A local hospital is promoting their new clinical documentation system and electronic medical health records as a cost containment tool that will improve communication among health care workers, support the delivery of safe patient care, and facilitate the delivery of high-quality patient care. The hospital describes the system as effective in reducing costs by decreasing variability and standardizing care processes. When reviewing outcome data from the hospital on the publicly reportable data website, https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/search.html (Links to an external site)the outcomes for heart failure, surgical, and pneumonia patients are higher than the national average and much higher than at other hospitals in the area.

Which elements of cost containment is the hospital demonstrating?
How could the use of case managers help reduce the poor patient outcomes, heart failure, surgical and pneumonia patients?

Which of the patient populations (heart failure, surgical, pneumonia) might be suited for a disease management program? Describe the population selected and specify why this population is vulnerable. Use an Internet search if needed to support your response.

What are the risks to the hospital if their performance does not improve in the areas of heart failure, surgical or pneumonia outcomes?