Charlevoix Area Hospital receives award for excellence

Charlevoix--  Charlevoix Area Hospital’s commitment to delivering high quality patient care has earned it state recognition.  The hospital recently received the Governor’s Award of Excellence for Improving Patient Care—the highest annual award given by the Michigan Peer Review Organization (MPRO), this state’s quality improvement team.  It’s the first time Charlevoix Area Hospital has been given the honor.

“We’re very pleased to see our staff and physicians recognized for their hard work and their dedication to quality and consistency in patient care,” says Bill Jackson, hospital CEO.  “This award reflects their efforts in advancing inpatient care in a number of clinical areas, including intensive care, cardiac care, surgical care and infection prevention.”

Clinical topics measured for the awards have been designated as national healthcare priorities by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

To meet the peer review organization’s criteria, Charlevoix Area Hospital established a multidisciplinary team that looked at diagnostic and treatment protocols, standing orders, care plans, and outcomes for a wide variety of conditions.  Nurse Manager Bernadette Cole, RN, who served on the team, says health data were measured and analyzed over a period of time to learn what improvements could be made.

“Physicians and staff in our medical/surgical department, emergency department, and intensive care now work together toward the same goals,” says Cole.  “The protocols we’ve put in place ensure patients are given the most effective treatment.  We’re really proud the state acknowledged our efforts with this award.”

To learn more about Charlevoix Area Hospital and its services, visit the hospital’s Web site, at www.cah.org.