Newton Medical Center (NMC) is among 115 hospitals statewide being recognized for its exemplary achievements to improve patient safety.
The Kansas Healthcare Collaborative (KHC) recognized Kansas hospitals recently at the conclusion of the AHA/HRET Network—a major patient safety initiative spearheaded by the American Hospital Association/Health Research & Educational Trust (AHA/HRET) and coordinated in Kansas by KHC.
All Kansas hospitals participating in the KHC HIIN were recognized at one of four levels:
- “Accomplishment” hospitals have worked continuously toward goals as part of the KHC HIIN.
- “Achievement” hospitals have achieved HIIN goals for both Data Submission and Measure Performance
- “Highest Achievement” hospitals have met “Achievement” criteria, plus have met HIIN goals in implementing one or both of the HIIN operational metrics:
- Patient and Family Engagement
- Health Equity Operational Assessment
- “Highest Achievement with Distinction” utilizes a data-driven approach to identify hospitals that demonstrated distinction through their improvement achievements and engagement throughout the initiative.
NMC is one of only fourteen Kansas hospitals receiving the exemplary “Highest Achievement with Distinction” recognition for working toward AHA/HRET Network goals set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and preventable readmissions.
“We are pleased to receive this special recognition of our team’s patient-focused efforts to provide the best care possible to those we serve,” said NMC president and chief executive officer Val Gleason. “Working with the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative and its partners—as well as side-by-side with our peers across the state and with national experts—has provided our team the opportunity to advance patient safety and health outcomes more efficiently and effectively.”
Since October 2016, more than 115 Kansas hospitals have worked collaboratively with KHC to achieve a 20 percent reduction in hospital-acquired conditions and a 12 percent reduction in 30-day hospital readmissions from 2014 baselines. Participating hospitals placed special focus on reducing patient harm, such as falls, adverse drug events, hospital-acquired infections, and pressure injuries. Hospitals also made progress in implementing key strategies for promoting health equity and patient and family engagement.
Hospitals across the state and nation have been working since 2010 to achieve national patient safety goals established by federal agencies. Nationwide, between 2010 and 2015, an estimated 125,000 fewer patients died in a hospital and approximately $22.8 billion in health care costs were saved as a result in reductions in hospital-acquired conditions, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
“We extend our congratulations and gratitude to all the hospitals across Kansas who participated in the AHA/HRET Network,” said KHC Executive Director Allison Peterson DeGroff. “For several years, this community of collaborative peers has inspired and driven each other to excel in leading data-driven quality improvement. It is challenging work – and it is critical work. Each hospital’s incremental changes lead to an exponential impact on the lives of patients and their families.”
The AHA/HRET Network included more than 1,600 hospitals across 34 states and U.S. territories. The initiative was supported by CMS under contract number HHSM-500-2016-00067C.
More information available at www.khconline.org/HIIN.
About Newton Medical Center
NMC is an award-winning medical care system focused on improving health throughout Newton, Kan., Harvey and surrounding counties. Featuring a 103-bed hospital located at the intersection of I-135 and Highway 50, and 10 primary care and specialty clinics, NMC’s services and specialties include emergency medicine, surgical services, rehabilitation, occupational medicine, home health and more. For more information, call 316-283-2700 or visit www.newtonmed.com.
About the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative
KHC is a provider-led 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to transform health care through patient-centered initiatives that improve quality, safety, and value. Founded in 2008 by the Kansas Hospital Association and the Kansas Medical Society, KHC embodies the commitment of two of the state’s leading health care provider groups to act as a resource and continuously enhance the quality of care provided to Kansans.
