Partnership in Healthcare customers have access to the Healthcare Solutions Team, which provides industry knowledge and expertise in the deployment of quality and productivity improvement engagements and other consultative services that facilitate the sharing of best practices, including:

- Strategic and business planning - Referral network planning and development - Reimbursement accuracy and enhancement - Service line development and integration - Departmental and interdepartmental quality improvement - Protocol development and implementation

Clinical Quality Improvement Services

The Healthcare Solutions Team will assess a hospital's VAD experiences, both clinically and financially, and benchmark those experiences with national averages in order to identify areas for program growth and improvement. Included in the project are interviews with key stakeholders to assess perceptions of strengths and opportunities for improvement. Retrospective and prospective data reviews allow for comprehensive dashboards and scorecards for continuous improvement.



Reimbursement Experts and Resources

Abiomed's Healthcare Solutions Team is committed to helping healthcare providers optimize reimbursement for mechanical circulatory support systems.

Sharing Best Practices

Partnership in Healthcare customers have access to quarterly forums to share best practices on clinical and financial issues related to VADs with each other and with other leaders across the country. Field experts are recruited to share insights on webcasts and conference calls.

2006-2007 Calendar:

Six Sigma Training

Within the scope of a consulting engagement within Partnership in Healthcare, we provide guidance and assistance in improving the cardiac assist program using data from each client hospital and analyzed through six-sigma methodology. For those not familiar with six-sigma, it is a process improvement methodology used widely throughout many industries and has seen significant increase of use in healthcare. It employs formulaic statistical analyses of data collected throughout any process and through this analysis, can significantly improve outcomes, efficiency and ultimately, profitability buy allowing greater control and understanding of how these processes are affected.
Partnership in Healthcare customers have access to the equivalent of "Yellow Belt" Six Sigma training. This day-long, on-site basic training session on the principles of Six Sigma and the DMAIC framework is conducted by a Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Training materials provided include a customized, 80-page Six Sigma handbook, a Six Sigma Pocket Guide and an easy to understand reference entitled: "Medical Statistics Made Easy."

Clinical Training

All Abiomed customers receive access to a dedicated field team of clinical consultants, who provide 24-hour clinical support, clinical demonstrations, and formal nursing courses. In addition, web-based training is available to include product details and manuals, case studies and site protocols, patient education module, and video presentations.

One of the key benefits of the Partnership in Healthcare Program is expanded clinical training via the new e-Learning modules and related CEU credits. Support program customers have unlimited access to the online training. The e-Learning modules provide a comprehensive overview of the Abiomed mechanical circulatory assistance devices, including patient selection, priming of the devices, implant and explant techniques, and patient management. The interactivity of the module allows for "hands-on" experiences, and the testing modules allow for easy assessment of knowledge transfer.

To access the ABIOMED demo course, click the following link, http://abiomed.etrinsic.biz/index_f.asp, which will bring you to the main login and registration page. Note that you must have Flash Player installed to view this information and the site will prompt you to download it if you don’t.

• On the registration page you will be required to register by clicking the red link "New User Self Registration, Click Here!"
• Enter the following access code "demo1".
• Once done, you must click the continue button and fill out the required fields which are noted by an asterisk.
• After filling out the required fields click “continue” and then click "course catalog" which will show the courses currently available.
• Click on "your courses" and it should be displayed for you to enroll in.

Once you start the course, you do not need to complete it in a single session since the site will bookmark where you left off and will bring you back to the last page viewed when you log back in at a different time. There is also a help manual link to assist you if you get stuck or have any questions. Additionally, there is also a link at the bottom of any of the online education pages that allow you to contact eTrinsic Client Services if you are having any technical difficulties.