Friday 27 July 2012

How to assure quality in the NHS


"In this paper, the authors set out their views on how the system of quality assurance, including regulation, needs to evolve, the principles on which it should be built and how it should operate."

Preparing for the Francis report: how to assure quality in the NHS
A Dixon, C Foot, T Harrison
The King's Fund
July 2012

Read more here.

Standards for patient-centered outcomes research


"Better methods will produce trusted information and lead to better healthcare decisions, and ultimately to better health."

Our questions, our decisions: standards for patient-centered outcomes research
M Helfland, A Berg, D Flum, S Gabriel, SL Normand
Patient-Centred Outcomes Research Institute
July 2012

Read more here.

Cost-effectiveness of environmental approaches to disease prevention


"Environmental prevention is key to addressing the growing disease burden and cost of chronic illnesses."

The cost-effectiveness of environmental approaches to disease prevention
DA Chokshi, TA Farley
New England Journal of Medicine, 2012, 367:295-297

Read more here.

Commissioning fact sheet for clinical commissioning groups


"This fact sheet sets out the services to be commissioned by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) from April 2013."

Commissioning fact sheet for clinical commissioning groups
NHS Commissioning Board
July 2012

Read more here.

The way forward: strategic clinical networks


"Combining the experience of clinicians, the input of patients and the organisational vision of NHS staff clinical networks have supported and improved the way we deliver care to patients in distinct areas, delivering true integration across primary, secondary and often tertiary care."

The way forward: strategic clinical networks
NHS Commissioning Board
July 2012

Read more here.

Effect of clinical decision-support systems


"Both commercially and locally developed CDSSs are effective at improving health care process measures across diverse settings, but evidence for clinical, economic, workload, and efficiency outcomes remains sparse."

Effect of clinical decision-support systems
TJ Bright, et al.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 2012, 157(1):30-50

Read more here.

Clinical commissioning in action


"This document is a snapshot of Clinical Commissioning Group's successes."

Clinical commissioning in action
NHS Clinical Commissioners
July 2012

Read more here.

English hospitals can improve their use of resources


"The findings suggest that all hospitals have scope to make efficiency savings in at least one of the clinical areas considered by this study."

English hospitals can improve their use of resources: an analysis of costs and length of stay for ten treatments
CHE Research Paper 78
J Gaughan, A Mason, A Street, P Ward
Centre for Health Economics, University of York
July 2012

Read more here.

Contemporary evidence about hospital strategies for reducing 30-day readmissions


"Although most hospitals have a written objective of reducing preventable readmissions of patients with heart failure or acute myocardial infarction, the implementation of recommended practices varied widely."

Contemporary evidence about hospital strategies for reducing 30-day readmissions: a national study
EH Bradley, et al.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2012, online first

Read more here.

Systematic review of knowledge translation strategies in the allied health professions


"Knowledge translation (KT) aims to close the research-practice gap in order to realize and maximize the benefits of research within the practice setting."


Systematic review of knowledge translation strategies in the allied health professions
SD Scott, et al.
Implementation Science, 2012, 7:70


Read more here.


Improving histopathology management


"Reducing the time taken to process a sample to a 7-day turnaround time (from a mean of 10.2 days) will reduce the period of uncertainty for patients and will help to ensure that treatment can be started as soon as clinically appropriate."

Improving histopathology management: 7-day turnaround time
NHS Improvement
May 2012

Read more here.


Stroke rehabilitation in the community

"An information resource for providers and commissioners of stroke rehabilitation and early supported discharge services in the community"

Stroke rehabilitation in the community: commissioning for improvement
NHS Improvement - Stroke
July 2012

Read more here.

Thursday 19 July 2012

NHS and social care funding: the outlook to 2021/22

"This report considers some scenarios for spending on the NHS and social care in England."

NHS and social care funding: the outlook to 2021/22
R Crawford, C Emmerson
Nuffield Trust
July 2012

Read more here.

A comprehensive model to reduce harm and save lives

"From 2008 through 2011, a 31% reduction in harm events and an 18% reduction in inpatient mortality occurred systemwide."

The Henry Ford Health System No Harm Campaign: A comprehensive model to reduce harm and save lives
WA Conway, S Hawkins, J Jordan, MJ Voutt-Goos
The Joint Commission Journal of Quality and Patient Safety, 2012, 38(7)

Read more here.

Helping people share decision making

"Helping people share decisions brings together the evidence of the impact of shared decision making on the quality of healthcare as defined by the Institute of Medicine’s six dimensions of quality: safe, effective, timely, patient-centred, efficient and equitable care."

Helping people share decision making
The Health Foundation
June 2012

Read more here.

When doctors and patients talk

"The Health Foundation commissioned this work to explore the complex issues around the clinician–patient interaction – and suggest ways that it could be improved."

When doctors and patients talk: making sense of the consultation
M Fischer, G Ereaut
The Health Foundation
June 2012

Read more here.

Do changes to patient-provider relationships improve quality and save money?

"The Health Foundation will use the findings of this review to inform our thinking about future research into the benefits, effectiveness and cost effectiveness of approaches to changing relationships between patients and providers."

Do changes to patient-provider relationships improve quality and save money?
J Ovretveit
The Health Foundation
June 2012

Read more here.

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Literature review of decision criteria for resource allocation and healthcare decisionmaking

"This study highlights the importance of considering both normative and feasibility criteria for fair allocation of resources and optimized decisionmaking for coverage and use of healthcare interventions."

From efficacy to equity: literature review of decision criteria for resource allocation and healthcare decisionmaking
LA Guindo, M Wagner, R Baltussen, D Rindress, J van Til, P Kind, MM Goetghebeur
Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation, 2012, 10:9

Read more here.

Interventions to reduce unplanned hospital admission

"The overall aim of this series of systematic reviews was to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce unplanned hospital admission."

Interventions to reduce unplanned hospital admission: a series of systematic reviews
S Purdy, S Paranjothy, A Huntley, R Thomas, M Mann, D Huws, P Brindle, G Elwyn
Avon Primary Care Research Collaborative
June 2012

Read more here.

Improved NHS services through new perspectives

"This toolkit offers a way of improving productive working between doctors and managers in your Trust."

Improved NHS services through new perspectives
Centre for Innovation in Health Management
University of Leeds
July 2012

Access the toolkit here(Free registration is required)

Falls Prevention Resources pack

"The Falls Prevention Resources pack comprises a collection of quality improvement best practice measures for assessing the impact of the number of falls in clinical hospital wards as well as preventing and managing falls."

Falls prevention resource pack
Royal College of Physicians
July 2012

Read more here.

Pan-London tuberculosis services

"This paper has identified key issues relating to London's TB services' organisation, delivery, professional workforce and skill mix."

Pan-London tuberculosis services: a service evaluation
R Belling, S McLaren, M Boudioni, LP Woods
BMC Health Services Research, 2012, 12:203

Read more here.

Sunday 15 July 2012

Guide to health records access


The Patient Information Forum has prepared a guide about shared Personal Health Records (PHRs), aimed at health practitioners, managers, and patient organisations in health and social care in the UK.


Read more here.


The importance of rating scales in measuring patient-reported outcomes


"The development of appropriate rating scale categories may seem straightforward; however, in the absence of high quality evidence, or consensus for the optimal methods, PRO developers take many different approaches."


The importance of rating scales in measuring patient-reported outcomes
J Khadka, VK Gothwal, C McAlinden, EL Lamoureux, K Pesudovs
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2012, 10:80


Read more here.

Never Again? The story of the Health and Social Care Act 2012


"‘Never Again?’ tells the story of how and why the Health and Social Care Act 2012 – by far the most controversial piece of NHS legislation in more than two decades – became law."


Never Again? The story of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
Nicholas Timmins
The King's Fund
July 2012


Read more here.

Thursday 12 July 2012

Caring for our future: reforming care and support

"The focus of care and support will be transformed to promote people’s wellbeing and independence instead of waiting for people to reach a crisis point."

Caring for our future: reforming care and support
HM Government
July 2012

Read more here.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

NHS change model

"The model has been created to support the NHS to adopt a shared approach to leading change and transformation....The model brings together collective improvement knowledge and experience from across the NHS into eight key components."

Find out more here.

Service improvement in microbiology

"Working in partnership with the Department of Health (DH) Pathology Programme, NHS Improvement has supported a number of microbiology teams, including the eight acute Trusts in the former East Midlands SHA, to learn how Lean methodology can enable the service to achieve improvements to support the QIPP, (quality, innovation, productivity and prevention) transformation programme."

Service improvement in microbiology
National Pathology Programme
NHS Improvement - Diagnostics
July 2012

Read more here.

The engagement cycle

This resource has been created for commissioners of health services, to help them engage with patients and the public throughout the commissioning process.

Find out more here.

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Going big: how major providers scale up their best ideas


"Three types of innovations - technical advances, process improvements, and business model innovations - have significant applicability to health care."


Going big: how major providers scale up their best ideas
C Hawn
California HealthCare Foundation
June 2012


Read more here.



A pilot qualitative study to explore stakeholder opinions regarding prescribing quality indicators


"Prescribing quality indicators are considered to be an important tool for assessing quality of provided diabetes care by all participants, although the preferences for specific types of indicators may differ by stakeholder depending on their user aim."


A pilot qualitative study to explore stakeholder opinions regarding prescribing quality indicators
L Martirosyan, J Markhorst, P Denig, FM Haaijer-Ruskamp, J Braspenning
BMC Health Services Research, 2012, 12:191


Read more here.

Associations between demographic, disease related, and treatment pathway related variables and health related quality of life in primary care patients with coronary heart disease


"In the context of this feasibility study the objective of the present research was to investigate the contributions of different disease related (e.g. prior myocardial infarction), pathway related (e.g. basic medication) and demographic variables on patients` perceived health related quality of life (HRQoL) as a relevant and widely used outcome measure in cardiac populations."


Associations between demographic, disease related, and treatment pathway related variables and health related quality of life in primary care patients with coronary heart disease
L Kramer, O Hirsch, K Schlossler, S Trager, E Baum, N Donner-Banzhoff
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2012, 10:78


Read more here.

Unlocking diagnosis: the key to improving the lives of people with dementia


"The inquiry found there were barriers throughout the process of diagnosis, from people having poor understanding of dementia so not visiting a doctor, through issues faced by GPs and memory specialists, to problems with the quality of support offered immediately following diagnosis."


Unlocking diagnosis: the key to improving the lives of people with dementia
All-Party Parliamentary Group report 2012
July 2012


Read more here.

Securing the future financial sustainability of the NHS


"This report looks at the financial sustainability of NHS commissioners, and the NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts that provide community, secondary and tertiary health care services."


Securing the future financial sustainability of the NHS
National Audit Office, Department of Health
July 2012


Read more here.

Report on the effect of the NHS Constitution


"This report seeks to clarify the effect of the NHS Constitution on those who use NHS services and who work in the NHS."


Report on the effect of the NHS Constitution
Department of Health
July 2012


Read more here.

A discussion paper on how best to measure and capture outcomes for people with advanced cancer


"As set out in the Introduction to this discussion paper, there have been significant weaknesses in the availability of intelligence on advanced cancer services."


Advance outcomes: a discussion paper on how best to measure and capture outcomes for people with advanced cancer
Rarer Cancers Foundation
June 2012


Read more here.



Stratified pathways of care...from concept to innovation


"NHS Improvement is working in partnership with patients, clinical teams, the Department of Health (DH) and voluntary organisations to improve the effectiveness and quality of service delivery for those living with and beyond cancer."


Stratified pathways of care...from concept to innovation: Executive summary
NHS Improvement - Cancer
March 2012


Read more here.

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Delivering public services through markets

"Evidence from international and national research suggests that, under certain conditions, competition can deliver higher quality services and improve effi ciency while maintaining equity."

Delivering public services through markets: principles for achieving value for money
National Audit Office
June 2012

Read more here.

NHS and social care funding: the outlook to 2021/22


"This Institute for Fiscal Studies report, funded by the Nuffield Trust, examines what can be expected once the current unprecedented period of broadly flat NHS funding in real terms ends in 2014-15."

NHS and social care funding: the outlook to 2021/22
R Crawford, C Emmerson
Institute for Fiscal Studies, Nuffield Trust
July 2012

Read more here.

Towards best practice in interventional radiology

"This document sets out case studies using service delivery models that provide benefits for patients and staff."

Towards best practice in interventional radiology
NHS Improvement - Diagnostics
June 2012

Read more here.

Tuesday 3 July 2012

Healthcare across the UK

"This report identifies key trends and variations in the delivery of healthcare across the four nations of the UK, and highlights where further examination may help determine those practices that could deliver better value for money."

Healthcare across the UK: a comparison of the NHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
National Audit Office
June 2012

Read more here.

Atlas of variation in healthcare for people with kidney disease

"The aims in publishing the NHS Atlas of Variation in Healthcare for People with Kidney Disease are twofold.
  1. To identify variation not only in the quality of kidney care but also in the availability of certain treatments across England
  2. To suggest reasons for variation and the ways in which that variation could be addressed to increase value."
Atlas of variation in healthcare for people with kidney disease
NHS Right Care
June 2012

Read more here.

Personal health budgets: experiences and outcomes for budget holders at nine months

"These interviews suggest there is widespread potential for personal health budgets to lead to improvements in health and well-being."

Personal health budgets: experiences and outcomes for budget holders at nine months: fifth interim report
J Davidson, K Baxter, C Glendinning, K Jones, J Forder, J Caiels, E Welch, K Windle, P Dolan, D King
Department of Health
June 2012

Read more here.

Communicating risk

"The communication of risk is an important and often difficult aspect of clinical practice. This clinical review aims to provide practising clinicians with a comprehensive and up to date overview of current evidence in this developing area."

Communicating risk
H Ahmed, G Naik, H Willoughby, AGK Edwards
British Medical Journal, 2012, 344:e3996

Read more here.

Care Quality Commission market report

"This report presents the results of inspections of more than 14,000 services, between the start of the new regulatory system and 31 March 2012, across all the sectors that CQC currently regulates: healthcare, adult social care and dental care."

Market report
Care Quality Commission
Issue 1
June 2012

Read more here.

Using electronic health records to improve quality and efficiency

"An examination of nine hospitals that recently implemented a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system finds that clinical and administrative leaders built EHR adoption into their strategic plans to integrate inpatient and outpatient care and provide a continuum of coordinated services."

Using electronic health records to improve quality and efficiency: the experiences of leading hospitals
S Silow-Carroll, JN Edwards, D Rodin
The Commonwealth Fund
July 2012

Read more here.

Overarching questions for patient surveys

"This report describes a project to test and develop a new overarching measure of patient experience for use in a wider range of settings."

Overarching questions for patient surveys: development report for the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
C Graham, S MacCormick
Picker Institute Europe
June 2012

Read more here.

Health and Social Care Act explained

The Department of Health has prepared a series of factsheets on the Health and Social Care Act 2012, explaining particular topics contained in the Act, including its key themes. There are cases studies of the policy in action and answers to frequently asked questions about the topic.

Access the leaflets here.

Sunday 1 July 2012

A stitch in time - the future is integration


"This Briefing includes examples of successful models of integration from within the UK, where NHS organisations are now working more effectively with other public sector providers as well as independent providers, and from Western Europe, where integration between the public and independent sectors is more widely accepted."


A stitch in time - the future is integration
NHS Confederation
June 2012


Read more here.

Impact of the economic downturn and policy changes on health inequalities in London


"This literature review is the first stage in work aimed at assessing and monitoring the impact of the recession and welfare reforms on health inequalities in London."


Impact of the economic downturn and policy changes on health inequalities in London
UCL Institute of Health Equity
June 2012


Read more here.

Analysis of hospital activity by day of the week



"Our analysis has revealed a discernible pattern in hospital activity. We found that across emergency patients; elective patients; maternity and births; procedures and diagnostics there was significantly lower activity at the weekend."

Insight report: The weekly pulse: Analysis of hospital activity by day of the week
P Robinson
CHKS
June 2012


Read more here.