Exploring declining hospital readmission rates
Hospitals are expensive and often cause harm, so various policies have focused on reducing hospital use. One such policy—the Affordable Care Act’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), which penalizes hospitals for higher-than-expected readmission rates—was most likely the impetus…
VA hospitals compare well on deaths, readmission rates
In spite of longstanding concerns about problems with the Veterans’ Administration health system, a new study found that VA hospitals compare relatively favorably with other hospitals in terms of death rates and readmissions. The study also found that…
Billions needed to prepare for global health crises, says panel
February 2, 2016 — In the wake of the devastating Ebola epidemic of 2014-15 in West Africa, which killed more than 11,000 people and cost about $2.2 billion, an international commission has outlined an ambitious agenda—at an annual cost…
Hospital financing affects admission and discharge decisions
Financial incentives may be behind a decline in the average hospital stay in the United States — now down to around 4.5 days from 7.3 days in 1980 — according to a January 4, 2016 New York Times…
Panel calls for reform of global public health system in wake of Ebola epidemic
A new report by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and colleagues criticizes the World Health Organization’s leadership during the 2014-15 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and offers recommendations to strengthen public health systems and…
Summit brings together U.S., China health leaders
October 6, 2015 — Public health practitioners, policy makers, and industry representatives from China and the U.S. gathered September 28–29, 2015, to share experiences and ideas around health system reform. The 5th U.S.–China Summit, hosted by Harvard T.H.…
Lucian Leape, patient safety champion, honored at retirement symposium
September 15, 2015 — Colleagues, friends, and family gathered to celebrate the career and legacy of Lucian Leape, adjunct professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM) at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, at a…
Grant funds research to identify health care solutions for high-need patients
[Fall 2015] Some 9 million Americans are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. These patients tend to be older, have lower incomes, and have more health problems than individuals who qualify for just one of the federal programs.…
A MOOC spreads the word on global health quality
For Ashish Jha, teaching a massive open online course (MOOC) through the digital platform HarvardX was an opportunity to try a new model for learning. Rather than attempt to replicate the classroom experience, Jha, K.T. Li Professor of…
Health in communities may not suffer after hospital closings
When a hospital closes, local residents may worry about who will care for them when they are sick or that more people will die, but a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health study published May 4, 2015…