St. Joseph Medical Center receives quality awards
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
News from Providence St. Joseph Medical Center
POLSON — Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson was recently awarded the Montana Rural Healthcare Performance Improvement Network’s Quality Improvement Award for its work on Emergency Department Transfer Communications. The awards were announced during the general session at the MHA Annual Convention held in Billings on Sept. 29.
The Montana Rural Healthcare Performance Improvement Network (PIN) is a voluntary membership of 48 critical access hospitals throughout the state. Through this Network, member hospitals are able to benchmark their performance with their peers on a variety of financial, utilization and direct patient care measures that encourage safe, effective, patient‐centered care delivery in even the most remote communities of the state. PIN quality of care measures are based on national benchmarks, but are tailored to reflect the realities of the state’s rural population.
Throughout 2015 and 2016, PIN members worked to improve the completeness of patient care information documented and provided during transfer from the Emergency Department. Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) play a vital role in stabilizing and transferring patients in emergency situations. Emergency Department Transfer Communication measures allow CAHs to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of that important role. Improved transitions of care is a key component of increasing the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of health care services. Effective transfer of patient information from the ED to the next site of care can foster continuity of patient care and help to reduce errors and improve outcomes.
Applicants for awards in 2016 were required to demonstrate measurable improvement in two or more of the previously mentioned quality of care focus areas. Applicants were also required to demonstrate an active and leading role in supporting PIN quality improvement efforts by participating in PIN events and sharing with peers.
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center has demonstrated a commitment to its community and the region it serves through its efforts to participate in the PIN’s benchmarking and quality of care improvement programs.
St. Joseph Medical Center was also one of seven hospitals to receive a 2016 Mountain- Pacific quality award September’s MHA Annual Convention and Trade Show in Billings and one of four hospitals to receive the newest quality award: Chasing Zero.
Hospitals applying for a quality award are required to meet certain criteria outlined by Mountain-Pacific. Quality Awards are given to hospitals that demonstrate high performance in current national focus areas including Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) and Patient Experience of Care. This year there was an added Healthy People 2020 component, Influenza Vaccination among Health Care Personnel, expanded the criteria for Patient/Family Engagement and developed a new award—Chasing Zero. All award recipients must also demonstrate evidence of strong executive leadership.
“Recognizing hospitals for their unwavering dedication to providing high quality health care is at the heart of our award program,” says Christy Fuller, director of Mountain-Pacific’s Montana office. “We believe that hospitals receiving our awards demonstrate a solid commitment to providing services that set the bar for quality care in important aspects of patient care.”
