JGH joins global effort
to standardize medical care
The JGH has become part of a world-wide push to transform medical care by measuring and reporting patient outcomes in a standardized way.
In joining the not-for-profit International Consortium of Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM), the JGH is working with global experts in science and medicine to establish a standardized measures, grouped by medical condition. Clinicians apply these measures when evaluating patients’ treatment outcomes, including their physical and psychological recovery, for an extended period following discharge.
“The ultimate goal of our involvement is to improve the effectiveness of our treatments and the overall patient experience,” says Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg, JGH Executive Director. “Equipped with a standard list of internationally accepted metrics for several common medical conditions that can be tracked, we are able to bring a standardized approach to treating these conditions, along with a standard set of measurable outcomes.”
At present, certain patients might visit a number of healthcare centres and see specialists in different facilities during their treatment. Since JGH clinical leaders will be able measure a patient’s entire experience, they may eventually be able to spare patients this fragmented care.
“Along with our international partners, we are shifting our focus to the impact of health problems on the lives and well-being of our patients,” says Valérie Vandal, Associate Nursing Director for Surgical Services. “As we begin to integrate this process into the care that we provide at the JGH, the results that we see in our own hospital and from this international network will drive members of staff to learn from one another and lead to further improvements for our patients.”
Support needed for IT upgrade
The first phase of the project involves the establishment of a state-of-the-art data centre, along with the acquisition and implementation of specialized software applications for the operating rooms. The goal is to support the best and most efficient health care practices by standardizing care right at the bedside, with e-pharmacy and imaging decision support and quality.
For more information or to make a donation, please visit the JGH Foundation or call the Foundation at 514-340-8251.
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ICHOM currently measures treatment results that are most relevant to those with Parkinson’s disease, localized prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, low back pain and cataracts. The Consortium is also planning to add measures for more medical conditions, including stroke, hip and knee osteoarthritis, depression and anxiety, and lung cancer. The total number of conditions that ICHOM measures is expected to rise to 50 by 2017.
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