title: Reducing variation in patient care. Nursing responds to capitation.
abstract: As managed care and capitation methods of payment become more common to hospitals, a strategy to improve quality and reduce costs is introduced in response to these new pressures. Nursing leaders must take the initiative and respond to these changes by reducing the variations in patient care. The author describes seven initiatives undertaken by the nursing leaders of The St. Joseph Healthcare System in Albuquerque. New Mexico during a 3-year period. The success of these initiatives and their universal application is discussed.
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph Healthcare System, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D002204:Capitation Fee; D002983:Clinical Competence; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000191:economics; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D009516:New Mexico; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic