Hospital-Acquired Conditions: A Leadership Challenge for Nursing Quality Management and Performance Improvement

Changes in public expectations, federal and state regulations, availability of human and fiscal resources, reporting requirements, technology, and reimbursement patterns underscore the urgency for nurse leaders to develop strategies to provide for effective, high-quality healthcare. On October 1, 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented performance standards eliminating reimbursement for selected reasonably preventable complications that occur during hospitalization. Additional standards were expected to be announced in 2009; however, no additional conditions were identified. Patients and healthcare organizations will benefit from efforts to provide for performance improvement activities that evaluate and improve the quality of nursing care.