What's New
In continued efforts to change the culture of the organization with regard to cost-effective health care delivery, a managed care college was held again this year at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati by the Health Policy and Clinical Effectiveness Program. The goal was to educate faculty and other healthcare providers on the implementation of outcomes-based, cost-effective health practices.
Research in the area of outcomes management and clinical effectiveness was supported by Trustee Research Grants in Outcomes Research and Clinical Effectiveness, using a competitive internal granting mechanism.
Six hospital-based outcomes management teams in the area of bone marrow transplant, liver transplant, pediatric asthma, cystic fibrosis, cardiac surgery and diabetes are ongoing. These teams bring together clinicians and administrators to focus and measure cost and outcomes of care, as well as to design and implement interventions to improve care. Development of evidence-based protocols and guidelines are encouraged, and methodology and analysis support are provided. Additional outcomes management teams are planned.
Evidence-based guidelines are being developed to enhance quality of care while minimizing cost. The evidence-based guideline was developed and implemented successfully in bronchiolitis, appendicitis, and gastroenteritis. Additional guidelines have been developed for cystic fibrosis exacerbation, major head injury, fever of unknown source, fever with neutropenia, and otitis media. Additional guideline teams will be initiated in the coming year. Guideline teams are multidisciplinary and include community physicians, as well as full-time faculty and representatives of the clinical care group.
