Flowers Hospital: Nearing Perfection on Core Measures

Describes elements of a strategy for achieving high process-of-care performance by continuously monitoring patients in four clinical areas and ensuring they receive the right care -- including concurrent reviews and quality improvement teams

Memorial Healthcare System: A Public System Focusing on Patient- and Family-Centered Care

Outlines a successful multifaceted strategy that includes personalizing healthcare quality, monitoring and reporting of performance data, careful design of care processes, and the system's vertical and horizontal integration. Lists lessons learned

Carolinas Medical Center: Demonstrating High Quality in the Public Sector

Outlines safety and quality improvement strategies including electronic medical records, multi­disciplinary teams accountable to leadership, reporting of performance indicators; and redesigned care processes. Discusses physician buy-in and nurses' roles

Dedicated Surgical Care Improvement Team Guides Changes at Reid Hospital and Health Care Services

Presents a case study of strategies and factors that improved surgical measures, including a multidisciplinary team supported by strong leadership, a clinical information system aligning orders with standards, and performance data analysis and feedback

Luther Midelfort Mayo Health System: Laying Tracks for Success

Describes strategies for establishing a culture of experimentation, including creating interdisciplinary teams to decide the content of care and providing timely measurement and feedback

Parkwest Medical Center: Focusing on Patient and Staff Satisfaction

Outlines the strategies and factors behind high patient satisfaction, including a culture of teamwork and care coordination, based on a module that aligns performance standards for administrators, managers, and staff, reinforced with merit increases

Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center: Excellence in Heart Attack Care Reduces Readmissions

Highlights the factors and strategies behind low readmission rates for heart attack and pneumonia patients, including a focus on quality, concurrent review, extensive training, discharge planning, patient education, and use of risk assessment software

Exchange, Conflict and Coercion: The Ritual Dynamics of the Notting Hill Carnival Past and Present

This study investigates patterns of social relationships involving the Notting Hill Carnival. Two theoretical approaches are employed elementary relations theory and structural ritualization theory - to explain how the carnival has been strategically used in very different ways by various groups to accomplish their objectives. We suggest the Notting Hill Carnival is a special collective ritual event that has played a crucial role in three quite different structured arrangements involving coercion, conflict, and exchange since its beginning in Trinidad and subsequently in London. Four time periods where distinct changes in the nature of these relationships have occurred are examined: (1) 1800s Trinidad; (2) the Notting Hill Carnival from 1965-1970; (3) the Notting Hill Carnival from 1971-1989; and (4) the Notting Hill Carnival from 1990-present. This study contributes to the existing literature by focusing on how ritual and these types of relationships are intertwined in the production of the carnival. Implications of this research and possible directions for future research are also discussed

Utilizing the Strengths of Our Cultures: Therapy with Biracial Women and Girls

Historically, psychology has operated from a pathology-based perspective. In the last several years, however, efforts have been made to balance this view with an acknowledgement of individual strengths and assets. For biracial women and girls, this approach may be particularly useful. Through the utilization of several techniques, including solution-focused interventions and narrative approaches to treatment, therapists can empower their female biracial clients through development of their strengths

Utilizing the Strengths of Our Cultures: Therapy with Biracial Women and Girls

Historically, psychology has operated from a pathology-based perspective. In the last several years, however, efforts have been made to balance this view with an acknowledgement of individual strengths and assets. For biracial women and girls, this approach may be particularly useful. Through the utilization of several techniques, including solution-focused interventions and narrative approaches to treatment, therapists can empower their female biracial clients through development of their strengths