The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA), in partnership with the Organization of Nurse Leaders of MA, RI, NH & CT (ONL), Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts (HCA) and Hospital Association of Rhode Island (HARI) have launched a newly re-designed and expanded PatientCareLink (PCL) website. In addition to improved usability on multiple platforms and a modern look and feel, the updated PCL website incorporates input from numerous Patient & Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) at hospitals across Massachusetts.

“We created PCL – then called PatientsFirst – back in 2005 so hospitals and healthcare providers across the commonwealth could clearly post data-driven information about patient safety, healthcare quality and staffing,” said Lynn Nicholas, President & CEO of MHA. “Now, the revamped PCL website is also a one-stop portal designed with patients and families in mind.”

The PCL website is a great resource and gives patients an open and transparent view of the hospitals providing them care. It also features useful tools and information to assist patients and their families to become engaged in their own care.

“PatientCareLink provides healthcare consumers with valuable information to increase their knowledge and guide their healthcare choices. PCL also helps healthcare providers improve the work they do on patients’ behalf,” said Pat Noga, RN, PhD, Vice President for Clinical Affairs at MHA. “Massachusetts hospitals, nurses, physicians, and other caregivers measure themselves each day against the performance data presented through PCL.”

Massachusetts was the first state to voluntarily make hospital staffing and nursing-sensitive quality information public. The site now includes detailed quality and safety measures for Massachusetts hospitals and home care providers, and staffing information for Massachusetts and HARI member hospitals.

PCL also offers detailed information for nurses and other caregivers to advance their professional development, to help maintain their own good health, and to learn best practices on how to improve patient care, said Amanda Oberlies, CEO of ONL.

“The site has information on efforts to address future nursing shortages, expand caregiver education, explore job opportunities, and to incentivize nurses to not only stay in the workforce, but also consider teaching as well,” Oberlies said.


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