Oklahoma hospitals, home health agencies, nursing homes and physicians are working toward measurable improvement in patient safety and quality of care through the QIO program. OFMQ will work with providers in the following key areas through 2008:

Hospital patients will be safer. All Oklahoma hospitals — urban, rural and critical access — will partner with OFMQ to improve surgical care and inpatient care for heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. Our hospitals are committed to quality improvement and organizational culture change using tools such as public reporting and improved technology.

Doctors will have the best technology to improve patient care. At least 60 primary care practices will receive assistance from OFMQ to install and use electronic health information systems. OFMQ will also engage at least 50 physicians to help improve chronic and preventive care while reducing healthcare disparities in racial and ethnic populations throughout Oklahoma.

Nursing home residents will live better, more comfortable lives. OFMQ will work with 338 Oklahoma nursing homes to reduce pressure ulcers, physical restraints, chronic pain and resident depression. More than, 75 facilities have volunteered to participate in an aggressive program to improve resident and staff satisfaction and staff retention.

Home health patients will recover more quickly. Working with Oklahoma’s 200 home health agencies, OFMQ will reduce by half the number of preventable hospitalizations and ensure immunization screenings for all home health patients. A growing number of agencies have volunteered in a program that also includes using telehealth technology and improving quality measures such as pain and shortness of breath.