April 27, 2006

Jameson Health System Receives Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence

New Castle, PA – Voluntary Hospital Association, Inc. (VHA), a national health care alliance based in Irving, Texas, has recognized the Jameson Hospital for excellence in cardiac care.  The Jameson Hospital is one 86 VHA member hospitals nationwide to receive its 2006 Leadership Award for excellence in cardiac care.  The award will be presented to the Jameson Hospital May 21, 2006 at VHA’s Leadership Conference in St. Louis, MO.

            “This award validates the dedicated focus of our clinical staff and physicians to improve the care provided to our cardiac patients,” said Thomas White, Jameson Health System President/CEO.  “By incorporating evidence-based measures into a cardiac patient’s plan of care, we are able to monitor and measure the overall rate of improvement in outcomes.”

            “In addition, we expect to realize a financial benefit from our focus on quality-based performance. Clinicians are encouraged to enhance productivity and reduce costs associated with delivering care, which in turn enables us to reinvest resources into our patient care services.”

           The VHA 2006 Leadership Award for clinical excellence in cardiac care is based on the latest set of measures that has been nationally accepted as indicators of quality.  “Our participation in VHA’s Clinical Excellence program helped us to achieve a higher level of performance in this aspect of patient care,” said White.

The best practice standards for cardiac care are divided according to the cardiac problem that is being treated, either Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) or Congestive Heart Failure (CHF).

For AMI, heart attacks, the standards include:

·        Aspirin prescribed at time of patient’s arrival

·        Aspirin prescribed at time of patient’s discharge

·        ACE inhibitors or beta blocker administration for left ventricular systolic dysfunction

·        Adult smoking cessation advice/counseling provided to patient prior to discharge

·        Beta blocker prescribed at time of patient’s arrival

·        Beta blocker prescribed at time of patient’s discharge

·        Amount of time until thrombolysis administered

·        Amount of time until PCI administered 

For CHF patients the best practice standards include:

·        ACE inhibitors or beta blocker administration for left ventricular systolic dysfunction

·        Detailed discharge instructions provided to patient

·        Left ventricular function assessment performed on patient

·       Adult smoking cessation advice/counseling provided to patient prior to discharge

The Jameson Hospital achieved at least a 90 percent compliance with all rate-based indicators to qualify for the award. The median time for delivery of thrombolytic agents was equal to or less than 30 minutes.  And, the median time until percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was administered to the patient was equal to or less than 120 minutes.

Jameson dedicated a team to improve heart failure indicators in 2004.  In December 2005 Jameson Received a Certificate of Excellence from the VHA for successfully attaining Green Light Status for all four Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Core Measure Indicators.

  The team included Dr. Paul Wawrzynski, and Dr. Elizabeth Piccione, as well as patient care managers, Jimmy Rossi, Patty McConahy, Roy Hamett, Donna Cochran, director of nursing, Nancy Gibson, infection control coordinator, Marta Miles, case manager, Vicki Trott, Lonnie Georges, Cyndee Jeannette from medical information systems, Char Verdi, director of staff and community education, Jan Peterson, utilization review manager, along with Marc DeGregorio, director of pharmacy, Michelle Lum, director of respiratory therapy and Liz Veri, dietitian completed the team.  They all worked aggressively to improve the outcomes for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients.  They openly shared data with other participants, participated in educational conference calls, and they committed to continuing participation to sustain and further the gains.

Jameson Health System has served the community for over 75 years providing high-quality, community-based health care services to Lawrence County.  With 300 beds, Jameson operates as a full-service acute care facility occupying two campuses, Jameson Hospital North and Jameson Hospital South.  Many outreach centers throughout Lawrence County provide access to a broad and integrated continuum of health and human services to the community.

For more information about Jameson’s Cardiac Program please call 724-656-4624.

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