Quality Measures

Deer Lodge Medical Center Performance Improvement

Core Measures

Core Measures are national performance measurements that indicate how well a hospital is able meet standards of treatment that when provided to patients result in proven benefits. Currently we are monitoring Core Measures for patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction, Heart Failure, Pneumonia, and for Surgical Infection Prevention. These measurements are now widely publicized at major web sites sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Joint Accreditation of Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations (JCHAO)

Chronic Care Initiative

The Chronic Care Model identifies the essential elements of a health care system that encourage high-quality chronic disease care. These elements are the community, the health system, self-management support, delivery system design, decision support and clinical information systems. Evidence-based change concepts under each element, in combination, foster productive interactions between informed patients who take an active part in their care and providers with resources and expertise. The model can be applied to a variety of chronic illnesses, health care settings and target populations. The bottom line is healthier patients, more satisfied providers, and cost savings.

Safety & Risk Management (SRM)

Event reporting continues to be our most important tool to evaluate and recognize performance on day-to-day basis. These reports are reviewed 100% at the Risk Management level and by each Division Head and Department manager. Actionable items are identified at the organizational and local level based upon safety, risk and potential for harm.

Rapid Response (RRT)

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) are convinced that a remarkably few proven interventions, implemented on a wide enough scale, can save 100,000 lives over the next 18 month, and every year after.

Through our participation in the 100K Lives Campaign, we have begun to develop a Rapid Response Team. The purpose of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) is to provide early support to clinicians who may have concerns about a patient because of subtle or overt changes in condition. Currently we are piloting this effort on the Medical Surgical Unit during the day shift.