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The American Case Management Association (ACMA) and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations have named Sacred Heart Hospital's Case Management/Quality Improvement Department in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the winner of the Franklin Award of Distinction. Sacred Heart Hospital was recognized for a five-year series of performance improvement initiatives in its case management program that emphasized timely, individualized care to the patient. The organization focused its efforts on patient-centered collaboration between the case management department and other areas such as nursing, inpatient and outpatient providers, the residency program and the legal and finance departments. In addition, the organization consistently maintained a high standard of review in its documentation of case management interventions.

A panel of national experts, including nurses, social workers and other health care professionals identified by ACMA and the Joint Commission, carefully reviewed the nominations and selected Sacred Heart Hospital's Case Management/Quality Improvement Department for the award. Evaluation criteria for the award included the hospital's ability to demonstrate their commitment to a collaborative philosophy and an interdisciplinary process for case management.

"Impressively, Sacred Heart's case management staff showcased a collaborative practice between their nurse and social work case managers and their ability for staff-driven performance improvement," says L. Greg Cunningham, chief executive officer, ACMA. "Joanne Lee, director of case management, Sacred Heart, on her own volition used their previous Franklin Award applications as the foundation for evaluating, redesigning and enhancing their case management services indicating a structured methodology and the recognition for continual evolution and change in the practice of case management. Sacred Heart represents the smaller hospitals of the nation and for case management they represent them well."

"The Joint Commission applauds Sacred Heart Hospital for its achievements in case management services and impressive work process in place to define the social work and case management roles in communication, coordination, collaboration and planning," says Jean Range, M.S., R.N., C.P.H.Q., executive director, Disease-Specific Care Certification, Joint Commission. "Sacred Heart Hospital demonstrates what is possible in patient care when an organization makes a commitment to quality improvement through case management services."

An on-site evaluation of Sacred Heart Hospital validated that their case management services met or exceeded the award's criteria for excellence. Evaluation criteria included:

• The case management service demonstrates that practice is interdependent and not the function of one person or discipline.
  
  
• The service demonstrates respect for distinct professional identities and skills.
  
  
• The practice of case management is the catalyst for stronger relationships that achieve the best care for patients and families.
  
  
• The practice of case management provides leadership, competence and expertise in the solution or resolution of identified problems.
  
  
• The service has evolved through evaluation and innovation.
  
  
• The patient care provided achieves clinical, operational and/or quality outcomes.
  
  
• Practice is validated by measurable and reportable outcomes.
  
  
• Improved clinical outcomes are documented to the extent that improvement can be replicated in other hospitals or health systems.

The award is named for Benjamin Franklin, the co-founder of the first organized hospital in the United States. His personal character, integrity and credibility, as well as his reputation as an entrepreneur and inventor, represent the type of leadership and forward thinking that distinguish the hospitals or health systems recognized as Franklin Award recipients.

The ACMA and Joint Commission formally presented the Franklin Award to Sacred Heart Hospital's Case Management/Quality Improvement Department on April 24 at the 13th annual NICM Clinical Case Management Conference and 7th annual ACMA meeting in Hollywood, California.