Quality Reference Links

• The Agency for Healthcare Research Quality (AHRQ) Quality Indicators (QI) are measures of health care quality that make use of readily available hospital inpatient data.  http://www.ahrq.gov/

• The mission of the American College of Cardiology is to advocate for quality cardiovascular care-through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines-and to influence health care policy. http://www.acc.org/.

American Heart Association (AHA)

• The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is: "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke." The association's impact goal is to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010. http://www.americanheart.org.

Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC)

• APIC is recognized as the leader in infection prevention and control by practitioners, policy makers, healthcare executives and consumers. http://www.apic.org/.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Collaborating to create the expertise, information and tools that people and communities need to protect their health - through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability and preparedness for new threats. http://www.cdc.gov/.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) purpose is to ensure effective, up-to-date health care coverage and to promote quality care for its beneficiaries. CMS's hospital survey process is part of the hospitals provider's agreement for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
• CMS develops Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) which health care organizations must meet in order to begin and continue participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These minimum health and safety standards are the foundation for improving quality and protecting the health and safety of beneficiaries. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/.

CIMRO of Nebraska

• CIMRO of Nebraska is the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for the state of Nebraska. Their mission is to ensure the quality, effectiveness, efficiency and economy of healthcare services provided to Nebraska Medicare beneficiaries. CIMRO's vision is to make healthcare in Nebraska the nation's best. http://www.cimronebraska.org.

Hospital Compare

• Hospital Compare was created through the efforts of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services and other members of the Hospital Quality Alliance: Improving Care Through Information (HQA). The information on their website has been provided primarily by hospitals that have agreed to submit quality information for Hospital Compare to make public.
• This tool provides you with information on how well the hospitals care for all their adult patients with certain conditions or procedures. This information will help you compare the quality of care hospitals provide. http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov/.

Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA)

• The Hospital Quality Alliance facilitates continuous improvement in patient care through: Implementing measures that portray the quality, cost and value of hospital care; Developing and using measure reporting in the nation's hospitals; and Sharing useful hospital performance information with the public.  http://www.hospitalqualityalliance.org

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

• The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) is a non-for-profit organization leading the improvement of health care throughout the world. http://www.ihi.org/IHI/.

National Quality Forum (NQF)

• The National Quality Forum is a private, not-for-profit membership organization created to develop and implement a national strategy for healthcare quality measurement and reporting. http://www.qualityforum.org.

Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services

• The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department provides leadership in promoting environmental and personal health through health promotion, disease detection, disease prevention, and education and regulation. In cooperation with community resources, the department as the official agency, is responsible for assisting the community and the citizens to assume responsibility for their health and the health of the community. http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/.

Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)

• The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 5,800 surgeons, researchers and allied health professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible heart, lung, esophageal and other surgical procedures of the chest. Founded in 1964, the mission of STS is to enhance the ability of cardiothoracic surgeons to provide the highest quality patient care through education, research and advocacy. http://www.sts.org

Society of Vascular Surgery (SVS)

• The Society seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health. Our mission has many aspects promote, encourage and improve the dissemination of knowledge concerning all aspects of vascular disease and health. Provide education for vascular surgeons in new science, surgical techniques and practice. Serve as a strong advocate for members in all areas of vascular surgery and endovascular surgery. Improve the diagnosis and management of patients with vascular disease. Clearly define the role of surgery, endovascular surgery and medical management in the treatment and prevention of vascular disease. Promote clinical and basic research in vascular disease. Promote the development and implementation of new technology for diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease. Standardize the nomenclature and reporting of vascular diseases and develop appropriate position statements and guidelines. Address social, economic, ethical and legal issues that relate to vascular surgery. http://www.vascularweb.org/

Thomson Reuters Top Hospitals

• The Thomson Reuters Top Hospitals identify the nation's top providers, using the two most recent years of data. These studies benchmark the industry's management and clinical outcomes to help hospital boards and executives ask the right questions about organizational performance and assess the effectiveness of their own strategies and execution. http://www.100tophospitals.com