The Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) and the Arkansas Hospital Association (AHA) recently recognized White River Medical for initiatives by the hospital to provide quality patient care. The Innovator Award, presented by AFMC, recognizes hospitals that implement and improve processes to improve the overall health in their communities through partnerships with community organizations. WRMC was also recognized by the AHA for accomplishments associated with AHA’s Stop Blood Stream Infection (BSI) program.
WRMC was 1 of 16 hospitals throughout the state presented with the Innovator Award and one of only 10 hospitals recognized for success in the BSI initiative.
The Innovator Award honored WRMC for community health education programs. Understanding the key role that women play in family health and wellness, WRMC focused their efforts on infection prevention education targeted at women. At the hospital’s annual women’s health fair, Ladies Night Out, WRMC nurses presented information on the prevention of community acquired illnesses and strategies women can use to protect their families. Through a partnership with the Independence County Family Violence Prevention Center, WRMC offered educational seminars to clients helping them learn how to protect themselves and their children from infection by proper hand washing.
“Winning this award shows our commitment to improving safety and enhancing health through community partnerships,” said Gwenda Dobbs, Director of Quality at WRMC.
The BSI initiative in Arkansas is a part of a nationwide effort to promote quality patient care and to recognize hospitals that take a proactive approach to preventing complications that can delay recovery. Bloodstream infections can lead to serious health conditions and, in rare cases, death. To prevent bloodstream infections, WRMC implemented a patient care protocol created by Johns Hopkins University that is nationally recognized as a clinical best practice.
“WRMC implemented the BSI procedure in the ICU initially because it is the department where patients are most susceptible to this complication,” said Leroy Maupin, RN. “We soon discovered that the BSI procedures should be implemented throughout the hospital.”
For 38 years, through utilization review, quality improvement projects, and public education, the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care has worked to improve the health of Arkansas.
The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and 38,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.
WRMC is a 199-bed regional referral center and the flagship facility of White River Health System (WRHS). WRHS is a not-for-profit healthcare system serving residents throughout North Central Arkansas. The system includes hospitals, outpatient facilities, rural health clinics, primary care and specialty physician offices, home health and hospice care, long-term care facilities and a medical equipment company. White River Health System is a member of the Premier Alliance, the American Hospital Association, and the Arkansas Hospital Association and is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Posted: August, 27 2010