Health: Health Care Quality & Patient Safety 101
By: State: Oregon | Source: AARP.org
Jill Getz received sustaining support from her husband, Ed, and daughter, Mary Schuch, after recovering from a hospital-acquired infection.
Imagine going into the hospital or medical clinic for a routine procedure and ending up sicker. Think that can’t happen to you? While millions of Oregonians and others nationwide receive high-quality health care that helps maintain or restore their health every day, far too many—like Jill Getz of Beaverton—do not.
Getz, 64, underwent routine back surgery and ended up with a rare and powerful infection, probably caused by surgical draping left in the incision. It took her months to recover and cost thousands of dollars in extra medical bills and in expenses, utilities and groceries during the added, unpaid leave she needed.
Recent reports from the Institute of Medicine and in the New England Journal of Medicine show that just over half (54.9%) of patients receive the care they need. Other estimates indicate that up to 100,000 patients die in hospitals each year because of preventable medical errors.
How can you receive quality health care and stay safe?
Join AARP Oregon, the Oregon Patient Safety Commission and the Oregon Health Care Quality Corp at a free workshop called “Health Care Quality and Patient Safety 101.”
WHEN:
Tuesday, June 30
8:30 – 9 a.m. Continental breakfast and registration
9 a.m. to Noon Workshop
WHERE:
Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus – Bldg 9, Room 122
17705 NW Springville Rd, Portland, OR
OTHER:
Space is limited and registration is required. RSVP today at 877-926-8300 toll-free or online at www.orhcquality.eventbrite.com.
If you can’t attend the workshop, you can:
1. Contact AARP at oraarp@aarp.org and ask for a free copy of the workshop materials to be sent to you. Please make sure to give your complete name, full mailing address and indicate “HC Quality Info” in the subject line.
2. Learn more by visiting a new Oregon website–– www.PartnerForQualityCare.org ––sponsored by the Oregon Health Care Quality Corporation.
The Web site has two major components: tips about how to get quality health care and a comparison of how Oregon hospitals rate on several common medical procedures and patient experience.
“We know that there is a lot of information available about health care quality, but that doesn’t mean people understand it” said Nancy Clarke, executive director of the Oregon Health Care Quality Corporation. “We wanted to create a Web site where information is easy to find, easy to understand, and trustworthy.”
According to AARP Oregon State Director Jerry Cohen, “We’ve been working with our Oregon allies for several years to help launch this new site and make sure it is useful for our members and Oregonians of all ages. It provides easy-to-understand information so patients can be more informed and involved in their health care.”
The site will be continually updated with more tips and tools to encourage consumers to use the site as their first stop in receiving quality care. Hospital information will be posted first, followed by quality of care information on medical clinics—slated for late 2009 or early 2010.
Patients should be active participants in their care, says Dr. David Nardone, an AARP Oregon volunteer who spent more than two decades as a clinical director of the VA Medical Center in Portland.
“Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions (about your health care),” Nardone said. “No doctor or nurse should ever be offended—and if they are, it may be time to find a new one.”
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Other Resources
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Improves the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of health care
National Patient Safety Foundation
Oregon Health Fund Board’s Quality Institute Workgroup
Developing a plan for quality, affordable health care for all
Oregon Health Care Quality Corporation
Works to improve health care
Oregon Patient Safety Commission
Improves patient safety by reducing the risk of serious errors
Oregon Health Policy Commission
Oversees health policy planning
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