Awards in Quality Improvement

Quality Conference 2005
Quality Improvement Awards

AFMC honors excellence in health care

Quality Improvement Awards presented to 46 facilities

The Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) recently honored 46 health care facilities with Quality Improvement Awards for their commitment to excellence in health care. The awards were presented during AFMC's 12 th Quality Conference, held April 21 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Little Rock.

According to Dr. William E. Golden, AFMC's vice president for clinical quality improvement, this year's recipients have not only improved quality in their own facilities, they also serve as models for other health care providers across the state.

“These health care providers have raised the standards in many areas that have presented challenges for Arkansas,” said Golden. “They serve as excellent examples of how to successfully improve health care for all Arkansans.”

Home Health Quality Achievement Award

The Home Health Quality Achievement Award is given to home health agencies whose patients improve in certain measures such as “pain interfering with activities” and “improvement in status of surgical wounds.” Winners were:

Hospital Quality Achievement Award

The Hospital Quality Achievement Award is given to hospitals that improve in one or more of AFMC's hospital quality improvement project areas: heart attack, heart failure, inpatient pneumonia or surgical infection prevention. Hospital winners are divided into two categories based on their level of improvement.

Platinum winners :

Gold winners

Nursing Home Quality Achievement Award

The Nursing Home Quality Achievement Award is given to nursing homes that improve in two of three areas: pressure ulcer prevention and treatment, restraint use, and chronic and/or acute pain management. Winners were:

Outpatient Quality Achievement Award

The Outpatient Quality Achievement Award is given to physician offices that improve in two or more of AFMC's outpatient quality improvement projects: adult immunization, antibiotic resistance, asthma, breast cancer prevention, chlamydia, diabetes, prenatal care or well child screening. Augusta Medical Clinic, a part of White River Rural Health Center, Inc., received an Outpatient Quality Achievement Award.

Innovator Award

Physician offices, nursing homes, hospitals or home health agencies that share innovative and successful strategies and act as mentors are eligible to receive special recognition for innovation in quality improvement.