Profession

Long-term-care panel formed

A system designed for acute care must adapt to an aging population living with chronic illness.

By Andis Robeznieks — Posted Nov. 8, 2004

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

Merely having 10 times as many nursing homes will not be the answer to quality issues facing the long-term-care needs of the nation's aging population, said Kenneth Kizer, MD, president of the National Quality Forum.

In an effort to come up with better solutions, the NQF has convened a commission -- co-chaired by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey -- that will recommend goals for long-term-care quality improvement, assess improvement efforts and proposals, and provide a national forum for discussing quality improvement.

At a press conference held last month announcing the creation of the panel, Kerrey and Dr. Kizer hinted at the increased role primary care physicians will play by noting that the current health care system was designed for dealing with acute illness, but more than 60 million Americans have chronic illnesses -- a number that will increase as the population ages.

The commission's 14 members include Dr. Kizer, Gingrich, Kerrey, author Michael L. Millenson and Richard Payne, MD, who heads the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life at Duke University Divinity School in Durham, N.C.

In an interview with American Medical News, Dr. Payne said that, in addition to health care concerns, attention needs to be paid to the emotional, psychosocial and spiritual well-being of patients receiving long-term care. He expressed confidence that this can be done.

"Absolutely, these things can be measured," Dr. Payne said. "You can measure the effect of an intervention and how it improves outcomes. Most patients in long-term-care systems have physical symptoms such as pain. Are they adequately dealt with? Before dying, how many patients were referred to hospice programs? A long-term facility that is not attuned to this is not providing good care."

The commission holds its first meeting Dec. 3 in Washington, D.C.

The National Quality Forum is a nonprofit organization created to develop a national strategy for quality measurement and reporting. The American Medical Association is a member.

Back to top


External links

National Commission for Quality Long-Term Care (link)

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn