2012 Hospital Winners

2012 Quality Award Winners

Hospital Quality Innovator Award

Hospitals were invited to submit an abstract for the Quality Innovator Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize hospitals that demonstrate improved outcomes focused on better health care for individuals and communities and reduced costs through improvement.

St. Bernards Medical Center, Jonesboro

In an effort to provide quality care with improved patient outcomes and maximize customer value by minimizing waste, St. Bernards Medical Center implemented a process improvement method called "LEAN Healthcare" in July 2011. Bernards’ first LEAN project focused on patient placement. Initial goals were to decrease the time it took to move a patient into a room after hospital admission, and to reduce interruptions by decreasing faxes and phone calls to the patient placement office. Changes included adding a bed management module to improve bed tracking efficiency and streamlining communication to eliminate confusion. The time it takes to place a patient has improved 67 percent, with an average time of 11 minutes, and there has been a 76 percent reduction in calls to patient placement.

Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Paragould

Two rural communities were drastically affected a few years ago when a rural hospital closed its doors and they were left with no emergent care. Through grants, community fundraisers and financial support from Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, a hospital-based ambulance was purchased for each community. The ambulances were equipped to perform and transmit 12-lead EKGs, allowing cardiologist consult and preparation of the catheterization lab prior to a patient’s arrival. For patients experiencing an acute cardiac event, definitive treatment is crucial, and the timeframe in which it is received is directly related to patient outcomes. By offering these advanced emergency services, members of these communities receive improved quality health care.

White County Medical Center, Searcy

While evaluating methods to improve transitions of care and reduce hospital readmissions, White County Medical Center strengthened its relationships with various colleges of pharmacy and promoted educational opportunities for students. Evidence suggests that involving a pharmacist in the emergency department increases the accuracy of medication lists, and pharmacists involved in discharge follow-up calls reduces readmissions. Pharmacy students accompany nurses on visits and implement a MedAction Plan to assist with medical reconciliation, medication charting and patient education. In the first three months of this program, students provided education to 64 patients and made 16 medication therapy interventions.

Hospital Quality Data Award

Through utilization review, quality improvement projects and public education, the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care has promoted excellence in health care for 40 years. We believe there are significant activities in the hospital inpatient setting that demonstrate a similar commitment to excellence. AFMC created the Quality Awards to highlight Arkansas health care providers’ efforts to improve care for their patients. You can learn more about the quality work these facilities are doing by viewing their storyboards located in Horner Hall.

Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Hospital Best Achievement Award

Helena Regional Medical Center in Helena had the highest appropriate care measure rates for fourth quarter 2010 through third quarter 2011.

Summit Medical Center in Van Buren had the second-highest appropriate care measure rates for fourth quarter 2010 through third quarter 2011.

Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Best Achievement Award

Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Walnut Ridge had the highest appropriate care measure rates for fourth quarter 2010 through third quarter 2011.

Piggott Community Hospital in Piggott had the second-highest appropriate care measure rates for fourth quarter 2010 through third quarter 2011.

Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Hospital Improvement Award

Physicians Specialty Hospital in Fayetteville had the highest improvement in appropriate care measure rates from the fourth quarter 2010 through third quarter 2011 when compared to fourth quarter 2009 through third quarter 2010.

Chambers Memorial Hospital in Danville had the second-highest improvement in appropriate care measure rates from the fourth quarter 2010 through third quarter 2011 when compared to fourth quarter 2009 through third quarter 2010.

Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Improvement Award

River Valley Medical Center in Dardanelle had the highest improvement in appropriate care measure rates from the fourth quarter 2010 through third quarter 2011 when compared to fourth quarter 2009 through third quarter 2010.

Dallas County Medical Center in Fordyce had the second-highest improvement in appropriate care measure rates from the fourth quarter 2010 through third quarter 2011 when compared to fourth quarter 2009 through third quarter 2010.

Quality Sustainability Award

This award is given to hospitals who sustain their overall appropriate care measure scores at or above 90 percent from third quarter 2009 through third quarter 2011. Seven hospitals are the recipients of this award. They are:

CrossRidge Community Hospital, Wynne

Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Walnut Ridge

Summit Medical Center, Fort Smith

Forrest City Medical Center, Forrest City

Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, Paragould

Five Rivers Medical Center, Pocahontas

Medical Center of South Arkansas, El Dorado