AHRQ Web Resource Offers Forum to Share Innovative Ideas on Patient Care
By News Staff
9/10/2008
The Agency for Healthcare and Research Quality, or AHRQ, has released an online resource that allows health care professionals to share information and insights on ways to enhance delivery of patient care services.
The Health Care Innovations Exchange provides a forum for health care professionals to exchange innovative ideas related to patient care. The comprehensive AHRQ program also is intended to encourage and accelerate adoption of these innovations.
"Every day, health care practitioners develop new, effective ways to provide better care, but that information does not move easily beyond institutional walls.… As a result, great ideas are limited in their implementation -- and providers are constantly reinventing the wheel because they are unaware that tested solutions already exist," says the AHRQ Web site.
To be considered for posting on the site, ideas must be related to delivery of patient care; all ideas submitted also must be in the public domain.
Examples of innovations offered on the Web site include:
"Every day, health care practitioners develop new, effective ways to provide better care, but that information does not move easily beyond institutional walls.… As a result, great ideas are limited in their implementation -- and providers are constantly reinventing the wheel because they are unaware that tested solutions already exist," says the AHRQ Web site.
To be considered for posting on the site, ideas must be related to delivery of patient care; all ideas submitted also must be in the public domain.
Examples of innovations offered on the Web site include:
- a primer on how telemedicine can help rural patients with diabetes manage their blood glucose levels and protect their eyesight,
- information about a nurse-led telephone outreach program that contacted high-risk individuals and encouraged them to get pneumococcal vaccinations, and
- a look at a multifaceted program that has increased reporting of medical errors and led to action plans to enhance patient safety.
In addition, the site features a "QualityTools" section that offers, for example,
- educational resources and screening tools for depression and bipolar disorder,
- a guide to off-label prescribing of atypical antipsychotic drugs, and
- a toolkit to aid in developing and implementing community suicide prevention programs.
Users also can browse the site's "Learn & Network" section to find advice from other innovators, gain insights from the literature, and participate in discussions and learning networks on specific topics.
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Related ANN Coverage
AHRQ Resource Helps Patients Take Medications Safely
(4/18/2008)
AAFP Board Chair Coaches Patients
AHRQ Video Gives Tips to Improve Patient-Physician Communication
(3/12/2008)
Additional Resources
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange
AHRQ Resource Helps Patients Take Medications Safely
(4/18/2008)
AAFP Board Chair Coaches Patients
AHRQ Video Gives Tips to Improve Patient-Physician Communication
(3/12/2008)
Additional Resources
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange