New to Site Reconsidering Community Health Planning for New York City Health Insurance Coverage in New York, 2005-2006 Offer, Eligibility, and Take-Up Rates of Employer-Sponsored Coverage in New York, 2005 New York's Eligible but Uninsured Medicaid Managed Care Reexamined Medicaid in New York: A Primer Changes in Nursing Home Care, 1996-2005 Voice of the Family Caregiver Featured News Aging and Chronic Care Services Pioneering Website Is Launched to Help Seniors to Live and Thrive in Their Homes (05/12/2008) The United Hospital Fund has launched www.norcblueprint.org to provide human services professionals, community leaders, public and private funders, and older adults with information to help transform naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) into good places to grow old. Fredda Vladeck Provides Testimony on NORCs to the U.S. Senate (05/16/2006) The director of the Fund's Aging in Place Initiative provides expertise and recommendations related to naturally occurring retirement community supportive service programs. United Hospital Fund Launches NORC Action Blueprint Project (03/14/2006) Bringing together expertise from across the country, United Hospital Fund has launched the NORC Action Blueprint Project to help seniors living in naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). More "Aging and Chronic Care Services" News >> Family Caregivers Family Caregivers Help Shape New Resources (11/08/2007) To gather feedback on materials designed to guide family caregivers through transitions in health care settings—for example, from hospital to home—the Fund recently conducted focus groups, and the results are enlightening. Leading Advocate Proposes Guidelines to Create Systemic Support for Family Caregivers (11/14/2006) In her keynote speech at the launch of the New York City Family Caregiver Coalition, Carol Levine formally presents two documents—a policy agenda and an ethical framework—intended to to guide future health reform discussions on behalf of New York State's family caregivers. New Study Finds Family Caregivers of Stroke Patients Poorly Prepared for Ending of Agency Home Care Services (06/19/2006) Researchers at the United Hospital Fund have determined that unpaid family caregivers provide substantial amounts of care but receive inadequate support from health care providers in making a transition to family care. United Hospital Fund Study Reveals Hidden Population of Young Adult Caregivers (12/21/2005) As many as 5.5 million young adults, aged 18 to 25, in the United States provide care in the home for a sick, disabled, or aging family member, according to a study conducted by United Hospital Fund. Landmark Study Profiles Young Caregivers (09/14/2005) As many as 1.4 million U.S. children ages 8 to 18 -- including 400,000 between the ages of 8 and 11 -- provide care for an adult family member, a new United Hospital Fund/National Alliance for Caregiving study has found. The report, Young Caregivers in the U.S.: Findings from a National Survey, profiles these young caregivers and the tasks they perform, and explores the profound impact on their lives More "Family Caregivers" News >> General Dr. Michael A. Stocker Joins the Board of the United Hospital Fund (07/24/2008) “Michael Stocker brings to the Fund's board a unique combination of experience and real-world knowledge of how both health care and health care systems work,” said Fund President James R. Tallon, Jr. Three Health Care Leaders Honored at United Hospital Fund's Annual Gala (09/25/2007) The United Hospital Fund has honored Andrea Jung, Charles R. Bronfman, and Barbara Gimbel for their voluntary leadership and exceptional contributions to improving health care in New York. United Hospital Fund Reaches Campaign Target (09/17/2007) The United Hospital Fund has successfully reached the goal of a two-year campaign, raising $25 million in support of its Strategic Health Initiatives for New York. United Hospital Fund's New Leadership Group Honors John Starks with 2007 Humanitarian Award (06/25/2007) New York Knicks legend John Starks is recognized for his work furthering the educational and career development of children in the tri-state area. United Hospital Fund Announces $500,000 Challenge Grant in Support of Strategic Health Initiatives Campaign (12/29/2006) Two New York City hospital trustees, Martha Farish Gerry and John K. Castle, have jointly sponsored a $500,000 challenge grant intended to provide an incentive for new gifts in support of Strategic Health Initiatives. Three Prominent New Yorkers Join United Hospital Fund's Board (10/17/2006) Thomas L. Harrison, Peter J. Powers, and Mary Beth C. Tully have been elected to the Board of Directors of the United Hospital Fund. United Hospital Fund Pays Tribute to Three Health Care Leaders at Its Annual Gala (09/25/2006) The United Hospital Fund honored Martin D. Payson, chairman of Maimonides Medical Center, Henry “Hank” Carter, founder and CEO of Wheelchair Charities, Inc., and Howard Smith, chairman emeritus of the United Hospital Fund, for their voluntary leadership and exceptional contributions to improving health care in New York. More "General" News >> Grants United Hospital Fund Provides $610,000 for Grants to Improve Health Services in New York City (08/04/2008) Among the wide-ranging projects receiving these 12 grants are efforts to better connect immigrants with public health insurance programs, an initiative to promote breastfeeding, and an intervention to improve the quality of life for nursing home residents with dementia. United Hospital Fund Provides Nearly $600,000 for Grants to Improve Health Services in New York City (03/17/2008) Among the wide-ranging initiatives funded through these grants are programs to develop clinical competency in palliative care and to address gaps in insurance coverage encountered by children and by medically fragile young adults. United Hospital Fund Provides over $900,000 for Grants to Improve Health Services in New York City (12/17/2007) Seven grants focused on improving health services in New York were announced. United Hospital Fund Provides $808,000 for Grants to Improve Health Care in New York City (07/24/2007) The United Hospital Fund announced 15 grants totaling $808,000 to improve health care in New York City. United Hospital Fund Provides $530,000 for Grants to Improve Health Care in New York City (03/08/2007) Beneficiaries will improve care for homeless women and for teens at risk for obesity; develop training to better serve patients with chronic conditions, as well as training for clinical ethics consultation; and improve communications between professional health care providers and family caregivers. United Hospital Fund Provides $520,000 for Grants to Improve Health Care in New York City (01/09/2007) Beneficiaries will address problems associated with Medicare Part D, improve care for children with mental health problems, train medical residents in quality improvement techniques, and advance the adoption of health information technology, among other grant-supported efforts. United Hospital Fund Provides Over $600,000 for Grants to Improve Health Services in New York City (07/12/2006) Beneficiaries will work to improve health literacy and education, increase access to health insurance and health care services, study the effects of Medicare Part D's implementation, better understand New York's rising health care costs and potential reforms, increase the supply of nurses, develop health information exchange networks, and recruit and train volunteers. Fund Activities Monitor Impact of Medicare Part D on Low-Income Seniors (04/17/2006) Through two new grants, the United Hospital Fund is evaluating the impact of the new Medicare drug benefit on vulnerable groups of low-income seniors. United Hospital Fund Provides Over $1,000,000 for Grants to Improve Health Care Services in New York City (03/17/2006) Beneficiaries will assess the Medicare prescription drug benefit, examine Medicaid utilization, expand use of health information technology, further ICU quality-improvement successes, remodel care delivery, identify cases of depression, link supportive services to residents, and strengthen interactions with family caregivers. United Hospital Fund Provides $502,000 in Grants to Improve City's Health Services (11/22/2005) Nine grants totaling $502,000, part of an estimated $3 million distributed annually by the Fund, will support the development of model projects, sponsor research to analyze systemic problems, and foster innovative solutions. United Hospital Fund Awards $658,000 in Grants (07/21/2005) Fourteen grants will support innovative efforts to improve health care services, including promotion and adoption of health information technology, and a range of health services redesign and volunteer initiatives. United Hospital Fund Awards $340,000 in Grants to Improve Health Services in New York City (03/04/2005) Grants include support for projects to expand health insurance coverage and to redesign health care services and improve the quality of care. More "Grants" News >> Hospital Watch United Hospital Fund Report Finds Emergency Department Use Varies Widely Among New York City's Neighborhoods (04/16/2008) This issue of Hospital Watch provides the first ever analysis of emergency department use at the neighborhood level, drawn from new state Department of Health data. United Hospital Fund Report Finds Emergency Department Use Varies Widely Among New York City's Neighborhoods (04/16/2008) This issue of Hospital Watch provides the first ever analysis of emergency department use at the neighborhood level, drawn from new state Department of Health data. United Hospital Fund Research Documents Growth in Ambulatory Care in New York City (03/25/2008) Between 1995 and 2004, ambulatory care visits to hospital clinics and independent diagnostic and treatment centers grew by 31 percent—from 8.8 million to 11.5 million visits. United Hospital Fund Research Documents Admissions to New York City Hospitals by Non-City Residents (03/14/2007) Although non-residents of New York City account for a small share of all hospital admissions in the city, they represent a significant portion of admissions for some clinical conditions and at some hospitals. Decline in Severity of Illness Further Weakens NYC's Most Financially Vulnerable Hospitals (07/11/2005) Contrary to national trends, the severity of illness, or “case mix,” of hospitalized patients declined at 70 percent of hospitals in New York City in recent years, falling the most at safety net and financially vulnerable hospitals, according to the Fund's Hospital Watch. Download pdf of full newsletter. More "Hospital Watch" News >> Medicaid Managed Care Medicaid High-Cost Care Initiative Is Established (04/17/2006) The Medicaid Institute at United Hospital Fund has established the Medicaid High-Cost Care Initiative to develop and test sustainable models that can lower costs and improve health outcomes for very expensive and very ill Medicaid patients. Nursing Homes United Hospital Fund Report Documents a Decade of Change in New York's Nursing Homes (02/26/2008) This report documents a ten-year trend among New York's nursing homes, marking their growing role as providers of short-term care for people continuing recuperation after a hospital stay. Quality State Commissioner of Health Credits Fund, GNYHA, and NYC Hospitals for Lower Rates of Infection (07/09/2008) In its July 8 press release announcing New York's first annual report on hospital-acquired infections, the state's Department of Health noted that New York City hospitals recorded a lower infection rate for central line use than upstate hospitals. Rachel Block Is Named Executive Director of NYeC (02/14/2008) The board of the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) has selected Rachel Block to be its executive director. She will assume her new full-time role on March 1. United Hospital Fund and Greater New York Hospital Association Join Forces to Improve Patient Safety, Quality of Care in Hospitals (12/17/2007) This multi-year, multi-pronged initiative will include new hospital collaboratives, a "Quality Fellows" training program, and other components to help create a culture of safety in each hospital. Fund Conference Presents Diverse Forward-Looking Program on Quality (07/23/2006) The United Hospital Fund's July 17 conference, “Quality Strategies, Quality Programs,” addressed a number of quality-related themes and highlighted efforts under way in New York. Reaping the Broader Benefits of HIT (04/24/2007) A new focus on HIT's utility for improving quality, cost effectiveness, and population health is being advanced with several federal, and private, initiatives and analyses, this month's issue of Qual-IT reports. New York eHealth Collaborative Hosts Health Information Exchange Summit (03/19/2007) The New York eHealth Collaborative has held a leadership summit focusing on privacy and security in health information exchange; key presentations are available here. Employer-Based Efforts Focusing on Quality Improvement Through HIT (03/12/2007) New policy initiatives focused on employer-based health plans could provide needed impetus to dramatically increase HIT adoption and use, the new issue of Qual-IT reports. Fund and State Host eHealth Summit (11/20/2006) In collaboration with the New York State Department of Health, the Fund hosted "A New York Summit on eHealth" on November 20, 2006, to discuss the state's HIT policy agenda and launch the New York eHealth Collaborative. Download presentations by state and national leaders here. United Hospital Fund and GNYHA Identify Model Practices for Optimizing Quality (11/09/2006) This new collaborative, jointly led by the United Hospital Fund and Greater New York Hospital Association, will promote the use of Rapid Response System teams of clinicians who bring critical care expertise to the bedside before inpatients decline into a critical state. Quality Measurement Efforts Focus on HIT's Role (10/18/2006) Several new national initiatives promoting the use of standard quality measures are looking at the role of HIT in providing essential information, as this month's issue of Qual-IT describes. Federal Legal and Technical Standards Move HIT Adoption Forward (09/19/2006) New regulations, and a first set of certification standards, are important steps toward wider adoption of HIT, the September issue of Qual-IT reports. HIT Privacy and Security Issues Move to the Forefront (08/11/2006) Ensuring confidentiality is increasingly difficult and increasingly important as HIT systems proliferate, but policy developments are addressing those concerns, the new issue of Qual-IT reports. Despite Limited Evidence, Support Grows for Wider Use of HIT Now (06/27/2006) Adoption of HIT remains slowed by cost, and a dearth of clear-cut data on return on investment compounds the problem. Yet momentum is building for wider dissemination of some aspects of HIT now, this month's Qual-IT explains. Progress Report: Achieving Interoperability (05/18/2006) This month's Qual-IT looks back over the two-year tenure of the first national coordinator for HIT and finds some notable successes in adoption and interoperability -- and some serious barriers remaining. New Reports Offer Guidelines, Assess HIT Benefits (04/25/2006) Two new reports focus on policy and technical guidelines and a national cost/benefit database. This month's Qual-IT offers a look at both. New York Hospitals Join Forces to Target Infections in ICUs (04/18/2006) Sponsored by the United Hospital Fund and Greater New York Hospital Association, the CLABs Quality Improvement Collaborative, a coordinated initiative of 38 New York metropolitan area hospitals, has already reduced aggregate CLAB infection rates by 50 percent. Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABs) Quality Improvement Collaborative (05/24/2005) In partnership with the Greater New York Hospital Association, the Fund has engaged 38 New York City hospitals in a quality improvement collaborative to reduce the number of central line-associated bloodstream infections in intensive care units. More "Quality" News >> Uninsured United Hospital Fund Releases Report That Finds Streamlining Public Insurance Renewal Holds Promise for New York (05/29/2008) Examining lessons from eight other states regarding options to streamline the annual renewal process for beneficiaries of public health insurance, the report's findings strongly suggest that a combination of these options may work well for New York. Two United Hospital Fund Reports Present Data to Inform Health Insurance Expansion Efforts in New York (03/31/2008) These reports focus on different populations of New York's uninsured—those who are eligible for public coverage and those who are employed and their dependents. Health Insurance Coverage Roundtable Meetings (12/17/2006) A series of four roundtables in 2005 and 2006 brought together policy analysts, advocates, and other experts to focus on specific topics related to increasing health insurance coverage. Report Outlines Long-term Blueprint to Approach Universal Health Insurance Coverage in New York State (12/19/2006) A report, the results of a project conducted jointly by the United Hospital Fund and The Commonwealth Fund, presents the costs and benefits of several model strategies for covering almost all of the State's uninsured and creating a more stable, affordable system for all. More "Uninsured" News >> Voluntarism United Hospital Fund Pays Tribute to 34 New York City Hospital Trustees (04/28/2008) The 750 guests at the event were treated to a surprise visit from Sentor Charles Schumer, who recognized the importance of voluntary leadership. United Hospital Fund Pays Tribute to Volunteers Who Serve New York City Hospitals (04/04/2008) With 900 family members, friends, and colleagues in attendance, volunteers from hospitals throughout the five boroughs were honored at the 15th Annual Hospital Auxilian and Volunteer Achievement Awards ceremony. United Hospital Fund Pays Tribute to Volunteers Who Serve New York City Hospitals (03/26/2007) At the 14th Annual Hospital Auxilian and Volunteer Achievement Awards ceremony, 91 volunteers who provide exceptional service to hospitals throughout New York City were honored. United Hospital Fund Honors 31 New York City Hospital Trustees (05/12/2006) The United Hospital Fund presented Distinguished Trustee Awards to 31 New York City hospital trustees. Capstone Project to Pave the Way for Baby Boomers to Become Hospital Volunteers (04/25/2006) The United Hospital Fund's Committee on Voluntary Initiatives has launched the Capstone Project, which aims to determine how hospitals can best recruit and retain retiring baby boomers as hospital volunteers. United Hospital Fund Recognizes Outstanding Contributions of New York City Hospital Volunteers (03/27/2006) Volunteers who provide exceptional service to hospitals throughout the five boroughs are honored. 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