Here’s to 2012 and the hope the coming months signify quality work and exciting new research. The Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC) Foundation will begin its new year with funding designed to improve patient care in hospitals and attack the community-wide problems associated with North Texas diabetes.
The North Texas Regional Extension Center (NTREC) deserves a round of applause as they achieved 100 percent of their 2011 goal of enrolling physicians in programs to meet meaningful use. NTREC was the first group in Texas to achieve its complete goal thanks to the hard work of Director Mike Alverson and his entire team.
The DFWHC Foundation Patient Safety and Quality Committee has restructured its offerings to support new Hospital Engagement Network activities. These were contracted to the DFWHC Foundation and 25 other entities across the country. This new initiative will work towards improving 12 hospital-acquired conditions and preventable readmissions. More than $1 million dollars per year for the next two years were provided by CMS for these activities.
The DFWHC Foundation Community Health Collaborative, led by Larry Tubb, senior vice president at Cook Children’s Health Care System and the DFWHC Foundation’s Summer Collins, MPH, have approved a three-year community plan to address the causes and care of patients with diabetes in North Texas. We expect this plan to guide this project for years to come, with more than 20 organizations from five counties providing endorsements.
The North Texas Regional Health Information Exchange (NTHIE) has officially launched its real-time exchange of patient information. The DFWHC Foundation will support NTHIE’s effort by sharing its data management and business intelligence. Through the North Texas Accountable Healthcare Partnership, the work of NTHIE will mean better care for less cost in the years to come.
Finally, the DFWHC Foundation is pursuing the launch of a regionally-shared Society for Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Certified Registry through the Texas Quality Initiative. Hospitals and surgeons have been pursuing this initiative for more than a year. The DFWHC Foundation is looking forward to launching this project with the participation of Baylor Health Care System, Texas Health Resources, HCA North Texas, UT Southwestern and Methodist Health System. All North Texas hospitals participating in STS registry work are invited to participate.
Please contact me at kjenkins@dfwhcfoundation.org with any questions. As always, we appreciate your support and Happy New Year.
