2011 Highmark Quality BLUE Project kicks off July 1

The 2011Highmark Quality BLUE Project began July 1. UPMC’s performance on these outcome measures is important. Performance will be tracked and will impact UPMC reimbursement. The four project selections and outcome measures for each of them with the target goal are outlined in the table.

Project Selections	Outcome Measures for Submission	Target Goal
1. Emergency Department (ED) Throughput Coordinator: Peg Richards	Median time in minutes from ED arrival to admission (includes admission to observation status)	≤ 120 min or ≥ 10 percent reduction
	Median time in minutes from ED arrival to departure from ED	≤ 81 min or ≥ 10 percent reduction
	Median time in minutes from ED arrival to time seen by a physician or licensed independent practitioner	≤ 14 min or ≥ 10 percent reduction
	Median time in minutes from decision time of admission to departure from ED (includes observation)	≥ 10 percent reduction
	Rate of patients leaving without being seen by a licensed independent practitioner (not triage)	≤ 2 percent
	Rate of sampled ED discharged patients who receive a printed transition record, including a summary of diagnostic and follow-up information	≥ 90 percent
	Rate of AMI/chest pain patients transferred out who received aspirin within 24 hours before ED arrival or prior to transfer	≥ 90 percent
	Median time in minutes of ED arrival to ECG performed for AMI/chest pain patients transferred to another facility	≤10 min
2. Central line-associated bacteremia (CLAB) Coordinator: Jill Larkin	Percentage reduction in hospitalwide rate of CLAB rate compared to baseline	≥ 5 percent reduction or < 1.0 rate or < 5 total CLABs
3. Clostridium difficile Coordinator: Jill Larkin	Incidence rate of health care-facility onset (HO) compared to baseline rate at the beginning of the program year	≥ 5 percent reduction, or < 4.0 rate or < 8 HO CDI
4. Venous thromboembolism prevention Coordinator: Karen Thurner	VTE prophylaxis compliance rate	≥ 90 percent
	Rate of hospital-acquired DVT during hospitalization and within 30 days of DC	≤ 0.5 percent
	Rate of hospital-acquired PE during hospitalization and within 30 days of DC	≤ 0.4 percent
	Rate of confirmed VTE inhouse patients who did not receive appropriate VTE prophylaxis prior to the diagnostic test order date	< 10 percent
	Rate of patients discharged on warfarin who received specific written discharge instruction, including key follow-up elements	≥ 90 percent

Project updates will be provided throughout the program year, which will conclude in June 2011. Opportunities for quality improvements that are identified will be communicated through educational feedback fliers to physicians and clinical staff, as well as periodic newsletter updates. For more information, call Quality Improvement at 412-647-0398.

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