3
C M C S c o n n e c t i o n s 1 s t q u a r t e r 2 0 1 5
Q ua l i t y r at i n g s
a r e d r i v i n g
c o n s u m e r c h o i c e s
By Linda Grosser
A
p o w e r f u l f o r c e f o r
change is happening in
the healthcare industry.
Tr a n s p a r e n c y i n q u a l i t y a n d
performance is a driving change
that will empower consumers to
make choices about their provider
and hospital based upon publicly
re p o r t e d q u a l i t y i n f o r m a t i o n .
Healthcare in the United States, is at
times, the best healthcare available.
At other times, medical errors can lead
to more problems and complications
than the original ailment. According
to the National Committee for Quality
Assurance (NCQA), choosing a
high quality health plan and a high
quality doctor plays a significant role
in determining whether you will
receive high quality care. In order
to compete in the new healthcare
marketplace, healthcare organizations
must improve quality and provide a
positive patient experience.
Information on quality ratings is
available for both employer groups
and consumers who purchase
healthcare benefits. The Leapfrog
G r o u p i s a n e m p l o y e r - b a s e d
coalition that publishes information
o n h o s p i t a l s a f e t y a n d q u a l i t y
(leapfroggroup.org). The Medicare
S t a r p r o g r a m , ( m e d i c a r e . g o v /
find-a-plan/results/planresults/
planratings/compare-plan-ratings.
aspx?PlanType=MAPD), allows
Medicare beneficiaries to choose a
plan based on both performance and
quality information. The National
Committee for Quality Assurance
(NCQA) offers free online resources
to help select a top-notch health plan
or physician (ncqa.org/ReportCards.
aspx). Quality Check®, from the
Joint Commission, is the most
comprehensive listing of accredited
health care organizations that have
achieved certain quality and safety
performance standards (qualitycheck.
org/help_qc_what.aspx).
One big step that is needed, for
a m o re t r a n s p a re n t h e a l t h c a re
system, is the creation of standards
to report information on price
and quality to help consumers can
make informed choices. Given the
right information, consumers can
play a more active role in choosing
the best coverage and healthcare
providers for their specific needs.
In the long run, high quality, cost-
effective care will benefit all of us
as we enjoy lower premiums and a
healthcare system that provides us
with the best outcomes.
Transpar-
ency in
Healthcare
CMCS 2014 Holiday
Bazaar
by Sarah Murphy
The CMCS Volunteer Committee held their fourth annual Grand
Holiday Bazaar and Silent Auction in the Duke Conference room on
Friday, November 21, 2014. This year, all of the proceeds will benefit the
Children's Wish List at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. Last year's
event benefitted the Hospice Program at St. Francis Health.
The wide assortment of items available for purchase included: ornaments,
jewelry, skin care products, purses, paper crafts and specialty foods. As
always, the Silent Auction was a great success. Ray Skillman donated an
iPad Air which was raffled off at the end of the event along with all of the
other Silent auction items. Additional sponsors included: Fresh Thyme
Market, Oberwies Dairy, Crossfit Notch 8, GIGI's Cupcakes, McAlister's
Deli, Panera Bread, Latitude 39, Georgia Reese, Crew Car Wash, Outback
Steakhouse and many others.
This year we collected $2,135 for the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital's
Children's Wish List through the Silent Auction, vendor participation and
staff participation. The Volunteer Committee would like to thank everyone,
including the vendors and the shoppers, for their assistance in making this
year's event so successful!
CMCS staff members Denyse Tyson, Diane Johnson and Sarah Murphy supported the annual Holiday Bazaar that
raised $2135 for the Children's Wish List at the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital.
