The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America, has named Turlock’s Emanuel Medical Center a “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures.”
The Joint Commission recognized Emanuel last week for exemplary performance in using evidence-based clinical processes, 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.
“Emanuel Medical Center and all the Top Performer hospitals have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to quality improvement and they should be proud of their achievement,” said Dr. Mark R. Chassin, president and chief executive officer of The Joint Commission.
The honor makes Emanuel one of 1,099 hospitals in the U.S. to earn the distinction of Top Performer on Key Quality Measures for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance.
“What makes this award special is that it recognizes the consistency of excellence,” explained Connie Fairchilds, Emanuel’s vice president of patient care. “To meet these high standards means our outstanding staff is caring for patients the right way, day in and day out.”
Emanuel and each hospital named a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures must:
• Achieve cumulative performance of 95 percent or above across all reported accountability measures
• Achieve performance of 95 percent or above on each and every reported accountability measure
• Have at least one core measure set that has a composite rate of 95 percent or above, and within that measure set all applicable individual accountability measures have a performance rate of 95 percent or above.
A 95 percent score means a hospital provided an evidence-based practice 95 times out of 100 opportunities. Each accountability measure represents an evidence-based practice – like giving aspirin at arrival for heart attack patients, giving antibiotics one hour before surgery, or providing a home management care plan for children with asthma.
“We understand that what matters most to patients at Emanuel Medical Center is safe, effective care,” Fairchilds said. “That’s why we’ve made a commitment to accreditation and to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care processes. Everyone at Emanuel is proud to receive the distinction of being a Joint Commission Top Performer.”
