Quality measures abound in the hospital industry, and each has their virtues. This time, though, Maryland employers have focused in on a set they like, and they've begun a campaign to get hospitals on board. Baltimore and D.C.-area companies, including Lockheed Martin and Marriott, are pushing a group of 46 regional hospitals to participate in the Leapfrog Group's annual hospital quality and safety survey. The surveys, which are progressing in 32 other markets, measure progress in computerized physician order entry, ICU physician staffing, evidence-based hospital referral and quality practices. The effort is being endorsed by area health plan CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. Leapfrog Group was founded in 2000 by several large employers and public health purchasers.
To find out more about the rollout:
- read this Leapfrog press release (.pdf)
- read this Baltimore Business Journal article