Preventable hospital errors are the accepted impetus to the establishment of quality measures and served as a catalyst for the ongoing evolution of healthcare reform. Nurses are crucial members of the hospital quality team, and their actions are integral to the hospital's quality performance. The authors explore some of the practical challenges created by quality performance standards, specifically around venous thromboembolism, and the contribution nurses can make, to patient safety, quality of care, and the institutions financial performance
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Authors' Affiliations: Vice President/CNO (Dr Kohlbrenner), Oneida Healthcare Center, Oneida, New York; President (Mr Whitelaw), Vice President, Legal Counsel and Policy (Dr Cannaday), SMT, Inc, Shrewsbury, New Jersey.
Corresponding author: Dr Kohlbrenner, Oneida Healthcare Center, 321 Genessee Street, Oneida, NY 13421 (jkohlbrenner@oneidahealthcare.org).
Mr Whitelaw and Dr Cannaday work for SMT. Dr Kohlbrenner is working in conjunction with SMT and has no other financial conflicts to disclose. SMT, Inc, is a consulting company that works with multiple pharmaceutical and device companies.
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