CMS to develop new record system for LTC hospitals

Long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) will get an improved records system, developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid that will enable to quantify the quality of care patients receive in this setting, according to a notice in today’s Federal Register.

The Long-Term Care Hospital Quality Reporting System will use specific metrics to collect LTCH data, which will be available online eventually. Pressure ulcers, catheter-related urinary tract infections and central line-associated blood stream infections will be among CMS’ first targeted quality measures. At this time, the data set has three components: (1) condition documentation, (2) selected covariates of the condition and (3) patient demographic information.

Most of the personally identifiable information will be about patients in LTCHs. This information also includes providers, personal contact information and, if for business purposes, social security numbers.

Sandra Hoban

Sandra Hoban was on I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living’s editorial staff for 17 years. She is one of the country’s longest-serving senior care journalists. Before joining Long-Term Living, she was a member of the promotions department at Advanstar Communications. In addition to her editorial experience, Sandi has served past roles in print and broadcast advertising as a traffic and talent coordinator.