The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday launched its Innovation Advisors program, looking to recruit up to 200 healthcare professionals to research and implement new models of care delivery. The program's aims are threefold: to improve care, improve outcomes and lower costs.
The expert network of physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, healthcare executives, and practice managers will commit up to 10 hours per week during the first six months of orientation and training. The full program will last about a year.
Innovation advisors will apply what they learn and test new models of care delivery in their own organizations and communities, according to the CMS Innovation Center. They also will create partnerships to develop successful care coordination and delivery models, and share their lessons learned and best practices.
However, looking for new and innovative ways to deliver and improve care isn't just a national effort. Columbus (Ind.) Regional Hospital created its own Innovation Center and Simulation Lab, reports The Republic. At the Innovation Center, hospital staff work to create more efficient care and cost-savings, such as how to convert existing patient rooms to single-bed rooms without major construction.
And through the Simulation Lab, the hospital trains workers and students with mannequins that breathe, talk, moan, have heartbeats, and give birth, notes The Republic.
Applications for the Innovation Advisors program are due Nov. 15, 2011.
For more information:
- visit the program's website
- check out the program fact sheet (.pdf)
- read this article in The Republic