A free toolkit on engaging patients in primary care quality improvement is available from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Aligning Forces for Quality initiative.

The National Quality Forum board of directors has endorsed new infectious disease, neurological and pulmonary measures.

Patient handoffs present a significant patient safety risk, which can be mitigated by following four best practices, according to a white paper by Ingenious Med.

More than half of the nation's hospitals acquire physician practices for four main reasons, according to a survey conducted by Jackson Healthcare.

State senators in California have introduced bills that would increase the scope of care for nurse practitioners, optometrists, pharmacists and physician assistants, according to a KGO-TV/Associated Press report.

The Joint Commission has listed five of its requirements that were most often identified as "not compliant" for 2012 for accredited organizations and certified programs.

New York Downtown Hospital in Lower Manhattan is axing its residency program and will cease to be a teaching hospital at the end of June, according to a WNYC report.

As most health professionals have found out the hard way, even thoughtfully conceived treatment plans, painstakingly crafted hospital-discharge instructions and carefully designed drug regimens are of little benefit if patients can't access recommended care or don't adhere to prescribed medication…

Rishi Sikka, MD, vice president of clinical transformation at Oak Brook, Ill.-based Advocate Health Care, received the 2013 Community Health Leadership Award from the Chicago Health Executives Forum in February. The award was given in recognition of Dr. Sikka's innovative…

The Missouri House of Representatives approved a bill that would allow healthcare workers to refuse to participate in medical procedures and research that conflict with their religious, ethical or moral beliefs, according to an Associated Press/St. Louis Post-Dispatch report.