The UConn Health Center today was named Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America. The Health Center was recognized for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to improve care for certain conditions. The clinical processes focus on care for heart attack, pneumonia, surgery, children’s asthma, stroke and venous thromboembolism, as well as inpatient psychiatric services. New this year is a category for immunization for pneumonia and influenza.
“We are very proud of this achievement – proud of our hospital staff for their commitment to quality and proud to offer a high level of care to the people of Connecticut,” said Dr. Frank M. Torti, executive vice president for health affairs and dean of the UConn School of Medicine.
The Health Center and each of the hospitals that were named as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures must achieve certain standards including the cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability measures. Each accountability measure represents an evidence-based practice – examples include giving aspirin at arrival for heart attack patients, giving antibiotics one hour before surgery, or providing a home management plan of care for children with asthma.
“As you know, there is a science to good medicine. Research has shown that following guidelines leads to consistent, efficient and personalized care for patients with conditions such as heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and more. Today’s recognition shows that caregivers at the Health Center are working relentlessly to apply that science to every patient who walks through our doors,” added Anne Diamond, interim chief executive officer of John Dempsey Hospital.
The ratings are based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the 2012 calendar year. The list of Top Performer organizations increased by 77 percent from last year and it represents 33 percent of all Joint Commission-accredited hospitals reporting accountability measure performance data for 2012.
“UConn Health Center’s John Dempsey Hospital and all the Top Performer hospitals have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to quality improvement and they should be proud of their achievement,” says Dr. Mark R. Chassin, president and chief executive officer, The Joint Commission.
In addition to being included in today’s release of The Joint Commission’s “Improving America’s Hospitals” annual report, the Health Center will be recognized on The Joint Commission’s Quality Check website (www.qualitycheck.org). The Top Performer program will be featured in the December issues of The Joint Commission Perspectives and The Source.
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