Excellus BCBS Collaboration Program Improves Overall Patient Care

Utica, NY (WIBX) - Eleven hospitals in the Mohawk Valley took part in a program aimed at improving the quality of care provided to patients. And, today Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield, the company behind "The Hospital Performance Incentive Program" is sharing some good news about the collaboration.

Excellus BCBS Vice President, Dr. Frank J. Dubeck, says every year, he sits down with the Chief Medical Examiners of participating hospitals to find ways to improve overall health outcomes and patient safety. He says they then set a goal, and the hospitals are rewarded financially if the goals are met. "And, so it incensed them to improve the quality of care being delivered at their facility. Prove quality usually converts to decreased cost, because you have less complications, and you don't have to treat the complications--the hospitals gets more efficient, they get more money, patients get more care, it's a win win for everybody," he said.

He says, last year, 53 upstate New York hospitals earned more than $21-million in quality improvement incentive payments thanks to the collaboration. HPIP was launched in 2004 and the areas targeted for improvement are:

• Clinical Outcomes - Focused on improvements in heart attack care, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care.
• Patient Safety - Focused on reductions in hospital-acquired infections, improved medication reconciliation processes, and National Quality Forum Safe Practices.
• Patient Perception of Care and Patient Satisfaction - Focused on a hospital's use of national survey tool.
• Efficiency - Focused on generics utilization, length of stay, and re-admissions.

You can learn more about the hospital incentive program by visiting, www.excellus bcbs.com.

Some of the 2011 participating hospitals are St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Bassett Medical Center, Community Memorial Hospital, Oneida Healthcare Center and Rome Memorial Hospital.