Yale New Haven Hospital has rolled out the Performance Incentive Plan (PIP) for fi scal year 2016, which combines new measures, along with goals that have been included in the past.

Now in its 17th year, PIP has the same basic structure — employees are asked to collectively meet tiered goals and will receive a fi nancial reward based on goal achievement. How well employees perform determines the size of the reward shared by eligible employees at year-end. PIP performance is measured by the degree to which employees achieve goals — maximum exceeds expectations, target meets goal and threshold is acceptable, but falls short of target.

In 2016, eligible employees who meet goals can potentially earn up to a 3 percent PIP payout at yearend. The 2016 PIP program began Oct. 1, 2015 and runs through Sept. 30, 2016. Payout is based on hours and earnings between Sept. 20, 2015 and Sept. 17, 2016.

"Considering the challenging economy and current fi nancial uncertainty in our state, we are especially pleased to be able to offer PIP to employees once again," said Richard D'Aquila, president. "As we continue to grow and provide safe, quality, patientcentered care, it is important to remain focused on and dedicated to our goals. This year's PIP program includes goals that continue to refl ect the hospital's ongoing priorities, as well as new goals for employee engagement."

For this year, the four hospital-wide areas of performance in PIP remain basically the same: patient safety and quality, patient experience, employee engagement and fi nancial performance. Each area receives equal weight of 25 percent. Patient safety and quality includes three measures:

• Hospital-acquired infections - the number of patients who contracted certain infections from their hospital stays, including colon surgical site infections, hysterectomy surgical site infections, C. diffi cile, CAUTIs (catheterassociated urinary tract infections) and CLABSIs (central line-associated bloodstream infections). The target goal is no more than 389 incidents of these infections.
• Readmissions - the percentage of patients readmitted to YNHH within 30 days after discharge. The target goal is no more than 13.9 percent.
• Reported near-miss events - Employees are encouraged to report red fl ags, including near misses or potential problems related to patient safety, so potential problems can be recognized and addressed. The target goal is 4,872 events reported in FY2016.

The patient experience category measures patients' and families' experiences at YNHH as expressed in Press Ganey surveys and HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) reporting. It includes four measures:

• Overall inpatient - the satisfaction of inpatients from adult units on both New Haven campuses and patients on the Yale New Haven Children's Hospital campuses in Bridgeport and New Haven. The target score is 87.8.
• Emergency Department - the satisfaction of patients who visited a YNHH ED, including the York Street Adult and Pediatric, Saint Raphael Campus and Shoreline Medical Center emergency departments. The target score is 86.9.
• Ambulatory Services - overall satisfaction at ambulatory sites, including ambulatory surgery, heart and vascular outpatient centers, diagnostic radiology and oncology outpatient. The target score is 92.7.
• Quiet at night - how quiet patients perceived the hospital to be overnight during their stay. The target score is 50.8.

Employee engagement has been expanded this year. For 2016, it will be based on three measures:

• Influenza vaccination - YNHH is moving toward a mandatory policy for employee fl u vaccination by adding it to the PIP program this year. Starting in the current 2015-2016 fl u season, all employees must participate in the Mandatory Infl uenza Vaccination Program by either receiving the vaccine or signing a declination. The target goal is 93 percent of employees vaccinated against fl u.
• Know Your Numbers participation - Know Your Numbers Plus, the employee wellness program that helps employees heighten their health awareness and earn credit toward medical benefi ts costs, will return in 2016. The target goal is 57 percent participation.
• Employee Engagement Survey participation - Employees will again have the opportunity to share their opinions in the 2016 survey. The target goal is 75 percent participation.

Financial performance includes the sole measure of the hospital's operating margin. For 2016, the hospital's net operating margin target is 2.70 percent.

Year-end PIP results from FY15 will be announced soon.