Working Groups
Working Groups focused on specific matters and questions of interest to the CWG facilities. Topical working groups were open to all CWG members and convened outside of the forums to continue work on the defined clinical issue.
With typically only six to eight members, topical working groups exchanged ideas and information on a very detailed level. Information was fed back to the CWG through semi-annual reports and CWG Forums. Topical working groups included the mortality review, glycemic control, perfusion, gender, atrial fibrillation, hemodilutional anemia, and blood transfusion.
Successes
Process improvements launched by the Cardiac Working Group have made significant contributions to decreases in regional mortality and readmissions following CABG surgery in the region, compared to the rest of Pennsylvania.
While the number of post-CABG readmissions statewide rose by 5.8%, between 1999 and 2002, regional readmissions dropped by 4.7%. Improvements resulted in 94 fewer readmissions in CABG patients in 2002 than in 1999. With the average charge for re-hospitalization after CABG surgery at $18,438, this implies a regional annual charge reduction of $1.7 million.