Improving care across the continuum.

Ensuring patient care is seamless across the care continuum is a daily challenge for nurse leaders. In this issue, I'm sharing a variety of articles that touch upon this topic, including:

How private patient advocates can improve patient outcomes
New analysis on the effectiveness of CMS' Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program
Ways to improve your organization's quality and safety rankings

Plus, the American Hospital Association's CEO Rick Pollack discusses the challenges facing hospitals in 2019.

A Patient Care Advocate Primer for Nurses

Here's how healthcare providers can work with private patient care advocates to improve patient care and outcomes

Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program's Impact Downgraded

The reduction in readmission rates is about half as large as previously reported, researchers say.

4 Ways to Improve Your Hospital Quality and Safety Rankings

Learn how one health system launched systematic initiatives to improve its quality and safety rankings and is pursuing a zero-harm environment.

AHA's Rick Pollack Sees Full Agenda for Year Ahead

The president and CEO of the American Hospital Association shares a bit about the challenges facing the nation's hospitals in 2019, and where he believes political headway can be made in a divided Washington.

Healthcare Job Growth Outpaced Nearly Every Other Sector in 2018

Healthcare created 346,000 jobs in 2018, up from 284,000 jobs in 2017. The 2018 figures include 219,000 jobs in ambulatory services and 107,000 hospital jobs.

Must Reads

Nurses issue warning over staffing, care levels at hospitals

The Citizens' Voice

More nurses providing primary care where MDs in short supply

Reuters

Nurses decry staffing cuts; hospitals defend recruiting efforts

Times Leader

CDC: Up to 84,000 Americans hospitalized with flu in past three months

Reuters

Most patients aren't using online portals – why that's disappointing

Louisville Business First

Thanks for reading today's eNewsletter. I'd love to know what topics or issues you'd like to hear about this year. You can send your ideas to me at jthew@healthleadersmedia.com or Tweet me @jen_nurseeditor.

Jennifer Thew, RN
Senior Editor, Nursing