The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) recently recognized OSF HealthCare Saint Clare Medical Center and OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center for their ongoing commitment to exceptional quality of care, during a ceremony November 18 at the I-Hotel and Conference Center, Champaign, Illinois.
As part of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Program (MBQIP), OSF Saint Clare, OSF Saint Luke and other critical access hospitals were asked to voluntarily participate in four defined domains of quality outcomes. These four domains include: Patient Safety/Inpatient, Patient Engagement, Care Transitions and Outpatient Measures.
“Often, in rural hospitals, having a devoted staff member to abstract and submit this data can be both time-consuming and burdensome,” said Laura Fischer, ICAHN Flex Grant project manager. “These hospitals realize how important quality of care and an engaged staff is for their patients. From top leadership on throughout the facility, each strives for continued quality on a daily basis, and that is what we are celebrating today.”
OSF Saint Clare was recognized for being in the top 10% of all critical access hospitals (CAH) in the country for exceptional care transitions for all emergency department transfer patients. OSF Saint Luke was recognized for being in the top 10% of all critical access hospitals in the country for influenza vaccination coverage among health care personnel as part of the Patient Safety/Inpatient Domain.
“We are very proud of our teams for achieving this level of excellence in health quality,” said Jackie Kernan, president, OSF Saint Clare and OSF Saint Luke. “This is truly a team effort that recognizes our dedication to delivering a health care experience of which our patients and staff can be proud.”
The MBQIP began in 2011 as a way for critical access hospitals to demonstrate the quality of care they provide. This program has continued to evolve, adding new measures and removing outdated ones. In 2016, the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) deemed it necessary for CAHs to participate in at least one measure of one domain to receive Flex funding opportunities. Each year, FORHP has increased the level at which the hospital must participate to remain Flex fund eligible.