Four Hospitals Honored for Commitment to Quality
Four U.S. hospitals were recognized recently for their leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety. The 2012 American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize was awarded to University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, which will receive $75,000. University Hospitals Case Medical Center, which serves patients and communities in the Greater Cleveland area, was selected by a multi-disciplinary committee of health care quality and patient safety experts based on its culture of quality and efforts to achieve the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) six quality aims for safe, effective, efficient, timely, patient-centered, and equitable health care.
Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, N.Y. and University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill, N.C. were honored as finalists and will each receive $12,500. Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wis. received a Citation of Merit.
The American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize is presented annually to honor leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety. The prize is supported by a grant from the McKesson Corporation.
Criteria for the 2012 award include the demonstration of an organizational commitment to and progress in achieving the IOM’s six quality aims. The award honors hospitals that are making progress in quality improvement and offer models that can be replicated by others in the hospital field.
“Providing safe, patient-centered care that is effective, efficient, equitable and timely is of the upmost importance for hospitals,” said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA’s president and CEO.
“McKesson applauds this year’s winners for their exemplary performance in delivering on the Institute of Medicine’s six quality aims,” said John Hammergren, chairman and CEO, McKesson Corporation. “These institutions demonstrate what can be accomplished through strong organizational leadership and a system-wide commitment to quality and patient safety. We are honored to support this award for the eleventh consecutive year and hope the results achieved by this year’s honorees will pave the way for continued advancements throughout the health care field.”
Prize Winner: University Hospitals Case Medical Center – Cleveland
University Hospitals Case Medical Center is honored for its culture of safety and quality improvement and its strong emphasis on transparency and patient and family-centered care.
Everyone at the hospital is actively engaged in initiatives to increase effectiveness and efficiency. The hospital’s board’s direct involvement with quality oversight provides the foundation for an environment of rapid improvement.
Finalist: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center – Bronx, N.Y.
Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center is recognized for its innovations and achievements in equity and effectiveness. The hospital addresses community health needs through outreach and establishing a “medical home.” Lincoln demonstrates dedication to ensuring continuity and communication across care settings, including a special program to speed up a closer look at and follow up with patients who have questionable diagnostic results. Effectiveness efforts at the hospital include impressive protocols, interdisciplinary collaborations, extensive staff training and a focus on innovative methods to improve safety and quality using cost effective methodologies.
Finalist: University of North Carolina Hospitals – Chapel Hill, N.C.
UNC Hospitals has made impressive efforts to transform culture through the Carolina Care and Commitment to Caring programs as well as focusing on core measures and evidence-based practices. UNC coordinates and improves care for its patients through interdisciplinary leadership of Triads, cross-functional teams consisting of physicians, nurses and care managers.
Citation of Merit: Meriter Hospital – Madison, Wis.
Meriter Hospital is recognized for its strong leadership collaboration and alignment among its governance, medical staff and executive management.
About the AHA
The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include almost 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care and 42,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information visit the Web site at www.aha.org.
About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 14th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to making the business of healthcare run better.
We partner with payers, hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies and others across the spectrum of care to build healthier organizations that deliver better care to patients in every setting. McKesson helps its customers improve their financial, operational, and clinical performance with solutions that include pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management, healthcare information technology, and business and clinical services. For more information, visit http://www.mckesson.com or http://betterhealth.mckesson.com/.