Partnership for Patients: It's about time,' say quality experts

摘要

Hot on the heels of the release of its proposed rule to govern the operation of Accountable Care Organizations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has unveiled its Partnership for Patients, a program whose main goals include the reduction of preventable harm in hospitals in the U.S. by 40% by 2013, and a reduction of hospital readmissions by 20% by the same deadline date. While the Accountable Care Organization rule drew mixed reviews, the "Partnership" has been met with nearly universal acclaim. Organizations issuing statements in support of the initiative included The Leapfrog Group, the American Hospital Association, The National Patient Safety Foundation, and the Premier Healthcare Alliance, to name just a few.