The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) recognizes certain programs that provide the full range of inpatient cardiac care services as Blue Distinction Centers for Cardiac Care. These programs have demonstrated quality outcomes and offer coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), heart valve surgery, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). At the beginning of each evaluation…
Visual management is a form of communication used in management which has roots in manufacturing operations, like Lean and Six Sigma, but with opportunities to apply to many other industries, including healthcare. The goal of any visual management is to translate information into a format that is quickly and easily understood at a high…
What is the Value of Corazon’s Cardiovascular Accreditation? Corazon is known for accrediting cardiovascular programs of all sizes throughout the United States. Unlike other accrediting bodies, however, Corazon Accreditation is more than just a means to achieve state requirements. We are a strategic partner, one whose value comes from a collaborative and consultative approach to…
Authored by Carol Wesley, RN, MSN/MHA Resiliency. I remember hearing that word a lot throughout nursing school and then during my career. But what exactly is resiliency? Is it something that is inherited, or simply learned over time? Resilience is a useful and highly adaptive trait that is described as the ability to…
Have you ever wondered whether your cardiac cath lab was running as efficiently as possible? Would you be able to gauge its efficiency? And most importantly, are these considerations even important? Well, in this ever-changing healthcare environment, it is of the utmost importance to be able to deliver services in a cost-effective manner while maintaining…
Authored by Joe Dorko, Senior Consultant. I was listening to a song on the radio, “See the World” by Brett Dennen when I heard the line, “Now I’m planting trees I’ll never climb.” Then a thought occurred to me…this is how leadership feels. As a young pharmacist, I would take time at the end…
Patient Complications Are on the Rise Back in October 2014, CMS began implementing a 1% Medicare payment reduction for hospitals falling in the “worst-performing quartile with respect to hospital-acquired condition (HAC) quality measures,” as part of the HAC Reduction Program. This year, a resulting 764 hospitals will be subject to such a payment cut. Reductions…
The Women Who Shaped Modern Healthcare Over the course of history, women have made tremendous contributions to the field of healthcare, both as care providers and as pioneers in medical research. Despite facing significant barriers and discrimination throughout history, many women persevered and achieved breakthroughs in their fields, paving the way for future generations of…
My Aunt Judy Before I began my lifelong journey in a career dedicated to heart health, February was just another month with a holiday. Valentine’s Day held no other significance than the hope of receiving a declaration of true love from a significant other, along with some chocolate, flowers, and if I was especially lucky,…
American Heart Month Having been born on Valentine’s Day, February is a month that is near and dear to my heart! Every year, the swirl of excitement around this day for me and all those that I love takes on special meaning. Cards, presents, dinner, and special treats are showered on the birthday girl, and…
