By Anne Llewellyn, RN-BC, MS, BHSA, CCM, CRRN
Editor-in-Chief of Case in Point Magazine and the Case Management Resource Guide

Each year, late January or early February traditionally marks the release of the major accreditation bodies’ and quality agencies’ annual reports. These reports provide the industry and the public with a unique view on how the health care system and payers rank nationally on core measures in prevention, wellness and management of chronic conditions.

The reports show what areas have made improvement and what areas have not compared to the previous year. Each report spotlights key measures the accreditation bodies have set for their organizations to meet. Data is collected during the onsite reviews and from required reports so they can be analyzed and compiled into a format that illustrates progress or lack of progress in addressing the health care needs of health consumers.

The reports provide information that allows organizations to see how they rank among their competition and information that the government, employers and individual consumers can use to see how their health care dollars are being spent and provide data they can utilize to make decisions on whether to keep their current partners or take a different course of action.

The reports also shed light on the how physicians, pharmacists, nurses, case managers, disease managers, discharge planners, social workers and others who are responsible for providing care to patients across the care continuum are performing. Reading the reports and taking an internal look at how you are personally practicing can provide important information regarding your professional growth and development. Taking inventory allows you to evaluate what your educational needs are, where you are professionally, and if you like what you are doing.  Answering these questions allows you to make adjustments that will keep you stimulated and effective.

To assist you, the first four posts in the News You Can Use Section (see below) of Case In Point Weekly highlight key annual reports that shed light on areas of practice important to each reader.

Take time to download them and review with your team to see where you stand. Take some time to brainstorm on how you, from an organizational standpoint as well as on a personal level, can make changes as needed to be the best that you can be.

Have a great week!