Virginians can now access compiled data about hospital performance and patient outcomes, thanks to the Quality Patient and Safety Scorecard made available by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association’s Board of Directors.
The Quality Patient and Safety Scorecard details performance and safety data for the commonwealth of Virginia and allows both the general public, the healthcare association and hospital officials to track progress over time.
The scorecard system is part of a multi-pronged initiative by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association and the state to increase transparency and better communicate with the public about the health system.
Other components of the initiative include an online price tool, a dashboard tool used to organize hospital data by legislative district and a messaging campaign called “Virginia Hospitals: Our Lifeline” to educate the public about the importance of hospitals and the threats that budget cuts and government mandates, said Julian Walker, Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association spokesman.
“This is part of our mission not only to enhance patient care and outcomes, but also to make sure that people are informed about the way the system works,” Walker said.
Virginia was recently ranked fourth in the nation in Hospital Safety by the Leapfrog Group, a non-profit organization. The scorecard is a valuable first step toward greater transparency and providing patients with more information about outcomes and healthcare, said Eric Swensen, spokesman for the University’s Health System.
*Mortality defined as death occuring within 30 days of hospital admission
**Data taken from the Quality Patient and Safety Scorecard
Graphic by Nikita Meka and Callie Phillips
Because most of the data on the scorecard is two years old, it is difficult to use the system for proactive improvement, said Dr. Tracy Hoke, chief of quality and performance improvement at the University. The system is better suited to track progress and programs over extended periods of time.
“The next important step is to base the scorecard on more real-time data to provide consumers with the most up-to-date picture of healthcare here at UVA and at other hospitals across Virginia,” Swenson said. “Dr. Tracey Hoke is part of a VHHA advisory council to develop that enhanced quality scorecard.”
The state-wide initiative for increased transparency aligns with University Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Richard Shannon’s vision for improving programs and outcomes to become the safest place in America, Hoke said.
“More and more, hospital consumers, who are our community members, ourselves, our neighbors, our parents, are interested in making informed decisions,” Hoke said, “Therefore, transparency at a health system level about what’s offered and what outcomes are experienced is very important for our commonwealth to be able to make good decisions about where to seek health care.”
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