Quality Conference Awards 2009
Nursing Homes | Home Health | Physician Office | Hospitals
Click on the name of the facility for the awards photo.
Nursing Home
Ash Flat Healthcare and Rehab Center
Best Achievement Award - 3rd Place
Ash Flat Healthcare and Rehab Center had the 3rd best quarterly rate during calendar year 2008 averaged across the quality measures. This facility started the Falling Star program, which alerts staff to risks and helps the facility achieve goals.
Most Improved Award - 1st Place HRPU
Ash Flat Healthcare and Rehab Center rated most improved nursing home for its Quarter 1-2, 2007 (baseline NPSI period) rate compared to its best quarterly rate during calendar year 2008 for high-risk pressure ulcers.
Arkansas Health Center
Innovator Award
Arkansas Health Center held various events, such as a Fishing Derby and Western Hat Day, that brought the community onto their campus and improved their residents' quality of life. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, AHC staff, Human Development Centers, Pathfinder, volunteers from the local schools, marching bands, cheerleaders, local vendors, local and state dignitaries, horse clubs, local law and fire departments all participated in these events to help support the facility and the provision of care for their residents.
Batesville Healthcare
Best Achievement Award - 1st Place Restraints
Batesville Healthcare had the best quarterly rate during calendar year 2008 averaged across the quality measures. The facility implemented a restraint-reduction program with Rehab Care Therapy, and inservices for all nurses and CNA staff with a fall risk prevention program.
Cabot Nursing and Rehabilitation
Innovator Award
Cabot Nursing and Rehabilitation established a line of communication with key ambulance personnel and ER staff, assuring that they have information about a resident's risk for pressure ulcers or current skin condition. This facility also worked with hospice on scheduling hospice CNAs at residents'meal time to encourage them to have access to nutritional supplements to take for adequate nutrition.
Des Arc Nursing and Rehab Center
Innovator Award
Des Arc Nursing and Rehab Center has engaged the local elementary school's 5th and 6th grade gifted and talented students to come in every Friday to assist residents in playing bingo. The students also made 65 blankets for the residents.
Eaglecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Innovator Award
Eaglecrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has become a part of the Sharp County Wellness Coalition. This coalition is composed of members of the community, Cooperative Services, home health agencies, nursing homes, the Prevention Resource Center, local schools, and AHEC. The Wellness Coalition is able to bring back to their facility information that improves patient safety, continuity of care and care coordination.
Fianna Hills Nursing and Rehab
Innovator Award
Fianna Hills Nursing and Rehab works with local churches to call bingo and host monthly birthday parties. One of the nurses makes each resident a personal cake, gives them balloons and takes their picture. Also, they work with Project Compassion volunteers to help with parties and activities.
Green Acres Nursing Home
Innovator Award
Green Acres Nursing Home opened up the Special Needs Unit to provide a quiet living space with little environmental stimulus to decrease behaviors in easily agitated Alzheimer's and dementia patients. The residents made such good progress that now the design of the unit has enabled residents to develop their independence. Activities are geared toward stimulating the brain and body.
Homestead Manor Nursing Home
Innovator Award
Homestead Manor Nursing Home has joined hands with its local hospice to provide four rooms. These four rooms were painted, furnished and decorated like the in-home Hospice Houses. Residents and families are able to have all the comfort of home with 24-hour nursing supervision.
Lakewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Innovator Award
Lakewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center worked with its local ambulance service on the reduction of pressure ulcers and reviewing the length of time spent in the ambulance and emergency room. It is also an active member of the nursing home and hospital liaison committee. With this active participation in the liaison committee, its collaboration with the hospital and ambulance service has allowed for better communication between the providers.
Little River Nursing and Rehab
Innovator Award
Little River Nursing and Rehab worked with Meals on Wheels at two senior citizen facilities by volunteering its van and facility employees to deliver meals to shut-in seniors in the county several times a month. The facility has also started an annual motorcycle "Ride for Health" bike ride, with all proceeds going to its hospice facility.
Lonoke Nursing and Rehabilitation
Innovator Award
Lonoke Nursing and Rehabilitation is very active with the hospital/nursing home liaison committee. The therapy staff has provided programs at the Lonoke Senior Center on strengthening exercises and fall prevention techniques. They have scheduled meetings with the facility and ambulance provider. Also, the facility sponsors the Alzheimer Lonoke County support group, which meets on a monthly basis.
Ouachita Nursing and Rehab Center
Innovator Award
Ouachita Nursing and Rehab Center has developed innovative strategies to resolve problems within its Talent Team, which is a group of top employees who meet as needed. These strategies are shared with the community by presenting actions and results during family council meetings and meetings with managers of other local medical entities. The center also has benchmarking with sister facilities in its company.
Pine Lane Healthcare
Innovator Award
Pine Lane Healthcare participates in Arkansas'drug redistribution pilot program, in which residents'medications that would normally be destroyed due to being discontinued or the death of the resident are instead given to the Mountain Home Christian Clinic, which redistributes the medication to the public at no cost.
Pioneer Nursing and Rehab
Best Achievement Award - 2nd Place
Pioneer Nursing and Rehab had the second best quarterly rate during calendar year 2008 averaged across the quality measures. This facility furthered education to nursing staff to secure advancement in the identification of problems and timely communication. They developed a plan to ensure improvement and will continue with a Quality Assurance Team to make certain all goals are met.
River Valley Health and Rehab
Innovator Award
River Valley Health and Rehab demonstrated improvement with residents by using animals. The facility has aquariums, an aviary of birds and a poodle who visits several times a week to entertain residents. Also, facility staff has rescued one cat and received another cat from a local veterinarian. These animals have provided care and comfort in many ways by giving and receiving love unconditionally.
Stone County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Innovator Award
Stone County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center makes every attempt to continue community involvement in the facility. It also has a theme float that the residents ride on each year. The facility has an annual Community Picnic on the front lawn of the nursing home each National Nursing Home Week.
The Meadows Health and Rehab
Most Improved Award - 1st Place
The Meadows Health and Rehab showed the most improvement from its Quarter 1-2, 2007 (Baseline NPSI period) rate to its best quarterly rate during the calendar year 2008 for restraint use. This facility has implemented several changes to its skin program to assure that all staff achieves the goals set forth to provide the highest quality of care to patients. In addition, the facility has created the position of full-time treatment nurse, who educates the staff about preventive measures. Additionally, they have provided a skills fair to ensure better skin integrity, implemented a bath check-off schedule, and become a restraint-free facility.
Innovator Award
The Meadows Health and Rehab has become a restraint-free facility to help decrease the number of pressure areas. Currently to help with pressure areas, the facility has a full-time treatment nurse. She educates direct-care staff on needed interventions and turning residents properly. The facility has a close relationship with consultants who visit each month. The treatment nurse also coordinates the podiatry visits for diabetic feet and routine foot care.
Twin Rivers Health and Rehab
Innovator Award
Twin Rivers Health and Rehab placed five CNAs in the very first MAC (medication assistant class) for Ouachita Technical College in Malvern. The MACs administer roughly 80% of the medications given in the facility. The facility installed an IMAR program, which consists of a totally computerized MARS. This ensures that medications are given in a timely manner and prompts the nurse for all medication administration and important vitals and parameters to watch before administration. The facility also implemented new software that interacts with IMAR so all accurate information is conveyed onto the MDSs.
Home Health
Approve Home Medical Services
Innovator Award
Approve Home Medical Services has improved its ACH rate with the development of a six-visit and ongoing clinical pathway for patients who have a chronic disease such as CHF, COPD or diabetes. The staff has shared this project across the continuum of care with quality management teams and discharge planners at the local hospital and local physicians.
Visiting Nurses Agency of Western Arkansas, Inc.
Most Improved Award - 1st Place, Small Agency
Visiting Nurses Agency of Western Arkansas, Inc., had the most improved rate in the small-sized agency category for management of oral medications. Rates ending July 31, 2007, were compared with the agency's most improved rate during the months of January to June 2008.
Area Agency on Aging of Western Arkansas, Inc. - Waldron
Best Achievement Award - 1st Place Small Agency
AAA of Western Arkansas, Inc. - Waldron had the best rate for the small-sized agency category ending June 31, 2008, for improvement in the management of oral medications. This agency implemented the use of medication assessment tools at the start of care and throughout the care delivery process, and it is continuing this process. Additionally, the staff uses AFMC tools and is continuing to strive for target goals.
Arkansas Methodist Medical Center Home Health Agency
Innovator Award
The Arkansas Methodist Medical Center Home Health Agency shared its success with improvement in acute care hospitalizations (ACH) within the medical community. Staff showcased their efforts at the annual AMMC Quality Fair, which allowed them to share with individuals who would not ordinarily be exposed to their quality efforts. Examples of these efforts include: identifying at-risk patients, putting in place measures to prevent rehospitalization, educating patients about symptoms, and providing staff with triage tools.
Baptist Health Home Health Network
Innovator Award
Baptist Health Home Health Network created the "Transition to Home Care: A Model for Success." This process has helped to identify opportunities to improve transition of patients from health care facilities, physician offices, and other settings to home care. Staff created goals for the process and developed a referral profile to facilitate the transition of care for all home health or hospice patients. They also created the "Home Based Chronic Care Model," a unique approach to care delivery created to provide the best patient care possible. They are currently in the process of providing intense education to all staff.
Baptist Health Home Health Network - Arkadelphia
Innovator Award
Baptist Health Home Health Network – Arkadelphia has shared with agencies on both coasts the 12-hour course designed by the Baptist Health Home Health Network on keeping pace with the latest evidence-based guideline recommendations on disease state as well as lacked competencies in behavior change techniques. This course was designed to meet needs and educate staff in all disciplines.
CareNetwork
Best Achievement Award - 2nd Place, Medium Agency
CareNetwork had the second-best rate in the medium-sized agency category ending June 31, 2008, for improvement in the management of oral medications.
Innovator Award
CareNetwork developed a low vision program. The agency's occupational therapist has provided low vision inservices to staff and new orientation to help improve the agency's assessment skills. The occupational therapist also provides low vision seminars in the community and markets to local optometrists'clinics, ophthalmologists'clinics, assisted living facilities, and independent living facilities.
Crittenden Regional Hospital Home Health – Marked Tree
Best Achievement Award - 2nd Place, Small Agency
Crittenden Regional Hospital Home Health - Marked Tree had the second best rate in the small-sized agency category for improvement in the management of oral medications in the period ending June 31, 2008. The agency made med teaching a part of its clinical record reviews, and added “ques†into its computer program to encourage med teaching. The agency does quarterly audits to evaluate processes, and nurses are made aware of both outcome and audit scores.
Most Improved Award - 2nd Place, Small Agency
Crittenden Regional Hospital Home Health - Marked Tree had the second most improved rate for management of oral medications in the small-sized agency category, based on change in rate from the period ending July 31, 2007, to the agency's most improved rate during the months of January 2008 to June 2008.
Innovator Award
Crittenden Regional Hospital Home Health – Marked Tree patients are supplied with patient teaching materials that they can take to physician visits. This will help with reconciling their medications. The agency also leaves a copy of the medication profile in the home and sends a copy to the physician with a drug-to-drug interaction list. This medication profile is updated at each skilled visit. The agency also has therapists trained to monitor for medication changes and has a nurse call qualifying patients to check on them and remind them about their medication.
Crittenden Regional Hospital Homecare – West Memphis
Best Achievement Award - 1st Place, Medium Agency
Crittenden Regional Hospital Homecare - West Memphis had the best rate in the medium-sized agency category ending June 31, 2008, for improvement in the management of oral medications. The agency has made medical teaching a crucial part of its clinical record reviews, made additions to its computer program to encourage medical teaching, and included medical teaching in its CH7 program. Quarterly audits are done to evaluate processes, and nurses are made aware of both outcome and audit scores. Patients are provided with teaching materials, and processes for visits have been put into place.
Most Improved Award - 1st Place, Medium Agency
Crittenden Regional Hospital Homecare - West Memphis had the most improved rate in the medium-sized agency category for management of oral medications, based on the rate ending July 31, 2007, compared with the agency's most improved rate during the months of January 2008 to June 2008.
Innovator Award
Crittenden Regional Hospital Homecare - West Memphis provides reconciliation of medications on initial patient visit and with the physician. A copy of the medication profile is left in the home and a copy is sent, with any drug-to-drug interactions, to the physician. The medication profile is updated at every visit. Therapy monitors to ensure they are questioning patients about changes in medications and communicating this to the RN. Also, the nurse who calls qualifying patients to check on them reminds them about their medications.
Physician Office
Clopton Clinic
Quality Improvement Award
Clopton Clinic uses several reports and tools to identify any possible gaps in the care of its patient populations. After reviewing why some patients were getting "pop-ups" in their chart stating they didn't receive a mammogram, clinic staff added a missing field in the office visits and on all incoming results interfaces for mammogram reports and monitored the changes in indicators to see if the patients were still receiving a false negative. After review, it was found that patients receiving their mammogram at the hospital were not having the proper data elements populated in the patient chart. After staff made corrections, the EMR correctly captured which patients received mammograms and which didn't. This has allowed physicians to spend more time reviewing other points of care with the patient instead of hunting through the chart to verify erroneous data.
Community Healthcare Center
Quality Improvement Award
Community Healthcare Center educates staff on the importance of accurately entering data into the PECS registry. The clinic runs monthly reports to track the number of patients with cardiovascular and diabetes diagnoses and patients actually entered into the registry to ensure recently diagnosed patients were being placed in the registry. With training staff on correctly entering patients into the PECS, the percent of STM goals has improved.
Corning Family Medical Clinic
Quality Improvement Award
Corning Family Medical Clinic identified that visit data was not entered into PECS due to newly diagnosed patients. The clinic's monthly reports are obtained for all patients seen with diabetes or cardiovascular disease. PECS is then checked to see if the visit was entered, and if not, the visit is then entered into PECS. The clinic has upgraded to PECS 3.11.
Cowherd Family Medical Clinic, P.A.
Quality Improvement Award
Cowherd Family Medical Clinic focused on two areas in the third quarter of 2008: mammograms in women over 40 and herpes zoster immunizations in patients over 60. Clinic staff found that they were not properly documenting when these were done and were not as aggressive as they should have been in recommending mammograms and immunizations on routine office visits. By recognizing these deficiencies, they were able to increase the mammogram percentage from 40% to over 60% in approximately 1,000 patients as a sample size. The clinic has also increased the herpes zoster immunization rate by 18% over the same time period in a sample size of 800. This translated to an extra 144 immunizations.
Delta Center on Aging
Quality Improvement Award
Delta Center on Aging identified that staff and physicians were not using disease management or health maintenance templates. All staff members were trained on how to efficiently use the templates and make sure that physicians understood the importance of the templates. The clinic audited records weekly to make sure templates were being used.
Pocahontas Family Medical Center
Quality Improvement Award
Pocahontas Family Medical Center identified a gap in nursing turnover and training of new nurses. The clinic took steps to make sure new nurses understand the process for obtaining patient data and entering the data into PECS. The clinic upgraded to PECS 3.11.
Sparks Clinic
Innovator Award
Sparks Clinic, a part of Sparks Health System, put forth a combined effort to ensure individuals from the Fort Smith region received a flu and/or pneumococcal vaccination by creating a Vaccination Station. After reviewing historical vaccination data, the clinic chose a location and staff. Once the clinic opened, volume increased rapidly. Staff placed patient vaccination information into the Arkansas State Health Immunization Registry in case the patient went to another provider and they wanted to review the patient's immunization status. Sparks Vaccination Station was proud to announce that nearly 3,000 individuals received either a flu or pneumococcal shot or both in the clinic from Oct. 6, 2008, through January 2009. Sparks Women's Center received a grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which allowed the clinic to provide no-cost screening and diagnostic mammograms to women who are uninsured and underinsured, offer reimbursement for transportation costs to patients who schedule and keep mammography appointments, offer Saturday mammography appointments so patients do not have to miss work and increase breast cancer awareness through health fairs and educational programs.
St. Bernards Senior Health Clinic
Quality Improvement Award
St. Bernards Senior Health Clinic identified a gap: consult or second opinion patients were missing preventive care measures. So the clinic generated a monthly report to see if patients seen in the clinic had received the pneumovac, and if not, a notation was entered into the patient's EMR to be addressed at the next visit. Since identifying this gap, pneumovac rates have gone from 34% to 60%.
Innovator Award
St. Bernards Senior Health Clinic has partnered with the Center on Aging-Northeast to provide an education program for families of patients newly diagnosed with dementia to help educate them about the disease. The program deals with diagnosis, coping skills, behavior management and getting proper legal work in order. The clinic is also a part of the Arkansas Aging Initiative and provides educational services related to aging to a 15-county area in Northeast Arkansas.
Hospital
Arkansas Methodist Medical Center
Innovator Award
The Arkansas Methodist Medical Center participates in the coordination of several projects in Paragould and the surrounding communities, including a diabetic clinic and a nursing program. The diabetic clinic is certified through the American Diabetes Association for its quality diabetes self-management education program. The program provides one-on-one and group educational sessions. Also, the program has a monthly support group for mothers who have children with type I diabetes. The nursing program has partnered with Arkansas Northeastern College to bring a nursing program to Paragould, and the school is located on the hospital campus. The school offers certification in nursing assistant, licensed practical nursing and registered nursing.
Baptist Health Hospitals - Little Rock, North Little Rock, Heber Springs, Arkadelphia
Innovator Award
Baptist Health Hospitals implemented an electronic discharge medication reconciliation process. Inpatients are still given a list of their discharge medications, but the new system reduces the need to rely on patients to present their medication list when receiving follow-up care. The list is also more readily available if the patient presents for additional care at any of the Baptist Health hospitals. The discharge medications are entered into the nursing documentation program and then sent via secure e-mail or fax to all physicians of record for the inpatient episode of care (such as admitting, referring, consulting, PCP). The medication list is also COLD (computer output to laser disc) fed to other hospital systems and is immediately available for viewing.
Baptist Health Medical Center - Arkadelphia
Best Achievement Award - 1st Place, CAH
Baptist Health Medical Center - Arkadelphia had the highest rates of the CAHs that applied for appropriate care measure (ACM) rates for combined Quarter 4, 2007, through Quarter 3, 2008. This facility successfully provided education for all inpatient, obstetric, and post-operative patients and has increased vaccination numbers for other adult inpatient populations. They partnered with the Clark County Health Unit and the HSU Nursing Division to provide a free day of influenza vaccinations. This event was managed as a drill for the city, including first responders, police, fire and EMS as participants. The facility also has been submitting heart failure information to the American Heart Association in order to improve care to the heart failure population.
Most Improved Award - 1st Place, CAH
Baptist Health Medical Center - Arkadelphia had the most improved rate among the CAHs that applied for reduction in failure rates (RFR) in ACM, comparing combined Quarters 2 and 3, 2007, with combined Quarters 2 and 3, 2008. This facility commits to maintain high levels of vaccination rates for all qualifying populations. Standing orders are automatically printed on all adult charts and offer flu vaccination to post-partum patients. A computer-based learning module is in place for the core measures to continue the educational process with the hospital staff, and these staff members are enthusiastically supporting all efforts.
Forrest City Medical Center
Best Achievement Award - 1st Place, PPS Hospital
Forrest City Medical Center had the best rates among PPS hospitals that applied for appropriate care measure (ACM) rates for combined Quarter 4, 2007, through Quarter 3, 2008. This facility's pharmacy has established a process in which patients'PN/FLU assessments are faxed to their department, pharmacy staff brings the vaccines to the floor and places a colored dot on the discharge sheet to indicate which vaccines need to be given. When the vaccines are given, the patient's information is entered into software for future reference.
Validation Award - 2nd Place, PPS Hospital
Forrest City Medical Center had the second highest rate among PPS hospitals that applied for post-appeal rates averaged across four quarters (Quarter 3, 2007, through Quarter 2, 2008), with no quarter falling below 80%.
Helena Regional Medical Center
Validation Award - 1st Place, PPS Hospital
Helena Regional Medical Center had the highest rate among PPS hospitals that applied for post-appeal rates averaged across four quarters (Quarter 3, 2007, through Quarter 2, 2008) with no quarter falling below 80%.
Lawrence Memorial Hospital
Most Improved Award - 2nd Place, CAH
Lawrence Memorial Hospital had the second most improved rate among CAHs that applied for reduction in failure rates (RFR) in ACM for combined Quarters 2 and 3, 2007, compared with combined Quarters 2 and 3, 2008.
Validation Award - 2nd Place, CAH
Lawrence Memorial Hospital tied for the second highest rate among CAHs that applied for post-appeal rates averaged across four quarters (Quarter 3, 2007 through Quarter 2, 2008) with no quarter falling below 80%.
Innovator Award
Lawrence Memorial Hospital has worked closely with Cross Ridge Community Hospital to implement a team approach to achieving 100% on core measures. As a result, the hospital has been able to achieve 100% on its core measures of CHF and pneumonia from June 2008 until the present. The hospital also provided school physicals for the county, attended health fairs across the county at churches and schools, participated in a Five Star Network that includes five local counties with the goal of improving the detection and treatment of diabetes, and took part in Town Hall Meetings that included diabetes care and treatment education. During the recent ice storms, the hospital established an emergency shelter and housed numerous people from the community.
Medical Center of South Arkansas
Innovator Award
Medical Center of South Arkansas held an annual flu vaccination community outreach program by reaching out to local businesses, including Murphy Oil Corporation, First Financial Bank, El Dorado Paper Bag, Moore Real Estate, United Insurance Agency and Systems Contracting Corporation.
Ozark Health Medical Center
Validation Award - 1st Place, CAH
Ozark Health Medical Center had the highest rate among CAHs for post-appeal rates averaged across four quarters (Quarter 3, 2007 through Quarter 2, 2008) with no quarter falling below 80%.
Innovator Award
Ozark Health Medical Center began development and implementation of its electronic medical record (EMR) system, which has allowed it to become "paper light" - on the way to paperless. The EMR is available to nurses and physicians online in real time, which allows for accuracy, patient satisfaction, and patient safety. Through a Rural Health Grant, Ozark Health Medical Center reports to a nationwide registry of diabetic and cardiac disease prevention-related markers and established a prescription assistance program. The data is collaboratively gathered through community and facility health screenings and health education offerings.
Saline Memorial Hospital
Innovator Award
Saline Memorial Hospital has continued to expand implementation of a community-wide health information exchange system by implementing several more medical clinics and an inpatient specialist (hospitalist) on the EMD documentation system at Saline Memorial.
Sparks Regional Medical Center
Most Improved Award - 2nd Place, PPS Hospital
Sparks Regional Medical Center had the second most improved rate among the PPS hospitals that applied for reduction in failure rates (RFR) in ACM for combined Quarters 2 and 3, 2007, compared with combined Quarters 2 and 3, 2008.
Innovator Award
Sparks Regional Medical Center began the "Give it your Best Shot" program, a nursing event held to educate nursing staff, CNAs, and unit secretaries on flu and pneumonia vaccination. Nursing students from U of A Fort Smith, Arkansas Tech, Arkansas Valley Technical Institute and Carl Albert State College attended. The program provided information and training to allow nursing staff and students to educate the patients and patients'families. They also implemented the Central Venous Line (CVL) Bundle for their intensive care unit through a team effort that included physicians, radiology department, nursing staff, central supply and the quality department. The implementation has lowered the CVL rates in ICU.
St. Anthony's Medical Center
Best Achievement Award - 2nd Place, CAH
St. Anthony's Medical Center was second best among CAHs that applied for appropriate care measure (ACM) rates for combined Quarter 4, 2007, through Quarter 3, 2008.
Validation Award - 2nd Place, CAH
St. Anthony's Medical Center tied for the second highest rate among CAHs that applied for post-appeal rates averaged across four quarters (Quarter 3, 2007, through Quarter 2, 2008) with no quarter falling below 80%.
Innovator Award
St. Anthony's Medical Center designed and implemented a medication reconciliation form, which is used across the continuum of care to educate, communicate and share discharge medications. The medication reconciliation form is not only given to the patient but to the doctor and the doctor's staff, pharmacies and nursing homes.
St. Bernards Medical Center
Innovator Award
St. Bernards Medical Center shared its Code STEMI process/strategies with hospitals in its region, working with the American Heart Association to develop regional Code STEMI, in the local community magazine, and in an article in MedQIC.
St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center
Best Achievement Award - 2nd Place, PPS Hospital
St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center was the second best of PPS hospitals that applied for appropriate care measure (ACM) rates for combined Quarter 4, 2007, through Quarter 3, 2008.
Most Improved Award - 1st Place, PPS Hospital
St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center was the most improved of the PPS hospitals that applied for reduction in failure rates (RFR) in ACM for combined Quarters 2 and 3, 2007 compared with combined Quarters 2 and 3, 2008.
Innovator Award
St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center developed and implemented the "Hands Across Hot Springs" project. The purpose of this project was to develop partnerships within the community to increase public awareness of the importance of hand hygiene as a preventive safety measure. They partnered with clinical, educational, senior citizen, volunteer and day care facilities to implement this project.
Summit Medical Center
Innovator Award
Summit Medical Center has focused on sharing a "Zero Tolerance" presentation on reducing health care-acquired infections (HAI) to nursing instructors and the Northwest Arkansas Chapter 46 APIC group. Also, its hospital system has a system-wide scorecard to measure compliance and outcomes to be shared.
White County Medical Center
Innovator Award
White County Medical Center's commitment to eliminating preventable infections focused on the National Patient Safety Goal of reducing the risk of health care-associated infections. The facility's three primary strategies are hand hygiene awareness, MRSA screening and MRSA education. Staff members have taken part in community outreach through newsletters, local school functions, attending quarterly meetings with area long-term care facilities, and working with other infection control practitioners across the state. Also, the hospital has installed antibacterial foam dispensers in all patient rooms, patient care areas, and public areas such as the hospital cafeteria and at elevator entrances. They have developed a presentation on MRSA for area school nurses.
White River Medical Center
Innovator Award
White River Medical Center led and participated in care coordination/quality and safety improvement activities in the community. The hospital Physical Rehabilitation and Therapy Department volunteered three athletic trainers to the Batesville school system and Lyon College. Also, the Quality Management Department adopted a community charity, the local domestic violence shelter. Funds raised were used to help purchase new items for the shelter to help lower the risk of the spread of infections. Another activity is promoting MRSA awareness for health and safety in the community. At the hospital's community-wide Women's Health Fair, co-hosted with the Citizen's Bank of Batesville, the staff provided instruction on hand hygiene and handed out samples of hand-sanitizing products.
For detailed information about award requirements, contact AFMC's Health Care Quality Improvement Program team at 1-877-375-5700.