Home, Health and Hospice given award during forum
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 2, 2005 2:02 AM
Home Health and Hospice Care, Inc., 3HC, has received the prestigious Transformational Change Leader Award from The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence (CCME), formerly known as Medical Review of North Carolina, during the fifth annual Ralph E. Snyder, MD, Healthcare Leadership Forum in Pinehurst.
3HC was recognized for the following accomplishments:
*Achieved and sustained a statistically significant improvement in their chosen target outcome by performing above the state average on 10 of the 11 publicly reported outcome measures on Medicare's Home Health Compare.
*Created an admissions department to ensure accurate data collection and to maximize the clinical staff's efficiency with patient needs.
*Improved communications between clinicians and support staff allowing greater employee input, team building, and creative approaches to problem solving.
*Created a nurse educator position to assist new staff with skills development as a means of improving staff recruitment and retention.
*Use of electronic medical recording and telemedicine for improved patient monitoring and patient education as well as reducing the need for emergent care.
*Use of camera phones for wound care patients allowing wound care nurses to be immediately involved with all patients with new or problem wounds.
*Use of VitalStim technology that electrically stimulates throat muscles improving strength and coordination for patients with difficulty swallowing.
Dean Lee, 3HC President & CEO, and Kathryn Albritton, Director of Professional Support Services, accepted the Transformational Change Leader award on 3HC's behalf.
"3HC will continue to move forward and be an innovative change leader in the home health industry," Lee said.
The Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence recognized a total of 11 healthcare leaders who were selected for the awards based on their dedication to quality improvement.