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Upstate University Hospital awarded for quality improvements by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

Upstate University Hospital awarded for quality improvements by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- Upstate University Hospital is among 40 upstate New York hospitals and health centers to share $22.9 million in quality improvement payments from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield as part of the health insurer’s performance incentive program.

The quality improvement program is a collaboration between the health insurer and each participating hospital. It uses nationally recognized standards and guidelines to address specific areas for improvement. Incentive payments are tied to improvements in health outcomes and patient safety.

“Upstate University Hospital is committed to providing the highest quality care to our patients every day,” said Steven Scott, MPH, FACHE, the hospital’s interim chief executive officer. “We welcome the opportunity to partner with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield on achieving quality enhancements for our patients.”

Hospitals and health systems were evaluated on 244 measures, including target outcomes jointly agreed upon by each participant and the health insurer using benchmarks established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, The Joint Commission, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and others. Hospitals that earned incentive payments achieved at least 85 percent of their quality targets.

Areas targeted for 2016 improvement included:

  • Clinical Processes of Care - Focused on improvements in heart attack care, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care, and other measures that may be unique to each participating hospital.
  • Patient Safety - Centered on reductions in hospital-acquired infections, falls, pressure ulcers, readmissions, and other adverse events or errors that affect patient care.
  • Patient Satisfaction - Used the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, which is the first national, standardized, publicly reported survey of patients’ perspectives of hospital care.

Upstate was also recognized by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for meeting quality improvement goals in 2016.

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