By Howard Koplowitz
Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital were among nine North Shore-LIJ Health System hospitals that collectively received more than $750,000 from the federal government in performance incentives, the health system said last week.
The funds were awarded through the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as part of a program to figure out if performance incentives are an effective way to get hospitals to improve patient care, North Shore-LIJ said.
North Shore University Hospital received $226,938 in incentives. LIJ received $114,010.
Incentives were given to the top 20 percent of the 247 hospitals participating in the program. They were evaluated in five categories, including heart failure, community-acquired pneumonia and hip and knee replacement.
In all, nine North Shore-LIJ hospitals were awarded funds from the program.
“As one of the largest healthcare providers in the New York metropolitan area, North Shore-LIJ Health System is proud that every one of our nine hospitals participating in this pay-for-performance project won an award in at least two categories,” said North Shore-LIJ President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Dowling in a statement. “Our goal is to instill that same commitment to quality standards at each and every one of our facilities across the system.”
An analysis of mortality rates among hospitals participating in the program determined the lives of 4,700 heart attack patients were saved because of the program, LIJ said.
“As evidenced by the national debate over health care reform, there’s an emerging model of care in which patient outcomes will be tied to reimbursement,” said Dr. Kenneth Abrams, North Shore-LIJ’s senior vice president of clinical operations and chief quality officer. “As health care providers, we have a responsibility to make sure that patient care continues to improve nationwide.”
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
