CV Directions Vol. 2, No. 1 | Page 15

future will be tied to these scores. The website makes physician quality measures transparent and will soon include patient satisfaction measures from CG-CAHPS data. Have you reviewed the information posted about your group on the physician compare website? The AHRQ-created survey includes questions asking for or about the following: an overall rating of the provider; an overall rating of the visit; timeliness of appointments, care, and information; how well providers communicate with patients; and the helpfulness, courteousness, and respectfulness of the office staff. Sentara does not simply collect this data because it is required. The data allows Sentara to compare by office to understand what providers are doing well and who can improve, or by provider to engender competition, transparency and the drive to improvement. Data analysis provides detailed information regarding where to spend time and effort in improving the consumer experience. Qualitative comments can and should also be reviewed to find common themes representing opportunities for improvement. Sentara is putting data into practice by launching the SCOPE effort, or Sentara Clinics Optimization of Patient Experience, to improve patient experience by measuring and reporting on various aspects including lobby wait times, total throughput time, and first appointment on-time performance to avoid the domino effect of subsequent patients being seen late. Robotics in the Cath Lab, from Page 3 that LGM, whether treated or untreated gives suboptimal results. "Although manual PCIs are widely accepted in cath labs across the country, robotic-assisted PCIs could provide some notable advantages over the current care paradigm," notes Frost & Sullivan Medical Device Analyst Venkat Rajan. "As seen in other procedures, the introduction of robotic-assisted systems has often afforded specialists unparalleled control and precision when attempting critical life-saving procedures." Robotic-assisted angioplasty may bring benefits to patients, hospitals, and physician. "The CorPath One Stent Program is evidence that Corindus stands behind their product and its potential to avoid excess Dr. Ronald Caputo, St. Joseph’s Hospistenting and provide significant financial and safety tal, using the CorPath Vascular Robot benefits to the hospital and the patient," said John Cannizzaro, Cardiovascular Service Line Administrator at St. Joseph's Hospital. The CorPath System is the first and only FDA-cleared technology that enables precise, robotic-assisted angioplasties to open arteries and restore blood flow in patients with coronary artery disease. During a CorPath angioplasty procedure, the interventional cardiologist sits in the radiation shielded interventional cockpit. Using robotic precision, the interventional cardiologist advances stents and guide wires via a joystick with millimeter by millimeter precision. CorPath may improve clinical outcomes by enabling precise measurement of the anatomy, which could potentially lead to better stent placements. References [1] "Keys to successful health care reform," Goodroe Healthcare Solutions, 2009. [2] "Impact of stent deployment procedural factors on long-term effectiveness and safety of sirolimus-eluting stents (final results of the multicenter prospective STLLR trial)," Costa, MA. Am J Cardiol. 2008 Jun 15;101(12):1704-11. Epub 2008 Apr 9. Data collection identifies simple adjustments to improve communication, transparency, and manage patient expectations. This can be as simple as clearly defining what being “on time” means for the patient. Healthcare is becoming more consumerdriven, and this will require more detailed management of the patient experience. 15