Putting the reform rhetoric in perspective
The Washington Post looks at the rhetoric on display in the reform debate and concludes it is “unfortunate, unnecessary and counterproductive.” What do you think? Have you been to a townhouse meeting in your neighborhood? How was it? Let me know and I will share in next week’s issue of Case In Point Weekly. Send me an email or leave a comment below.

Proactive physician-nurse care teams reduce costs

Teams of physicians and nurses that provide proactive, evidence-based care for patients with chronic conditions reduce health care spending, according to a new study. Johns Hopkins researchers said data on 500 patients enrolled in the Guided Care program found, on average, 24 percent fewer hospital days, 37 percent fewer nursing home days and 15 percent fewer emergency department visits, which translated into savings of $1,364 per patient.

Editor’s Note: To learn more about the emerging trend of collaborative practice, read the Case In Point Collaborative Practice Supplement, which covers the main tracts of the movement.

NPs expected to fill gaps if Congress covers uninsured

Nurse practitioners already are seeing more uninsured and poor patients because of the economy, but their clinics and offices could get even busier if health reform is passed. NPs will be a vital resource in expanding health care access to more Americans and refocusing services on prevention and a patient-centered medical home model, a Johns Hopkins professor said.

New tool helps nurses avoid ‘never events’

Elsevier has rolled out a Web-based application that would help nurses avoid CMS’ list of 10 “never events.” The tool is designed to “prevent adverse events as part of a broader effort to improve quality, enhance the patient care experience and increase the hospital’s financial stability,” a company official said.

Letting go of your need to control

Once you accept you can’t always control the details of your job, you’ll feel less trapped and frustrated. “Focus instead on those things you can control,” comes the advice. Win some little personal victories and watch your frustration level decrease.

Why secondhand rudeness can be toxic

A University of Florida study finds rudeness affects the productivity and creativity of workers who are not even the target of the bad behavior, Michael O’Brien writes. Human resource departments needs to “create the climate that this behavior is just not acceptable,” a researcher says.

Why you need downtime to succeed

No matter how busy things are, keeping a regular block of unscheduled time is one of the most important things a leader can do, George Ambler writes. Leaders need a little time to themselves to reflect on their performance and the challenges they face, he writes. Otherwise they can’t make effective plans for the future — or learn from their mistakes.