Safety Group Adds Partners
The Leapfrog Group, based in the Washington, D.C. area is dedicated to ongoing assessment and monitoring safety issues in the healthcare arena and patient empowerment in health decision-making. The organization recently partnered with area organizations to promote adoption of safety practices in the Baltimore-Washington area.
Leapfrog has spearheaded other similar efforts in over thirty areas throughout the United States.
The power to compel practice modification is increased by the participation of consumer groups and corporations. Leapfrog hopes to compel hospitals to participate (pdf) in their annual survey, the Hospital Quality and Safety Survey. The survey assesses compliance with safety programs and recommendations released by Leapfrog and advocacy groups.
Interestingly, a number of such surveys are being conducted simultaneously by disparate groups. Hospitals may opt not to participate in Leapfrog’s survey, for example, in lieu of participation elsewhere.
Efforts to promote and ensure safety are paramount. Effective assessment, however, should employ the broadest sampling of facilities in order to provide the most comprehensive vision of actual practices.
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June 6, 2007 Related topics: Trends, Partnerships & Consortia