of public health interventions
Local Government Association
November 2013

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Educational outreach visits to improve venous thromboembolism prevention in hospitalised medical patients

"Educational outreach visiting is effective at improving doctors' provision of pharmacological VTE prophylaxis to hospitalised medical patients. It was also found to be an acceptable implementation strategy by the majority of participants; however, it was resource intensive requiring on average 92 minutes per visit."

Educational outreach visits to improve venous thromboembolism prevention in hospitalised medical patients: a prospective before-and-after intervention study
J Duff, A Omari, S Middleton, E McInnes, K Walker
BMC Health Services Research, 2013, 13:398

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Lining up: How do improvement programmes work?

"This is the second report examining aspects of the Health Foundation’s Lining Up project – an investigation into interventions to reduce central line infections."

Lining up: How do improvement programmes work?
The Health Foundation
August 2013

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Exploring the system-wide costs of falls in older people in Torbay

"This paper uses Torbay’s unique patient-level linked data set to explore the cost of the care pathway for older people admitted to hospital as a result of a fall by tracking their care costs in the 12 months before and after their fall."

Exploring the system-wide costs of falls in older people in Torbay
Y Tian, J Thompson, D Buck, L Sonola
The King's Fund
August 2013

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Retrospective record review in proactive patient safety work

"By adding a retrospective record review of randomly selected records to conventional incident-reporting, health care providers can gain a clearer and broader picture of commonly occurring, no-harm incidents in order to improve patient safety."

Retrospective record review in proactive patient safety work: identification of no-harm incidents
K Schildmeijer, M Unbeck, O Muren, J Perk, K Pukk Harenstam, L Nilsson
BMC Health Services Research, 2013, 13:282

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Recommendations for safe trainee changeover

"Doctors in training in the UK have historically started new six-monthly rotations in February and August, with the majority of junior doctors rotating to new training programmes during the first week of August. There is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that simultaneous trainee changeover is associated with higher mortality, reduced efficiency and lower satisfaction. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) and NHS Employers have worked with partner organisations to develop simple, practical recommendations that can help mitigate these problems. "

Recommendations for safe trainee changeover
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, NHS Employers
June 2013

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All babies count: Spotlight on perinatal mental health

"Effective prevention, detection and treatment of perinatal mental illnesses could have a positive impact on the lives of tens of thousands of families in England, and improve the wellbeing, health and achievement of children across the country."

Prevention in mind: All babies count: Spotlight on perinatal mental health
S Hogg
NSPCC
June 2013

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Falls prevention in older people

"This guideline updates and replaces 'Falls' (NICE clinical guideline 21)."

Falls: assessment and prevention of falls in older people
NICE Clinical Guideline 161
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
June 2013

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