Surgical Care Improvement Project and Heart Failure Initiative

Hospital CEOs, physicians, Medicare program leaders, and the public agree—every patient should receive safe, evidence-based health care every time. Since 2008, Acumentra Health and 11 Oregon hospitals have worked together to improve surgical and heart failure care. Hospitals in the Medicare Surgical Care Improvement Project/Heart Failure (SCIP/HF) initiative focused on meeting all Appropriate Care Measures (ACMs) to prevent surgical infections and improve outcomes for patients with heart failure.

Quality improvement professionals, nurses, doctors, and other staff collaborated to overcome the barriers to excellence that affect health outcomes and patients’ experience in every hospital. Hospitals engaged staff in a culture change that influenced every aspect of care. Their interventions included

• redesigning work flows to increase efficiency and reliability
• implementing surgical safety checklists
• incorporating real-time quality checks
• involving all affected staff in developing the vision of patient safety  

Hospital quality awards

Acumentra Health’s hospital quality awards program aligns with the national focus on patient-centered care. Hospitals receive awards for meeting all quality measures for a high percentage of patients. In the recognized hospitals, the care provided for at least 90% of eligible patients met all eight SCIP measures or all four HF measures.

Acumentra Health recognizes the following hospitals for achieving high performance on the SCIP and HF ACMs during the first two quarters of 2010.

Outstanding Care Awards (at least 95% of patients)

Ashland Community Hospital (SCIP)
Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center (SCIP)
Rogue Valley Medical Center (SCIP)
Tillamook County General Hospital (SCIP)
Tuality Community Hospital (SCIP, HF)

Excellent Care Awards (at least 90% of patients)

Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center (HF)
Rogue Valley Medical Center (HF)
Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital (SCIP)
Tillamook County General Hospital (HF)

Acumentra Health commends the hospitals’ leaders and staff for their vision and sustained effort that led to these achievements.